Author: Kent Film Office

Strawberry Fields (2012)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Strawberry Fields Film Poster- Strawberry Fields written in pink with a montage of images of the cast members and clips from the film

Strawberry Fields Film Poster

Director: Frances Lea

Writer: Frances Lea and Judith Johnson 

Starring: Emun Elliott, Philip Martin Brown and Anna Madeley

Production Companies: BBC Films, Film London, Spring Pictures

Kent Filming Locations: Foxbury Farm, Sevenoaks; Shellness, Leysdown

Strawberry Fields is another offering from the highly successful Film London Microwave Project and set for cinema release this week!

Directed by Frances Lea (Fugee Girl, Everyone’s Happy), Strawberry Fields is a tale of sibling rivalry and playing of mind games set in the strawberry fields of Kent. Starring Anna Madeley (In Bruges) Christine Bottomley (The Arbor, Shameless) and Emun Elliott (Prometheus, Game of Thrones) the film tells of the sexual awakening of Gillian during a long, hot British summer picking strawberries, where she meets and falls in love with fellow picker Kevin. But her idyllic new life is jeopardised by the arrival of her sister Emily.

 This ‘terrific British debut’, (Jason Solomons, The Observer)   is released across the UK this week. There will be a special preview at BFI Southbank on 4 July. The film will also be shown at the London Film Festival in October this year.

Making the most of what Kent has to offer, Strawberry Fields features locations in the Kent countryside such as Foxbury Farm in Sevenoaks, Groombridge Railway Station and the Isle of Sheppey.

The Isle of Sheppey boasts some unique landscapes, such as salt marshes and shell beaches that have attracted many previous filmmakers, such as The Hide (2009) and Great Expectations (1989).

Foxbury Farm is a large fruit grower in Sevenoaks and was a new find for this project.

Strawberry Fields was screened at selected cinemas in Summer 2012 and will be shown on Saturday 20th July 2013 at 23:00 on BBC 2.

 

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

Southcliffe (2013)

Posted on by Kent Film Office

 

David Whitehead (Rory Kinnear) and Anthony (Al Weaver) in a misty street

David Whitehead (Rory Kinnear) and Anthony (Al Weaver) © Channel 4

Director: Sean Durkin

Writer: Tony Grisoni

Starring: Rory Kinnear, Sean Harris, Shirley Henderson, Eddie Marsan, Anatol Yusef, Nichola Burley, Joe Dempsie, Kaya Scodelario

Production company: Warp Films

Kent Filming Locations: Faversham, Faversham Recreation Ground, Oare Marshes, Uplees Cottage, Whitstable, East Kent Railway,  Grain Power station, Teynham Court Farm, Canterbury Hospital, The Sittingbourne School and Police Station and many more

Southcliffe is a new four part Channel 4 drama that tells the story of a fictional English town devastated by a series of shootings that take place on a single day. The story is told from the point of view of a journalist who returns to his childhood town to try and unravel the reasons behind the shocking events. The entire series was filmed in Kent, with Faversham doubling as the town “Southcliffe”.

The Warp Films (This is England) production has an array of talent behind it including award-winning writer Tony Grisoni (Red Riding, The Unloved) and directed by 2011 winner of the Sundance Film Festival Directing Award, Sean Durkin (Martha Marcy May Marlene).

The series stars many familiar faces including Rory Kinnear (Black Mirror), Eddie Marsan (Tyrannosaur), Shirley Henderson (Anna Karenina), Sean Harris (Prometheus), Kaya Scodelario (Skins), Joe Dempsie (Game of Thrones), Anatol Yusef (Boardwalk Empire) and Nichola Burley (Wuthering Heights).

In October 2012, Kent welcomed the Southcliffe production team, who based themselves at the East Kent Storage Centre in Faversham and made use of the surrounding beautiful and unique locations such as Faversham, Faversham Recreation Ground, Oare Marshes, Uplees Cottage, Whitstable, East Kent Railway, Grain Power station, Teynham Court Farm, Canterbury Hospital, Sittingbourne Police Station, The Sittingbourne Schoolas well as various other farms, pubs, churches and cafes.  

Anna (Kaya Scodelario) running down a country road

Anna (Kaya Scodelario) © Channel 4

Paul Gould (Anatol Yusef) being pulled over by the police. Police officers in front of their police car on a country road.

