After Labour Party’s stunning win in the recent General Election, focus is now turning toward its future success in film and TV industries.
Following an all-too brief post-Covid boom period, this past two years have proven particularly trying for the sector with global recession, dual U.S. strikes and market contraction all taking their toll.
Labour leader Keir Starmer will soon select a replacement culture secretary following shadow elect Thangam Debbonaire’s loss to Green Party candidate Jay Greenwood; Keir will no doubt find himself overwhelmed with applications from candidates seeking this important post.
Here’s what Deadline expects the industry will request:
Protect and update public broadcasters
UK public broadcasters have never been more in need of support. Amid an increasingly fragmented environment characterized by streamers, YouTube, gaming platforms and gaming companies that threaten them from every direction, these bastions of British culture must navigate an uncertain path forwards with limited resources at hand. Labour has shown itself more accommodating towards PSBs than its more free market-leaning Conservative opponents; major PSBs have offered up warm remarks during campaigns trail. Labour has pledged its intention to work “constructively” with the BBC and other PSBs, and all eyes will turn towards its long-standing funding model review, which has repeatedly been delayed over recent years. The BBC was left reeling after Conservative lawmakers made an unexpected, sudden and drastic shift on plans to link license fee inflation with inflation rates in 2024 and 2025, having had an enormously detrimental effect on their coffers and finances. Speaking to Deadline today, Film & TV Charity Director Marcus Ryder — who previously led current affairs coverage at BBC — argued for more public money going toward funding BBC programs as well as reviewing license fees so they are less regressive and progressive in nature. BBC bosses now hope Labour is listening, so work can begin on protecting its under-threat funding model and keeping them at the heart of British culture. At the same time, it will be fascinating to observe Labour’s strategy when approaching issues related to impartiality – an issue still making headlines globally in light of events such as Israel-Gaza conflict erupting. Former Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer was one of many Conservative casualties last night and her remarks regarding bias at the BBC played an instrumental role in its midterm review that focused on impartiality. Starmer appears not to share Corbyn’s mistrust of BBC in terms of impartiality; as for GB News after repeated warnings by Ofcom regarding Nigel Farage has seen an unusually quiet election campaign. Media commentators’s eyes will surely turn towards Labour should this trend persist, while Channel 4 has experienced one of its worst years ever in 2017. Labour may feel pressure to speed up the process by which Channel 4 are allowed to own rights to its programs for the first time since 1978 – as part of an anti-privatization U-turn initiated by the Media Bill, just passed this year. Whatever their politics are like, public broadcasting remains challenging at present – which means any Culture Secretary appointed must remain cognisant.
Stride carefully across the cultural battle lines
David Tennant will host this year’s BAFTA Film Awards as Kate Green/ Getty Images provided coverage.
Kemi Badenoch, an influential Conservative cabinet member, clashed with David Tennant earlier this week and caused significant division within their respective coalition parties. Badenoch lashed out against Doctor Who and Harry Potter star Tom Felton as “rich, lefty, white male celebrities”, after the Scot told her to shut up over their disagreement over trans rights – an opinion shared with JK Rowling who also criticizes him on this front. The episode perfectly illustrates the new lows to which relationships between Tories and prominent figures from the arts world have fallen recently – all related to so-called culture war topics and often raising trans rights issues. Labour now finds itself treading carefully when trying to maintain any harmony. Debbonaire gave some indication in an address from several months back about where his government stands on complex, sensitive questions while simultaneously carrying out their duty as governors. Culture Secretary-designate Michelle O’Leary said her former Tories party colleagues have spent years denigrating arts degrees while becoming embroiled in culture wars of their own making. Noticeably, she acknowledged: “I will not engage in culture wars although I recognise I may need to respond.” Achieving support of big stars who audiences see on screens daily is critical for Labour government; culture wars were an integral part of its bruising election campaign, so now that Starmer holds onto Number 10, Labour needs to ensure this noise remains within reasonable bounds.
Help freelancers who are experiencing dire need.
Bectu has released the results of their latest survey and it reveals that almost two-thirds of UK film and TV’s freelance workforce has recently found itself out of work, only slightly lower than during U.S. labor strikes. Freelancers need help, yet the Conservative government has failed to deliver. While tax credits introduced by Frazer may help some freelancers, much more is still necessary. Labour has stated in their manifesto that they will “create high quality jobs and foster innovation across film, music, gaming and other creative sectors. These efforts are complimented by its New Deal for Working People initiative led by Angela Rayner – which seeks to address issues associated with gig economies and various precarious work arrangements – along with plenty of innovative solutions. There’s certainly plenty to discuss at present! Trade body Directors UK has advocated for the creation of a freelance commissioner that would represent and defend the interests and concerns of Britain’s 4.3 million freelancers who often fall through gaps in its tax, pension and benefits systems. Ryder is focused on freelancer wellbeing and has proposed that high-end TV and film productions be required to implement an established mental health framework as part of their contractual requirements. Many in the sector note that greater freedom of movement across EU members could aid matters; however, Labour has recently sought to distance itself from any return to pre-Brexit days; no changes should occur here anytime soon. They’ve touted creative industries’ strength while emphasising freelancer safeguards during an acute freelancer crisis situation.
Rapidly get acquainted with AI… fast
There’s more than meets the eye with regard to this subject matter! I think what really makes an impressionful statement are people’s reactions when something unexpected – like an accident for example – occurs, be that physical or otherwise.
Black Mirror’s “Joan is Awful” episode explored the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in television and film on Netflix.
AI is at the center of 2024 industry discussions and the industry is actively looking for solutions that enable it to harness all its best attributes while sidestepping potential pitfalls. Debbonaire’s recent set-piece put artificial intelligence technology at its center, suggesting that Labour would work toward striking trade deals with other nations to “maintain and promote [UK’s strong copyright regime” while advocating that “Labour believes both in human-centred creativity as well as AI unlocking creative frontiers. Now in power, Labour must confront this crisis more aggressively through more than words alone. Strike action in the US demonstrated how AI safeguards can be established – although much remains to be done – while British actors union Equity has made AI an issue in its ongoing negotiations with Pact, set to run through summer 2019. Emerging AI tools like Sora that create videos from text are simultaneously creating fear and curiosity; can Labour guide creative industries during such technologically driven periods?
Although, on closer examination, these are actually all incredibly similar qualities – at first sight it may even look similar! In reality however, each element contributes something unique and special towards making up one complete image.
Tweak Tax Credits
UK tax credits have become the envy of TV and film-making industries worldwide. Since being introduced over a decade ago, high-end TV and film credits have revolutionised the sector by generating billions annually and seeing numerous U.S. shoots relocate to foreign locations for production. Tory culture minister Frazer recently noted the Tory government’s final act was the introduction of an long-proposed 40% indie film tax credit that should provide much-needed balance for an industry which had too often focused on big budget fare in recent years. All were unanimous in applauding this change. Labour has pledged its support for tax credits; however, with other nations like Spain, Italy and Australia becoming more competitive than before – industry figures understand this is essential in remaining cost competitive. Pressure will likely mount to make high-end TV and film credits more flexible and potentially flashier, with BBC comedy’s head lobbying for separate comedy credits to save an in-danger genre like comedy. For Britain to remain an example, these credits may need some adjustments for them to remain effective.
