Author: Kent Film Office

Summerland (2020)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Alice (Gemma Arterton) laying on the grass with a book smiling at the camera with white cliffs as a backdrop.

Gemma Arterton in Summerland (2020) © Michael Wharley Flying Castles Ltd

Writer: Jessica Swale
Director: Jessica Swale
Starring: Gemma Arterton, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Penelope Wilton, Tom Courtenay
Production Company: British Film Institute, Quickfire Films
Kent Locations Used: The Historic Dockyard Chatham

Set during WWII, Summerland is a period drama from writer and first time director Jessica Swale (Horrible Histories: The Movie – Rotten Romans, Leading Lady Parts) tells the story of reclusive writer Alice (Gemma Arterton) as she learns to open her heart to Frank (Lucas Bond), a young Blitz evacuee.

This BFI and Quickfire Films production features Gemma Arterton (St. Trinian’s, Prince of Persia: Sands of Time ) as Alice , Lucas Bond as Frank (The Cleansing Hour, The Miniaturist) alongside other cast members Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Belle 2013), Concussion 2015), Penelope Wilton (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel , Shaun of the Dead) and Tom Courtenay (Doctor Zhivago, 45 Years).

Production for Swale’s directorial feature film debut visited The Historic Dockyard Chatham, making use of multiple areas at the location including; the exterior of the Captain’s House, the Officers Terrace, Old Pay Office, and Sail & Colour Loft.

Set on the River Medway The Historic Dockyard Chatham was once an active Royal Navy shipyard and is a popular Kent filming location, especially for period dramas. Recent productions include Hetty Feather (2015-2020), Call the Midwife (2012-2020) and Pagalpanti (2019).

Summerland is currently set to release in UK cinemas on July 31st 2020.

 

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.

 

 

The Complex: Lockdown (2020)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Michelle Mylett wearing an orange top points a hand gun towards the camera. White walls and plants are behind her.

The Complex: Lockdown – Michelle Mylett – © 101 Films

 

Writer: Lynn Renee Maxcy
Director: Paul Raschid
Starring: Michelle Mylett, Kate Dickie, Al Weaver, Kim Adis
Production Company: Little Jade Productions, Red & Black Films
Kent Locations Used: Discovery Park Ltd, Sandwich Bay Estate, Upton Farm

The Complex: Lockdown is a Sci-Fi Thriller based on a computer game of the same name and set in a locked-down London laboratory after a bio-weapon attack on the city. With time and air running out, two scientists are tasked with saving the life of a bioweapon’s terrorist.

Written by Lynn Renee Maxcy (The Handmaid’s Tale, Covert Affairs) and directed by Paul Raschid (Winterstoke House, White Chamber). It stars Michelle Mylett (Bad Blood, Letterkenny), Kate Dickie (The Witch, Game of Thrones), Al Weaver (Colette, Grantchester (2014), and Kim Adis (The Turning, Get Even).

Production visited Discovery Park Ltd, Sandwich Bay Estate and Upton Farm whilst filming.

Discovery Park Ltd is a popular filming location, which offers a large office complex with science labs and warehouses. Discovery Park Ltd was previously featured in World War Z (2013), Baptiste (2019) and The Tunnel (2013).

Sandwich Bay Estate, is another Kent filming location used for this production. It offers a rural, step shingled beach and at low tide there are large sand flats.

Upton Farm is a Wholesale farm situated in Kent. It offers green fields and pastoral lands. Izo FitzRoy’s 2019 music video for I Want Magic was previously shot here.

The film is being released online via 101 Films on 27th July 2020.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.

 

 

The Old Guard (2020)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Actor Charlize Theron in the front centre pointing her gun off camera, 3 other male cast members are lined up behind her on the stairs of a cave with their guns pointed

The Old Guard (2020) – ©Aimee Spinks/Netflix

 

Writer: Greg Rucka, Leandro Fernandez
Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood
Starring: Charlize Theron, Chiwetell Ejiofor, KiKi Layne, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli, Matthias Schoenaerts, Harry Melling and Van Veronica Ngo
Production Companies: , Denver and Delilah Productions Netflix
Filming Locations: Discovery Park Ltd and Sandwich

Based on the comic book of the same name, The Old Guard is a superhero film that follows Andy (Charlize Theron) and her team of immortal mercenaries who have fought to protect the world for centuries. When the secret of their existence is exposed, it attracts the interest of those whose who seek to exploit their powers.

