02/07/2008

allmediascotland.com is about to change, in terms of design, functionality and style of editorial. That may lead to some disruption of normal services over the next few weeks, not least because there are holidays to be had. It does mean also the prospect of new voices, from a galaxy of bloggers. So far, Nick Clayton, David Calder, Chris Bell, Craig McGill, Mark Gorman and Shaun Milne. Now, it's the turn of PAUL HINEMAN. You’ll see his biog below. Feel free to become an AMS blogger yourself, by emailing us, here.

The great Scottish studio debate goes on. I’m armed with a can opener and an out-of-date tin of earth worms; you have been warned.

So, 2008: Shiny new digital broadcast centres for SMG and the BBC, new buildings filling the Clydeside horizon that form part of Glasgow’s media quarter and lots of interim reports from the Scottish Broadcast Commission.

Everyone poised for the brave new world and hoping against hope that Scotland sees an upturn in output. We’d even accept a knee-jerk reaction.

We have the talent - okay, so loads of us have to work away from home.

We have the technology - more post-production facilities than you could shake a stylus at.

We have the locations: urban sprawls and majestic Highland sweeps.

And we have scripts. You name the genre, and boy, do we have the scripts.

But we still lack one, fundamentally important, vital resource: we need a built-for-purpose studio space. 

Well, actually we need about three, of varying sizes. You could never sustain a studio operation with just one space; you’d spend a lot of time juggling with clients and turning people away – and producers (and production managers) don’t like being juggled.

But wait. I’ve tripped myself up. You’ve spotted a flaw in my argument and want me to shut up and take my worms with me. I’ve already mentioned our shiny new SMG and BBC and they’ve got shiny new studio floors. Haven’t they? Well, let’s just scratch the surface here.

I’m going to get a bit technical, but this is important. Here are the facts.

Since our two broadcasters made history by moving from their respective historic bases, Scotland’s TV studio capacity has dropped to its lowest (in terms of square feet) since the early 1970s.

Let me be specific: Scotland now has a total floor space of 14,500 sq ft compared to 20,100 sq ft in 1974, and that includes Studio Alba, which is in Stornoway, on the Western Isles.

BBC Scotland now operate the mainland’s only general purpose TV studios. SMG have two converted spaces, one for news and sport and the other which football broadcasters, Setanta, occupy.

It means that Scotland’s producers, directors, designers, technicians and artistes are still being forced to compromise when it comes to shooting in acoustically-sound, environmentally-controlled interiors.

There have been many proposals for purpose-built studios capable of housing TV productions over the years and lots of resistance from, well, from Scottish Screen.

Yes, some of those proposals were inherently unsustainable and most of them required government cash as well as private sector money, but no-one ever really stepped in and assisted these wanna-be studio moguls anyway, and one by one, their four waller dreams collapsed in on themselves.

So, if you’ve got a gameshow, panel game, chat show, sitcom....in fact, anything bigger than a talking head, where - apart from studio A or B at BBC Pacific Quay - do you go?

Well, you can download a pdf from Scottish Screen which lists over a dozen ‘Studio and build spaces’. They are mostly sheds of varying sizes; converted warehouses and at least one hangar.

I’ll reiterate: BBC Scotland now operate Scotland’s only general purpose TV studios.  And all hail to them. 

A decent studio - with more than a nod in the direction of acoustic engineering, lots of power, height, access, infrastructure - shouldn’t be confused with a warehouse.

Time we took a leaf out of Salford’s book; at the heart of Manchester’s new ‘Media City’ are no less than seven custom-built studios. Surely, we can sustain three?

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Paul Hineman was born in Glasgow in 1972 in a hospital ward which eventually became home to BBC drama, ‘Cardiac arrest’. Prophetic or what?!  He has worked in the TV industry for 16 years, progressing from general monkeying around – loading vans, etc, to producing and directing shows for all of the major UK networks. In one improbable leap he went from ITV’s ‘Club Reps’ to BBC Children’s, where he directed several series. He also spent a few years working for stv in various roles, including commercial production where he produced the now infamous S1 Jobs' ‘Hey Lavvie heid’ ad.

He is a partner in new media brand, Incorporated Media, a true cross genre / multi platform content provider. He has a BAFTA and remains, to this day, bitterly disappointed that his hand luggage wasn’t searched at Heathrow when he brought it back to Glasgow.


* Send your Scottish media news and gossip, in the strictest confidence, to  info@allmediascotland.com