During this decade the number of projects produced dropped by comparison with previous decades. This was largely due the effect of departments untying from COI. Some part was due to the increased availability of economic video equipment that enabled smaller departments to set up in house video units. Whatever the reason this downward trend had started in the mid 1980s and increased during the 1990s.In the 2000s, very slowly, production levels crept up until in the final eight years or so before COI was abolished in 2012 production was at the highest ever in the 66 years of its history.
The following figures are indicative of the levels of production between the mid 1980s and the decade of the 1900s (health warning, the figures are just indicative). In the case of documentary films a roughly normal level of completion is that for 1987. Apart from a blip in 1991 when a number of productions “in the pipeline” were completed, the number of productions each year falls away to the end of the decade.
Production of Television Fillers is also low until 1996 when the numbers start to climb again.
Note: From June 1986 until August 1988 some 83 commercials were completed. The source is a contemporary Minute.
What Was Made 1990 to 1999
1990
Some 8 documentary films were recorded as being completed together with 7 television fillers.
Documentary Films
The 7 documentary films included
All Saints Road to Recovery that set out to demonstrate a multiple agency approach toward solving inner city renewal problems and produce environmental, economic and community benefits. The area around All Saints Road in Notting Hill had adopted this approach and produced a set of positive results. Directed by Tim Langford NFA ID 431547
Everybody Counts was produced for the Censuses and Survey Office to explain the importance of the census to be taken in 1991. NFA ID 411810
Expert Systems for Business Benefit video explaining the value of these systems providing a number of case studies NFA ID 392560
My Stay In Hospital was a recruitment film for hospital nurses caring for sick children. NFA ID N-523193
Patent Office Search and Advisory Service was designed to promote the services provided to business and manufacturers by the Patent Office. NFA ID 620168
The Facts Are These was a promotional and explanatory film about the work of the Government Information Services NFA ID N-720544
Police Gold Silver Bronze (click here to view) a recruitment film about the fast track promotion scheme in the Police service. Produced and directed by Janice Kay NFA ID N-3776245
Television Fillers included
Frances The Firefly an animated production designed to discourage children from playing with matches: it was produced by Film Division Producer Bruce Parsons. NFA ID 397210 NA ID INF34/1254
Holiday Blues promoted a booklet produced by the Foreign Office about issues that can arise when taking overseas holidays. NFA ID N-177367
Fireworks Safety- The Management with Hale and Pace. The two comedians offer advice about safety when using fireworks. NFA ID 625835
Television commercials included
Electricity Privatisation - Breakfast was one of a group of commercials extolling the purchase of shares in this newly privatised utility. NFA ID N-537131
Keep Britain Tidy compilation of several television commercials. NFA ID 419169
1991
In 1991 some 14 documentary films were completed together with 7 Television Fillers and 1 Television Commercial.
Documentary Films
The National Physical Laboratory sponsored a group of 4 films:
Half A Tharg that demonstrated the importance of the National Measurement System . NFA ID 414876
Measuring Up discussed the importance of coordinating measuring machines in industry. NFA ID 414878
Match of the Day detailed issues around calibration of pressure balances. NFA ID 414877
Precisely looked at the importance of measurement to new technologies in medical diagnosis.Produced by Film Division Producer John Ross NFA ID 414879
Reinventing the Fire (click here to view) the Department of Energy sponsored this film about new uses of energy.(Directed by Film Division Director Eddie Newsted) NFA ID 390687
Forest By Design (click here to view) about the work of the Forestry Commission (Directed by Film Division Director Eddie Newsted) Why Doesn't Some Do Something? was about the role of the Special Police Constable . Intended as a recruitment video. Directed by Tim Flitcroft. NFA ID 397280
Radio Box Teacher Recruiter(click here to view) clever approach to recruiting people to teaching.Produced by Janice Kay. N-3776944
The Call Out Firefighter (click Here to view) recruitment film for part time fire brigade personnel
Times Are Changing is concerned with problems in the NHS of recruiting pharmacy staff. Video intended for showing tp managers is about actions they can take to deal with the problem. directed by Ian Softley NFA ID 390771
Picking Up the Threads complements the previous film and is intended tp demonstrate career opportunities in pharmacy work. Directed by Ian Softley NFA ID 390691
Arable Coppice for Renewable Energy looks at the potential benefit of this energy source. NFA ID 391521
From the Falklands to the Gulf considered the effects of changing times and situations for the Royal Navy.Made by World Wide Pictures NFA ID 395804
It Counts Because You Count information for the public about what the 1991 Census involves. NFA ID 411809
Television Fillers
Fireworks safety accounted for four Television Fillers:
Garden Safety Little Soldiers was a new subject area NFA ID 763933
Stubble Burning-Hour Glass that gave notice that burning stubble was to be made illegal. NFA ID 625930
Scoop the Poop (click here to view) filler encouraging dog owners out walking with their dogs to take excrement away
Get It right Before You Go (click here to view) filler warning travellers to make sure they have correct documentation before travelling overseas Television Commercials
Fireworks Safety - Flash (click here to view) commercials warning of the dangers of fireworks were produced annually. This was the latest commercial NFA ID 648386
Fireworks Safety- Where Is Your Lad Tonight? NFA ID N-720996
Legal Parking Campaign:Parking Ticket Eater NFA ID N-543835
1992
The year saw the completion of eight documentary productions, nine Television Fillers and five television commercials.
