Training is the industry s lifeblood. So said a senior UK film figure this week in support of a government plan to create an apprenticeship system funded by a new mandatory levy on producers.Unsurprisingly, a number of independent film producers in the territory can see the potential costs rather <a href=https://www.cup-stanley.uk>stanley uk</a> more than the benefits to them.There s also a chequered history for such schemes stretching back to the Eady Levy. And somewhere along the line, the consultati <a href=https://www.stanleycups.at>stanley cup</a> on process seems to have bypassed a lot of those directly affected.But going back to the core point, there is a strong argument that skills and training are a serious issue for the UK and beyond. Markets with a mature film industry have no choice but to make the quality of skills a major part of their competitive arguments against often much cheaper facilities and bigger tax incentives in emerging nations.Those claims have a shelf life, however; particularly at a time of rapid advances in technology. Being the best at yesterday s way of doing business is the surest road to obsolescence.Redirecting some of the financial investment from Hollywood productions into creating a sustainable long-term business seems s <a href=https://www.cup-stanley.es>stanley cup</a> ensible enough - because the trickle-down theory, whereby a studio shoot creates wealth and skills that can then be put to local use, works better in theory than practice.But many of the independent producers calling Screen this week have questioned whether the financial burden should rest with their already-stretched fin Qxxf Tartan Video USA signs distribution deal with TLA
UK-based sales company AV Pictures has knocked out a slew of deals for action thriller The Tourn <a href=https://www.cups-stanley.uk>stanley cup</a> ament based on a 10-minute promo shown here.Pre-sales have been done for the Philippines Pioneer , Thailand J-Bics , Brazil Focus , Czech Republic AQS , Poland Charisma , the Middle East Fa <a href=https://www.stanleycup.it>stanley italy</a> lcon , and Turkey Horizon . Previously announced deals were done with the UK Entertainment Film Distributors , Scandinavia Scanbox , Benelux Indies and CIS Lizard . Active negotiations are happening with France Germany, Australia. Spain, Korea and the <a href=https://www.stanleyusa.us>stanley usa</a> rest of Latin America, which should all be closed by the end of the AFM.Producer Keith Bell previously made Dog Soldiers, and director Scott Mann makes his feature debut with story of a competition between the world s deadliest assassins. The cast features Ving Rhames, Kelly Hu, Ian Somerhalder, Robert Carlyle, Sebastien Foucan and Liam Cunningham.The Tournament, which shot in Bulgaria and the UK, is now in post-production in the UK for delivery in April 2008. Buyers can see the full all-media potential for the movie, especially for the younger generation, AV managing director Vic Bateman says. It looks like an international studio movie, not a British movie. US offers are starting to come in, but Bateman says we re not going to rush on that. There will be a Tournament online game developed with international cash prizes.AV s AFM slate also includes Flick, Daylight Robbery, Black Water and Clubbed.TopicsAFMFinanceMarketsProductionSale