Bristol has seen a significant increase in shows shot in the city, which is credited to the city’s investment into the film industry.
The television and film industry is one of the most profitable industries. As such, investing in the industry as a city is one way to boost the economy as that has far-reaching implications that can include an increase in tourism. This also means that local businesses yield from the popularity of the city.
One of the most recent examples of this instance in the United Kingdom (UK) is Bristol, which has reportedly seen a 225 percent increase in shows shot in the city, which has, in turn, resulted in an increase in the city’s popularity overall.
This has attributed to the city investing in the industry via the Bristol Film Office, which is part of the city council.
Recent notable shows shot in Bristol
In 2021, two British shows garnered attention for being shot in Bristol and its surroundings. Each show had a different feel and tonality, but they were both shot in Bristol.
Furthermore, both productions were able to create distinctive worlds using the city and its surroundings as a backdrop for the stories that they told.
One of these series is Outlaws, which is premised, “Seven strangers from different walks of life forced together to complete a community payback sentence in Bristol.”
The other is Showtrial, for which the premise is, “A high profile murder case captures the attention of the world’s media and the general public alike – Throwing Cleo Roberts, a once high flying solicitor defending the chief suspect, back in to the spotlight.”
Why are so many shows filmed in Bristol?
Cities that have embraced the film and television industry as part of the city’s attraction and invested in the industry to improve the city’s overall state have become signposts.
In Europe, London is the leading city that has done this, as in most of the projects that it is featured on, the city functions more as an “additional character” than just a location to shoot at.
However, after the COVID-19 pandemic, one city that is slowly growing in this regard is Bristol. The city had a 225 percent rise in the number of productions looking to shoot there compared to before the pandemic.
This is credited to Bristol Film Office, which is a part of the city council. The city has recognised the advantages of investing in growing the film and television industry in the city.
One way that it has done so is through the investment by the public sector into growing Bristol influence in the industry.
A prime example of this is the existence of Bottle Yard Studio, which is in South Bristol and is one of two council-owned studios in the country, and the largest studio facility in the west of England.
The studio recently had an £11.3m investment from the West of England metro mayor, Dan Norris, to upgrade its eight stages and build three more by the end of summer 2022.
Bristol Film Office on the implications of Bristol as a filming hotspot
In 2021, Natalie Moore, the manager of the Bristol Film Office, not only affirmed the exponential increase in the city’s demand as a prime shooting location, but she attributed this demand to the investment by the public sector in seeing growth in the years to come.
She also highlighted the far-reaching implications for the city as a whole, by stating, “We were totally inundated by the amount of filming. It was noticeable in the city too – everyone seemed to come across filming. There were a few clashes. We had crews turning up on the same day on the same street.”
Bristol Film Office opens the industry to locals
Since the Bristol Film Office is a part of the city council, it seems that the office is sincere in its efforts to grow the industry locally.
This is as Bristol is already touted as the second city in England with the highest number of film and television companies, after London.
The city council and public sector is trying to counter this as the public sector attempts to provide a home in the city for independent film and television studio companies.
For recent updates and news on casting calls, roadblocks, and other opportunities, you can visit Bristol Film Office.
What shows are being filmed in Bristol in August 2022?
In August 2022, a number of productions were shot in parts of Bristol shared by the Bristol Film Office. Some are local shows created for the BBC and the Discovery Channel, while there is one international production.
At the beginning of August, Universal International Studio started shooting Dodger season two according to this post.
Moreover, Netflix’s Sex Education is currently in production in Bristol for its upcoming new season. Lastly, another notable project shot in Bristol in August 2022 was Bad Wolf’s The Winter King.