BBC promotion of its own activities

We have probably all noticed the adverts on BBC Wales in recent months, telling all of us what a wonderful job they are doing in promoting Wales and keeping  us all happy.  I thought the BBC was not supposed to carry advertising?  Ah well, let that pass........ 

Actually, I reckon the BBC Wales does a pretty good job -- its sports coverage is great, and it makes some excellent documentaries and reportage programmes.  It obviously feels rather sensitive about the criticism of its lack of a proper portrayal of Wales, made by the Assembly Culture Committee and by bodies such as the IWA.  So it is responding.  New drama announcements following soon, hard on the heels of news that an extra £8.5 million will be made available for programming in Wales.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2016/wales-on-screen

Although the BBC has attracted a lot of high-end drama productions to the Roath Studies in Cardiff, rumour has it that its commissions in Wales are so "tight" that the production companies who are commissioned to deliver the goods find it almost impossible to complete projects within budget and to make any money.  If that is true, that is not a good scenario......

That press release was dated October 2016 -- let's wait and see whether the promised changes actually do materialise.

BBC Wales announces new plans

A big new announcement from BBC Wales today, taking everybody by surprise -- the announcement was expected in March.  Rhodri Talfan Davies spoke to the media and there was a considerable piece on the BBC web site:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-39046775

So the BBC has at last responded to the demands for better and more extensive Welsh content in English-language broadcasting -- but instead of the £30 million asked for by the IWA and the Assembly's Culture Committee, the extra amount allocated from BBC's London HQ is only £8.5 million.  Rhodri Talfan Davies says this will mean a doubling of the spend on drama and documentaries in Wales -- but these days you cannot do much with £8.5 million, unless, that is, BBC Wales makes such brilliant programmes that they can be widely sold and can turn a profit.

We shall see.  Apparently there will be two brand new Welsh dramas commissioned by BBC Wales -- and a new Head of Drama as well.  There will be a further announcement within the next few days......

There is another welcome development.  In response to the pressure from the Culture Committee the BBC now says it will introduce a number of steps to improve the "portrayal" of Wales on its network channels.  These include the appointment of a television drama commissioner for Wales; the introduction of a BBC Writersroom team; the introduction of a £2m portrayal fund; on-screen portrayal objectives across production teams; a commitment to produce at least 5% of network programming from Wales; and a commitment to work in partnership with the Welsh Government’s proposed Creative Wales body.

The BBC portrayal of Wales

A very interesting article by Angela Graham, with the title: 

The BBC’s Portrayal of Wales and the Welsh

http://angelagraham.org/2016/11/the-bbcs-portrayal-of-wales-and-the-welsh/

In the article she covers the Welsh Assembly's Culture Committee meeting in November 2016, to which Lord Hall and Rhodri Talfan Davies of the BBC were asked to give evidence.

There are many good points in the article, and this is a key paragraph:

"Although seeing Welsh characters portrayed, hearing Welsh voices and seeing Welsh locations are legitimate and welcome types of portrayal there should be, alongside these, an attempt to share the experiences and viewpoints of people in Wales, emerging from the country’s experience of itself. Lee Waters is right to be worried that the BBC may opt for material produced in and set in Wales but not about Wales in the deeper sense. That would be to treat the country as little more than a set or location-shooting opportunity with novelty value. We have yet to reach a stage at which seeing Wales portrayed, incidentally or directly, in drama and other genres is unremarkable."

Welsh TV support mechanisms -- why is there no requirement to promote Wales?

The Welsh Assembly's Culture Committee has been investigating broadcasting in Wales, and has issued its Report entitled The Big Picture".

www.assembly.wales/laid%20documents/cr-ld10916/cr-ld10916-e.pdf
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-38813102

In the Report, the Committee ponders on this question:  why is it that "the Welsh narrative" is not effectively told on TV and in film?  It refers to the need for a "portrayal objective" to be taken on board by BBC Wales, and asks the BBC to commit an extra £30 million per year "for English language drama and broadcasting about Wales."  It is not alone in wanting to see the BBC and the film industry doing more to reflect and portray Welsh society and perspectives, and indeed to sell Wales to the world.

I've done some checking to see the extent to which the Welsh Government itself is promoting those objectives through its grant aid / subsidy programme for the broadcasting and film industries.  The answer is "Hardly at all......"  I was a bit surprised by that!  We all know that Wales is now a fantastic location for shooting cinema films and TV series:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuvfYgU_ItQ

The marketing approach of Screen Cymru is that Wales is a great place for telling other people's stories -- magnificent locations, easy proximity to London, favourable financial arrangements, top notch studios, expert crews, supportive and cooperative local authorities and property owners, etc.  That's wonderful, and the full "package" has brought £138.6m into the local economy since 2012.

www.o-spi.co.uk/wp-content/.../SPI-Economic-Contribution-Study-2015-02-24.pdf
http://www.theknowledgeonline.com/the-knowledge-bulletin/post/2016/12/19/wales-targets-high-end-tv

But when you look at the TV and film support mechanisms in detail, there is virtually nothing about a requirement to "reflect and portray Welsh society and perspectives, and to sell Wales to the world".  For example, the Welsh Government Media Investment Budget, with links to Pinewood and Sky Vision, is available to film and TV productions without any requirement -- or even encouragement -- to portray and promote Wales.

