If your workplace is in an interesting building, why not put it forward to be a film set?
That’s the message from Creative England which is looking for a range of locations for a database to give to movie and TV producers.
Although having a huge film crew around for days on end could be disruptive, it would be paid for and could bring benefits to the local economy. And you never know, stars like Anne Hathaway and Russell Crowe could also pay a visit.
Having your property used as a film location is a way to generate business and attract PR and marketing opportunities.
Kaye Elliott, Creative England’s head of location and production services, said: “We have a tremendous variety of locations in the regions and Creative England works hard both to ensure that productions know about these locations, and to facilitate filming requests quickly and efficiently so that we increase the flow of production to these areas. It’s a huge endorsement that we can attract major film projects such as Les Misérables to film in the English regions.”
A part of the smash hit film Les Misérables was filmed in the Ashridge National Trust woodland. But Creative England is also looking for mansions, large family homes, remote farm houses, and country cottages, industrial mills and factories, sleek city centre offices and penthouses.
Ashridge is no stranger to film productions including ITV Drama A Mother’s Son, BBC Films The Invisible Woman starring Ralph Fiennes, BBC’s Call the Midwife and BBC’s adaptation of David Walliams’ Mr Stink.
It has previously played host to television favourites including Primeval, Merlin, Lewis, Sense & Sensibility, Cranford, Waking the Dead, Midsomer Murders and the feature film, Stardust.
Harvey Edgington, the National Trust’s broadcast and media manager, said: “As well as helping the local economy filming makes a massive contribution to the upkeep of this stunning estate which is an Site of Scientific Interest as well as popular and well used beauty spot.”
The filming industry is estimated to have contributed £20 million to Hertfordshire’s economy in 2009/10.
A major project may spend about £32,000 a day on local employment and services whilst a television production will spend in the region of £17 to £19,000 each day.
Dacorum Borough Council has recently entered a partnership agreement with Creative England, following St Albans in October.
Register properties at www.creativeengland.co.uk/ index.php/portfolio/ location-production-support