Latest news with #RyanHendrick
Daily Record
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Donald Trump's 100% tariff on foreign films would 'annihilate' Scottish industry, says filmmaker
Bafta-nominated filmmaker Ryan Hendrick, from Glasgow, said the movie industry will fight back against the US president's shock proposal. Donald Trump's threat to impose a 100% tariff on foreign films would 'completely annihilate' the industry in Scotland, a filmmaker said yesterday. Bafta-nominated Ryan Hendrick said the US president's shock announcement would kill off movie deals like his but said it 'won't and can't' be allowed to happen, as powerful production companies and big-name stars fight back. Trump said this week he would hit all movies made outside the US with 100% tariffs - declaring Hollywood was 'dying a very fast death' as he sparked the latest in a string of trade disputes with nations around the world. The news sent shockwaves through the industry, with veteran Scots actor Brian Cox saying it would be an 'absolute disaster' for his upcoming film. Hendrick, who made Highland horror feature film Mercy Falls, said the industry will fight back against Trump's proposals and win. The director and producer, from Glasgow, said: 'It is worrying because if it did come into force the current, traditional financing structure for independent films, which is already broken anyway, would be completely annihilated. 'It's something Trump obviously wants, but he knows it will create a panic and he's playing political theatre. 'I don't know how you can enforce it or legislate it. It violates various international laws and there are so many people who would be apposing it. 'The real problem it would cause filmmakers in Scotland and the UK is the ability to recoup on their investment. North America and Canada is the main territory you aim for. If your film isn't tailored towards audience appetite in that territory your film isn't going to make money. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. 'If you look at the likes of Apple, Netflix, Amazon, Disney, HBO. All these companies have invested hugely in infrastructure around the world. They are investing too much money to allow it to happen. 'It won't and can't happen in my view. I think it's too complicated to make it work.' Much of the detail of the new tariff has yet to be confirmed. While Trump has relied on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act for his global tariff spree, legal experts have stated that the law includes specific allowances for the free flow of informational materials, including films. The White House followed Trump's statement with confirmation that 'no final decisions on foreign film tariffs have been made'. Trump himself later said that he was to 'meet with the industry', saying 'I want to make sure they're happy about it'. The Scottish Government has said it would do all it can to 'minimize the risk to the screen sector'. The MSP Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Angus Robertson, said there has to be a 'mutual interest' in supporting the screen sector in Scotland and the US.
The National
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
I'm a Scottish filmmaker. I'm sick of Hollywood being put first
I AM at a loss as to what Screen Scotland's actual function is. It certainly isn't interested in growing a sustainable industry in Scotland; there are just too many caveats and closed doors. The reluctance to support genre projects with clear commercial value is baffling. So much so I can only surmise that it is deliberate. Having read Screen Scotland's six-year plan cover to cover, it is clear the main goal is to attract Hollywood productions. History has shown us time and time again that Hollywood coming to Scotland is no more than a band-aid. You only have to look at the continuing wave of unemployment in the Scottish film and television industry following the last Hollywood boom that came in the form of the doomed Batgirl project. It should be Screen Scotland's mission and duty to do everything it can to support projects both foreign and domestic; to set up in Scotland in order to support our workers. Putting more focus on indigenous projects with clear commercial value would create far more jobs than the scraps regularly left for local crews by incoming productions. Ryan shooting at sundown in Iona (Image: Ryan Hendrick) A further measure that should be insisted on by Screen Scotland is that a minimum 50% of cast & crew, above and below the line should reside permanently in Scotland in order to qualify for public funding. Holyrood should even go one step further and introduce an additional local film tax incentive for productions that observe such a quota, but let's face facts; neither notion would ever be entertained. Even as our Irish neighbours introduce a new 20% tax incentive for non-scripted TV, we are reminded yet again that we are surrounded by nations from Canada to Ireland to Europe that have their own talent prioritised, whilst Scotland sits on its hands and waits for everyone to come and save us. Screen Scotland's indifference to all of the above makes it clear it is part of the problem rather than part of the solution. I have been flying this flag for almost 20 years, nothing has improved, if anything the situation has gotten worse. Local indie filmmakers are continually cast aside and looked down upon. Producers with multiple commercial successes being turned away and labelled 'inexperienced' is a clear and present display of Screen Scotland's ignorance and discrimination toward domestic grassroots filmmakers. READ MORE: BBC 'arrogance' towards