Film industry experts take you behind the scenes

Hosted in partnership with the Centre for Creative Futures, the event brought together Location Manager Tony Hood and Production Designer Will Hughes‑Jones for an in‑depth conversation moderated by Dr Deborah Klika (Klikova), Writer, Lecturer and Academic in Screen Production at the University of Greenwich.

Together, the speakers revealed how they bridge the gap between imagination and reality in filmmaking. From scouting the perfect backdrop, to crafting historically accurate period design and how these two departments, one creative and the other logistical, work in harmony to bring the world of Bridgerton and other notable films and TV to life.

The discussion lifted the curtain on many of the tools and techniques shaping contemporary moviemaking. Attendees heard behind-the-scenes anecdotes, industry insights, and practical examples of the day‑to‑day challenges involved in screen production. Highlights included:

• The strict colour “worlds” that define Bridgerton’s visual identity
• The rise of “set‑jetting,” where fans travel to real‑world filming locations and how its benefitting heritage tourism
• How just one-eighth of a page of script can translate into two weeks of intensive production work involving gravel, scaffolding, artificial florals and bespoke infrastructure, often for just a few seconds of screen time.

This event formed a part of The Centre for Creative Futures’ ‘Creative Conversations’ series which brings researchers into conversation with industry leaders to share knowledge with the public. The Centre’s two guiding missions are to facilitate the ethical and sustainable future of the creative industries and to apply arts-based methodologies to local and global challenges and design innovative solutions.

Students taking film & production degree courses at the University of Greenwich attended this unique event in the Painted Hall.  Many film students gain paid Location Marshalling jobs on visiting film crews – often large-scale Hollywood productions who come to Greenwich to shoot period dramas. This not only provides a much-welcome first feature film credit but also allows students to network with career professionals in the industry. In addition, students often use the grand location themselves for their own films.