As Hollywood prepares for the Oscars, Hertfordshire is fast becoming the new moviemaking capital of the UK.
Oscar-nominated Barbie — last year's biggest worldwide box office smash with takings of nearly $1.5billion globally — was made right here in Hertfordshire at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden.
Barbie's up for eight Oscars tonight for Best Picture, Production Design, Costume Design, Original Song for I'm Just Ken and What Was I Made For?, Adapted Screenplay, Actress in a Supporting Role - America Ferrera, and Actor in a Supporting Role - Ryan Gosling.
Wonka, starring Timothée Chalamet as the famous chocolatier, was also filmed on the sound stages and backlot of the Leavesden studios.
The magical movie tells how a young Willy became the Wonka we all know.
Scenes of Wonka were also shot on location in St Albans, providing a boost to the local economy.
Since its release in December, Wonka has grossed nearly $80million at the British box office — more than Oppenheimer in this country.
With Warner Bros. Studios, which is set to expand in size, and the new state-of-the-art Sky Studios Elstree complex in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire is now seen as the number one destination in the UK for film and TV.
And with the 96th Academy Awards taking place tonight (Sunday) it is clear to see why major movie moguls are choosing the county as the place to make cinema magic.
With its stunning countryside, sprawling mansions, and a plethora of heritage sites, Hertfordshire is often seen on screen in both the movies and high-end TV drama on streaming sites.
Netflix's recent hit series adaptation of One Day was shot on location at both Benington Lordship Gardens near Stevenage and Hatfield House, while Guy Ritchie's new Netflix series of The Gentlemen used Wrotham Park, near Potters Bar, as a filming location.
Netflix series Bridgerton, The Crown and serial killer thriller YOU have also been filmed on location in Herts, as was Sky Atlantic's Jacobean-set Mary & George series starring Oscar-winner Julianne Moore.
Knebworth House, St Albans Cathedral, Brocket Hall, and North Mymms Park are also all used as filming locations in Hertfordshire.
But it’s the production magic that takes place across the major studios situated in Herts that is helping propel the county of opportunity into a golden era of film making — Elstree Film Studios, Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden (WBSL), Sky Studios Elstree, BBC Studioworks, and the newest proposal, Sunset Waltham Cross Studios in the borough of Broxbourne.
Hertfordshire's box office success
Two of the top three performers at the UK and Ireland box office in 2023 were produced at WBSL, which is situated just outside Watford.
Top, of course, is the $1billion-making Barbie, starring Margot Robbie and La La Land's Ryan Gosling and directed by Greta Gerwig. So Barbie Land is in Hertfordshire!
According to the British Film Institute (BFI), Barbie earned £95.6m in box office takings, while Wonka starring Timothée Chalamet and Olivia Colman came in third last year, grossing £58.4m.
Released in December 2023, Wonka has since overtaken Oppenheimer in box office takings in this country.
This has made the county the economic hub for the filming of many of today’s biggest TV shows and Oscar-nominated movies.
Only last week it was revealed that NBCUniversal's next Jurassic World movie will be filmed at Sky Studios Elstree, which has already hosted the movie adaptation of West End musical Wicked, and Paddington 3, now named Paddington in Peru.
Paddington in Peru will be in UK cinemas on November 8, 2024.
Partnerships through the Hertfordshire Growth Board, Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), district councils and the Hertfordshire Film Office is testament to how Hertfordshire County Council is working with the creative sector to make it easier to do business here.
Councillor Richard Roberts, leader of Hertfordshire County Council and chair of the Hertfordshire Growth Board, said: “Hertfordshire has a rich heritage in filmmaking from Star Wars to Paddington, Saving Private Ryan to Band of Brothers.
"This is the golden age for Hertfordshire, spearheading skills development and driving job creation.
“It takes an army of different tradespeople and a diverse range of talent to produce a film. Thanks to our co-ordinated approach, working hand in hand with industry, we can ensure our residents and businesses are poised to benefit.”