Video Productions
The advent of two new sponsors as a consequence of the recent change in the status of COI as an Executive Agency and Trading Fund were the Parliamentary Ombudsman and the Health Service Ombudsman.
Health Service Ombudsman explains the rights of the individual relating to complaints about the National Health Service. video covers a number of examples of incorrect procedure highlighting proper channels of communication. Produced by Film Division Producer John Ross NFA ID 397200
Parliamentary Ombudsman video give a number of examples poor administrative practice within central government. Produced by Film Division Producer John Ross NFA ID 397282
Disability Living Allowance and the Mobility Allowance the Department for Social Security sponsored these two video training guides for advisers dealing with the introduction of the new allowances NFA ID 426588.
Whooping Cough and Health Visitor the Department for Health sponsored both videos that provided information about dealing with the disease and also information about the role of the health visitor. NFA ID N-528600
Metering Matters the Energy Efficiency Office sponsored a revised version of a 1980 film about the need for businesses to acquire up to date meter systems to ensure the efficient use of energy. Produced by Anvil Films, a long time Film Division contractor. NFA ID 397186
Upside Down and Faraway (click here to view) a film encouraging business people to seek trading opportunities in New Zealand. produced and directed by Film Division Producer Janice Kay. NFA ID N-3777039
Television Fillers included
Air Gun about the dangers of these weapons and two for school leavers
A Place for You Secretaries NFA ID N -529472 A Role for You School Leavers both fillers offering help in the job market NFA ID N -529472
Television Commercials included
European Drug Prevention Week
Nursing and AIDs being one of a series of AIDs commercials
Sharing the Challengeanother AIDs commercial NFA ID 767627
Crime Prevention - Hyenas was about car crime prevention. Some Hyenas attack a car and pull out items. End tagline was "Car Crime Together We'll Crack It" NFA ID N -2731608
The National Film Archive holds a compilation of car crime prevention commercials for 1992. Their list of commercials in this series are includes Hyenas, Car Eyes, Windscreen and Vox Pops. There is no further information about these items. NFA ID 753246
1993
Six documentary film projects were completed together with one television filler and one commercial.
An Open and Shut Case: Working for the Customs and Excise was, as its name implies, a film about the Customs and Excise. Produced by Film Division Producer John Ross. NFA ID 411832
Charity Trustees was an introduction to the roles and responsibilities to becoming a trustee for an organisation, Produced by Film Division Producer Judith Davidson Designer Wendy Hutton. Both this film and the Customs and Excise film were made in house. NFA ID 417442
Child Support Agency Launch: a film prepared for the launch of the agency to explain its work NFA ID N - 4390334
Metrotech Wigan (click here to view) promotional film for Wigan as a technology centre Perspectives of Latin America (click here to view) film to encourage business opportunities in Latin America . Produced and Directed by Janice Kay NFA ID 383480
Police Command (click here to view) Film about the police training college for senior officers.
Television Fillers included
Organ Donor Card to encourage people to donate body organs NFA ID 625996
Dogs and Health- Scoop the Poop filler to encourage dog owners to clear up NFA ID N - 3776095
Television Commercial
Helping the Earth (click Here to view) a climate change commercial NFA ID N - 528594
1994
F0ur documentary film projects were completed together with two television fillers.
Documentary Films
Healthy Eating: Video Diaries was produced for the Health Education Authority. The film followed three families with recorded eating difficulties and offered practical advice. NFA ID 459635
Burners for Low Temperature Processes demonstration of some successful broad principles and approaches to energy efficiency. Made by Anvil Films NFA ID 444520
Your Right to Buy Your Council Home featured an animated character called Block who introduced the “Right to Buy” programme. Produced for the Department of the Environment by Film Division Producer Judith Davidson, Director Phillip Draycott NFA ID 437444
Public Scene – Pilot (click here to view ) was the first programme in a planned series of British Sign Language sub-titled video magazine programs for the deaf. Sponsored by the Department of Social Security and the Department of Education. Further programs were made in later years. NFA ID 756127
Television Fillers
Only one produced
Holiday Blues promoted Foreign Office booklet "Health Advice for Travellers" and Form E111 that gave access to emergency care in Europe. NFA ID N-177357
1995
Documentary Films
Three documentary projects were released together with five television fillers.
