There’s no doubt that there is added interest in a film if it links with the location it is shown in. This week we have THEIR FINEST, a WW2 film set in London, Devon and Dunkirk. It was filmed mainly in Wales, Pembrokeshire to be precise. The investment in the picture by Ffilm Cymru dictates, very wisely, that a portion of the funding should come back to Wales by virtue of using Welsh locations and labour. That doesn’t unfortunately apply to the on screen talent. The only vestige there of a Welsh connection is Gemma Arterton’s rather all purpose Welsh accent (Ebbw Vale?).
The new film King Arthur: Legend of the Sword was also filmed in Wales, mainly around Capel Curig and other parts of Snowdonia but a small section was filmed on the Doward, close to Monmouth.
The big winner in recent years has been Puzzlewood in Coleford because it was used extensively in the last (proper) Star Wars film and can clearly be identified. The Wye Valley and FOD Tourism Assoc has milked that connection for all it’s worth, and the worth turned out to be pretty spectacular. Every “May 4th be with you,” is an opportunity for a timely reminder.
So the moral of the story is that we need the next James Bond film to involve a chase sequence up Monnow Street culminating ina fight to the death on the roof of Shire Hall. Bring it on!
