Relph Report criticised

BECTU has criticised the Film Council Relph Report on low budget UK films.

Whilst BECTU's initial response congratulates the Film Council for sparking off a debate on the future of the UK film industry it criticises the report's analysis of film crewing.

The union says that the report's proposal to reduce crew size as an end in itself will fail and seeks a new approach to scheduling to address this complex area.

In response to the report's proposal that crews on low budget films may partly be paid from box office takings, the union says it is prepared to consider participation in alternative financial arrangements if appropriate conditions are in place.

The Film Council's recently released Relph Report examines the costs of lower budget UK films and their value in the world market.