Rise in filming days boosts Suffolk economy
The economy of the county of Suffolk received a major boost with total filming days in 2019 up by 12% compared to the previous year.
Suffolk's dedicated regional film office, Screen Suffolk, was set up in late 2016, a year in which there were just 20 filming days per year. That figure rose to 140 days last year.
Screen Suffolk, which manages 450 locations across the county, estimates that around £11,500 per filming day is generated for the local economy – equating to a spend of £1.6m in 2019.
Last year proved a purple patch for Suffolk as several high-profile films headed to film in the locale.
Danny Boyle’s Yesterday starring Himesh Patel shot scenes in locations such as Shingle Street, Dunwich, Halesworth and Lowestoft.
Yesterday filming at Shingle Street
Period feature The Dig starring Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan also filmed extensively in the area to tell the story of the famous Sutton Hoo archaeological excavation. The production team used Suffolk locations including Butley and Thorpeness, and set up a production base at Snape Maltings.
Armando Iannucci’s The Personal History of David Copperfield (pictured, top) filmed extensively in Bury St Edmunds last summer. Angel Hill was used, as was Chequers Square, doubling for Victorian London. The feature also utilised the Theatre Royal.
The Wildman of Orford shoot on Aldeburgh beach
Rachel Aldridge, operations and business development manager for Screen Suffolk, said: “Each separate borough and district has something unique to offer. In west Suffolk we have historic Bury St Edmunds, mid Suffolk has one of the most picturesque villages in the UK - medieval Lavenham - east Suffolk has fabulous beaches and Ipswich has dramatic cityscapes and the docks. You can find everything you need for your film, tv show or photo shoot here.”
Jim Horsfield, also operations and business development manager, commented: “The foresight of all the council’s coming together to setup a film office is now paying dividends to our local economy.
"We have seen an increase in the locations available, bringing in more productions which then gives opportunities and boosts skills for talented cast and crew.”
Photos via Screen Suffolk.
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.