High-end TV drama -- tax relief
http://www.britishfilmcommission.org.uk/hetvtaxrelief/

Welsh Govt Media Investment Budget (£30 million)
https://businesswales.gov.wales/walesscreen/funding-and-support

Pinewood  -- http://pinewoodpictures.com/funding/

Sky Vision
http://www.skyvisionmicrosites.com/WelshFund/Home/Guidance
The only body that actually does encourage a real involvement with the story of Wales is Ffilm Cymru, with the following words:  "Ffilm Cymru Wales aims to identify and nurture Welsh filmmakers – particularly producers, writers and directors - by supporting and encouraging the development of their work and ambitions. We are also keen to encourage films with Welsh cultural content, reflecting Wales and Welsh life, as part of our portfolio."  So -- thumbs up for Ffilm Cymru!
Ffilm Cymru
http://www.ffilmcymruwales.com/index.php/en/
Although the boundaries between film and TV are now a bit blurred, Ffilm Cymru has traditionally concentrated on cinema rather than TV films -- and this means that as far as TV is concerned, there is nothing in any guidance notes or in any eligibility or selection criteria to encourage producers, directors and screenwriters to think that Wales has a story to tell and that the big wide world might be interested in it......

Parts of the Welsh budget are being disbursed here -- why cannot we have the words

"We are keen to encourage projects which tell the Welsh story, reflect and portray Welsh society and perspectives, and promote Wales to the world."  

That would not in any way discourage the making of global blockbusters, but it would at least give some encouragement to local Welsh talent in the creative industries!

Carningli Lodge slipping away......

Carningli Lodge, on the side of Carningli, is of course the inspiration for Plas Ingli, the house of angels as featured in the stories of Martha Morgan.  Over the years I have visited this spot hundreds of times, and have watched the old ruin gradually deteriorate.  Bit by bit, the walls crumble and a thick blanket of grass and moss spreads up and over the ruins.  A century ago, a family lived here -- this is where our neighbour Watkin Lewis was born.  This is what it looks like today.  How many more years will it be before it is entirely removed from view, as nature reasserts itself?  Quite reassuring, in a way........

Writers' Bursaries 2011-2016

I came across this interesting list of writers who have collected bursaries from Literature Wales over the last few years.  The scale of subsidies is gradually dropping, but it is still £70,000 per year.  How well spent is all this taxpayers' money?  Good question -- the only way to answer that is to have another column with authenticated book sales in it -- but I don't suppose anybody is very interested in supplying that sort of information...... 

WRITING is the thing -- it is so sordid to think about sales, public demand and all that sort of thing, don't you think?

http://www.literaturewales.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Literature-Wales-Writers-Bursary-Recipients-2011-2016.pdf

Interestingly enough, none of this free money is available to self-published writers, on the basis that they are presumably not serious enough or skilled enough to satisfy Literature Wales.

Literary Tourism -- SW Wales

It's interesting that Literature Wales now labels itself as "the national literary tourism agency of Wales" -- and yet, in this 2017 material placed on the Welsh Government web site, it appears to be blissfully unaware of my Angel Mountain saga, of Martha Morgan country, or of Iris Gower and Catrin Collier, whose books have sold by the million, and who have brought SW Wales to the attention of readers worldwide.  And do we really need to know that George Eliot, Dylan Thomas, Beatrix Potter, Roald Dahl, David Jones, Laurie Lee, Horatio Nelson and Augustus John once upon a time came on holiday to Tenby?  Hmmm.......

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Literary Itineraries for Visit Wales

http://www.traveltrade.visitwales.com/en/content/cms/itineraries/sample-itineraries/highlights-of-wales/literary-itineraries/

Prepared  by Literature Wales

Literature Wales is the National Company for literature and acts as the national literary tourism agency of Wales.

Swansea and South West Wales Tour

Day 1

Visit Dylan Thomas’ childhood city of Swansea, including his family home at Cwmdonkin Drive, his school, park and favourite pubs. Enjoy the finest Welsh cuisine in the company of one of Dylan’s childhood friends whilst gazing across Swansea Bay, before a guided tour around the newly refurbished exhibition at The Dylan Thomas Centre.

Day 2

Travel to rural Pembrokeshire, exploring the rugged hills, cliffs and hidden beaches of Wales’ ancient myths and legends. Follow the hoofs of legendary queen Rhiannon from the Mabinogion in stunning Newport, and the holy centres of Nevern and Cwm yr Eglwys, before tracing the alignments of ceremonial prehistoric stones which have inspired generations of artists, from Iolo Morganwg to John Ormond, Niall Griffiths and Gillian Clarke. Dine and stay overnight at one of the many boutique hotels of the area.


Day 3

Tread the streets of picturesque seaside Tenby: a favourite holiday destination for 19th and early 20th century writers such as George Eliot, Dylan Thomas, Beatrix Potter, Roald Dahl, David Jones and Laurie Lee, as well as Horatio Nelson and Augustus John. Includes a boat ride to the monastic Caldey Island, home to some of the earliest known writing in Wales (ogham script). Enjoy a pub meal and overnight stay at Manorbier Castle.

Day 4

Indulge in the literary centre of Laugharne, including the castle, the newly refurbished Browns Hotel and the boat house; where Dylan Thomas lived in the last few years of his life and where he wrote much of Under Milk Wood. Then drift across the Taf Estuary until you reach the remote villages of Llanybri and Llansteffan. Search for cockles in the sands as you uncover the remarkable lives of several of Wales’ other 20th century writers who made their homes here, including Lynette Roberts, Glyn Jones and Raymond Garlick. Travel back to Swansea to enjoy dinner and a show at the Taliesin Arts Centre.


Day 5

Explore the urban literary grit of contemporary Swansea with cult writer Joe Dunthorne (author of the novel and feature film Submarine). From the satirical caricatures of Martin Amis, to the dark haiku of Nigel Jenkins, to the fantastical worlds of Russell T. Davies, “this ugly, lovely town” has nurtured many of Wales’ strongest postmodern writers.