A Hollywood blockbuster that was filmed and finished in Wokingham has brought many benefits to the borough.
The Boys in the Boat, which saw its world premiere in Los Angeles in December, is directed by Sonning resident George Clooney.
It portrays the story of the University of Washington’s men’s eight boat crew that represented the United States in the 1935 summer Olympics.
A spokesperson for Berkshire Film Office, told Wokingham Today: “The Boys in the Boat was an exciting project for the Berkshire Film Office to work on in the Spring of 2022, with conversations regarding the rowing scene taking place over several months.
“The Film Office worked in collaboration with Wokingham Borough Council and the location crew to organise a day of filming on the Thames tow-path, which doubled for Washington, USA, where the film is set.
“A temporary platform was built on the tow-path where the ‘spectators’ viewed the ‘race’, which began at the Upper Thames Rowing Club and ended just before Temple Island.
“This won’t be news to some residents of Wokingham and Henley who may have spotted the filming.
“As well as maintaining Berkshire as a film-friendly county, filming on-locations such as this has other benefits.
“When a film production comes to an area, they need hotels for their crew, food, and parking, all of which aids towards local economic growth.”
Cllr David Cornish, executive member for business and economic development at Wokingham Borough Council, added: “We are very pleased to see many major productions choosing to film in Wokingham Borough.
“International releases, such as ‘The Boys in the Boat’, are putting our borough on the map for the global film industry, raising our profile to provide opportunities for film tourism and bringing a stronger civic pride among our residents.
“The borough boasts a well-developed film industry cluster, with an array of beautiful towns and rural areas for filming on-location, and fantastic studio facilities in Winnersh, Shinfield and Arborfield – and the knock-on effect is widespread.
“Local trades and others that supply the film and television sector benefit from the industry’s prominence in the area, and there is also the potential to attract more screen SMEs and larger companies to the borough, further boosting the local economy.
“For our residents, new jobs have been created. If they are working in the industry or aspiring to gain roles on future productions, they do not need to travel far to receive professional training and gain hands-on experience to pursue a career in films.
“Berkshire is considered one of the major production hubs for film and high-end television in the UK.
“Our borough is well-positioned to play a key part in expanding the screen sector in the area, to create more new jobs, attract inward investment, and support the fast-growing creative industries in the UK.”
The Berkshire Film Office is funded by the six borough councils of Berkshire to facilitate filming on council-owned land.
View their website and services here.
