In the last decade, Manchester has become the location to film in.
The city of Manchester and the wider region has a long-standing and rich heritage of television broadcasting, making it a thriving destination for international film and television crews alike.
We’re shining a spotlight on some of the most successful films and TV productions that had their cameras rolling in Manchester, analysing what can happen behind the scenes and what can be learnt from it.
Peaky Blinders
Like many other productions, filming initially had to be postponed due to the pandemic. The sixth and final series eventually began production in January 2021, but the following April the crew and cast were told to stand down once again due to a false positive COVID test result. A member of the crew had supposedly contracted the virus meaning they were made to isolate, which also required others to do the same after being in contact.
What about behind the scenes?
Post-pandemic, last-minute changes to production schedules still occur regularly. To ensure effective logistical planning, it’s vital to have an accommodation agent that prioritises flexibility in their partnership with property providers. Negotiable terms are key to negating any potential challenges in such an industry where plans are liable to changes.
“Terms need to be flexible when there are late or last-minute changes to production schedules, and there are a lot of moving parts to factor in. The partnership between the agent and the production house needs to be communicative and collaborative. In the television, film and media industry you never quite know what’s going to happen - you need an agent who understands that and applies flexibility and scalability to the situation.” Katie Garrahy, Business Development Manager
Especially when unexpected situations occur; the length of stay may have to be increased or decreased, while still being negotiated for the fairest rate. In unexpected situations – a lead actor contracting Covid, for example, an agent or provider must be able to adapt their offer and overcome any associated challenges. Length of stay may have to be increased or decreased, room configurations may need to be altered, or check-in processes may have to be tailored – while still securing the fairest rates.
Captain America: First Avenger
What about behind the scenes?
Amongst the cast was Hollywood heartthrob, Chris Evans. As the titular character, Evans was required for most scenes and therefore had a longer time on set. It wasn’t just Evans who needed to be checked in to local accommodation, though, as the actor has often gone on record describing his strong bond with Boxer-mix rescue dog, Dodger.
So, what does this mean behind the scenes? Evans' would most likely require a pet-friendly accommodation solution; after all the actor wouldn't want to be apart from his four-legged friend for a long period of time while filming on location.
Luckily for him, he wouldn’t need to bid a tearful farewell, as many apartments now welcome pets. Luckily for us, we have around 800 pet-friendly serviced apartment units in the city of Manchester, ready for Chris and Dodger to visit again anytime.
Blue Peter
As one of the most well-loved kid’s shows on television, Blue Peter encourages the youth of the UK to get creative with cookery, arts, and crafts, while entertaining them with special guests and interactive challenges.
What about behind the scenes?
Blue Peter are trailblazers behind the screen, too. In 2008, their production house, the BBC, trialled them as the first programme to have an in-house carbon footprint scheme. This scheme has since evolved into Albert and has even been adopted by BAFTA.
SilverDoor is no stranger to the Albert accreditation as in 2021 we too were accredited by the organisation. This was achieved following several green achievements and the implementation of a number of sustainable initiatives, such as: digitising our booking process so it’s completely paperless; strong advocacy of third-party certification such as REST for both our property partners and ourselves; and our partnership with carbon offsetting and reforestation organisation, Trees4Travel.
SilverDoor has been taking care of Media and Production companies, cast, crew and executives for over 20 years, so you are guaranteed to receive tailored assistance and guidance from people who understand your industry, your priorities and your deadlines. Reach out to us here.