The film stars Oscar winner Charlize Theron as Andromache of Scythia (Mad Max: Fury Road, Bombshell), Academy Award Nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years A Slave, Dr.Strange), KiKi Layne (If Beale Street Could Talk, Captive State), Marwan Kenzari (Aladdin, The Murder on The Orient Express), Luca Marinelli (Martin Eden, They Call Me Jeeg) and Matthias Schoenaerts (Rust and Bone, Far From The Madding Crowd).

The Old Guard was written by Greg Rucka (Batman: Gotham Knight, Whiteout) and based on the graphic novel he co-created with Leandro Fernandez. The film was directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood (Shots Fired, Beyond the Lights).

Sandwich was used as a double for french town Goussainville. Market Street is briefly seen as Andy leaves a Pharmacy. Discovery Park in Sandwich doubles as Merrick Pharmaceutical throughout the film.

Discovery Park, the former Pfizer research and manufacturing facility, is situated just outside Sandwich and has many office and laboratory spaces available for filming. Previous productions to have filmed there include Baptiste (2019), The Lost Commando Raid (2018) and World War Z (2013).

Sandwich lies on the River Stour and is known for its many medieval buildings in addition to its churches and gated stone walls.  John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, is also credited as the inventor of the sandwich.

Town of Sandwich transformed for filming of The Old Guard- two images of Sandwich. The first of the street with an open lorry that has filming quipement in. The second of a street with cars on, the buildings have french flags outside.

Sandwich transformed for filming of The Old Guard © Kent Online

 

 

 

 

 

The Old Guard will release globally on Netflix on Friday 10th July 2020.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.

 

 

Walking Britain’s Roman Roads (2020)

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Presenter Dan Jones looking at the camera with a Roman road behind him.

Presenter Dan Jones in Walking Britain’s Roman Roads- Copyright Rumpus Media

 

Presenter: Dan Jones
Production Company: Rumpus Media
Kent Locations Used: Canterbury & Pegwell Bay Beach

Walking Britain’s Roman Roads is a six-part series that follows historian and presenter Dan Jones (London: 2000 Years of History, Building Britain’s Canals) as he walks six of Britain’s Roman roads, exploring the different cultures that emerged along these routes. Episode one begins with the country’s oldest and longest road, running from the Kent Coast to Shropshire.

Production visited Pegwell Bay and Watling Street in Canterbury during filming for the Kent episode.

Pegwell Bay is the shallow estuary on the north bank of the River Stour  between Ramsgate and Sandwich in Kent. It is home to a large stretch of sea cliffs, a nature reserve, mudflats and salt marshes. Productions such as Britain at Low Tide – Series 3 (2019) and  River Walks (2018) have previously made use of the beautiful bay.

Canterbury is a historic cathedral city; many of its original historical structures remain, including the cathedral and section of the city wall. The city is a popular tourist destination and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Canterbury Tales (2003) and Great British Railway Journeys Series 11 (2020) have previously filmed here.

Walking Britain’s Roman Roads starts on 5 Select on Wednesday 1st July at 9pm.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.

 

The Great (2020)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Catherine the Great (Elle Fanning) and Peter III (Nicholas Hoult) dancing in a ballroom in historical costumes, with candlelight in the background.

Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult in The Great (2020) © Lionsgate Entertainment

Writer: Tony McNamara, Tess Morris, Gretel Vella, James Wood
Director: Colin Bucksey, Bert & Bertie, Ben Chessell, Geeta Patel, Matt Shakman
Starring: Elle Fanning, Nicholas Hoult, Phoebe Fox, Gwilym Lee, Sacha Dhawan
Production Company: Media Rights Capital, Thruline Entertainment, Echo Lake Entertainment
Kent Locations Used: Hever Castle, St Clere Estate

This upcoming satirical comedy from American streaming company Hulu follows the infamous rise of Prussian-born Catherine the Great as she ascends to become the longest serving female ruler in Russian history. Forced to choose between her own personal happiness and the future of an empire, she abandons a life of love and romance and vows to change a country plagued by deceit and ruin.

