documentary

Ade at Sea (2014)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Ade standing on a fishing boat with the sea and other boats behind

Ade at Sea © ITV

Production Company: ITV Studios

Kent Locations used: Thames Estuary – Redsand Forts, Whitstable Harbour, The Historic Dockyard Chatham

ITV’s new 5 part series, Ade at Sea, sees actor and presenter Ade Edmondson set sail to explore the history of Maritime Britain and meet people whose lives are still influenced by the sea today.

In the second episode of the series, Ade travels along the Thames Estuary visiting Kent locations such as The Historic Dockyard Chatham, Whitstable Harbour and Redsand Forts, also known as The Maunsell Forts.

With its cobbled streets, Georgian and Victorian architecture and period features spread across 80 acres, The Historic Dockyard Chatham is a popular filming location having been seen on screen in productions such as Mr Selfridge (2013-2014), Les Miserables (2012) and The Mummy (1999).

Whitstable is a seaside town near Canterbury and is famous for its annual Oyster Festival as well as the delightful harbour, shingle beach, busy high street and strong arts and culture scene.  Whitstable has been previously seen on screen in productions such as Things I Haven’t Told You (2008).   

The Redsand Forts are metal and concrete structures which were built as bombing defences during the Second World War and are located 6 miles out into the Thames Estuary off the coast of Whitstable. They have previously been used on screen for projects such as a Prodigy music video and a Red Bull challenge!

Don’t miss the Thames Estuary episode of Ade at Sea which airs on Thursday 27th March 2014 at 20:30 on ITV1.

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

DEREK (2008)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Tilda Swinton and Issac Julien behind a grey gravestone in a graveyard

Tilda Swinton and Issac Julien © JN Films

Director: Issac Julien

Production Company: Normal Films

Kent Locations: Dungeness, Prospect Cottage, St Clements Church, Old Romney

Drawing of Derek Jarman in black and white

Derek Jarman © Steve Pike & JN Films

Starring Tilda Swinton (The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe, Michael Clayton) and directed by Issac Julien, DEREK explores the many faces of Derek Jarman and looks at his life as an artist and filmmaker. The film is based around previously unseen footage of an interview which was conducted with Jarman in 1991, which is interwoven with clips of his work including pop promos and feature films, as well as rare home movies depicting his family life.

In 2007, Tilda Swinton and Issac Julien visited Kent to film at Derek Jarman’s home ‘Prospect Cottage’ on the Dungeness estate. His garden, made from shingle, driftwood and other material salvaged from the beach, is much treasured and continues to attract both visitors and film crews alike.

Derek Jarman died in 1994 after a long battle with AIDS and he is now buried at St Clements Church in Old Romney.

DEREK was originally shown on More 4 as part of the Jarman Season and has garnered critical acclaim across the globe. This summer the documentary was shown at the Sundance Festival and at The Berlin Film Festival.

Dungeness is a unique coastal landscape with a shingle beach, two lighthouses and a power station. The area is a popular film location having previously been used for productions including Homes By The Sea (2014) and Parades End (2012).

Recently the documentary also received a nomination for Best Documentary at the British Independent Film Awards.

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

Magical Mystery Tour – The Beatles In Kent

Posted on by Kent Film Office
The four Beatles standing in front of a tree, next to their piano in a large field in Knole Park, Sevenoaks

The Beatles Strawberry Fields ForeverForever © The Beatles

Kent Locations: Knole Park, Sevenoaks, West Malling Airfield now Kings Hill.

Legendary English band ‘The Beatles’ who were formed in 1960, became world favourites with their huge catalogue of catchy rock and pop songs. The band, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr filmed several music videos in Kent in 1967 including Strawberry Fields Forever, Penny Lane and I Am The Walrus. They also starred in 52-minute British television film named Magical Mystery Tour in 1967 which documented the band tour in a themed bus with their fans. For the film they arrived in West Malling where they filmed various interior and exterior shots at the old airfield, including the Mystery Marathon. The film was released on 26 December 1967 and is available to buy on DVD.

The Strawberry Fields Forever video filmed at Knole, where the band members walk across the park and climb on and off a tree which is attached to their piano.

The video for Penny Lane includes the band riding their horses through an archway at Knole Park and down towards the ponds. The group then dismount and sit at a picnic table where they are served with their instruments by liveried footmen.

The I Am The Walrus video was entirely filmed at West Malling Airfield, now Kings Hill, where the band perform the song on the airfield as part of their Magical Mystery Tour film.

Historic house Knole is set in a medieval deer-park in Sevenoaks. The National Trust location is over 500 years old and was once the palace of archbishops and royal property of the Tudor dynasty. Knole has previously featured in productions such as Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows (2011), Pirates of the Caribbean On Stranger Tides (2011) and The Other Boleyn Girl (2008).

Kings Hill is a housing and business development built on an airfield site which  has been featured as a film location on Couples Come Dine With Me (2014) and Channel 4’s Cape Wrath (2008).

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