Birmingham eases filmmaking process
Film Birmingham has announced the launch of FilmApp Birmingham, a new online application tool for filmmakers.
The aim of the app is to support the city’s expanding film industry, streamlining filming requests for production teams and aiding an efficient licensing process.
Sindy Campbell, head of Film Birmingham, says: “Film Birmingham is committed to making filming as easy and efficient as possible by providing a one-stop-shop for local and international filmmakers.
“FilmApp will help us make the filming process simple and sustainable, benefitting both filmmakers and the local community.”
Andrew Pavord, head of Apply4 Technology, the company behind FilmApp, says: “FilmApp is made by filmmakers for filmmakers and helps attract more filming into those areas that use it.
“With big budget films spending as much as £100,000 a day in production alone on local streets for accommodation, catering, location hire, transport and parking, the impact can be very positive.”
Birmingham is becoming more popular with filmmakers due to its diverse mix of locations. The city centre is also easily accessible and considerably cheaper than filming in London.
High-profile films to have shot in the city incude Steven Spielberg’s ready Player One – that used Digbeth and the Jewellery Quarter to double for the American Midwest.
The FilmApp family now includes Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Cardiff, Bristol and Bath in the UK, along with most of London and all of Suffolk. In the US, it powers 10 film offices including America’s third biggest film city, Atlanta, Georgia.
FilmApp also supports councils in resident relations, making sure residents are well-informed and filming is considerate, well-managed and able to provide benefits for those hosting filmmakers in their streets. In particular, productions can often offer work experience, training and entry-level jobs to local people.
Click here for more information on the FilmApp.
Photo via Getty Images/In Pictures/ Mike Kemp.
Also on The Knowledge
Shetland wins double recommission
The BBC has ordered two more series of detective drama Shetland with the first (Series 9) filming this month.
Bank of Dave the Sequel begins northern shoot
Filming gets underway today (26 February) on the Netflix sequel to 2023 feature Bank of Dave with shooting taking place largely in Burnley and Leeds.
Filming underway on new series of Strike
Strike, The Ink Black Heart – the sixth instalment of the detective drama - has begun filming.
Feature film Lola and Freddie to shoot in London this summer
A new feature film, Lola and Freddie, will shoot in London locations this summer with Naomie Harris, Joel Fry, Jameela Jamil and Olivia Lee leading the cast.
Construction commences on BBC's West Midlands production hub as new series is greenlit
Ground has been broken on The Tea Factory, a new BBC production hub in the West Midlands that promises to be the BBC’s greenest building, with a new series featuring Billy Billingham to be produced in the region.
Ralph Fiennes to direct and star in The Beacon
Ralph Fiennes is set to make his screenwriting feature debut with The Beacon; he will also direct.