The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Bristol’s film, TV and media sector is to be gauged through a new survey of employees and freelancers.
Bristol Film Office and the city’s Bottle Yard Studios are staging the survey as many people working in the industry have either lost their jobs or face declining levels of work amid the halting of nearly all production. 
Answers to the survey will be used by the two organisations, both divisions of Bristol City Council’s Culture and Creative Industries team, to lobby and influence local and national intervention.
Responses received before 4pm next Wednesday, April 8, will be compiled and shared with Bristol City Council’s economic development team, senior leaders, councillors, local MPs and local/national sector bodies.
The data will be compiled and analysed collectively and will be used to lobby local and central government to support the sector in recovering from the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.
The coronavirus pandemic has hit Bristol’s media and creative industries just as they were enjoying a higher profile and renewed optimism following the opening of Channel 4′s creative hub in the city and the continued success of The Bottle Yard Studios and Bristol Film Office in attracting major film and TV productions to the city.
These, in turn, have created a new spirit of collaboration in the sector, with the Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees spearheading a new media sector working group on the back of the successful bid to attract Channel 4 to the city. The group has already voiced a determination to widen participation in the industry and make it more representative of Bristol’s diverse communities.
The Bottle Yard, a former winery and bottling plant in Hengrove owned and operated by Bristol City Council, offer a wide range of services including creative, digital, technical and audio/visual expertise, grips, transport, structural, fire and safety assistance.
Film and TV productions made there over recent years have ranged from Hellboy to Poldark, and Wolf Hall to The Crystal Maze.
Last December TV executive producer Douglas Rae, who spent four months in Bristol shooting the six-part drama The Trial of Christine Keeler, described the city as the best place in the UK to film a drama.
If you are a freelancer/self-employed worker, based in and around Bristol and are employed by the film, TV and media sector, complete the FREELANCER SURVEY
If you represent a business (small or large) that services the film, TV, moving image and media industry in and around Bristol, complete the BUSINESSES SURVEY
Pictured: The filming in Bristol of the six-part Ecosse Films/BBC drama The Trial of Christine Keeler. Photo by Ben Blackall ©Ecosse Films BBC
