Recent releases

Ewan McGregor films Salmon Fishing in the Yemen ... in Hertfordshire!

This delightful somewhat unusual comedy starring Kristin Scott Thomas, Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt is released nationwide on April 20th
Fisheries scientist Fred Jones (McGregor) finds himself reluctantly involved in a project to bring salmon fly-fishing to the Middle Eastern country of Yemen. Whilst being won over by the charismatic Sheikh (Amr Waked), it is revealed that fishing brings the Sheikh closer to God and he hopes it will have a similar effect on his countrymen. Fred on the other hand begins to cast off his English reserve as he embarks on his own journey of self discovery, encounters late blooming love and finds himself caught up in British political spin. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen has been adapted by Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire) from Paul Torday’s critically acclaimed best-selling novel.

Filming took place for nine weeks over the summer 2010 and the production shot on location in London, Hertfordshire, Scotland and Morocco. The recently demolished Elstree Business Centre in Borehamwood, a film friendly office block, became the civil service office where Fred works. Elstree Business Centre has provided backdrops for many television projects in the past, including Lewis, Murderland, New Tricks and Holby City. Bel Ami recreates 19th century Paris in Hertfordshire

The dramatic adaptation from French author Guy de Maupassant chronicles a corrupt journalist’s rise to one of the most successful men in Paris, is released nationwide on March 9th

Robert Patterson (Twiglight, Remember Me) stars as dashing womanizer, Georges Duroy who rises to power in Paris using his manipulation of the city’s most influential and wealthy women. Leading ladies include Uma Thurman (Kill Bill, Pulp Fiction), Christina Ricci (Sleepy Hollow, Monster) and Kristin Scott Thomas (Mission Impossible, Gosford Park) with the drama being directed by Declan Donnellan.

Film Link, the screen agency for the East of England, worked closely with the production team in the search for locations, sites for unit bases and local contacts from December 2009 until March 2010. Filming was finally confirmed in both Budapest and the UK. In particular a former University of Hertfordshire campus, the Grade I listed Balls Park in Hertford was chosen as well as a private country house near Borehamwood, also in Hertfordshire.

Whilst now under development for conversion into luxury apartments, Balls Park mansion was built in circa. 1640 and has offered many film-makers a truly unique location which considerable scope. Credits include ‘The Young Victoria’, ‘The Golden Compass’, ‘Bleak House’ and ‘Foyles War’. In Bel Ami the property offered the perfect backdrop for the home of Charles (Philip Glenister) and Madeleine Forestier (Uma Thurman) which later becomes the home of Madeleine and Georges Duroy.
Essex sets the haunting scene for The Woman in Black

Daniel Radcliffe stars in this supernatural thriller that filmed on location in Essex. Hammer Films, the makers of classic horror films, releases The Woman in Black nationwide on February 10th

Susan Hill’s now famous novel, The Woman in Black, was set partly on the causeway of the River Blackwater so it was no surprise that the makers of some of the most famous horror films in cinema history – Hammer Films – wanted to shoot scenes on location here. The script written by Jane Goldman and directed by Eden Lake’s, James Watkins follows Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe), a widowed lawyer who discovers that the house belonging to his client is haunted by the ghost of a scorned woman determined to find someone and something she lost... and no one, not even the children are safe.

The Essex causeway is stark, perilous, surrounded by salt marshes and covered at high tide. The path that links Osea Island in the Blackwater with the mainland near Maldon therefore provided the perfect setting. The railway scenes where Arthur Kipps travels to the small market town were filmed on location at the award-winning Colne Valley Railway. Interior train scenes were however shot in a beautiful period carriage at Mangapps Railway Museum, Burnham. Layer Marney Tower, near Colchester, provided another dramatic setting with the Tudor palace standing tall over the Essex landscape offering commanding views over the River Blackwater and beyond.

Councillor John Archer, Leader of Maldon District Council, said “The Maldon District is able to provide a certain uniqueness and is proving to be one of the locations of choice for film and television makers. As a District we have always been extremely film friendly and I am delighted that what we hope will be another successful filming project has partly been filmed in the Maldon District.” Steven Spielberg’s War Horse showcases the East of England’s Locations, Talent and Facilities

Steven Spielberg’s War Horse gallops onto the big screen on 13th January, chronicling one boy’s love for his horse and an epic journey of courage and sacrifice

War Horse was shot entirely in Britain and former Bedford Modern School student and newcomer, Jeremy Irvine, was selected from hundreds to play lead character, Albert Narracott. The association with Bedfordshire continued, with War Horse filming on location at the Luton Hoo Estate. The transformation of War Horse from a children’s book written by Michael Morpurgo born in St Albans, to an award-winning play was a feat. Now Steven Spielberg is bringing the drama to the big screen with British actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Emily Watson cast in starring roles.

The screenplay is written from the point of view of Joey, the horse. Having met a Great War veteran in a Devonshire pub, Morpurgo was told how he used to confide his worst fears, his deepest feelings, to his horse as he fed him at night. Inspired, Morpurgo went on to write a fictional novel about Albert, a farmer’s son, and his horse, Joey, and what happened when Joey was sold by Albert’s father to the cavalry and shipped off to France to serve on the front line.

