Hollywood Film Crews Bring Multimillion-Pound Windfall to Highlands
Hollywood’s interest in Highland filming locations looks set to bring record revenues to the Highlands this year, the council believes.
More than £3 million was spent directly in the region by TV and movie film crews in the 2022 calendar year, and Highland Council believes this record high will continue when the figures for 2023 are published in 2024.
The council revealed the information after praising the work of the Highland Film Commission – which the local authority runs – for its success in attracting filming to the region.
In recent years, everything from James Bond to the Transformers have seen elements of their productions filmed in the region.
And one of the biggest TV smashes of 2023, the BBC hit Traitors – and its US counterpart – is also filmed in the Highlands at Ardross Castle in Easter Ross.
With the eagerly-awaited second series of The Traitors due to hit BBC 1 next week, Highland Council said it was taking the opportunity to highlight the economic boost that such filming is bringing to the region.
The screen industry across Scotland has seen a boom in the last five years and last year’s figures show that Highland is no exception to the trend, with both national and international productions filming in the area, said Councillor Ken Gowans, Chairman of the council’s economy and infrastructure committee.
He added, Despite the Writers’ Guild of America writers’ strike this year, Highland has still had several high-profile projects filmed in the region which will be announced in due course. Due to the diverse scenery in the Highlands, these projects cover a huge range of genres and include small independent features, large-scale programs, and factual projects.
The council added that direct spend in the Highland region reached more than £3 million for the calendar year 2022, which is a record high for the region. Figures for 2023 will not be published until 2024, but it added that they are expected to continue this trend.
This spend includes location fees, local crew hire, accommodation, catering, and other services required by productions while filming in Highland. It covers filming across the whole of the Highlands, including Duncansby Head in Caithness, Torridon in Wester Ross, and Elgol on Skye.
Productions include both the UK and US versions of The Traitors, Chemistry of Death for Paramount+, C4’s Miriam and Alan Lost in Scotland and Beyond, a Bentley car commercial for their Flying Spur Speed model, and many others.
The Highland Council’s focus on attracting film crews has paid off, bringing significant economic benefits to the region. As more high-profile productions choose the picturesque Highland locations for their filming, the impact on local businesses and services is evident.
The picturesque landscapes and diverse scenery of the Highlands have attracted a wide range of genres and projects, from small independent films to large-scale programs and factual projects. This diversity has further enhanced the region’s appeal to the screen industry.
With over £3 million spent directly in the region in 2022, the Highland Council is confident that the figures for 2023 will continue this upward trend. These substantial expenditures encompass various aspects of production, including location fees, crew hire, accommodation, and catering.
By attracting renowned TV shows like The Traitors and international productions, the Highlands have firmly established themselves as a favored choice among filmmakers. The upcoming season of The Traitors on BBC 1 provides an ideal opportunity to showcase the economic boost that such filming brings to the region.
Councillor Ken Gowans, Chairman of the council’s economy and infrastructure committee, expressed his gratitude to the Highland Film Commission and the in-house film team for their hard work in attracting and facilitating these productions. He also mentioned the excitement surrounding upcoming 2024 projects, indicating that the Highlands will continue to be a popular choice for filmmakers.
As the Highland Council celebrates the success of the film industry in the region, the anticipation for future projects grows. The picturesque Highlands, with their breathtaking landscapes and versatile locations, are poised to continue attracting global attention and boosting the local economy for years to come.
