Scotland's film and TV industry is experiencing a boom, with the sector projected to contribute £1bn to the economy by 2030. However, concerns are being raised about the proportion of local talent employed in these productions.
Peter Strachan, a documentary film-maker and academic, established the campaign group Standing Up For Scotland’s Screen Talent. His research last year indicated that only around 6% of production staff on the third series of The Traitors were Scottish. This was despite the BBC production counting towards Ofcom quotas requiring 8% of network hours and expenditure in Scotland.
Strachan has also called for Sony Pictures to release details on local crew hired in Glasgow for the 2025 filming of Spider-Man: Brand New Day. He noted that "local hiring is not necessarily the same thing as employing Scotland’s established screen-sector workforce."
David Smith, interim executive director of Screen Scotland, acknowledged the benefits of the growing sector but highlighted a "consistent decline" in shows commissioned from Scottish production companies by public service broadcasters. He stated, "We think this needs to change."
The increase in screen tourism also presents challenges. Glenfinnan, famous for its viaduct in the Harry Potter films, saw Police Scotland issue a warning last month due to dangerous parking and antisocial behaviour from visitors. Similarly, the Clan Fraser stone near Culloden, popular with Outlander fans, was temporarily closed in 2023 due to deterioration from high visitor numbers.