The film, even by Spielberg’s standards, involved a colossal number of people: 5,800 extras and sometimes up to 280 horses in a scene. Actor Tom Hiddleston, who plays Captain Nicholls, spent five weeks intensive training with a horse instructor in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire to enable him to lead a squadron charge across a battlefield. East of England Christmas TV Crackers

This Christmas there are festive period dramas and heart-warming comedies to enjoy, many of which filmed in the East of England

Christmas Eve sees comedy Lapland kick off BBC1 festivities following the chaotic Birkenhead family who believe in making Christmas as special as possible. Sue Johnston heads the cast that pack their bags for an authentic yuletide in Lapland which promises to be more than they bargained for! Scenes were filmed on a private farm in Radlett, Hertfordshire.

Christmas Day treats include a visit to the residents of Albert Square in EastEnders which films at BBC Elstree Centre, Hertfordshire. This year’s Christmas and New Year storyline culminates in the funeral of one of the soap’s longest running characters. Part of the storyline was shot at Elstree Studios where secret scenes on the backlot where filmed, and the funeral of the Walford resident was filmed at St James’ Church, Bushey.

Boxing Day evening can be spent with the much loved Sir David Jason who co-stars with David Walliams in a brand new series, The Royal Bodyguard on BBC1 at 9.30pm. David Jason plays Captain Guy Hubble, the walking disaster who has the fate of the Royal Family in his hands. The series follows the escapades of the ex-guardsman who upsets foreign ambassadors and members of the public as he haphazardly carries out security checks and takes on personal rescue missions. The production filmed at two Hertfordshire rural estates, the beautiful Ashridge and Gaddesden Estates where a farmyard was used as a unit base and scenes were shot in farm buildings and in Marsh Wood.

The BBC’s big festive period drama is Great Expectations showing at 9pm for three consecutive nights beginning Tuesday, 27th December. The all star cast includes Gillian Anderson, Ray Winstone, Douglas Booth and David Suchet. Film Link was heavily involved in helping to search for locations to recreate Dickensian scenes. As a result location filming occurred in Bedfordshire, Essex and Hertfordshire. Miss Haversham’s house was discovered in Hertfordshire where the BBC took up residence over the summer. Another Hertfordshire residence was used for driveway scenes, and a private estate in Bedfordshire provided backdrops for key scenes. The parish of Tollesbury in Maldon, Essex was selected after an extensive search of the marshes along the coast from North Norfolk to Romney Marsh. Unsurprisingly the Tollesbury saltings stood out as they truly encapsulated the landscape Dickens described.
Johnny English Reborn

Rowan Atkinson returns to the role of the accidental secret agent who laughs in the face of danger in comedy spy-thriller Johnny English Reborn which is released Nationwide on October 7th.

In his latest adventure, the most unlikely intelligence officer must stop a group of international assassins before they eliminate a world leader and cause global chaos. The unorthodox agent has been honing his unique skills in a remote region of Asia but now the world needs him once again, Johnny English is back in action.

This is the sequel to 2003’s Johnny English which filmed on location at St Albans Cathedral and Leavesden Park in Hertfordshire. Universal Pictures filmed scenes for Johnny English Reborn at the magnificent 18th century mansion and golf club, Brocket Hall, also located in Hertfordshire.

Helicopter and golf scenes as well as interior shots involving the hapless agent were filmed within the 543 acre estate some of which featured the Hall as a perfect backdrop. Brocket Hall has previously welcomed filming for the Oscar winning film The Queen starring Helen Mirren, the 1988 film Willow starring Val Kilmer and the Emmy award winning TV Series Pride & Prejudice starring Colin Firth.

Jeanette Edwards, Event Co-ordinator at Brocket Hall said, “We were delighted to welcome Johnny English back to Brocket Hall. The Stately Home itself provides countless period and modern filming opportunities, while those available on the estate are simply endless. The scenes shot at Brocket Hall for Johnny English Reborn showcase the jewel in our crown – the Hall, but also feature one of our two beautiful golf courses and the stunning Capability Brown inspired parkland. We always welcome filming opportunities at Brocket Hall, as they are such a fantastic way of publicising the estate to such a wide, global audience.” Gulliver’s Travels

Directed by Rob Letterman and written by Joe Stillman and Nicholas Stoller, Gullivers Travels is a family comedy adventure based on the 18th century book by Jonathan Swift. The story is however set in the 21st century and finds Lemuel Gulliver (Jack Black, also one of the Producers) taking an assignment to the Bermuda Triangle. Following his encounter with a waterspout Gulliver finds himself in Lilliput and so begins his adventure with Lilliput’s miniature population. Catherine Tate stars as the Queen of Lilliput, Emily Blunt as Princess Mary and Billy Connolly as King Benjamin.

Gulliver’s Travels filmed in the National Trust’s Ashridge Estate in Hertfordshire as well as a private property elsewhere in the county.

Find out more from IMdB Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

Based at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden in Hertfordshire, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 filmed on location in the East of England. Directed by David Yates and based on the novel by J.K. Rowling with screenplay by Steve Kloves, Harry (Daniel Radcliff) has to race against time to destroy all the Horcruxes. A complex night shoot occurred around the Dartford Crossing involving Harry and Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) facilitated by Film Link staff which could not have occurred without the full support of the both Dartford and Thurrock Councils, Highways and Le Crossing. The stunning National Trust’s Tudor Guildhall in Lavenham also appeared on screen as the backdrop for Godrics Hollow when Harry and Hermoine (Emma Watson) are on the hunt for the Sword of Gryffindor.

Find out more on IMdB