Development strategy

Download the development strategy in pdf format (15 KB)

Introduction

The Agency's priority is to identify and nurture Welsh filmmaking talent – particularly writers, directors, writer-directors and producers – by supporting and encouraging the development of their work, accomplishments and ambitions. We aim to achieve this by:

• Offering project specific development support, including advice, finance and assistance in targeting the market;
• Increasing and improving the profile of talent to third party financiers, distributors, financiers and other market opportunities;
• Disseminating general advice and information relating to industry opportunities and facilitating access to them where possible;
• Identifying specific training needs; working with training organisations to address those needs, and when necessary, devising and implementing bespoke training opportunities.

Guiding principles

In providing its service, the Agency will operate under the following guiding principles:

• We aim to support the development of projects that have the potential to benefit Welsh filmmaking talent. The primary focus will be on projects involving any of the following above-the-line Welsh talent: writers, writerdirectors, directors, producers/production companies. Projects without such input must show significant Welsh benefit via alternative means, such as mentoring opportunities offered to aspiring writers, directors, producers and Heads of Department. Such opportunities must be offered during the development of the project, as well as, where possible, during production in the event that the film is subsequently produced. We operate a continuous 'open door' submissions policy. That is, we will accept submissions at any time, from anyone and at any stage of development. However, funding for early stage development applications (pre first draft) will be subject to the writer or writer-director submitting supporting material, such as sample screenplays they have already written or examples of work that has been produced in another medium (e.g. TV drama). Advice pertaining to these early stage projects can of course be given regardless of any accompanying support material.
• The Agency is principally concerned with the development of feature length material intended for theatrical distribution. However, we will also consider funding the development of high-quality, feature-length 'event' TV films, particularly where there is potential to additionally distribute them theatrically. Short Film support and schemes are not envisaged at present.
• The Agency aims to support development across all genres and the full range of production budgets, from highly individual 'auteur' voices to more mainstream approaches. It aims to be alert to all original and dramatic storytelling and filmmaking that speaks with emotional, intellectual and visceral power, honesty and insight.
• Financial support will necessarily be aimed at projects that are capable of qualifying as British Films as defined by the Films Act 1985.
• The Agency aims to respond swiftly, informatively and courteously at all times.

Core activities

The agency's core development activity is to offer project specific development support, including advice, finance and assistance in targeting the market; and to listen to, identify and understand the needs and desires of the filmmaking community and respond to those needs and desires, to the best of our abilities. In carrying out these core activities, we will:

• Provide an information service, pointing all film development, production and training enquiries in the right direction. This will be backed up by a comprehensive web site and "open access" events where the Agency can communicate its plans and activities and where any and all interested parties can meet the Agency team, input ideas and discuss areas of interest.
• Provide regular project specific workshops and industry access surgeries with invited industry decision-makers, experts and advisors.
• Provide development finance for a range of projects, numbering approximately 20 at any given time. Support will be tailored to the needs of each project and will be staged in response to script, scheduling, casting, workshop/rehearsal, budgeting, financial packaging and other standard development costs. In determining the composition of the Agency's development 'slate', projects that have previously received development support from the Arts Council of Wales and/or Sgrin – Media Agency for Wales will be re-evaluated in line with the Agency's aims and objectives and alongside submissions otherwise received via the Agency's 'open access' procedure. Development submissions will be accepted from stand-alone writers (i.e. developing material on 'spec', without producer involvement), and from creative teams (submitted through a production company, including writer(s)/writer-director and/or director). It is anticipated that financial support will primarily be used to assist the development of existing draft screenplays. However, some monies will be available to help writers go from idea, outline or treatment to first-draft, and in these instances the Agency will prioritise those ideas, outlines or treatments that have a clear idea of how their film will end and where supporting material (such as alternative sample screenplays written by the applicant writer) and/or material produced in an alternative medium (e.g. TV drama) is available.
• Support producers through hands-on collaboration in developing their projects and identifying and facilitating financial and distribution possibilities. Additionally, whilst our funding can not directly be applied towards 'company support', we recognise the on-going commitment of producers to the development of their projects and creative talent, and will seek to assist them where possible, either through identifying and facilitating third party company support or directly offering development financing to a number of their projects at any one time, to include company overhead provision.

Complementary activities

In addition to our core activities, we will engage in additional activities where they further the Agency's Aims and Objectives, provide tangible benefits to Welsh filmmaking talent and where budgetary constraints permit. For example, we will

• Work with development and production funding recipients to maximise training opportunities available through their projects, and collaborate with third party organisations and individuals with a view to creating further mentoring and work experience opportunities. Additionally, we will share information and collaborate with existing training organisations and aim to address needs, either through existing training initiatives, or where necessary, by devising and implementing bespoke training provisions.
• Devise and implement specific initiatives to encourage development applications from alternative sources, such as authors, playwrights, journalists, and commercials' directors, with the aim of finding new voices and potentially bringing fresh eyes into collaboration with the existing filmmaking community.
• From time-to-time, for example when an unusual filmmaking approach is called for or when an otherwise untested Director is to be engaged, the Agency will fund the filming of some sample scenes/a pilot as part of the project development process, to allow for experimentation and to create a 'calling card' for the filmmaker, which may facilitate raising project finance.