Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is the second of the film trilogy, penned by JK Rowling, and it’s opening on November 16th (November 8th in Paris).
Set in Paris and the UK, some of the key location shoots were in London over a six month-period, facilitated by FilmFixer for our client boroughs, although the location and studio-shot footage is often interspersed, both with plenty of CGI thrown in. Here’s the trailer.
Already in the trailer Lambeth Bridge is recognisable, where Jude Law as Dumbledore tries to talk Eddie Redmayne (Newt Scamander), into helping out, saying, “I can’t move against Grindelwald, it has to be you.”
Eddie Redmayne and Callum Turner, as his brother in the film Theseus Scamander, are seen performing magic in some high stakes action at Highgate Cemetery, on the borders of Camden, Haringey and Islington.
Newt Scamander’s home is set in St Mary’s Gardens in Lambeth – making it an important continuity location.
FilmFixer manages the film office service for 16 of London’s 33 boroughs including Islington, Lambeth, Camden and Haringey. FilmFixer CEO Karen Everett says, “This is one of the biggest films that shot in London opening this year, and the production made a point of ensuring its impact was as positive as possible.
“The production was extraordinarily generous with donations to local charities near its London locations and gave local young people a career boost with life-changing work experience opportunities.
“Despite the Hollywood scale of this production, the team went to incredible lengths to fit into the communities where it filmed and to minimise any disruption.
“Two trainees were taken on for work experience for four days during the filming in St Mary’s Gardens, Lambeth, from the local programme Creative Sparkworks.
“For local trainees Omar Dick and Robin Barrett, exposure to a production of this scale was a real shot in the arm for their careers, as employers are always looking for as many high-profile film credits as possible.
“It was hard work but Robin said afterwards the range of tasks had given him a good grounding in how the locations department operates, adding that the team at Triton Films was so friendly it was a pleasure working for them and he really felt like part of the team.
“The filming involved 150 cast and crew over two days in November with a couple of extra days for preparation beforehand and returning the square to its former self afterwards.
“The film is set in the 1920s, so road markings and modern signs had to be covered, and modern cars were moved. Locals’ cars were moved to the Imperial War Museum car park and a free 24 hour shuttle bus between there and St Mary’s Gardens was provided. Lighting rigs went up and a rain machine was brought in.
“Local residents and businesses were compensated directly for any disruption the shoot caused them. Some of the local organisations involved included: The Walcot Foundation, the Anonymous Resident Association that includes other non-Walcot Residents in local events such as picnics, The Ship Pub, which accommodated crew as a dining area, JOY, for accommodating the cast in green rooms, Roots & Shoots – which accommodated extras for costume, make-up and dining; Archbishop Sumner School, which allowed the use of their car park on Oakden Street; a donation to Bright Centres; a donation to Ethelred Nursery; and a donation to The Community Care Centre for letting the production store bins on their property.
“The production recognised they were guests in the neighbourhood and committed to minimise disruption as much as possible.
“St Mary’s Gardens is getting used to celebrity guests, after Daniel Day-Lewis filmed some Phantom Thread scenes there in April 2017.
“None of the stars were at the location filming on Lambeth Bridge or Albert Embankment. Cast doubles were used on the bridge. The locations were LIDAR scanned and added into the film in post-production, around the real stars who’d filmed the scenes in the studio. The Albert Embankment filming took place in July and Lambeth Bridge filming in October. A donation was made to the Lambeth High Street Residents Association.
“Across in north London, 200 cast and crew filmed at Highgate Cemetery from October 16th to October 21st last year. This filming involved, ‘four cast members, 60 extras and a magical creature’. Certainly, as we’ve said, Eddie Redmayne and Callum Turner are in those scenes.
“The West Cemetery at Highgate is an incredible location and looks marvellous even in the trailer, with its Victorian Gothic Terrace Catacombs, Egyptian Avenue and the Circle of Lebanon easy to spot.
“The cemetery is a private location, we provided support in making Swain’s Lane available for tech parking and permitting a marquee in Waterlow Park for dining and somewhere the crew and actors could rest.
