Jane Tranter delivers RTS annual lecture

TV producer and Bad Wolf founder Jane Tranter told an enthralled audience what the future could hold for South Wales’ film production industry at the Royal Television Society Cymru Wales’ annual lecture.

Jane’s keynote lecture, which was hosted by the School of Journalism, Media and Culture, outlined her professional journey from BBC Drama Commissioner in London, to Director of BBC Worldwide Productions in Los Angeles, and most recently, the foundation of Bad Wolf in Wales.

Bad Wolf’s first production was Da Vinci’s Demons for Starz and persuading the US network to base production in Wales was no easy task.

Jane said, “We believed in Wales, its production community, its creative community, its brilliant crews and we were convinced that the American dollars would get better value from Wales than anywhere else in the world.”

Fast forward to 2019 and the studio is set to produce three blockbuster productions this year alone.

However, Jane expressed concern about the speed and degree of investment in the supporting industries necessary to support not just Bad Wolf but new companies seeking to base productions in South Wales.

Were that investment to be found, Jane outlined the possibility that an even bigger success story could be just around the corner for Wales’ creative sector.

“There’s no reason why Wales couldn’t be the UK - or even European - leader in the creative industries. No reason why we can’t work together to build a sustainable, creative workforce, which will be able to maintain a critical momentum once the initial wave of investment is over.”

Jane Tranter explains the message behind her keynote lecture.

Dr Caitriona Noonan, an expert in the fields of television production, public service broadcasting and cultural policy said, "Jane passionately outlined the unique nature of screen industries. This is a risky industry, but one which holds immense value, both economically and culturally for Wales.

"The story of Bad Wolf’s investment in Wales demonstrates the complex mix of entrepreneurship, policy and investment needed in the sector.

"Today Wales and its creative sector are seen on screens worldwide but as Jane warned we must ensure there is a strategy for growth which includes deepening the talent pool and building local creative businesses . For me Jane and Bad Wolf demonstrate the enduring value of local production in the age of global television."