Multiculturalism sponsored by the Foreign Office looked at how traditional British society was adapting to make space for different ethnic groups. NFA ID 453470
Making IT Fit sponsored by the Department of Education considered the issues that needed to be resolved when introducing information technology into schools such as accommodation and hardware. Target audience was teachers and architects. NFA ID 466595
OPRAF Video was a series of short videos covering virtually every train line in the UK. It promoted the splitting up of British Rail into privatised franchises. NFA ID N- 3776252
Television Fillers
The five television fillers included
Ladder Safety (2-3 fillers) written and produced by John Ross. NFA ID N - 528707
Several fillers drew attention the dangers of Carbon Monoxide (CO2) poisoning by faulty heating boilers. Produced by John Ross NFA IDN-528707
Fireworks Safety made by Film Division Producer John Ross. NFA ID N- 528707
Blood Clots – Smokers a filler suggesting the need for Travel Insurance was sponsored by the Foreign Office.
1996
Documentary Films
Four documentary projects were completed together with three television fillers and several commercials.
Rash Decisions: Dermatitis and Rash Decisions (Off Shore), were sponsored by the Health and Safety Council. The films considered issues around work related dermatitis and included an interview with a Consultant. The second film concentrated on issues arising from offshore drilling situations. NFA ID 478383
Hot Dogs and Cool Cats were two films about fireworks and fire safety designed as a children’s television programme. They mixed firework facts, vital safety tips and jokes. NFA ID 473769
Moonlighterswas another safety film aimed at children it was an animation film about the dangers of playing with matches and lighters. It featured two small children who live on the moon and find a lighter lying in the moon dust.Made by Bevanfield Films, COI Producer John Ross NFA ID 626005
Fast Stream was a recruitment video aimed at encouraging undergraduates to apply to the Civil Service "fast stream". NFA ID 530784
Television Fillers
Television Fillers included the 1996 batch of messages about the dangers of Fireworks.
Burst Pipes television fillers. The message of these fillers was “Know where your stopcock is”. A man watches a game show on television as water starts dripping on his head. The game show host says “Yes folks, it’s time to play ‘Find your stopcock’. The house starts to fill up with water (it was shot it in a studio ‘tank’ ). The man runs around the house looking for the stopcock, opening kitchen cupboards, flinging out pots and pans etc. His wife is in tears , the pay off line: Find Out How to Turn Off Your Waterworks. At one point the family dog floats into the kitchen on a wok. At the end, the water level has risen to the top of the screen and a goldfish swims across.
Endangered Species was a television filler sponsored by DEFRA to draw public attention to this issue. NFA ID N- 5329654
Children and Bottles was one of a series about child safety in the home. These television fillers were produced by John Ross. NFA ID N - 4390311
Television Commercials
Privatisation of public services included a paid time advertising campaign promoting the sales of shares in Railtrack for which several commercials were produced.
1997
Documentary Films
Only one documentary project is recorded as being completed together with ten fillers
Public Scene No 4 was one of a series of magazine programmes produced for profoundly deaf people. The program was made using British sign Language and was subtitled. NFA ID 537046
Television Fillers
C.A.L.M a filler promoting a phone-in counselling service aimed at combatting depression. NFA ID 584460
Take Care of Your Eyes provided information and advice about eye care. Produced by Janice Kay. NFA ID N -720498
Blood Donation - Get Here an appeal for donors NFA ID 720491
Television fillers about Electric Plug Safety, Electric Flexes and Young Children, Keep Britain Tidy, Toy Safety andFireworks were produced by John Ross
Television commercials
Royal Marines Recruitment advertisement with the tag line" Do You Have The Strength of Mind to Become a royal Marine commando?" NFA ID N- 3633231
Inland Revenue Self Assessment. eleven television commercials including three in Welsh were produced as part of a campaign by HMRC to promote Self Assessment Tax Forms . NFA ID 497142
1998
Five documentary projects were completed together with five television fillers and five commercials.
Escaping the Maze was commissioned by the Health and Safety Executive aimed at businesses to explain how to access the different information outlets and the benefits of using them. NFA ID 504859
Public Scene (issues 5 and 6) were two more programmes in the magazine series made for the profoundly deaf were produced. NFA ID 584417 and. 584418
A Laugh on the Bus was commissioned by the London Transport Museum to promote safe behaviour by children on buses.