Paul Gould (Anatol Yusef) and police © Channel 4

Andrew (Eddie Marsan) and Anna (Kaya Scodelario) at night at a street concert, crowds in the background

Andrew (Eddie Marsan) and Anna (Kaya Scodelario) © Channel 4

Stephen (Sean Harris) in an army uniform with pylons behind him

Stephen (Sean Harris) © Channel 4

The production also made use of the Kent Film Office’s legal powers to close roads for filming, using traffic management and even road closures at various locations.

The Kent County Council Film Office was involved from the early stages actively supporting the production’s location filming. Gabrielle Lindemann, Kent Film Officer explains: “Since Faversham is truly a busy market town, hosting a high-profile drama while keeping disruption to the community to a minimum takes a lot of co-operation between local organisations.

“For example, Faversham Enterprise Partnership liaised between the local community and the production, Kent Highway Services and Kent Police helped to accommodate some tricky road filming, including a key scene on the A299 Thanet Way; Kent Wildlife Trust and Natural England helped with some of the surrounding nature reserves and Swale Borough Council assisted in finding parking spaces for the not inconsiderable number of equipment trucks.”

The Faversham community were thrilled to have such a high profile show choose their town as a backdrop with Laurence Young, of the Faversham Enterprise Partnership, saying: “Local people loved having filming take place around the town and really enjoyed helping the cast and crew.”

Faversham is a beautiful, historic market town which boasts nearly 500 listed buildings and is set on the picturesque Faversham Creek. It has many restaurants, shops, attractions and beautiful walks and has been seen many times on the small screen for productions such as  Cook Me The Money (2013).

Don’t miss the first episode of Southcliffe which will be shown on Sunday 4 August 2013 on Channel 4 at 21:00.

 

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

Redemption (2013)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Hummingbrid Film Poster - actor in a tux in front of city lights at night, Hummingbird is written in neon blue lights

Redemption (Hummingbird) Film Poster © Lionsgate/IM Global

 

Director and writer: Steven Knight

Starring: Jason Statham, Agata Buzek, Benedict Wong, Vicky McClure

Production Company: IM Global, Shoebox Films

Kent Locations: Dartford Crossing – QEII Bridge

Redemption is an action thriller film about ex-Special Forces officer Joey (Jason Statham) who returns to London from the Afghan war and finds himself homeless. After assuming another man’s identity and becoming lost in alcohol, drugs and criminality, Joey tries to turn his life around with the help of a nun, Sister Cristina (Agata Buzek).

The film is directed and written by Steven Knight (Locke, Peaky Blinders) and stars Jason Statham (Snatch, Crank), Agata Buzek (Valerie, Lena), Benedict Wong (Prometheus, The Martian) and Vicky McClure (Broadchurch, This Is England).

The Dartford Crossing – QEII Bridge features in Redemption twice – when Joey drives a van across the bridge and when a lorry approaches the toll.

Dartford is a historic town situated close to London and home to one of Europe’s largest shopping centres. The area has previously been used as a film location by Children in Need – The Rickshaw Challenge (2015), Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010) and Wasp (2003).

Redemption was released in cinemas in June 2013 and is now available for DVD purchase.

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

 

World War Z (2013)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
World War Z - Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) standing in front of a queue of taxis

World War Z – Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) © Paramount Pictures

Director: Marc Forster

Writers: Matthew Michael Carnahan, Drew Goddard and Damon Lindelof (screenplay) and Max Brooks (novel)

Starring: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Sterling Jerins, Matthew Fox, James Badge Dale

Production Company: Skydance Productions, Hemisphere Media Capital, GK Films, Plan B Entertainment, 2DUX²

Kent locations used: Discovery Park, Sandwich

World War Z is an apocalyptic action, sci-fi film starring Brad Pitt (Fight Club, Oceans Trilogy) as United Nations researcher Gerry Lane who is forced to leave his family to travel across the world in a race against time to try and stop the zombie pandemic that is threatening to decimate humanity itself.

Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) running with soldiers down a street

Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) © Paramount Pictures

Based on the 2006 bestselling novel of the same name by author Max Brooks, the film is directed by Marc Forster (Quantum of Solace, Monster’s Ball)from a screenplay by Matthew Michael Carnahan (Lions for Lambs, State of Play) Drew Goddard (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Lost) and Damon Lindelof (Lost, Star Trek – Into Darkness).

Brad Pitt is a supported by Mireille Enos (The Killing), Sterling Jerins (Deception), Matthew Fox (Lost) and James Badge Dale (The Departed).

