Astonishingly, 8% of all films made globally are created in Buckinghamshire and more blockbusters are made in this county than in Hollywood! The reasons for this are UK tax breaks designed to attract film makers, a rich seam of creative and technical talent, and some stunning countryside.
We wanted to see how many film folk live in High Wycombe, which sits at the heart of the county, so a call went out on Facebook a few months ago. From that, a collective of 60 film producers, directors, special effects experts, hair and make-up artists, model makers, camera operators and more now exists. The first gathering happened in April at the launch of the Fisheye Film Festival, in partnership with Marlow Film Studios, at Bucks New University (see image above). More social and networking events are planned, where collaborations and friendships can be forged. Email hello@hwlife.co.uk if you’re interested in joining this collective.
Do you watch major sport or entertainment events on TV? It might surprise you that a Wycombe firm is one of the biggest Outside Broadcast companies in the world, based in Cressex Business Park. EMG is a leading global provider of broadcast services and media solutions. They are a partner for the largest national and international events, bringing live sports and entertainment to television screens across the world. With bases across Europe, their High Wycombe facility houses the UK arm of the EMG Group servicing clients such as BBC, ITV, UEFA and TNT Sports, delivering outside broadcast events such as The London Marathon, The Boat Race, The Ryder Cup, Six Nations rugby, UK international and domestic cricket, as well as entertainment programmes such as The Masked Singer, Britain’s Got Talent and The Brit Awards.
Are you a fan of Captain Scarlet? Or special effects in James Bond? Top freelance model and prop maker (and Wycombe resident) Andy Rolfe has been involved with these and more over his fascinating career. In 2017 he created the Captain Scarlet 50th Anniversary film, recreating all characters and sets in his living room, having worked with Gerry Anderson back in the day. He’s made scaled, ultra-realistic models, such as the sinking building in the James Bond film Casino Royale, and even a 17ft Red Dwarf! He’s also worked on Indiana Jones, Hitch Hiker’s Guide To The Galaxy, Maleficent and a new Star Wars TV series. A Thunderbirds fan (filmed in Slough by the way!) from an early age, he attended High Wycombe College then went to work as a junior in Shepperton and Pinewood Studios. Living in High Wycombe, you’re ideally placed to follow in Andy’s footsteps!
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