MV Derbyshire Survey was an unusual project commissioned by the UK EC Assessor. It was about the sinking of the ship MV Derbyshire. It used 3D animated graphics to illustrate events leading to the sinking. NFA ID 532381
Getting the Balance Right was a training film for prison officers about the day to day handling of inmates. NFA ID N-6920135
Television fillers
New Deal for Lone Parents a commercial advertising an Action Line for lone parents giving information about a “new deal` employment scheme. NFA ID 584472
Disability Awareness were a group of television fillers designed to promote awareness of the disabled. NFA ID 584450
Euro Preparation a television filler aimed at businesses and sponsored by the Treasury about the forthcoming Euro currency. NFA ID 584494
Bath With a Friend and Game Show were television fillers sponsored by the Water Supply Authority to encourage the economical use of water.
Burns and Scalds were a group of four television fillers sponsored by the DTI concerned with safety in the home issues. NFA ID N-528711
Television Commercials
Millenium Action 2000 were a group of commercials reminding everyone to be aware of the Millenium “bug” at the turn of the century. NFA ID 584449
Employment Services Direct were a group of eight animated fillers drawing attention to a telephone job finding service for the unemployed looking for full or part time work. NFA ID 584459
New Deal Endorsement were a group of television commercials about the benefits of a “new deal” initiative aimed at creating employment and training opportunities for the 18-year old. NFA ID 532302
Army Equal Opportunities - Accident television commercial stressing equality of opportunities in the Army. NFA ID 743391
Land Mines - Strike (click here to view) army public relations filler about dealing with land mines.
1999
Documentary Films
Tipping the Balance -Three Chefs was a video project commissioned by the Department of Health to encourage healthier eating in the workplace. Produced inhouse by Judith Davison the film demonstrates how three different chefs could improve food by small changes to ingredients and cooking methods. NFA ID 549381
Public Scene 7 was the latest issue of the magazine series for the profoundly deaf. NFA ID 748751
Rugby World Cup VNR was an anti drugs film Produced inhouse by John Ross and commissioned by the Customs and Excise it referenced the 1999 World Cup.
Television fillers
National Minimum Wage was an announcement and reminder of the new minimum wage
Rugby World Cup. Was commissioned by the Customs and Excise as an anti drugs reminder of the dangers of attempting to smuggle drugs. Produced by John Ross who writes that the crew were able to have the use of a Customs Channel at Luton airport for this filler that was presented by Gary Lineker NFA ID N-5330134
Self Assessment Tax was a television commercial, sponsored by the Inland Revenue in a series designed to make the public aware and understand the concept of the Self Assessment system for making income tax returns.
Working Family Tax Credit the Inland Revenue commissioned this television filler to explain the concept of tax credits available to working families.
Action 2000 was another television filler in a series drawing attention to problems which might arise as a consequence of the Millenium Bug
Environment a television filler commissioned by the Department of the Environment encouraging people to re-cycle waste rubbish.
Trips and Falls: Ballroom Trips and Falls: Handy Mandy were both commissioned by the Department of Trade and Industry(DTI) as safety television fillers NFA ID N-528952
Garden Safety: Little Soldiers was commissioned by DTI as one of a series about safety in the garden. NFA ID 763933
Fireworks 99: each year a new batch of fillers warning of the dangers from fireworks was produced.
Summary 1990 to 1999
The first 10 years of Films and Television Division as part of new COI Executive Agency and Trading Fund demonstrated on the one hand considerable diminution of work from major departments, on the other hand some work appearing from new clients, in some cases newer areas of the government machine.
As noted before, the figures come with a health warning. They are only those productions that have been identified through the National Film Archive. But they are nonetheless clearly indicative of a dip in the amount of work coming to the Film Division, a dip that began in 1989 and was to continue through the 1990s.
As an example in earlier years MOD and the armed services, Army, Navy and RAF, would have accounted for several films for each service each year. Now, in ten years, only one documentary film was made was made for MOD and that was a compilation.
Between1980 to 1989 the Home Office commissioned 10 documentary films and between 1990-1990 only one. The Department of Transport in earlier years commissioned a film each year No films were commissioned between 1990-1999.
However new or newer agencies or smaller departments, some a consequence of changes in the organisation of government, appeared. The Office of Energy Efficiency is a good example with seven films and counting, as it attempted spread the gospel of energy efficiency. The Metropolitan Police despite having a film and video production facility commissioned one ambitious film. Other organisations, the London Transport Museum, Charity Trustees Regulator, Office of Electrical Regulation, Parliamentary Ombudsman represent a range of agencies that would not have been seen by the COI radar as a prospect for work in earlier years.
The effect of this loss of work in terms of Film Division staffing was to remove the need for a separate Overseas Production area so that only one production area remained with one group of producers under a Head of Production.
While some producers tended to specialise, for instance in the production of fillers or commercials, the assumption was that producers would assigned to projects as they came in and the workload of each producer at a given time. The Chinese walls between different production areas that existed in earlier years disappeared.
It is possible that more films were produced in the 1990 to 1999. If you have any information about any other films please write in through "Contact Us" so that they can be added.