“Extremely generous donations were made to the Highgate Newtown Community Centre, Clean Break theatre company that supports women on stage, in prison and in the community, The Fresh Youth Academy and Friends of Waterlow Park.
“We really admire the production’s support for these charities that tackle some of the more complex social issues in the community.
“In Islington we facilitated parking for 300 cast and crew filming in the City around Lothbury. We believe these scenes included the Circus Arcanus, however, it has to be said, despite the size of this production, the huge numbers of cast and crew, it managed to keep a lid on almost all aspects of the plot during the location filming.
“As Londoners we are incredibly proud that the capital plays a key role in the film. We also have a great deal of respect for a production that was able to ensure Londoners felt so welcome to benefit directly from this huge production.”
Supacell – Unmistakably London
Written and directed by Rapman, Supacell is a show set in and inspired by London.
A Quiet Place: Day One
A Quiet Place: Day One touches down in London to film key scenes across the city. (Sssshhhhh… don’t make a sound. They’ll hear us.)
Sustainability Behind The Lens
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Ezra Collective in Romford
British jazz quintet Ezra Collective filmed their latest video in Havering. The song is called God Gave Me Feet For Dancing, and we’re thrilled that the team chose Romford as their dancefloor.
Bridgerton, Season 3
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Waltham Forest Film Office
As of 1st May 2024, FilmFixer is the new film service for Waltham Forest. We’re ready to take your applications to film, or to answer your questions if you’re a local resident or business owner!
Ghostbusters In Camden
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire filmed a key scene is Russell Square Gardens. Who you gonna call? Camden Film Office!
The Mark Milsome Foundation and Set Ready
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Q&A with Set Ready trainer, Louise Read
“Set Ready provides a level playing field, which I really like. I meet trainees who come from every kind of background.”
Mr Bates Vs the Post Office
This extraordinary story follows the struggles of innocent sub-postmasters and postmistresses that find themselves wrongly accused of theft, fraud, and false accounting by the Post Office, due to a flawed IT system.
Q&A with Set Ready Trainer, Jim Horsfield
“I’ve seen first hand the need for people with different backgrounds to have their first opportunity to work in the film industry and see them flourish.”
Camden Town Hall has reopened following a 4-year refurbishment
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Disney celebrates 100 years of magic and imagination: FilmFixer reminisces on memorable collaborations
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Everything Now
The successful filming of “Everything Now” in Islington is a testament to the borough’s reputation as a film-friendly location. The borough has a rich cinematic history, and it’s no wonder why it continues to be a magnet for filmmakers.
World Mental Health Day
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Top Boy – Goodbye and thanks! Thoughts from our co-founder and Chairman, Andrew Pavord
We will miss Top Boy, it was a wonderful series, which launched many fruitful careers, both in front and behind the camera.
Unlocking Ideal Unit Base Locations for Location Managers in Camden
Ensuring a suitable and efficient setup for parking technical vehicles is no small feat in a city as dynamic as London.
Discovering Iconic ‘City’ Filming Locations in Islington
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Celebrating The Lioness’
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Unveiling the Cinematic Charm of Kingsway Tram Tunnel in Camden
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Take a punt with these locations!
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Sekforde Street – A Spy Among Friends
London’s iconic Sekforde Street recently played host to the thrilling TV spy series, ‘A Spy Amongst Friends.’ The location turned out to be a star in its own right, providing the ideal backdrop for a successful and visually captivating shoot.
Hospitals and Hijack comes to Kingston University
Fully controllable multi-site hospitals are hard to find. However, look no further than Cambridgeshire Hospital – which features empty wards, corridors, exteriors and roads.
The Brutalist Beauty of Whittington and Maiden Lane Estates
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A Glimpse into Bevin Court’s Rich History
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Camden’s Diverse Green Spaces
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Islington’s Squares on Screen
With a diverse range of architectural styles, Islington has an array of wonderful squares that continue to attract TV & Film productions.