In September and October 2012, the World War Z production team visited Discovery Park in Sandwich, Dover to use the offices and laboratories  to shoot scenes where Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) tries to find a cure for the zombie pandemic.

Discovery Park is the former head quarters of the pharmaceutical company Pfizer. It offers large office complexes, scientific laboratories, warehouses and plants. 

Discovery Park has previously been used as a film location by  Sky Atlantic drama, The Tunnel (2013) and new BBC series James Mays Cars of People due out in 2014.

Don’t miss World War Z which is out in cinemas on Friday June 21st 2013.

 

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

Not Going Out (2013)

Posted on by Kent Film Office

 

(L-R) Lucy holding Daisy mask, Daisy holding Lee Mask & Lee holding Lucy mask. Lucy (SALLY BRETTON), Daisy (KATY WIX), Lee (LEE MACK)

Not Going Out © BBC, Avalon, Neil Genower

 

Writer: Lee Mack
Director: Alex Hardcastle and Nick Wood
Starring:  Lee Mack, Sally Bretton, Hugh Dennis, Abigail Cruttenden, Bobby Ball
Production Company: Avalon Television
Kent Locations Used: Port of Ramsgate

Popular BBC comedy sitcom Not Going Out is about Lee who has been drifting through life and his landlady Lucy who happens to be the woman of his dreams.

Now in its sixth series, Not Going Out is perfect Friday night viewing, with comedian Lee Mack taking the lead role, supported by Sally Bretton, Miranda Hart , Bobby Ball and Katy Wix.

The Not Going Out production visited Port of Ramsgate to film part of the last episode of the sixth series, entitled ‘Boat’. Lee’s dad, Frank (Bobby Ball) has bought a boat and invites Lee and his friends down for the weekend. When they arrive at Port of Ramsgate, which is doubling for Eastbourne, the boat is not what everyone expected!

Port of Ramsgate is managed by Thanet District Council and is the only Royal Harbour in the country. Ramsgate itself is a beautiful coastal town which boasts visually stunning Victorian architecture, a beach, amusements, arcades, shops, eateries and a theatre.  The area has welcomed productions such as True Love (2012).

Not Going Out: Boat was first shown on Friday 31st May 2013 on BBC One at 21:30.

 

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

 

Murder on the Home Front (2013)

Posted on by Kent Film Office

 

Murder on the Home Front characters standing on a London Street facing the camera

Murder on the Home Front © ITV

Starring: Patrick Kennedy, Tamzin Merchant, James Fleet, Emerald Fennell

Production company: Carnival Films

Kent Locations:  The Historic Dockyard

Murder on the Home Front is a new two part ITV drama set  in London during the Blitz and is loosely based on the memoirs of Molly Lefebure, a secretary to Home Office Pathologist Keith Simpson. It documents the different crimes committed in London at the time by individuals who used the distractions and devastation of the war to conceal their actionsr.

Murder on the Home Front features many familiar faces, including Patrick Kennedy (Boardwalk Empire, Parade’s End) and Tamzin Merchant (Jane Eyre, The Tudors) as well as James Fleet (Four Weddings and a Funeral, The Vicar of Dibley) and Emerald Fennell (Any Human Heart, Anna Karenina).

The Historic Dockyard in Chatham was used to re-create the London streets of World War II. Thanks to its authentic and historic exterior, the The Historic Dockyard in Chatham has often used as a location for productions such as Call the Midwife (2012-2013), Les Misérables (2012) and Sherlock Holmes (2009).

Don’t miss the first episode of Murder on the Home Front which airs on Thursday 9th May 2013 on ITV1 at 21:00.

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

Derek (2013)

Posted on by Kent Film Office

 

L-R Dougie (Karl Pilkington) and Kev (David Earl) on a pebbled beach with white cliffs behind

L-R Dougie (Karl Pilkington) and Kev (David Earl) © Channel 4

Production company: Derek Productions Ltd

Kent Locations Used: Broadstairs, Dumpton Gap, Viking Bay

‘Derek’, written and directed by Ricky Gervais, is a comedy about ‘Derek Noakes’, a 49-year-old retirement home worker with the unique hobby of autograph hunting. A pilot episode was shown in April 2011 on Channel 4 and January 2013 sees the return of Derek in a full series.

