Peaky Blinders: Industry

Question 1

Who produces and who funds Peaky Blinders?

Answer 1

• Peaky Blinders is a co-production between Caryn Mandabach productions, Tiger Aspect (both independent) and Yorkshire Screen Fund.
• The show was the first to receive a grant from Yorkshire Screen Content Fund, set up to promote production and representation of the county.

Question 2

Who created Peaky Blinders?

Answer 2

• The show was created by Steven Knight, who grew up in the Small Heath area of Birmingham - where most of the show is based.

Question 3

Steven Knight

Answer 3

• Knight had previously written
  several successful film and TV titles, including Dirty Pretty Things, Hummingbird and Eastern Promises – these are also crime dramas with strong characterisation and explorations of social issues including national / class identity.
• His name on the project was a draw for production companies and finance, in the show’s inception.

Question 4

Who distributed Peaky Blinders initially and who was it then sold to and why? How did this positively impact the show?

Answer 4

• Peaky Blinders was distributed by the Weinstein Company in the USA but, in the wake of the #MeToo movement’s revelations, the rights were sold to Netflix.
• This has exposed the show to a far wider global market in the longer term.

Question 5

How does Peaky Blinders reflect Netflix’s pledge to increase international appeal?

Answer 5

• Peaky Blinders would be good example of Netflix’s commitment to ‘telling local stories on a global platform’,
• i.e. commissioning or purchasing content based in a very specific location and culture, that also has international appeal.
• The Korean show Squid Game is another good example of this.