This ten-part historical drama was written by Tony McNamara (The Favourite, Ashby) Tess Morris (Casual, Man Up), Gretel Vella (Doctor Doctor) and James Wood (The Gamechangers, Quacks). The TV series was produced by Media Rights Capital, Thruline Entertainment and Echo Lake Entertainment  and features episodes directed by Colin Bucksey (The Affair, Breaking Bad, Ray Donovan), Bert & Bertie (Troop Zero, Kidding), Ben Chessell (The Only Person in the World, Giri/Haji), Geeta Patel (Meet the Patels, Dead to Me) and Matt Shakman (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Good Wife).

The Great’s lead cast are  Elle Fanning (Super 8,  Maleficent, Mary Shelley) as Catherine the Great, Nicholas Hoult (Tolkien, Mad Max: Fury Road, Warm Bodies) as Peter III of Russia and Phoebe Fox (Close to the Enemy, The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death), Gwilym Lee (Bohemian Rhapsody, Midsomer Murders) and Sacha Dhawan (Iron Fist, The History Boys) in supporting roles.

Two locations in Kent were utilised as rich historical backdrops in this international production.

The Italian Loggia on Hever Castle lake doubles as a ballroom of an Eastern European house where Peter III of Russia (Nicholas Hoult) visits. During filming production also visited the fields and stables of St Clere Estate to film various battle scenes.

Hever Castle is an outstanding 13th century and Tudor castle with a moat, stunning Italianate gardens, a beautiful lake, as well as a mock Tudor Village. It was the original home of the Boleyn family. Productions that filmed here include Inkheart (2008) and upcoming TV series The Third Day.

St Clere Estate is set in 2800 acres of the rolling Kent countryside and offers stunning views of the North Downs. Some of the ground’s features include formal gardens, paddocks, a meadow, fields, an orangery, green houses and a temple by the lake. St Clere Estate has previously been used to film Road Games (2016) and Sky’s original series Gangs of London (2020).

The Great will be available to watch on StarzPlay from Thursday 18th June 2020.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.

Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace (2020)

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Close up of presenter Davina McCall looking into the camera wearing a black jumper

Lost Lost Family Born Without Trace- Davina McCall- © ITV

Starring: Davina McCall and Nicky Campbell
Production Company: ITV Studios
Kent Locations Used: Gravesend, Maidstone, Dartford

Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace returns for a second series. The team combine detective work alongside the latest DNA technology to help four contributors uncover their real identities and work out where they came from.

In these two special episodes we see the incredible stories of a man who was left in a car on the outskirts of Belfast, a woman left in a telephone box in Dundalk, another woman found in a public toilet in Warminster and lastly, a man found outside a railway tavern in Greenhithe.

The show is presented by Davina McCall (Long Lost Family) and Nicky Campbell (The Big Questions), who continue to work together to bring solace to many families across the UK.

Production visited a contributor’s house in Gravesend, along with various streets in Maidstone and Dartford.

Gravesend is a town on the south bank of the Thames. The Towns Pier is the oldest remaining cast-iron pier in the world, with an unspoilt promenade, high street and two shopping centres. Top Boy Series 3 (2019) and Great British Railway Journeys – Series 10 (2019) have both filmed here in the past.

The town of Maidstone has many shops, restaurants, bars, churches and a museum. The River Medway runs though the town centre, linking it with other towns such as Rochester and Chatham. Productions to have filmed in Maidstone include Phil Spencer’s Stately Homes – Series 3 (2020) and The Split Series 2 (2020).

Dartford is a historic market town with a rich industrial heritage and boasts one of the largest shopping centres in Europe. Recent productions to film here include Gangs of London (2020) and The Corrupted (2019).

Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace will air on Monday 1st June and Tuesday 2nd June at 9pm on ITV.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.