Derek (Ricky Gervais) staring at the camera

Derek (Ricky Gervais) © Channel 4

Derek (Ricky Gervais) is a kind, simple and selfless man with good intentions who loves listening to the funny stories told to him by the people at the retirement home about the good old days. He also has close relationships with his co-workers Dougie (Karl Pilkington) and Hannah (Kerry Godliman) – expect lots of laughs!

The Derek production team visited many locations in Thanet back in September 2012, including Broadstairs, Victoria Gardens and Viking Bay, where they shot Derek taking his residents on a day trip to the beach.

Broadstairs is a coastal town in Thanet and has a sandy beach lined with traditional beach huts as well as a band stand and large Victorian terraces.  There is also a thriving high street and plenty of food and drink establishments. Previous visiting productions to the area included  True Love (2012), and The Fixer (2008).

The episode featuring Broadstairs, Victoria Gardens and Viking Bay is the fourth in the series and will be shown on Wednesday 20th February at ­­­­­­­­­­­­22:00 on Channel 4.

 

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

 

Les Misérables (2013)

Posted on by Kent Film Office

 

Les on horses going through the streets through a tunnel

Les Misérables © Universal Pictures

Director: Tom Hooper

Screenplay: William Nicholson

Composer: Claude-Michel Schönberg

Starring: Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman, Helena Bonham Carter, Sacha Baron Cohen, Amanda Seyfried

Production company: Relativity Media, StudioCanal, Working Title Films, Cameron Mackintosh Ltd.

Kent locations used:  The Historic Dockyard Chatham

Les Misérables is based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel and Cameron Mackintosh’s popular musical. It is directed by Oscar award winning director, Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech, The Damned United) and features an ensemble cast of A-List actors, faces including: Anne Hathaway (Dark Knight Rises, One Day), Oscar-winner Russell Crowe (Gladiator, Beautiful Mind), Hugh Jackman (X-Men Series, The Prestige), Helena Bonham Carter (The King’s Speech, Alice in Wonderland) Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat, Hugo) and Amanda Seyfried (Mamma Mia, In Time).  The actors sung live during filming, instead of using pre-recorded tracks, making it more like a musical than any other film.

Anne Hathaway as Fantine working in a factory

Anne Hathaway as Fantine © Universal Pictures

Set in 19th century France, it tells the story of Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) an ex-prisoner who has broken his parole. Hunted by ruthless policeman Javert (Russell Crowe), he is forced to make decisions that will transform his life forever. It is a dramatic tale of broken dreams, unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption.

Les Misérables is the world’s longest-running musical and has been performed on Broadway and the West End, visiting 42 countries in total. It received 70 major theatre awards including an Olivier, a Tony and a Grammy and features classic songs by Claude–Michel Schönberg like “I Dreamed a Dream,” “Bring Him Home,” “One Day More” and “On My Own”. For the first time in movie history, the actors sang live during the filming, instead of using pre-recorded tracks.

The Historic Dockyard in Chatham was used to double as a factory, a court room and various streets. It is a popular and unique filming location, having previously welcomed Sherlock Holmes (2011), The Golden Compass (2007) and the BBC adaptation of Oliver Twist (2007).

Les Misérables was released in cinemas on 11th January 2013 and is now available to buy on DVD.

 

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

Great Expectations (2012)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
The Great Expectations Movie Poster featuring Ralph Fiennes as Magwitch, Jeremy Irvine as Pip, Holliday Grainger as Estella and Helena Bonham Carter as Miss Havisham- Great Expectations written in blue

Great Expectations Movie Poster © Lionsgate

Directed By: Mike Newell

Written By: Charles Dickens (Novel) & David Nicholls (Adaptation)

Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Jeremy Irvine, Holliday Grainger, David Walliams, Jason Flemyng

Production company: BBC Films

Kent Locations Used: St Thomas A Beckett Church in Fairfield, Swale Nature Reserve Shellness, Oare and Elmley Marshes, Stangate Creek, The Historic Dockyard Chatham and Thames and Medway Canal

At the end of the celebratory Charles Dickens bicentenary year, a new feature film adaptation of Great Expectations hits the silver screen. The classic story charts the progress of orphan Pip whose life is changed forever when local spinster Miss Havisham invites him into her home to become a companion to her adopted daughter Estella and a mysterious patron then pays for him to travel to London and become a gentleman. Directed by BAFTA award winning Mike Newell and featuring a stellar cast this is one of the must see films of 2012!