Scottish talent must change, director says The final nail in the coffin for Scotland's film and TV industry is that the powers that be pretend to the rest of the world that everything is just fine and dandy. Whilst attending the Screen Summit at the BFI last year, I was astounded when a certain Scottish Producer and frequent recipient of Screen Scotland funding claimed whilst on stage: 'The the UK screen industry is a shit show, the BFI should follow Screen Scotland's approach, who have done an incredible job revitalizing the film and tv industry in Scotland.' Slight paraphrasing, but that was essentially what they said. I nearly fell off my chair listening to this brazen fabrication and distortion of the facts. I can only assume those who regularly receive funding from Screen Scotland are happily complicit in this lie – after all, protecting their slice of a tiny pie is far more important than actual success. Gotta keep churning out those loss-making films to justify the overheads of their plush vanity offices. Ryan on set with Sylvester McCoy (Image: Ryan Hendrick) READ MORE: Culture Secretary to meet BBC in row over The Traitors Scottish spend Around 67% of our industry are unemployed and have been for nearly three years, many have been forced to leave the industry in order just to keep a roof over their heads. Yet productions are continuing to bring crew up from London, the public funders continue to roll out apprenticeship and training initiatives for jobs that do not exist. This industry requires on-the-job training. Stop with these ego-fuelled training workshops, support local projects and facilitate learning by experience. This insane spin that everything is fine up in Scotland must stop, the system needs a hard reset in order to effect real change. Again I fear it is all too late, the status-quo will not change, which leaves me to simply suggest to those pursuing a career in film and TV in Scotland; the harsh reality is that it's time for us to pack up our troubles, as we can't eat the scenery. Ryan Hendrick is an award-winning and Bafta-nominated film director, writer and producer.
The National
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Scottish director warns grassroots film losing out to Hollywood
Ryan Hendrick, known for films Lost At Christmas and Mercy Falls, wrote about his concerns about the film industry in Scotland being geared towards attracting Hollywood projects. In a letter to Angus Robertson, published exclusively in The National, Hendrick said the reluctance to support homegrown projects with commercial value is 'baffling'. He has taken aim at Screen Scotland, a national body set up to support Scotland's film and TV industry, as being 'indifferent' to the problem. READ MORE: Criticising the body's six-year plan, Hendrick wrote: 'It is clear the main goal is to attract Hollywood productions. 'History has shown us time and time again that Hollywood coming to Scotland is no more than a band-aid. 'You only have to look at the continuing wave of unemployment in the Scottish film and television industry following the last Hollywood boom that came in the form of the doomed Batgirl project.' The 67-page strategic plan, published in March last year, stated that: "Economic growth remains a strategic priority, delivering many of the opportunities talented people need to realise their potential here in Scotland." Hendrick added that the priority should be to support workers in the industry and that Screen Scotland should insist a minimum of 50% of the crew working on any productions are based in Scotland. (Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire) He also suggested a local film tax incentive for those productions who reach such a quota, but said he did not hold hopes that this 'would ever be entertained'. 'Screen Scotland's indifference to all of the above makes it clear it is part of the problem rather than part of the solution,' he wrote. 'I have been flying this flag for almost 20 years, nothing has improved, if anything the situation has gotten worse. READ MORE: No Other Land director says Oscar 'meant nothing' after Israeli attack 'Local indie filmmakers are continually cast aside and looked down upon. Producers with multiple commercial successes being turned away and labelled 'inexperienced' is a clear and present display of Screen Scotland's ignorance and discrimination toward domestic grassroots filmmakers.' Hendrick (below) then accused those who receive funding from Screen Scotland as being 'happily complicit' in pretending that everything in the industry is 'fine and dandy'. 'After all, protecting their slice of a tiny pie is far more important than actual success. Gotta keep churning out those loss-making films to justify the overheads of their plush vanity offices,' he wrote. (Image: Ryan Hendrick) The Scottish Government said the Culture Secretary would respond to Henrick in due course. 'Scotland's screen sector has experienced exceptional growth in recent years,' a spokesperson said. 'An estimated £617 million was spent on the production of film, TV and other audio-visual content in Scotland in 2021, up 55% compared to 2019, supporting nearly 11,000 full time equivalent jobs. 'We want to develop our creative economy further, creating job opportunities for all those that work in the sector in Scotland. 'That is why we have allocated an additional £2 million for Screen Scotland in this year's Budget. However, the decisions on funding of individual projects are rightly a matter for Screen Scotland and Scottish Ministers have no role in deciding how funds are disbursed, to protect the integrity of our creative industries.'
