Philip Jackson

Above the Clouds (2020)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Above the Clouds movie poster- Two characters sat and leant up against a yellow car with clouds in the background. Animated style image.

Above the Clouds (2020) © Leon Chambers – Third Light Films

Director: Leon Chambers
Writers: Simon Lord (screenplay), Leon Chambers, Simon Lord, James Godden
Starring: Naomi Morris, Andrew Murton, Philip Jackson
Production Company: Third Light Films
Kent Locations Used: Margate – Turner Contemporary, Seafront and The Harbour Arm, Marine Drive and The Parade, Thanet Way

Above the Clouds (2020) is an offbeat coming-of-age comedy of one girl’s marathon quest to find her real father. When headstrong Charlie (Naomi Morris) discovers her parents have been keeping her biological father secret from her, she recruits a rough sleeper (Andrew Murton) to be her ‘responsible adult’ and sets off for Scotland on her provisional driving licence to go and find him.

Above the Clouds is a feature film directed by Kent filmmaker Leon Chambers who has directed a number of film shorts including Stolen Youth, Lonely Hearts and The Long Lonely Walk, which won five Film Festival awards. Above The Clouds was written by Simon Lord from a story by Leon Chambers, Simon Lord and James Godden.

Above the Clouds, starring Naomi Morris (Pennyworth, Back), Andrew Murton (Let Me Go), Philip Jackson (Peterloo, The Good Karma Hospital), has screened at major international festivals including Austin Film Festival 2018, Naples International Film Festival 2019 and Margate Film Festival 2019 and has won seven awards including Austin Film Festival 2018 Best Narrative Feature – Audience Award, Oxford Film Festival 2019 Best Actress Award & Best Director Award and Naples International Film Festival 2019 Indie Spirit Award. For the full list of festival screenings and awards see here.

Leon Chambers and Simon Lord are currently in development with their next collaboration, sci-fi satire A Certain Tomorrow.

The film makes use of multiple filming locations in Margate including the Turner Contemporary gallery, Margate Seafront and The Harbour Arm, Marine Drive and The Parade and Thanet Way.

Two characters sitting on a white bench in front of a white wall and window at the Turner Contemporary Gallery. Sea can be seen through the window.

Above the Line (2020) production still – Turner Contemporary © Leon Chambers – Third Light Films

Margate is a seaside town complete with sandy beach, harbour, amusement park, period housing and the ultra-modern art gallery Turner Contemporary which offers exhibitions, events and various educational opportunities.

Margate seafront in the district of Thanet is a popular film location and has been used as in various productions such as in feature films King of Thieves (2018) and King Lear (2018). Ramsgate is also a popular location in Thanet and has featured in several productions such as Baptise (2019), Hurricane (2018) and The Tunnel: Sabotage (2016).

Two characters wearing casual clothes standing and talking in front of Margate beach leant against the railing.

Above the Line (2020) – Margate Seafront © Leon Chambers – Third Light Films

The film was released on Tuesday 28th January 2020 and is available to view via iTunes, Amazon Prime and various other on demand channels.

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

Boomers (2014-2016)

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The Boomers cast sitting on a bench - Joan (JUNE WHITFIELD), John (RUSS ABBOT), Maureen (STEPHANIE BEACHAM), Carol (PAULA WILCOX), Trevor (JAMES SMITH), Joyce (ALISON STEADMAN), Alan (PHILIP JACKSON) C BBCHattrickJack Barnes

Joan (June Whitfield), John (Russ Abbot), Maureen (Stephanie Beacham), Carol (Paula Wilcox), Trevor (James Smith), Joyce (Alison Steadman), Alan (Philip Jackson) © BBC/Hattrick/Jack Barnes

Writer: Richard Pinto
Starring: Russ Abbot, Stephanie Beacham, Philip Jackson, James Smith, Alison Steadman, Paula Wilcox
Production Company: Hat Trick Productions
Kent Locations Used: Herne Bay

Boomers (2014-2016) is a BBC One comedy series following the ups and downs of a group of newly retired couples living in a seaside town in England.

The six-part sitcom stars many familiar faces including Russ Abbot (Last of the Summer Wine, The Sarah Jane Adventures), Stephanie Beacham (Dynasty, The Colbys), Philip Jackson (Above the Clouds (2020), Hercule Poirot’s Christmas (1995)), James Smith (The Thick of It, The Iron Lady), Alison Steadman (Gavin & Stacey, Life Is Sweet) and Paula Wilcox (Upstart Crow, The Queen’s Nose). Both series 1 and 2 were written by Richard Pinto (The Kumars at No, 42, Citizen Khan).

After filming the pilot episode in Herne Bay in 2013, the Boomers production team once again visited Herne Bay in May 2014 to film exteriors which doubled as a fictitious Norfolk seaside town. Filming location­­s included the bandstand where they filmed an open day celebration with Morris dancers as well as Central Parade and Studd Hill.

Production returned to Herne Bay for Series 2.

