Borough Seeing Revenue Boost from Film Location Fees
Use of Hammersmith Bridge in No Time To Die latest in locally shot scenes
Ralph Fiennes and Daniel Craig as M and James Bond in No Time To Die. Picture: @007/Instagram
Hammersmith and Fulham Council has made hundreds of thousands of pounds from blockbuster film crews shooting on location in the borough.
It has accrued £596,000 in the past seven years from movies such as the James Bond franchise’s No Time to Die, Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody and Paddington Bear.
Last year the council made £88,000 after some of the latest James Bond film was shot in the borough – a Freedom of Information request revealed.
The likes of Daniel Craig, Rami Malek and David Tennant have all filmed recently in the borough.
In 2019 Daniel Craig and Ralph Fiennes were filmed in front of Hammersmith Bridge for No Time to Die.
The shot could have been inspired by Bohemian Rhapsody, which filmed Rami Malek in the same spot.
The borough has a wide range of famous film locations for fanatics to visit.
Fulham Town Hall has hosted a number of very high profile films such as Paddington Bear. The venue made £65,000 from filming costs in 2016 and £46,000 in 2015.
The Exorcist was filmed at All Saints Church in Fulham in 1973 while some scenes from Shaun of the Dead were filmed on Wormwood Scrubs in 2003.
Wormwood Scrubs has proven to be a regular film destination and the council have made over £16,000 from film crews hiring the park in the past five years.
Before closing Hammersmith Town Hall proved to be a popular filming location. In 2017 the venue made the council over £17,000.
Other famous films that were shot in the borough are Love Actually, Bend it like Beckham and 90s cult-classic Trainspotting.
More films and television shows are being filmed in the borough, where location scouts are drawn to the mix of historic and modern architecture and beautiful parks.
Previously speaking about filming in the borough, Councillor Andrew Jones, in charge of the economy, said: “Hammersmith and Fulham residents might often find themselves spotting a familiar building or street on their telly, or on the big screen.
“Modern architecture sits shoulder to shoulder with historic buildings. Combine that with our stunning parks and it’s no wonder Hollywood chooses our borough as its home in West London.
“We’re proud of the borough’s rich heritage on film and welcome anyone who wants to film here and showcase the great locations we have to offer.
Jacob Phillips - Local Democracy Reporter
November 15, 2021