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rising insurance costs are forcing SC bars to close and lawmakers are rushing to find a fix
The familiar refrain from Semisonic's hit 'Closing Time' has long been a last-call anthem for bars, but in South Carolina, many establishments fear they'll be closing for good. Skyrocketing liquor liability insurance premiums, driven by a 2017 requiring businesses serving alcohol after 5 p.m. to carry $1 million in liability coverage are forcing some bars and restaurants to shut their doors permanently. A near-record number of Americans are grappling with $1,000 car payments and many drivers can't keep up. Here are 3 ways to stay ahead 5 ways to boost your net worth now — easily up your money game without altering your day-to-day life Home prices in America could fly through the roof in 2025 — here's the big reason why and how to take full advantage (with as little as $10) The Brew Cellar, a beloved establishment in Charleston, announced its closure after 11 years in business, citing rising insurance costs as the primary reason. "We made it through COVID, and we're getting taken down by laws 11 years after being open. It's like a death in the family, honestly," owner Ryan Hendrick told ABC 4 News. State lawmakers are pushing for legislative changes to help restaurants and bars keep their doors open. State Senator Ed Sutton said he believes a solution can be found. 'We got insurance companies on one side fighting, and we got trial attorneys on the other side fighting with each other," he said. "In the middle, the person getting the short of the stick is that small business owner," he told ABC 4 News. Why are the rates soaring now? The issue stems from the 2017 law requiring all businesses that serve alcohol after 5:00 p.m. to carry at least $1 million in liquor liability coverage. The legislation was intended to ensure that victims of alcohol-related incidents could receive compensation. However, it has also driven up insurance costs for business owners. Many insurance companies have either exited the South Carolina market or raised their rates, making it challenging for small establishments to afford the required coverage. Why is the impact hitting businesses now? Most insurance policies renew annually, meaning rate hikes happen gradually, not all at once. As insurers reassessed risk and adjusted pricing over time, premiums steadily climbed — until they became unsustainable for many bars and restaurants. Zach Dennis, owner of the bar Peacock and an insurance agent, has seen both sides of the issue. "I have clients right now whose renewals are coming through that, for the first time, have to answer the question: Do I renew my insurance, or do I close my doors? Because I cannot continue to make money or operate in this economy." Dennis shared. Read more: Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead In response to this crisis, Sutton has introduced a bill to amend the current liquor liability laws. The proposed changes would refine liability standards and shift the burden of proof to focus on clear, observable signs of intoxication rather than imposing blanket liability. This could reduce financial risks for responsible establishments while still allowing victims to seek damages. Sutton said he hopes this will lead to lower insurance rates for businesses. "We need to land in a spot where rates aren't $100,000 for a liquor liability premium, but also allow for victims of operators that overserved, don't check IDs, or don't do the proper thing for those victims to be compensated,' Sutton said, emphasizing the need for balance. 'And I absolutely believe we can get there." Another proposal seeks to reduce the mandatory insurance coverage from $1 million to $250,000 for establishments that implement specific risk mitigation measures, such as comprehensive server training programs. Sutton's bill has gained support from the hospitality industry and business community, who see it as essential to preventing closures and preserving South Carolina's vibrant culinary scene. He plans to have the legislation on the governor's desk by May. However, for some businesses, the changes may come too late. The Brew Cellar plans to close its doors on February 17, just two days after its 11th anniversary. Hendrick urged patrons to support their local establishments before it's too late, "We're not going to beg for people to come through to keep our doors open, but go support your favorite places; they need it." I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Is your savings account struggling to keep up with soaring grocery prices? Here's how 2 minutes can earn you 9X the US national average — with no monthly fees One dozen eggs in America now costs $4.15 — and $14.35 for a pound of sirloin steak. Both record highs. 3 simple ways to protect your wealth in 2025 This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