Developing the next generation of film talent
Not only is Hertfordshire the paramount pick for studio time but it is also a thriving centre of educational excellence with the Elstree Screen Arts Academy (ESA) and University of Hertfordshire producing the next generation of home-grown film makers.
Students at ESA can study a wide range of courses, including creative media production, film studies, production crafts like set and prop design, as well as hair and makeup artistry.
Students have had amazing opportunities working on major productions like The Crown, Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning and Paddington 2.
Benny Zev, a Year 13 student at the Elstree Screen Arts Academy, said: “It's very exciting to be constantly around so many different studios and so much creative hype.
"I'd love to work here at a studio right where I grew up.”
Ella Leboff, another Year 13 student at ESA, said: “It would be incredibly exciting to work at the studios that I've grown up around.
"There are some massive films that I grew up watching like Harry Potter. It would be amazing to work studios like that.”
The University of Hertfordshire has a film and television programme which is in the top 20 for film production nationally, delivering industry ready graduates into the workplace.
The Hatfield-based university has close partnerships with leading industry figures. Former students have been winners of many prestigious television awards, with many going on to gain employment with leading companies and broadcasters such as BBC, Endemol, ITV and Sky.
What the future holds for Hertfordshire's film and TV sector
With incredible education and employment opportunities on the doorstep, and further investment planned over the coming years, the future looks bright for the county’s burgeoning creative industries.
New facilities that have been built in the past decade include Sky Studios Elstree, which sits on a 32-acre site, just off the Borehamwood exit of the A1.
Plans are in the pipeline, subject to Hertsmere planning approval, for Sky Studios Elstree North on an adjoining plot between Rowley Lane and the A1, further expanding Sky's production capacity.
Hertfordshire has a long history of film and TV excellence. Elstree Studios is world renowned and hugely successful and has been in existence for over 90 years.
It has been the studio of choice for many legendary producers and directors, such as Stanley Kubrick and Stephen Spielberg, with memorable films such as the original Star Wars and Indiana Jones trilogies, and The Shining made in Herts.
The Hertsmere Borough Council-owned Elstree Studios has also produced TV shows including Netflix royal drama The Crown, Strictly Come Dancing and The Voice UK.
While some Elstree stages need to be demolished due to RAAC and asbestos, the new Platinum Stages are now fully operational on the site of the former Big Brother house.
A new proposal to Hertfordshire is Sunset Studios, a US franchise that has produced movies such as La La land and the first X-Men franchise.
Backed by a £700m investment, Sunset Studios is developing a 91-acre greenfield site in Broxbourne, close to Junction 25 of the M25 and the A10, and it is expected to become one of the largest film and TV studio campuses in the UK.
The studios will encompass more than 20 sound stages and backlot, and is expected to contribute £300m a year to the local economy.
Last but very much, not least, is the Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden, Hertfordshire, home to the Harry Potter films.
Forthcoming productions made at Leavesden include the second series of Sky's Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon, movie prequel A Quiet Place: Day One and the long-awaited Beetlejuice sequel starring Michael Keaton, now officially titled Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
Councillor Jeremy Newmark, leader of Hertsmere Borough Council and chair of Elstree Studios, said: “These are exciting times for the film and TV industry and, here in Hertsmere, we are right in the heart of the buzz!
“Within a short distance of our Civic Offices in Borehamwood are the council-owned Elstree Studios; BBC Elstree where EastEnders is based, and Sky Studios Elstree where they’ve recently been filming the new Wicked movie.
"Positioned right in between is Elstree Screen Academy where talented young people are honing their skills across a whole range of disciplines and we hope that many will go on to work in the industry in the future.
“Of course the contribution this makes to our local economy is substantial as well as the opportunities it brings for local jobs.
“More broadly it is exciting to be working with partners across Hertfordshire to promote and support the industry.”
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