The host of familiar faces include Jeremy Irvine (War Horse) who plays Pip, Ralph Fiennes (Harry Potter series) as convict Abel Magwitch and Helena Bonham Carter (The King’s Speech, Alice in Wonderland) plays the tragic Miss Havisham. They star alongside Robbie Coltrane (Harry Potter series) Jason Flemyng (X-Men) and comedian David Walliams (Little Britain). 

Helena Bonham Carter as Miss Havisham in a brides outfit sitting against a table

Helena Bonham Carter as Miss Havisham © Lionsgate

Since Charles Dickens has many strong connections with Kent, the county’s varied landscapes inspiring the settings of many of his novels, the production chose to shoot at a variety of Kent locations.

The picturesque St Thomas A Beckett Church in Fairfield was a perfect location for the first meeting between Pip and escaped convict Abel Magwitch as it stands isolated on the Romney Marsh and epitomises the bleak and mysterious setting described in the novel. This is not the first time the church has been used for filming as it has previously featured in Parades End (2012) and the BBC’s 2011/2012 adaption of Great Expectations.

Swale Nature Reserve, Shellness is a small coastal region on the Isle of Sheppey which is home to several private properties, a secluded beach and a WWII lookout on a remote part of the island and was used to film a childhood montage featuring young Pip playing along the beach. Shellness has been previously used as a filming location by Strawberry Fields (2012).

The Oare Marshes in Faversham were used as the setting for the blacksmith’s forge. Managed by the Kent Wildlife Trust they are part of an 81 hectare stretch of marshland, freshwater dykes, sea wall and salt marsh and were previously used by independent film The Hide (2009).

Oare Marshes- Cast walking through gates to the field, fields are in the background.

Behind the scenes of Great Expectations filming at Oare Marshes © Kent Film Office

 

Behind the scenes filming at Oare Marshes- filming crew filming at a house

Behind the scenes of Great Expectations filming at Oare Marshes © Kent Film Office

The Great Expectations team also used the Historic Dockyard in Chatham to shoot a warehouse scene with Pip and Herbert at the end of the film. A popular filming location, the Historic Dockyard in Chatham has also welcomed productions such as the 2013 feature film adaption of Les Miserables ,Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011) and BBC’S Oliver Twist (2007).

Elmley Marshes, Stangate Creek and the Thames and Medway Canal were also featured as various marshland locations, including the final dramatic escape sequence featuring Magwitch in a chase scene.

Don’t miss Great Expectations which is set for cinema release on 30th November 2012.

 

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

The Poison Tree (2012)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
The Poison Tree lead characters relaxing around a dinner table with fairy lights.

The Poison Tree © ITV

ITV Mini-Series

Production Company: GroupM Entertainment, ITV,  STV

Kent Locations Used: Dungeness Estate, The Pilot Inn pub

‘The Poison Tree’ is an atmospheric and psychological TV drama based on the popular book of the same name by Erin Kelly. The two 60 minute episodes tell the tale of Karen Clarke (MyAnna Buring), who has been waiting twelve long years for the release of her partner Rex (Matthew Goode), from prison.

With her partner now free, Karen is looking forward to settling down as a normal family with their daughter, Alice (Hebe Johnson). However, Karen starts to receive phone calls and anonymous text messages and she realises that her family are being watched. Despite her best efforts to keep their past a secret, someone knows the truth about what she and Rex did twelve years ago. How far will Karen go to protect her family?

‘The Poison Tree’ was written by Emilia di Girolamo, lead writer/Co-producer of Law & Order UK seasons 5 and 6 and directed by Marek Losey who previously made his debut feature film ‘The Hide’, which was also filmed in Kent.

Filming took place on the Dungeness Estate, which has a rich and diversified history with film and television. The BBC filmed episodes of Dr Who during the 1970’s and the 1998 film ‘I Want You’ staring Rachel Weisz and Alessandro Nivola, which was set in and around Dungeness.

In an interview with Broadcast magazine in December 2012, writer of the TV adaption Emilia di Girolamo  said: “First we decided to change the setting.  Relocating the story to Dungeness gave us an immensely powerful and evocative landscape to work with. Abandoning the traditional dimly lit world of the thriller for the bleached out, desert-like exteriors, the power station. Brooding in the distance, gave a real sense of there being nowhere to hide for Karen, upping the dramatic tension.”

The Poison Tree was shown in December 2012 on ITV 1 and is now available to buy on DVD.

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