Following Michael Fabricant’s hurried series of meetings with American film
bosses, Stephen Norris, Commissioner of the UK Film Council based in
London, has now contacted Michael to set up a meeting with himself and
Krysia Rozanska, Chief Executive of Screen West Midlands to discuss how best
to promote Lichfield as a location for overseas film makers.

"This is not so crazy as it might at first seem", says Michael. "Locations
throughout the UK have been used for US funded films and those locations
have benefited from a legacy of increased tourism. Japanese tourists still
look for the famous blue front door featured in ‘Notting Hill’ while Harry
Potter fans visit Oxford colleges where some of the scenes were shot. While
I don’t envisage a remake of King Kong with a giant gorilla hanging from one
of our Cathedral’s steeples, I can imagine a period drama being filmed round
Dam Street or even a scene from a future Harry Potter being filmed in the
Cathedral’s medieval library. The fact is film makers bring both fame and
fortune to locations they film. Lichfield should not sell itself short. We
have a lot to offer; far less attractive towns have been used as locations.
By meeting with the heads of the Film Council and Screen West Midlands, I
hope to facilitate a campaign to promote the City." Michael adds:
"Occasionally, there are times for a City to blow its own trumpet!"

Both the UK Film Council and Screen West Midlands provide overseas film
makers with details of possible locations. Screen West Midlands is the
delegated distributor for the West Midlands region for the Film Council’s
Regional Investment Fund. The Film Council was established by the Government
in 2000 as a new strategic agency for developing the film industry and film
culture in the UK and invests £7.5 million a year into regional film
activities throughout England.