Screen Yorkshire’s plans to cement Yorkshire’s position as a leading centre for the screen industries have taken another step forward as it announced its second major hire in two months with the appointment of a new Production Liaison Manager, Chris Hordley. The hire is part of Screen Yorkshire’s strategic growth initiatives and will be integral to its plans to launch a regional film office in autumn 2018.

Reporting to Screen Yorkshire’s Chief Executive, Sally Joynson, Chris will join the company in late summer to provide on-the-ground support to film and TV production companies filming in the region. As the first point of call, he will advise on regional filming locations, studios, production facilities and crew, providing a streamlined, high-quality service that will strengthen the position of Yorkshire and Humber as a leading destination for both domestic and international productions. Additionally, Chris will work with Screen Yorkshire’s senior management team in building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders, including the region’s local authorities and national industry bodies such as the BFI.

Chris Hordley is already familiar with Screen Yorkshire, having worked for the organisation between 2004-2011. He joined Creative England in October 2011 and played a key role in supporting the national body to create a one-stop-shop of production support for the English regions and establish England’s first national film locations database. Between 1996-2004, he held several production roles at ITV Yorkshire, becoming the Location Manager in 2001, working on a range of the networks flagship shows.

Sally Joynson, Chief Executive, Screen Yorkshire said: “As the first point of contact for producers wishing to film in the region, I can think of nobody better than Chris. He is hugely experienced with an encyclopaedic knowledge of production services and a comprehensive understanding of the industry landscape of Yorkshire and Humber. These skills will be fundamental to Screen Yorkshire’s future growth and I look forward to working with Chris, as we build the range of services we can offer producers to attract exciting new opportunities to the region.” 

Chris Hordley added: “I’m delighted to be teaming up with Sally and Screen Yorkshire to lead on delivery of Yorkshire & Humber’s regional film and TV production service. This opportunity marks an exciting new stage in the development of Screen Yorkshire and will build on my established track-record of attracting production to Yorkshire. I look forward to shaping the future of a first-class service for production companies filming in the region.”

Screen Yorkshire’s new film office, launching late this year, is a vital part of its five-year growth plan for the screen industries in the region, which is backed by local authorities and education partners, as well as the BFI. The plan will build on the success of Screen Yorkshire’s work to attract high profile productions to the region through its Yorkshire Content Fund, which has been hugely significant in driving the growth of the film and TV industries to outstrip that of any other region in the UK, including London and the South East.  Recent credits include Official Secrets, Ackley Bridge, Hope Gap and Ghost Stories.

Today’s hire follows hot on the heels of the appointment in May of Caroline Cooper Charles, who joined Screen Yorkshire as Strategic Development Executive. Both appointments mark Screen Yorkshire’s commitment to its future growth and delivery against the ambitious proposals set out in its five-year growth plan which was developed with support from the British Film Institute (BFI) and fourteen local partners.

Since it was first established in 2002 Screen Yorkshire has brought over 40 TV and film projects to life, growing and nurturing the region’s screen infrastructure and talent base. Last year, figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), revealed that between 2009-2015 Yorkshire & Humber region screen industries grew faster than anywhere else in the UK, including London and the South East.

In the news…..
Screendaily: Creative England’s Chris Hordley re-joins Screen Yorkshire

Prolific North: New appointment at Screen Yorkshire