 

 

 

 

The First Team (2020)

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Actors Theo Barklem-Biggs, Shaquille Ali-Yebuah, Jake Short, Jack McMullen, Will Arnett sitting on a bench in front of a set of lockers wearing red football shirts

Theo Barklem-Biggs, Shaquille Ali-Yebuah, Jake Short, Jack McMullen and Will Arnett in The First Team (2020) © Fudgepark

Writers: Damon Beesley and Iain Morris
Director: Iain Morris, Damon Beesley
Starring: Jack McMullen, Jake Short, and Shaquille Ali-Yebuah
Production Company: BBC Studios, Fudge Park Productions
Kent Locations Used: Sevenoaks

The First Team is a six-part British sitcom following the friendship of three young footballers at a fictional Premier League Club. The series follows the mostly off-pitch antics of the boys played by Shaquille Ali-Yebuah (The Feed (2019), Save Me (2018)), Jack McMullen (Little Boy Blue (2017), Brotherhood (2016)) and Jake Short (All night (2018), Man of the House (2018)) who are far less talented where money and women are concerned than scoring goals. The series also stars Paulo Sassenelli as the mercurial Italian manager Cesare. Will Arnett (The Lego Movie (2014), The Lego Batman Movie (2017), Arrested Development (2003-2019)) as the team’s eccentric American Chairman, Theo Barklem-Biggs (Sliced (2019), White Gold (2019)) as resident hard-man Petey Brooks and Chris Geere(Single Parents (2020), Modern Family (2018-2020)) as their ineffectual coach Chris Booth.

This sitcom was written and directed by The Inbetweeners creators Iain Morris (Ill Behaviour (2017), Drifters (2013-2016)) and Damon Beesley (The Festival (2018), Siblings (2014-2016)). Both writers received the British Comedy Award for Best Sitcom in 2008 for The Inbetweeners, and have also won awards for their comedy series White Gold.

Production visited a private residence in Sevenoaks to double as Petey’s (Theo Barklem-Biggs) house and gardens. Sevenoaks is a Kentish town which is home to landmarks such as Knole Park and Riverhill Gardens, both of which have stunning natural and historic significance. Previous productions to film at Knole Park include The Favourite (2019) and Judwaa 2 (2017).

The First Team will air on BBC Two on Thursday 28th May 2020 at 9:30pm.

Links:
For more information about filming in Kent, please contact: : filmoffice@kent.gov.uk

For more information on The First Team please visit: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9860660/.

For more information on Knole Park please visit: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/knole

For more information on Riverhill Gardens please visit: http://www.riverhillgardens.co.uk/

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map: https://kentfilmoffice.co.uk/kent-movie-map/moviemap-live-2/

 

 

The Big Flower Fight (2020)

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Presenters Natasia Demetriou and Vic Reeves standing in display pavilion holding flowers with flowers behind them.

The Big Flower Fight – Natasia Demetriou and Vic Reeves- ©Netflix

Starring: Natasia Demetriou, Vic Reeves, Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht
Production Company: MultiStory Media
Distributor: Netflix

The Big Flower Fight is a new Netflix reality TV series hosted by Comedian Vic Reeves (Vic and Bob’s Big Night Out, House of Fools,) and Natasia Demetriou (What We Do in the Shadows, Stath Lets Flats,) with floral expert Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht as the head judge. The series follows ten teams of experts, including sculptors, florists and designers who will compete for the chance to design and display their extravagant installations at The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

The experts will compete over eight episodes to stay in the show, with each hour-long episode presenting a new challenge. At the end of each challenge, one team will be eliminated until the winners are crowned in the series finale.

The series was filmed on a private estate in the heart of Kent.

The Big Flower Fight – starts on Netflix on Monday 18th May 2020.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map. 

 

 

 

Queens of Mystery (2019)

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Cast Julie Graham, Siobhan Redmond, and Sarah Woodward standing by a table full of books outside a church with bunting in the background.

Queens of Mystery (2019)- © Sly Fox Productions

Directors: Jamie Magnus Stone and Ian Emes
Starring: Olivia Vinall, Julie Graham, Siobhan Redmond, Sarah Woodward, Rebecca Grant
Production Company: Sly Fox Productions
Kent Locations Used: Ashford, Folkestone & Hythe, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge & Malling and Tunbridge Wells

Queens of Mystery follows the adventures of detective Matilda Stone (Olivia Vinall) and her three crime writing aunts Cat Stone (Julie Graham), Jane Stone (Siobhan Redmond), and Beth Stone (Sarah Woodward) as they attempt to solve crimes in a picturesque English village.