Herne Bay is located on the Kent coast and boasts a delightful beach with a bandstand and seafront gardens as well as many shops and eateries, amusement arcades, and a windmill. Previous productions which have filmed in Herne Bay include Big Bad World (2013) and The Things I Haven’t Told You (2008).

Series 1 of Boomers aired on BBC One from Friday 15th August 2014.

Series 2 of Boomers aired on BBC One from Friday 25th March 2016.

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

Hercule Poirots Christmas (1995)

Posted on by Kent Film Office

 

David Suchet as Hercule Poirot in a Snowy Chilham with a black classic car behind him

David Suchet as Hercule Poirot in a Snowy Chilham © ITV

Director: Edward Bennett

Writer: Clive Exton

Starring: David Suchet, Philip Jackson, Vernon Dobtcheff,  Simon Roberts

Production Company: Carnival Film & Television, London Weekend Television, Picture Partnership Productions

Kent Filming Locations: Chilham 

In 1995 Hercule Poirot (David Suchet) visited Chilham in Kent for a further instalment of his adventures as written by Agatha Christie.

Multi millionaire Simeon (Vernon Dubtcheff) arranges a Christmas gathering with all the family, including prodigal son Harry (Brian Gwaspari) and a newly discovered grand daughter, Pilar (Sasha Behar).

When everyone is gathered, Simeon hints at changing his will and favouring the newcomers Harry and Pilar . The scene is set for a power game with deadly consequences and when Simeon is mudered, Chief Inspector Japp (Philip Jackson) calls upon Poirot to investigate.

Edward Bennett (Agatha Christie, Second Sight: Hide and Seek) directs with David Suchet (Flushed away, A Perfect Murder, The Bank Job) returning as Poirot alonsgside Philip Jackson (Deception, My Week with Marilyn), Vernon Dobtcheff (Before Sunset, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade) and Simon Roberts  (Hollow, Ted & Ralph).

For this drama, the pictureque Kentish village of Chilham was transformed into a winter wonderland. A layer of snow covered the beautiful timber framed houses lining the square and the approach to Chilham Castle, which represented the family home.

Although it was the first time that the picturesque village was used as the set for an Agatha Christie adaptation, it wouldn’t remain the last as  Miss Marple – The Moving Finger was also filmed there in 2005.  Other filming projects which have filmed in Chilham include Channel 4 comedy Chickens (2011) and BBC’s Emma (2009).

Hercule Poirots Christmas was first shown in 1995 and is now available to buy on DVD.

 

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

Poirot – The Kidnapped Prime Minister (1990)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
faint image of poirot standing with his back to the camera, Agatha Christie's Poirot written in grey over the top

Poirot – The Kidnapped Prime Minister © ITV

Writer: Agatha Christie (novel), Clive Exton (adaption)

Director: Andrew Grieve

Starring: David Suchet, Hugh Fraser, Philip Jackson

Production Company: Carnival Film & Television, London Weekend Television, Picture Partnership Productions

Kent Locations: Ingress Abbey, Greenhithe, St Margaret’s Bay and Dover

This ITV adaption of Poirot – The Kidnapped Prime Minister is based on Agatha Christie’s Poirot Investigates short story collection. After the Prime Minister (Henry Moxon) doesn’t arrive at an important summit in France, Poirot (David Suchet) is called in to investigate. Can he find out what happened to the Prime Minister and bring him home within the day and a half deadline?

Clive Exton (Rosemary & Thyme, The Boundary, Kipps) writes the adaption, with Andrew Grieve (Hornblower: The Even Chance, Lorna Doone, Kingdom) directing. The episode stars David Suchet (A Perfect Murder, Flushed Away, The Bank Job) as Poirot alongside Hugh Fraser (101 Dalmatians, Patriot Games, The Draughtsman’s Contract) and Philip Jackson (My Week with Marilyn, Brassed Off,  Little Voice).

Ingress Abbey features in the episode as the hideout where the kidnappers held the Prime Minister, prior to its restoration. St Margaret’s Bay and Dover Seafront also briefly feature.

Ingress Abbey- Stone grand house surrounded by trees

Poirot – The Kidnapped Prime Minister Ingress Abbey © ITV

misty image of St Margarets Bay with a black car driving along the road. A man is walking along the seafront

Poirot – The Kidnapped Prime Minister St Margarets Bay © ITV

In Greenhithe, North Kent, the private residence of Ingress Abbey is a Gothic style country house with a large dining hall, ballroom, orangery, panelled passages and rooms.

St Margaret’s Bay is a splendid beach in Dover, near the infamous White Cliffs. Productions which have previously filmed in the Dover area include Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Mr Selfridge Series 3 (2015) and Missing (2009).

Other Poirot episodes to be filmed in Kent include Poirot “The Clocks” (2009) which used Dover Castle, Dover and St Margaret’s Bay and Hercule Poirot’s Christmas (1995) which was filmed in Chilham.

Poirot – The Kidnapped Prime Minister aired in 1990 and is now available for DVD purchase.

 

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