Filming in the big smoke
London is one of the world’s most
successful film hubs. A combination of
great studios (Pinewood, Shepperton,
Elstree, 3 Mills Studio etc), world-class
production and post-production talent,
competitive tax breaks, and pro-film
authorities has made it a popular choice
for blockbuster filmmakers. With recent
changes to the tax incentive regime in
the UK, it is also beginning to win back
TV drama work from rival countries.
On top of all this, the city has great
locations. From the iconic historic sites
that draw so many tourists through
to the contemporary commercial
architecture that symbolises London’s
financial and retail prowess, there is an
endless array of distinctive backdrops.
According to Film London, the city’s film
agency, London offers “historic country
houses, modern and minimalist loft
conversions, urban cityscapes, riverside
views, woodland spaces, rooftop
panoramic views, underground tunnels,
iconic buildings and landscaped parks.”
Finding the right location is made
much easier by the existence of Film
London, which should be the first port
of call for any producers seeking to
work in the city. A mine of information
on where to go to in the city and who
to work with, it is also a key ally when
seeking permission to shoot from local
authorities.
Recent films that showcase London’s
capabilities include The Imitation
Game, which saw the capital dressed
for the 1940s. In one scene, Benedict
Cumberbatch (as Alan Turing) cycles
to a meeting at MI6 through a central
London street littered with damage
from a Luftwaffe bomb attack the night
before. This was shot on Chancery
Lane and Carey Street, which made
a convincing double for the Blitz-era
location. The shoot involved a 48-hour
weekend road closure, which was
secured with the help of Westminster
Council, and the Corporation of London
Film Offices, along with location agency
Filmfixer representing Camden Council.
Speaking to Film London, location
manager David Broder said: “On the
prep day on the Saturday, 80 tons of
rubble were dropped onto Chancery
Lane and thousands of sandbags
covered the Law Society buildings and
others. The shoot was a great success
with two main units working through the
day on the Sunday. On wrap on Sunday
evening, the clear-up began to get the
street back to working order by 6am the
next day.”
London is not the only beneficiary of the
UK’s production boom. The South East
of England is also playing an important
supporting role. Counties such as Kent,
Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire are all
well-used to hosting production and
see it as a good way to boost their local
economies. A brilliant counterpoint to
London, the South East offers beautiful
landscapes, historic houses, exquisite
towns and villages, a stunning coastline,
marshes, pubs, farms and much more.
Most of the South East counties have
a film office that can help facilitate
production. But a good first port of call
is Creative England, which performs a
similar role to Film London outside the
capital. Creative England’s Production
Services team provides a free film
office service to productions filming in
England. From locations and studios
to facilities and crew, the team help to
find and access the industry’s finest,
liaising with local authorities, film offices,
regional and national partners to gain
filming permissions and facilitate a
smooth shoot.
A good recent example of Creative
England’s input was when it hosted a
familiarisation tour in partnership with
Kent Film Office, 1066 County Film
Office and Brighton & Hove City Council
which highlighted locations, production
office and build space in Kent, East
Sussex and Brighton. The tour was
Location Brittannia:
Find theworld’sbest
locations inLondon
and thesoutheast
That productions in London are on the rise is obvious. You only need to look at Production
Intelligence’s What’s Shooting to see Hollywood loves our capital. And this makes sense: aside from
our attractive tax incentives and amazing crew, we also have some of the most amazing locations.
By Andy Fry
Filming In London and the South East
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