The three feature length episodes were directed by Jamie Magnus Stone (Orbit Ever After, Skyborn) and Ian Emes (The Invisible Man, Deadly Summer), and written by Mathew Thomas (Marcella, The Chameleon) and Julian Unthank (Robin Hood, Doc Martin). Starring are Olivia Vinall (The Woman in White, Where Hands Touch), Julie Graham (Survivors, Shetland), Siobhan Redmond (The Smoking Room, Captives) and Sarah Woodward (The Merry Wives of Windsor).

The series makes use of multiple filming locations in Kent.

Production used Lympne Castle as Hiddledean Castle in the fictional town of Wildemarsh in Murder In The Dark episode. The Castle is an unspoiled 13th century Manor in the Folkestone & Hythe district of Kent that boasts stunning views of the Romney Marsh. It has previously been used as a filming location for The Honourable Woman (2014) and Great Expectations (2012).

Production visited several locations in Farningham, Beth’s cottage was filmed at Mill Estate. Wadard Books doubled as Murder Inc. bookshop and Jane’s house. Farningham Village Store also featured as Wildemarsh Village stores and the Entrance to The Corn Exchange Theatre. Farningham has previously been used as a location for Flesh and Blood (2020).

In the Death By Vinyl episode Stoneydale craft shop in Cranbrook was converted into the The Sound and Fury record shop in Wildemarsh. Cranbrook also features as the High street throughout the series.

St Michael’s Churchyard in Smarden was used as the Wildemarsh churchyard and a private residence in Water Lane featured as the village’s Embittered Hack Pub. Productions to have filmed at Smarden include The Mirror Crack’d (1980).

The series is due to stream on Acorn TV, which will launch on 29th April 2020 and can be found here. 

 

Actress Olivia Vinall and actor Colin Michael Carmichael outside record store set in Cranbrook, with camera man filming them.

Lead actresses Olivia Vinall and guest Colin Michael Carmichael ©Sly Fox Productions

 

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map. 

 

 

 

 

Gangs of London (2020- )

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Production poster showing the London skyline and four actors in suits above it in the rainy clouds. Sky Original Gangs of London written in white

Gangs of London (2019) © Sky UK Limited

Writers: Peter Berry, Claire Wilson, Carl Joos, Lauren Sequeira, Gareth Evans, Matt Flannery
Directors: Corin Hardy, Xavier Gens, Gareth Evans
Starring: Joe Cole, Colm Meaney and Michelle Fairley
Production Company: Pulse Films
Kent Locations Used: St Clere Estate near Sevenoaks, Dartford

Gangs of London tells the story of a city torn apart by power struggles, and the sudden vacuum that arises when the head of London’s most notorious crime family, played by Colm Meaney (Tolkien (2019)), is assassinated. Supporting cast include Joe Cole (Peaky Blinders (2016-2017) and Michelle Fairley (Game of Thrones (2011 – 2013)).

This brand-new Sky original by Pulse Films is a nine-part drama about the inner workings of the largest criminal organisation in London and was created by visionary, award-winning filmmaker Gareth Evans (The Raid: Redemption (2011)) and his creative partner Matt Flannery. The series is directed by Gareth Evans, Corin Hardy (The Nun (2018)) and Xavier Gens (Budapest (2018).

During filming production visited St Clere Estate to stage a Traveller site which is the base of a rival gang. A short driving scene was filmed on Pilgrim’s Way in Dartford. The Dartford Marshes border the Thames by the Queen Elizabeth II bridge and feature as the landing place for a drug delivery by a group of Turkish gang members.

St Clere Estate is set in 2,800 acres of rolling Kent countryside and offers stunning views of the North Downs. The estate features formal gardens, a meadow, ploughed fields, an orangery and a temple by the lake. Previous productions to film at St Clere Estate include Future Tense: The Story of H.G. Wells (2016) and Road Games (2016).

Dartford has a rich industrial heritage and boasts one of the largest shopping centres in Europe, Bluewater. It is a popular film location and recent productions to film here include The Corrupted (2019) and The Escape (2018).

 

Gangs of London will be available to stream on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV from 23rd April 2020.

 

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.