We’ve worked with Transport for London (TfL) to document the stations available for film crews to use as locations. Thus making a ‘virtual recce’ for film crews and location scouts to view and assess before an in-person visit.
Filming on the TfL Network
The Transport for London network has long provided locations for filmmakers. The TfL locations create an instantly recognisable, iconic ‘London’ location for their work. We’re all familiar with these often epic scenes, whether that’s high-octane chases such as James Bond chasing cyberterrorist Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem) through crowded Tubes and sliding down rush-hour escalators; or the poignant drama of the Balham Tube station bombing in Atonement.
TfL’s film office handles all requests to film on the network, looking after this highly distinctive and instantly recognisable international brand. They have been working on new ways to improve their system for recces of the TfL locations. We’ve been incredibly proud to work with them on creating this content.
Virtual recce
Previously, film & photography crews would have had to look through stills of TfL locations, and then visit in person. Production delays could ensue, because at certain stations there are restrictions on the times that it’d be possible to recce. Stills alone don’t let the crew assess all of the angles, layout, logistical considerations and so on. We worked with TfL’s film office on this pioneering project where 360s were the ideal medium for providing scouts and crews with a virtual recce.
Saving time, money… and carbon
A virtual recce offers massive time and money saving potential. A scout or director can look through the 360s and make a thorough assessment of whether the location is likely to work for their production. They can rule out a particular location on this basis, or decide to take it further and visit in person. This saves time and wasted journeys, thus also reducing climate impact.
Qualifying visitors in advance of an in-person recce
For location owners this makes sense too. It takes staff time to arrange and escort film scouts on recces. Previously, many of these recces proved to be time wasted for both parties. It would become apparent for the director once on site that a location wouldn’t work for them. Since introducing virtual recces, and thus pre-qualifying enquirers, TfL have found that they’re making about a third less bookings for recces. The remaining two-thirds know from viewing the 360s before their in-person recce that the location looks likely to be suitable for their shoot.
You can view some of the virtual recces here: Aldwych; Bank; High Street Kensington; Charing Cross; Canary Wharf & Kensington Olympia.
In short, the top three benefits of a virtual recce are:
- Pre-qualifies on-site visitors to reduce wasted time and budget
- Reduces climate impact by minimising wasted visits
- Allows potential location users to go back and revisit the location again and again to help them with storyboarding and planning
If you’ve got a project in mind, please do get in touch, we’d love to talk with you.