Green Bay win commission for international series

One of the companies joining the return mission to Washington this June will be Green Bay media – and with good reason. As their Creative Director Phil George points out, while the film and TV business in the UK has seen a continued slowdown in the number of commissioning opportunities, they have been able to win valuable new business in the US as well as in other markets.

“In terms of North America,” says Phil, “the big item in 2009 was the sale to National Geographic Channels International of our six-part series, ‘Rivers and Life’. This was made through our distributors Parthenon Entertainment and was for $300k. In addition, we have won direct commissions from NGCI for two films, one on the rescue of an Egyptian pyramid and the other on the London Olympic stadium, each at $150k.

‘These commissions generate further funding from other partners, both broadcasters and distributors – for example, Channel FIVE have come in on the stadium at £25k and a distributor at £20k.
 
“It currently looks like NGCI will be buying our next international series, ‘Islands’, and we are discussing a number of new ideas with them, discussions we started in Cannes and will pick up in Washington.”

The company is now in production with ‘Islands’, a six-hour international HD series in the same vein as ‘Rivers’. And, rather closer to home, Green Bay has just picked up two BAFTAs for their 90-minute drama-documentary on the great and tragic Welsh rugby coach, Carwyn James.
 
Quite a year. And ample proof that when the going gets tough in the UK, the tough get going in other markets.