BARNSLEY council is trying to boost the town’s reputation as a top location for film and TV by getting people to sign up to have their properties feature on screen.
The town has already appeared in some landmark film and TV projects in recent years including ITV’s Victoria, Utopia Series 2 on Channel 4 and Paddy Considine’s feature film Journeyman which was shot at the Metrodome.
But a new partnership between Creative England and Barnsley Council is looking to lure in more high-profile productions to the area by identifying new filming locations.
It wants building and land owners to register their properties on Creative England’s national location database which is used by film-makers and producers searching for locations for high-end TV dramas and major world-wide feature films.
Whether you live in a restored period property or a sleek new modern mansion, own untouched rural farmland or an old industrial mill, registering a property with Creative England could lead to film producers knocking at the door.
Locations currently available to film-makers in Barnsley include elegant buildings and landscapes such as the town hall and Cannon Hall, with Wentworth Castle Gardens and Stainborough Park providing a backdrop in the BBC period drama Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell and Victoria.
Prime time TV dramas such as Jamaica Inn and Jericho have also captured the borough’s stunning countryside locations on screen, with market town Penistone featuring in ITV’s Brief Encounters.
Creative England Production Services, which is leading the new partnership, provides a free production service to film and TV companies filming in England, outside London, to create investment and jobs.
It works in partnership with the British Film Commission to put England on the international stage by being a one-stop shop for locations, studios, facilities and crew, handling about 1,000 enquiries a year.
Chris Hordley, from Creative England, said it has been working in partnership with Barnsley Council over the past year to raise the profile of the borough within the filming industry.
“Through this tailored programme of work we’ve uncovered a range of excellent new filming locations which are now profiled on our national film location database, but we are not stopping there,” he sai.
“We want Barnsley property owners to tell us of hidden gems that could feature in the next hit TV series.
“In recent years Barnsley has provided the perfect backdrop for several landmark period productions and contemporary film and TV drama with the UK film and TV industry growing at a rapid pace the potential for Barnsley as a filming destination is huge, and I look forward to working with Barnsley Council to maximise opportunities going forward.”
Sue Thiedeman, the council boss for culture and tourism, said: “We value the economic benefits that filming can bring to our borough, both in terms of film making and screen tourism, we are committed to supporting the film industry and those working on productions in our borough.
“We have a good working relationship with Creative England who are actively promoting Barnsley as a film friendly borough.”
To enquire about registering your property, call Chris Hordley on 07901 351197.
