Skip to content

New push to turn island into screen destination

Caitlin KleinJersey
BBC A film production crew is set up on a rocky sandy beach at low tide beside a calm sea. Several people stand among professional equipment, including cameras, lighting rigs, microphones, cables and equipment carts. In the foreground, a crew member kneels beside audio equipment, while another person wearing a pink cap stands near the centre of the frame. Offshore rocky outcrops and a stone harbour wall are visible in the background under a bright sky with scattered clouds. BBC
Jersey's film industry is calling for a new commission to help attract more productions to the island

The film industry is calling for the creation of a new commission to make it easier for productions to shoot in Jersey.

Filmmakers, politicians and investors met at the Jersey Screen Summit on Monday to discuss developing a sustainable film and television industry.

It was organised by director Rebecca Coley as a way to get government and film sector representatives "on the same page" and she said the creation of a commission would "be a one port of call for all productions happening here".

Assistant Economic Development Minister Senator Serena Kirsten said the government was looking at options to support the industry but added further talks were needed to get it "right".

Coley said a film commission could help producers deal with the island's layers of governments including the parish system.

"They could liaise with all the different departments because it is quite confusing as an outsider understanding all our parishes and who to speak to for all the different elements that you need for filming," she said.

"That's what they have in most other places in the world where filming takes place, one central office takes care of all the permits and deals with all the different departments to help make it smooth sailing while the production happens."

A film crew set up on a coastal dirt track beside the sea on an overcast day. In the foreground, camera track rails and a large metal rig stand next to a yellow step ladder. Several crew members are working around a dark grey car positioned on the track, with white production vans parked nearby. Equipment trolleys loaded with cases, cables and protective covers are scattered across the site. More crew members can be seen in the background near the shoreline, while a camera operator works at the far right of the frame.
Crews were in Jersey for two weeks filming for Bergerac's first season

She acknowledged that one of the biggest barriers to attracting productions was the cost of filming on island.

"All the other jurisdictions where filmmaking takes place have incentives like a cash rebate or a tax incentive," she said.

"At the moment, because Jersey doesn't have any of those things that's why we haven't seen more productions here.

"I think because Jersey needs to diversify its economy, let's give this a chance."

Brian Constantine is wearing a dark brown roll-neck jumper and stands in front of a stage inside a modern auditorium. The stage is lit from above and features black curtains, with a drum kit and a large projection screen visible in the background. The photograph is focused on the person in the foreground, while the stage and surrounding venue are softly blurred.
Executive producer Brian Constantine said a new film commission could be a "one stop shop"

Brian Constantine, executive producer of the reboot of the TV show Bergerac, said the series had shown what was possible in terms of developing the industry.

While parts of the series are filmed in Jersey, filming has also taken place in the UK.

"Money is a really big thing," he said.

"There are inherently much larger costs coming to Jersey at the moment. For example we're putting up a hundred people every time we come here - that's a huge amount of the budget that we wouldn't necessarily be spending if we were using UK crews."

He said creating a film commission would be a "one stop shop" for anyone wanting to film the island.

"They'll be able to tell you what you can do, what you can't do, all the things that you don't think about when you're watching a TV show," he said.

"We've been able to demonstrate that we can make a television show that sells around the world in little old Jersey and Jersey can compete in the right environment on that world stage."

Samantha Perahia has long dark hair and stands in front of a black curtain backdrop. She is wearing a bright pink V-neck top beneath a black blazer. The image is framed as a head-and-shoulders portrait, with direct lighting illuminating the face and upper body against the dark background. A small sign and parts of a backstage or auditorium area are visible out of focus on the right-hand side of the image.
Samantha Perahia said "there has to be some demonstrable value" to productions wanting to film in Jersey

Samantha Perahia, head of production at the British Film Commission, said Jersey already had the building blocks of a successful industry.

She said the island had an "abundance" of locations but she added cast, crew and facilities were needed to support production.

"You also need some kind of incentive in order to be able to compete with other jurisdictions that maybe have similar offers," she said.

"[Having] a central point of contact and a relationship between industry and government like a film commission gives that seed to build on.

"There has to be some demonstrable value, both to the industry, to the local economy, but also to the filmmakers."

Finley Lumsden stands facing the camera against a black curtain backdrop. He is wearing a dark blazer over a white button-up shirt. The image is framed as a head-and-shoulders portrait, with warm lighting illuminating the face and upper body while the background remains dark. The person's hair is wavy and medium length, and a moustache is visible.
Finley Lumsden, who has worked on the Bergerac set, said productions created opportunities for local people

The summit heard how developing the industry could give young people the chance to follow careers in film without leaving Jersey.

Finley Lumsden, who worked as a trainee on Bergerac for three seasons, said it was hard to pursue a career in film "because there isn't that much [in Jersey]".

"With these big productions and incentives that the island will hopefully produce, it means more things can happen and more local people can be hired and trained," he said.

The assistant economic development minister said the sector had "potential and real promise".

Senator Kirsten said: "Where I'd like to go next with all of this is just to continue on some of the positive things that were mentioned around tax incentives in the film industry in Jersey and actually trying to get an understanding about what it means for us as an island.

"I would hate to introduce a new sector into the island and not get it right from an incentive perspective because from what I've heard that's pretty important in terms of attracting the diversification that the film industry offers."

Follow BBC Jersey on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.

More on this story
Related internet links