Manchester enjoys busiest filming year to date
%20in%20Peaky%20Blinders%20Series%20Five%20(004).jpg)
Manchester has enjoyed its busiest year to date for high-end TV drama (HETV).
The city has hosted a range of international productions including projects from Amazon Studios, Netflix, Sony Pictures and FX.
Over the course of the year, the city’s film office, Screen Manchester, processed more than 450 production enquiries resulting in 684 filming days completed across film, TV, music and commercials production.
The total generated in location spend is an estimated £7m, coming from more than 300 productions filming during 2019.
Some of the high-profile HETV projects that utilised the city include World on Fire; The A Word; Cobra; The Stranger, Little Birds, Das Boot; Traces and The Boys and Brassic.
Marvel/Sony Pictures’ major new feature Morbius used the city’s Northern Quarter earlier this year. The area’s streets are often used to double for New York – across various eras. In the case of whistleblower feature Official Secrets, starring Keira Knightley, Manchester ‘played’ London.
Space Studios is one of the big draws to producers and international filmmakers. The purpose-built facility has more than 85,000 sq ft of high spec stages, with the largest at around 29,600 sq ft.
The sixth series of Peaky Blinders is pre-production at Space Studios now readying for filming in early spring 2020, while Sky’s comedy drama Intergalactic is currently in production there. ITV comedy drama Cold Feet is a regular resident at the site.
Screen Manchester's Bobby Cochrane says, "It has been a blockbuster of a year and only when you see all the projects written down to you realise just how sought-after Manchester is as a place to film the best drama.”
Rob Page, commercial director, Space Studios, told The Knowledge: “Since Screen Manchester launched in 2017 we have been delighted to welcome some of the highest profile dramas to Manchester.
"Bobby and his team have an unique ability to find the most interesting locations and to open these up to producers. Manchester now appears in many guises on screens, big and small worldwide.
"This past year has been immensely busy and the signs are good looking forwards.”
Also on The Knowledge
Studios Spotlight – OMA V Film Studios
The latest in our Studios Spotlight is OMA V, due to be fully open at the end of this month in Radlett, Hertfordshire. We speak to Location Collective MD Becky Butler about the new 100,000 sq ft, three-stage facility, the company’s studio portfolio and the plans for the future.
Final series of Vera begins filming
Filming has begun on Series 14 of Silverprint Pictures’ crime drama Vera, as ITV confirmed it will be the final run.
Climate Spring’s development lab returns
Climate Spring’s The Hot House development lab is returning, with screenwriters encouraged to craft “stories of the climate transition.”
Sustainability system launches with new Sky comedy
With sustainability at the top of the agenda for production, managing the eco credentials of your film or TV project is becoming more important every day.
Emma Thompson, Ruth Wilson to star in Mick Herron drama for Apple TV+
Ruth Wilson and Emma Thompson will star in Down Cemetery Road, based on the book by Slow Horses author Mick Herron, for Apple TV+.
Studios Spotlight – Behind the scenes at The Bottle Yard Studios
The latest spotlight in our Studios series shines on Bristol’s Bottle Yard Studios, the largest film and TV studio in the west of England.
