INTRODUCTION PRODUCTION 100


SURVEY


Mindhouse: Louis Theroux Life on the Edge


Expectation: The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan


in the UK as well as expanding into international markets.”


Talent shortage The difficulty of securing experienced crew for productions was one of the themes of last year’s Production 100. In 2022, talk of talent shortages has become louder than ever.


“One of the greatest difficulties has been surrounding the talent bottlenecks. Finding freelance staff across the board has become incredibly difficult,” says Cardiff Productions. “The skills shortage is a real concern and has slowed down the execution of some shows.” Hiddenlight Productions points out that “the best people are being booked up months in advance.” The talent crunch can be harder still in the nations and regions. “The Midlands does not have any resident broadcasters, so it is difficult for the region to retain a pool of talent with the right skills,” says FirstLookTV. The lack of experienced crew means “many grades in all areas are being promoted before they are ready which, of course, causes further issues down the line,” says Merman TV. The jobs most cited as being difficult to fill include series producers, senior APs and PDs, production managers, production co-ordinators and editors – but go right through to HGV drivers and


caterers.


“It feels like there has been a huge drop in available talent,” says King of Sunshine Productions. “There is definitely a problem with training in the industry and post lockdown after so many experienced people left the industry. I think we are seeing the problems now.” “It feels like we’ve reached maximum production capacity as an industry, with so many broadcasters and streamers choosing to make programmes in the UK or with UK staff,” says Ten66 Television. Many drama indies are also


watching closely for the outcome of the Pact and Bectu negotiations over crew pay and working conditions. “There is the potential for strikes or projects not being able to be made” if terms cannot be agreed, warns Merman.


Costs v budgets The talent shortage has, in turn, led to cost inflation. Whenever several big shows are crewing up from the same pool of talent, rates have gone up – although budgets haven’t always grown to fit them. “This puts pressure on teams and means people are stretched,” says Initial. IWC Media says that inflationary pressures – from crew to kit, travel, accommodation and production staff – are not being matched by a commensurate rise in production budgets from broadcasters,


Autumn 2022 P06


producer turnover


£2.5BN £ turnover of the top 100 producers


median producer


£I6.4M


Turnover of the median producer in the Production 100


televisual.com


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