WALES
REGIONAL CASE STUDY
T
he list of famous fashion capitals tradi-
tionally runs Paris, Milan, London, New
York. But all that may change when
The
Collection
, the first UK original drama backed
by Amazon Prime, streams later this year. Set in
the world of French haute couture after the
Second World War, and following the fortunes
of two brothers at an illustrious Paris fashion
house, season one of the eight-part drama is
written and co-produced by
Ugly Betty
creator
Oliver Goldstick and shot extensively in Swan-
sea, south Wales.
UK Executive Producer Kate Croft originated
the series with Goldstick via her exclusive
development and production deal with Look-
out Point, the production company in which
BBC Worldwide has a 35% stake. It is directed
by Emmy award-winning Dearbhla Walsh
(
Penny Dreadful
), who took the first block of four,
and Dan Zeff, who directed the remainder.
Goldstick moved his family over from the US to
lead the creative team.
“As a writer and showrunner, Oliver is very
clever at creating and writing big shows largely
based in studios with not very much location
work,” says Croft. “We very quickly realised the
vision Oliver had in his head for the fashion
house was so particular that we weren’t going
to find anything ready made, and we would
have to create it.”
Croft and the show’s BAFTA-winning Producer
Selwyn Roberts (
Parade’s End
) put their heads
together to find a suitable UK studio space after
looking at Prague and Hungary. Bay Studios in
Wales had experience of large-scale TV produc-
tions, as it had housed the Starz/BBC Worldwide
co-production
Da Vinci’s Demons
, and it eventu-
ally hosted the show for 15 weeks, with pre-pro-
duction beginning in late 2015 and principal
photography beginning in January 2016.The pro-
duction occupied two-and-a-half stages, utilised
the vast backlot and built Parisian streets out-
side. It also shot at Swansea’s historic Guildhall.
Sunny delights
The biggest challenge during the shoot, how-
ever, came as something of a shock: Wales was
just too sunny. “It’s the best worst thing that
could happen when you’re shooting outside,”
laughs Croft.“It’s not something normally asso-
ciated with Wales. But it is south Wales.”
One thing that was no surprise, however, was
the calibre of the region’s talent. “From the set
builders, to electricians, to grips, set decorators
and costumes, the quality of the Welsh crews is
as good as anywhere in the world,” Roberts
says. “They’re good value for money too, and
will go the extra mile.” Financial support from
the Welsh government and the UK high-end TV
tax relief also helped.
Season one also shot in Paris and a chateau
on the outskirts of the French capital, allow-
ing
The Collection
to qualify for French funding
and backing from France 3. Federation Enter-
tainment’s Pascal Breton is the French co-
production partner while the show has invest-
ment from the Pinewood Wales Investment
Budget and Pinewood Studios.
The production’s proximity to airports in Car-
diff and Bristol, with regular direct flights to
Paris, was also convenient for the French cast
and crew. “We are Paris-Swansea,” Croft says,
“which is wonderful.”
UK
The Collection will be available to stream
in the UK on Amazon Prime from late 2016
“
FROM GRIPS TO SET
DECORATORS, THE WELSH
CREWS ARE AS GOOD AS
ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD
”
Selwyn Roberts, Producer
Wales proved the perfect fit for Amazon Prime’s original drama The Collection, boasting the studio
space and behind-the-scenes talent to help recreate post-Second World War Paris. By
Stuart Kemp
.
BANG ON TREND
The Collection
77
