Fears grow for future of film

Worries are mounting in the aftermath of the Screen East collapse.

Monday 13th September 2010

The collapse of Screen East could have serious ramifications for the wider film industry in Norfolk, it has been recently asserted. The sudden demise of the 'regional screen agency for the East of England' has brought about warnings of dark times ahead for any company or individual involved in the local film business.

Screen East, a Government agency with offices at the Forum, was set up to support film-making in the region. Funded by the UK Film Council and by the East of England Development Agency, it has, over recent years, played an important role in attracting film-makers to the area. The organisation has been instrumental in securing such Hollywood titles as Children Of Men, Batman begins and The Dark Knight for the East of England.

However, since it acknowledged insolvency in the last week, the company has been the subject of controversy. The arrest of its financial manager, Melvin Welton, amid allegations of corruption, has brought the firms' position into question.

Government cuts had already brought the future of the company into dangerous territory - after the UK Film Council and the East if England Development Agency were axed, funding for Screen East was no longer readily available.

The Cheif Executive of Screen East, Laurie Hayward, said at the time:

“The directors of Screen East have concluded that the company is insolvent and can't meet its debts as they fall due. The directors have taken advice and appointed an insolvency practitioner to take the company into administration.”

It has been confirmed that, at the time of writing, communications at the Screen East offices are out of action.

Fears are mounting as to what this news will mean for the local film industry. Posts on relevant websites have been of a sombre tone:

"Screen East going under could realistically mean my company collapsing too. This was disastrous news this week. I only hope that some investment in film-making and film education in the region will continue in some form. Would hate there to a film-culture void in the East. Don’t want to have to move to London."

Screen East currently employs twelve members of staff on a full-time basis. As of yet, no mention of proceedings has been posted on the Screen East website.