Credits set to roll for the Majorca Film Commission

News of the Commission's demise came as a heavy blow to the island's audio visual industry yesterday because over the past two years, since the Commission was set up by the Council of Majorca, it has brought a number of international TV and big screen productions to the island.

From the award-winning series Mad Dogs for Sky1 to the 140 million dollar blockbuster Cloud Atlas starring the likes of Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Susan Sarandon and Hugh Grant, to name just a few of the all-star cast and Harvey Keitel's new film which has a working title of Majorcan Holiday, the Commission brokered the deals to bring them to shoot on location on the island.

The island's audio visual industry, which has benefited greatly from these big productions coming to Majorca, slammed the move yesterday as a “fatal blow” for the island's film and production industry.

Loyalties
It has also left the audio visual industry wondering where the Balearic authorities' loyalties lie and if they really do believe in promoting the island's film industry which generates a great deal of wealth and jobs as well as providing priceless overseas promotion for the island.

Just lately the President of the Majorcan Film Commission, Pedro Barbadillo, along with Palma Pictures, had been part of the negotiations with Pinewood Studios about opening an overseas branch here on the island.

Even the President of the Balearics, Jose Ramon Bauza has got involved in the talks holding meetings with Pinewood bosses here in Palma and in the UK.
However, not all may be lost.
It is understood that a privately funded body will replace the Council of Majorca backed Majorcan Film Commission.
Majorca Plató is going to be the new lobbying body but it will not have the backing of the local institution and authorities which makes a huge difference when dealing with major film and TV productions because roads need to be closed, public areas closed off and security provided, for example.