From James Bond to Bridgerton, Fleabag to Four Weddings And A Funeral, there’s no denying that films and series shot in London feature some of the most iconic and instantly recognisable backdrops. Over the years, the Big Smoke has become a global favourite for filmmakers and producers looking for the quaintness of historic landscapes and the striking, energetic influences of modern culture.
When you’re producing a video, visual juxtaposition and diversity add interest to the narrative, helping the storyline become more compelling to audiences and elicit a more engagement-oriented response.
A bit of environmental contrast also creates more opportunities for niche storytelling and can make it easier for video production teams (like us!) to produce work that is concise and brief-specific for clients.
Staying true to 007, we’ve made it our mission to showcase the unique advantage London offers filmmakers and video production companies. Its eclectic mix of historic and modern settings serves as the perfect backdrop for diverse storytelling – here’s why.
Backdrops As a Starring Role
In theatre, the stage sets the scene. In video production, the backdrop does. Whether you’re making a 30-second TikTok or lengthy explainer video for a corporation, having the right background can transform the way audiences interpret the final product.
Backdrops add necessary context and structure to any piece of video content, giving viewers visual cues about what ideas and narratives are being presented to them. They frame the world within which consumers understand the product or story being told, making them a key player in the production process needed in this field.
The abundance of amazing backdrops that span the city gives every video production company in London a feast for both the eyes and the mind and allows for a smorgasbord of unique stories to be told.
The Full Filming Package
London is an exciting place to be for anyone interested in the intersection of location and narrative. With a rich tapestry of city-deep scenes and historic infrastructure, the blending of yesterday’s vs today’s world creates an interesting world for any video production company to explore.
Its streets are positively littered with architectural gems from years gone by, juxtaposed by a skyline that includes glittering glass monoliths like The Shard and the Gherkin. Let’s not forget Tower Bridge, Big Ben, the Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral, and the many parks and green spaces that litter the city. Oh, and while we’re at it, let’s throw in Oxford Street, Notting Hill, Soho, Camden, and the Leake Street Tunnel for good measure. The Barbican Conservatory was even used for multiple scenes in ‘The Kitchen’ directed by Daniel Kaluuya.
From beautiful, antiquated cathedrals to ultra-modern commercial buildings, swarms of distracted commuters, and, if we’re honest, the occasional dead rat (edgy?), this densely populated city offers no short supply of scenes to set the stage for an interesting narrative.
More creative and conceptually minded video production services are making themselves known throughout the industry. Consumers crave fresh, innovative video content that takes them on a visual journey unlike that which they’re exposed to every day, and finding ways to meet that need can be tough.
However, with the right environment, production teams can keep a solid rotation of new contexts and environments that allow for more interesting content to emerge in the online world.
From pre-production processes like location scouting, casting, and creative research to the process of shooting and filming the video itself, London offers a fruitful landscape for creating relevant video content that inspires creativity and brings stories to life on screen.
Why Dynamic Environments Inspire Great Video Production
There’s no doubt that London is a culturally and visually stimulating city, especially when it comes to producing quality video content for the online masses. But how does that help the production and post production phases of telling a story with scenes?
Being in a dynamic environment is one of the most important things any video production studio can do, and the same is probably true of any creative team looking to make an impact in their respective industry. Let’s unpack why:
1. Fresh Environments, Fresh Ideas
Variety and change are two of the most important ingredients for creativity. And when it comes to video editing and producing high quality footage in the video production industry, creativity is non-negotiable.
Fortunately for video production companies in the UK, London offers all of these things…and more. This helps production teams create videos that feel fresh, exciting, and reflective of the current world in all its various colours, shapes, and forms.
When you’re dealing with shrinking consumer attention spans and a highly competitive content industry, being able to produce videos that consistently inspire and engage is crucial, and that is something London’s bustling day-to-day scenery does best.
2. A Melting Pot of Cultures Under One Grey Sky
A diverse environment is highly conducive to creativity. The more people, experiences, and cultures you have to draw from as a team, the easier and more naturally your content will be able to reach wider audiences, giving your work an edge that is both authentic and creatively stimulating.
In an environment like London, where cultural influences from all over the world are present, your production team can scarcely run out of ideas about which creative angles to take and, more pertinently, what kind of locations to shoot in.
Just a short trip through London’s bustling streets will expose you to a myriad of cuisines, architectural monuments, niche subcultures, and all sorts of characters from around the world.
As a video production company, this environment represents an endless trove of inspiration and creative perspective. Companies that utilise this aspect of London’s creative potential are quickly gaining ground on those that don’t.
3. More Backdrops, More Concepts
One of the biggest responsibilities of a production team is to tell a client’s story the way they want it to be told. Hitting the brief is video production 101, and it may be difficult, but it gets much easier when you have a near-endless list of locations and backdrops to choose from.
Clients want to know that you can create a visual story that showcases their brand, ideas, and general image in a way that is honest and specific to their identity.
Concision is a crucial element of both pre production and post production processes, using scenery, actors, sound design, colour correction, and crystal-clear direction to tell a good story. Living and working in a dynamic city like London means having access to all these things simultaneously.
Bonus: Enhanced Networking Opportunities
Video production services in London are rapidly growing. The emergence of smaller, more creative, and niche-focused video production companies has allowed for an explosion of video editing industry progress, making the scene more active and creatively fertile than ever.
This kind of growth spurt is highly valuable for a video production company. Not only does it mean that location scouting becomes much easier, but it also means that a culture of collaboration can thrive.
Whether you focus on product photography for corporate e-commerce or alternative social adverts, diversity and inspiration are always going to be necessary ingredients for a successful video production company.
If you work in this field, now is a great time to sow those networking seeds, hire local creative professionals, and participate in the push for quality video production in the UK.
Creative Film Development in the Big Smoke is on Fire
From location scouts to directors, producers, and actors, creating film magic means drawing inspiration from the world around you – and that’s one of the things London does best.
It truly takes a village to produce stunning, relevant video content, and working in a city so full of life and contrast is a privilege that more video production companies are recognising by the day.
As London’s video production scene expands, it continues to gain traction as a hub of creativity and culture, helping the best minds in the industry produce world-class work.
Perspective Pictures Promo Time
It’s plug time! Perspective Pictures isn’t just a video production company in London; we’re also storytellers. We don’t just put together a few good shots to sell to your audience; we go the extra mile to create visual experiences that make a lasting impression.
We know London in and out and are always up for an adventure. So, if you’re looking for a professional team with expertise and passion who can bring your story to life, talk to us!
