When film production is mentioned, we naturally think of the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, red carpets and American movies sets. But did you know that many of the biggest blockbusters have been filmed much closer to home?
www.fromthehipvideo.co.uk
Created by From The Hip Video Production, who offer their film production services in Hampshire. The infographic shows some of the highest-grossing films that are shot on location across Surrey and Hampshire.
This map also includes the exact moment the location is featured, so next time you’re settling down for a movie night, keep an eye out for some familiar places.
The counties are no stranger to the silver screen, but their locations are becoming increasingly popular. In July 2019, Netflix announced a production deal with Shepperton Studios.
Netflix has already made over 40 productions within the UK, including The Crown, Sex Education and Black Mirror and have since been looking for a permanent studio. Shepperton studios offer 14 sound stages, workshops and office space, ensuring Netflix can continue to produce quality content.
In early August, a production team was spotted at Loseley Park working on the Netflix adaptation of Dame Daphne du Maurier’s novel Rebecca starring Lily James.
This new deal between Netflix and Shepperton Studios is likely to see a boost in production across Surrey and surrounding areas and encourage tourism, alongside providing more employment throughout the creative industry.
Surrey and Hampshire have always been particularly popular counties due to their array of historic buildings. From manor houses to stables, period dramas have always been able to find a perfect location, much of the woodland is labelled as ‘historic’ meaning no sign of the modern world is visible and much of the forest has been untouched by contemporary hands. These woodlands have seen the likes of Gladiator, Doctor Who and Beauty & The Beast. For 25 movies that were filmed in Surrey click here.
Not only have locations been used to depict what they already are, Surrey and Hampshire also offer many places that give the illusion of elsewhere.
Examples include Kingsman: The Secret Service that fools you into believing the church that hosts the famous fight scene at the end is in a classic American chapel. This is actually The Garrison Church of St. Barbara’s in Camberley.
The banks of the River Nile in The Mummy are in fact the banks of Frensham ponds and The Vatican in The Da Vinci Code is the interior of Winchester Cathedral.
Due to the UK’s long history and numerous cultures, this has provided a plethora of locations as well as some of the world’s best studios. From ancient ruins to modern architecture, it would be difficult to not find a suitable building.
Film and high-end television have also benefited from tax reliefs in the UK alongside tax credits are attracting more Hollywood companies. With rebates of up to 25%, it is no wonder producers are in favour.
Not only is local filming exciting and interesting to residents, but it is also important to local businesses. Film-induced tourism is now the fastest-growing sector of the tourism industry. The most prominent example of this is in New Zealand, a study revealed that up to 72% of potential and current tourists have seen The Lord of The Rings and this was one of the factors that led them to visit the islands. After the release of the trilogy, tourism numbers rose at an extreme rate and it was due to this that the country founded a tourism board.
Croatia has also seen a staggering increase in tourism since the release of Game of Thrones and the tours of set locations within the country has become one of the biggest ‘must-do’ for visitors. In a study by Creative England, in all eight locations they surveyed tourists stated they would have never visited had it not been for the production that had been shot there.
Although no one can guarantee Surrey and Hampshire the same success with tourism, we can be certain that local businesses may benefit to some extent. Some local cafes and hotels offer themed stays that draw tourists in with a ‘real-life’ look at their favourite shows and film. Other businesses, such as coach tours and themed nights are also cashing in on this new-age form of tourism.
Now Netflix will be a long-term fixture on our doorstep, many businesses may start looking into how they can benefit from this exciting new resident. Film-induced tourism can reveal a wealth of opportunity for local entrepreneurs and small businesses to be creative with their branding and gain advantage from the age of streaming.
