Lambeth residents are urged to participate in the filming that happens on their doorstep – with a new website devoted to local filming news.
The new site: www.lambethfilmoffice.co.uk includes stories about recent filming, background on famous films that shot locally in the past, and encourages everyone to join residents groups in order to get involved.
London is the third most popular film city in the world – continuing to attract filmmakers who celebrate our city on the big screen. As a result, residents are becoming more involved, benefitting through a range of activities including local jobs, work experience, Q&As with filmmakers and set visits.
Residents groups are putting donations from filmmakers to work in all manner of useful ways, from opening internet cafes, opening local play centres, buying street furniture, providing local police with bicycles, plants for community gardens, and even funding free concerts.
Residents associations are heavily involved in discussing plans to film in their neighbourhoods, providing any special terms and conditions to make sure they feel protected and respected by crews.
Lambeth Council’s Film Office is managed by FilmFixer. FilmFixer director Karen Everett explains, “Of all the council services provided, residents possibly know the least about what’s going on in the film office. We hope this website will change all that.
“Along with all the good news about filming in your neighbourhood, it’s important for residents to know what to do if they have a problem.
“The website provides a 24 hour number for residents to call. Someone will always answer this and respond immediately to help. And there’s other helpful information about questions that might come up.”
Councillor Jane Edbrooke, Lambeth Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods adds, “The Lambeth Film Office website helps us explain how filming in Lambeth uses our assets in creative ways to generate revenue to support services to our residents at a time when our funding has been cut by 50 per cent.
“Major productions in Lambeth have included Apple’s iWatch ad, Marvel’s film Kingsman: The Secret Service and 24: Live Another Day. In addition to also helping us host Naomi Campbell and Vogue magazine. All of this work supports and funds youth training schemes and job opportunities which are also a welcome boost for the local community.”
Contact details for Lambeth Film Office are:
• info@lambethfilmoffice.co.uk
• 0207 620 0391
• 24hr emergency phone: 07919 002 115