Job Creation & Innovation in the Creative Economy

1. Job Creation & Innovation in the Creative Economy Oireachtas Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation 28th April 2015 Cathal Gaffney CEO, Brown Bag Films

2. Animation IrelandThe voice of animation in Ireland Focussing on Key Opportunities: • Increasing Jobs, Exports, Licensing and Commercial Investment • Maintaining and increasing an international profile • Increase funding for production and development Mandate Animation Ireland is the voice of the Irish Animation sector whose core objective is to establish Ireland as a creative centre for Content & Technology by focussing on growth, developing an innovation culture and creating competitive advantage for members. Animation Ireland Oireachtas Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation 28th April 2015

3. Studios include Animation Ireland Oireachtas Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation 28th April 2015

4. Some productions include Animation Ireland Oireachtas Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation 28th April 2015

5. Animation in Ireland • Animation Ireland is a group of leading Irish animation companies working together to promote Ireland's world class sector internationally • Working closely with Enterprise Ireland, CEOs of Animation and Visual Effects (VFX) studios collaborate in a structured way to scale the industry for the next stage of international growth • Animation and Visual Effects companies are market driven and exports account for 90% of turnover with a 30% increase in exports from 2011 to 2012 • Animation and VFX companies define the smart economy; export sales, technology driven, exploiting intellectual property and providing full time careers in growing companies • Animation and VFX has experienced substantial growth over the past five years emerging as a central component of Ireland's digital and creative economy • Animation created in Ireland is viewed in 120+ countries worldwide and last year over 100 million children around the world watched cartoons made in Ireland Animation Ireland Oireachtas Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation 28th April 2015

6. Animation and VFX in Ireland • Across Animation and Visual Effects, there exists a high level of technology R&D activity in core companies providing an international competitive advantage with technically sophisticated 2D & 3D production facilities • VFX driven movies represent 60% of worldwide cinema box office in last 5 years • VFX is the fastest growing sector within the booming UK film production industry in the last 5 years • Animation and VFX companies are employing young specialist graduates; generating high paid, high tech, highly skilled work particularly for young graduates • VFX is digital content production that shares the same technology, skill set and creative talent as Animation and Games • Visual Effects Association of Ireland  [VFXAI] was formed in 2013 by leading Irish VFX companies to promote Ireland as a destination for world class Visual Effects. Animation Ireland Oireachtas Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation 28th April 2015

7. The Potential • Animation in Ireland has shown leadership and growth, with some changes in policy, it can double its employment numbers within three years. Ireland can become a global hub for animation and visual effects production. • Animation studios are export based and market facing companies demonstrating the ability to become international companies of scale • Children’s television shapes children’s view of the world; Irish children should have the same right to quality programmes as their parents • Opportunities lie exploiting Intellectual Property globally across all screen platforms and not have support mechanisms biased towards any one channel to market Animation Ireland Oireachtas Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation 28th April 2015

8. Recommendations Training – Develop the skills needed so companies can grow in Ireland • Develop an industry growth plan with measurable and accountable targets • Develop structured training initiatives like technology apprenticeships and graduate placements • Develop digital and media literacy programmes in schools Co-production treaties – Expand international sales opportunities • Increase the amount of co-production treaties to as many countries in the world possible Creative Capital Report – Great Recommendations Deja Vu • Action policy changes not acted upon in the Creative Capital Report Broadcasting Support – Develop a domestic market • An amendment to the Broadcasting Act that requires RTÉ to spend a minimum amount of the independent commissioning budget on programmes for children (currently less than 3%, yet 25% of our population are young people). This will deliver both a stronger domestic market and give Irish children the opportunity to consume more Irish themed content. Animation Ireland Oireachtas Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation 28th April 2015

9. Recommendations cont. Build Companies of Scale – A rising tide lifts all boats • Establish a strategic plan between EI and IFB to support export based companies of scale • Broadcasters and agencies need to support Slate development and production Tax Credits – Central to every thriving AV industry • Maintain the Section 481 tax credit • Extend the Technology R&D tax credit to include content development, supporting convergence between the audiovisual content industry and the gaming industry Measure and Record • Commission a report on the actual value of the content industry. More evidence is needed and will illustrate the Return on Investment and contribution to the Irish GDP that Animation and Visual effects companies deliver Agency Support – Channels to market have evolved since 1980 • The reconstitution of Bord Scannán na hÉireann / the Irish Film Board under the Irish Film Board Act (1980) as a dedicated agency, with a mandate and funding to assist in the development of content production across all screens and all genres Animation Ireland Oireachtas Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation 28th April 2015

10. Thank You www.AnimationIreland.com Cathal Gaffney Animation Ireland board member, CEO Brown Bag Films Cathal.gaffney@BrownBagFilms.com