Manchester ‘could eclipse LA’, says ex-Simpsons writer
A FORMER writer on The Simpsons believes Manchester has the potential to eclipse Los Angeles as a worldwide centre for the media industries.
During an interview with Manchester DJ and musician Clint Boon at the Salford Media Festival, Josh Weinstein, former writer and executive producer on the American cartoon, told delegates that Manchester had all the infrastructure and talent to claim its place as the new centre for animation and scriptwriting excellence.
He suggested that anyone looking to develop their career in the sector should stay in Manchester where their creativity will be encouraged, rather than look to LA, where it could be stifled.
He said: “Since my college years, when I became a huge fan of Manchester bands such as The Smiths, Joy Division, the Inspiral Carpets, the Stone Roses and James, I’ve known that Manchester is an incredibly creative and inspirational place.
“It was the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and now I see it as being at the heart of a new revolution in the media industries, particularly animation. Manchester has such a proud history in animation, with such companies as Cosgrove Hall.”
Weinstein’s most recent role is as executive producer for Strange Hill High, a Children’s BBC and CBBC series made at Factory Transmedia’s studios in Altrincham, which uses a combination of puppetry and digital animation.
“I don’t think a show as innovative as Strange Hill High could get made in LA as people would be afraid to take that risk,” he added. “In contrast, in the UK I’ve found there’s a spirit of excitement and encouragement in trying new ideas. This spirit is particularly alive in Manchester.”
Weinstein was one of three keynote speakers and almost 20 panel sessions enjoyed by hundreds of attendees at the Salford Media Festival, formerly the Nations and Regions Media Conference, which was hosted by the University of Salford at its MediaCityUK campus this week.