Strawberry Hill House & Gardens
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Camden’s Prettiest Streets
Amidst the bustling markets and trendy boutiques, there exists a hidden gem that transports you back in time
A Night of Music in Islington
The world-renowned Jonas Brothers recently visited the quaint St John Square in Islington to shoot their latest music video, ‘Waffle House.’
Camden Markets: Vibrant Backdrops for Your Next Film Project
Camden is home to an eclectic mix of markets scattered all across the borough. We are here to get you better acquainted with each of these brilliant locations. From striking urban locations to bustling trading areas, our markets offer a range of options to suit your creative vision.
Flippers vs Usher
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Spotlight on Havering
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Friends of Russell Square
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Unlocking London’s Landowners: FilmFixer’s new land owner search service
Found your dream location and don’t know who to speak to? Look no further, FilmFixer has the answer!
Set Ready Training comes to Hounslow
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I Hate Suzie
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Miriams Dickensian Christmas
A real treat tonight – Miriam Margoyles discovers the true meaning of Christmas in a Channel4 production, #MiriamsDickensianChristmas.
Flatshare films in Camden and Southwark
Look out for Filmfixer London boroughs in Paramount+’s ‘Flatshare’. Filming in Camden featured the park at Lincoln’s Inn Fields, while in the borough of Southwark a bus stop scene was filmed in Bellenden Road, complete with fake bus stop.
Lee Park Way
Lee Park Way is a London location gem. You get a 1.2 km private, rural road that is fully-controllable.
A Spy Among Friends films in London
Islington, Camden and Haringey feature in A Spy Among Friends, ITV’s new British espionage thriller series, starring Guy Pearce and Damian Lewis.
McDonald’s Christmas Advert
Christmas is coming! This year’s McDonald’s Christmas advert, directed by Oscar-winner Tom Hooper, was filmed at the Peabody Cumberland Market Estate.
Jack Whitehall
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Everything I Know About Love
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Tesco Mobile
Martins Hill Open Space, in the FilmFixer borough of Bromley, features in the latest Tesco Mobile ad for ‘The Supermarket Mobile’, which features a runaway shopping trolley.
Tilda Swinton
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Enola Holmes 2
The power of transformation is alive and well in Great James Street, in the FilmFixer London Borough of Camden as it was transformed into a busy 19th century street for Enola Holmes 2.
SetReady Special Reception at FOCUS
SetReady, the film training and work placement project supported by FilmFixer, will host a special reception at this year’s FOCUS show, giving an opportunity for location managers to meet trainees that have taken part in the programme.
The Crown Series 5
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Christina Aguilera’s Beautiful
Foots Cray Meadows, in the FilmFixer London borough of Bexley, features throughout the video for the re-release of Christina Aguilera’s Beautiful.
The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself
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The Love Box In Your Living Room
Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse’s contribution to the BBC’s centenary is a spoof documentary about the corporation’s history.
London Borough of Camden features in Star Wars spin off
Andor, is an American science-fiction action television series currently streaming on Disney+ and is part of the Star Wars franchise.
Call of Duty trailer drop
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‘Pretty Red Dress’ shoots in South London
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SetReady in October
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Invitation – SetReady Event at Focus – Tuesday 6th Dec
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Enola Holmes 2 in Camden
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See How They Run across London
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The Suspect
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I Used To Be Famous
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Marvel’s Secret Invasion
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Set Ready in South London
Set Ready attempts to help trainees, develop key soft skills around language, hierarchy, planning, confidence, etiquette and communication.
Hard Drive Gold
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The Sandman
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The Capture
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The Generator Project – 1st Anniversary
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Worst House on The Street
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Lucky in Waterlow Park
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Runners Need
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Award winning Atlanta shoots in London
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National Lottery
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Set Ready in Liverpool
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The Generator Project – Second Quarter Report
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The Essex Serpent
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#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek
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All the Old Knives in London
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Kingston University
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Slow Horses Across London
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Operation Mincemeat
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Night Sweats
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Set Ready in Northern Ireland
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The Last Union
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BBC Idents
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