Board Members of UK Post Announced

The first-ever elected board of UK Post has been announced, the brand new association representing the film and broadcast post-production and effects industry.

All 10 of the largest companies in the sector as well as 70% of the top 50 companies, including the BBC, ITV and a number of emerging companies have already signed up as members.

The board will comprise the chairman Mike Luckwell, and eight newly elected members: Colin Brown, Neil Hatton, David Jeffers, Mike Kelt, Charles Leonard, Nicky Sargent, William Sargent and Dennis Weinreich and a ceo soon to be appointed by the board.

An open meeting was held March 4, 2004, to consult the industry on the need for such an association. Attended by more that 250 of the most senior executives in the sector, the new body received unanimous backing. The new board have decided to hold a further open meeting for all members and the whole post-production and effects industry at BAFTA on June 10 at 6.30 pm. This will give sector professionals an opportunity to meet the board and to express their views. Only members of the association will be allowed to vote.

Film and broadcast post-production and effects is one of the industries where the U.K. is an international leader with little competition other than in the U.S. The entrepreneurial and creative talent has a worldwide reputation that not only keeps indigenous work in the U.K. but even draws major contracts from the U.S. and elsewhere.

With a 1.7 billion pound turnover, more and more post-production work is being generated through multiple delivery platforms and international distribution.Ê New media is growing and with it, above all, post-production.

Prior to the formation of the association this specific sector had virtually no representation. In recent years it has emerged in good shape, despite constant pressures. These include the dot com boom and bust; decline in advertising spend hitting commercials production; cost and margin pressure and reduction in TV programming spend as the decline in advertising revenue in real terms has impacted programming budgets; consolidation of broadcasters and cable companies; the emergence of one dominant satellite player and changing U.K. tax regulations for international movie production.

The government, through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the U.K. Film Council and other bodies have clearly signaled their support for a sector which embodies entrepreneurial drive, creative talent, cutting-edge technology and worldwide marketability, putting it in a prime position for further international expansion. The DTI and The U.K.Film Council have made a significant financial contribution to the cost of setting up UK Post.