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We were first approached back in October 2024 regarding trying to find a particular type of location for a major upcoming film due to be shot in 2025. I was briefed by the location scout as to what the director was after, and set about doing some research….pouring over maps and through numerous guidebooks. Sadly, I didn’t have much luck, and all of the potential locations I could find weren’t quite right. It was very specific! The location scout was very appreciative of our efforts though…it sounded like they would resort to Plan B!
A few days later, we were approached to see if we could assist the production team with a recce to some of the other filming locations in the Northern Dales. Our role would be to look after safety, since we would be in remote moorland locations away from the road, and possibly looking at one or two more hazardous locations on steep slopes and crags. The NDA was signed, and now we knew we would be assisting with the much anticipated upcoming adaptation of Wuthering Heights by Emerald Fennell! A quick google search also revealed an A-list cast including Margot Robbie & Jacob Elordi!!
A small team of us (myself, Ian Patrick & Sean Whittle) joined two separate recce visits in November and December 2024, to look after crew safety on the hill while visiting the various locations in the Reeth and Arkengarthdale area, as well as Bridestones near Hebden Bridge. One of the locations was the very interesting Old Gang Smelting Mill, while others were more obscure and remote. Two locations in particular required some interesting ropework to approach edges safely! It was definitely exciting to be working alongside Oscar winner directors and cinematographers, and I was certainly mindful of how fortunate we were to have been approached and asked to help with such a major film production! Most of our previous work had been on TV, documentary and advertising projects, some of which were (technically wise) more challenging, but perhaps didn’t have the hype Wuthering Heights was going to bring!
The recce’s must have gone well as we were then tasked with looking after crew safety for the actual film shoot which would be taking place towards the end of March 2025. Fortunately Ian & Sean were free to help me, and along with Stu Coxon and Jonathan Tompkins, we had a great team to cover this.
During January to March, a number of meetings and discussions were had with the locations team primarily, but also the stunts team, to prepare for the shoot. I had a couple more visits out to the more difficult locations to test rigging and anchor systems as well as finish building the risk assessment. March came quickly enough though, and I would be lying if I said there weren’t some little flutters of butterfly wings as I drove through the film base to meet Ian and Sean on day 1. It was like a mini-town with numerous trucks, caravans, canteens etc. etc. A major operation!
One of the main concerns of mine had been the weather. This is quite a remote area of moorland, with hills up to 600m high, and given it was still March I was conscious that anything could happen weather wise. Fortunately, the weather gods were on our side and we were generally treated to glorious clear-blue skies for the duration of the shoot. I couldn’t believe our luck. The production team were a bit disappointed as they had been hoping for more inclement weather to add to the atmosphere. Fortunately for them, they had some impressive smoke machines, and so it didn’t take long to turn the sun-bathed locations into cold, misty and wintry looking places full of atmos. anyway!
The next few days were great fun! Quite a bit of the time we were leaving the crew to it, while keeping a watchful eye on things, and also helping where we could with moving kit around on the sometimes awkward terrain. On one of the days, they needed to film close to an edge with a steep drop-off. Given the lack of natural anchors (it was just a flat grassy area),we had to install ground anchors from which we could rig some ropes to attach to the camera operators. This worked well! At another location, on top of a crag with stunning views, we again had to secure camera operators close to hazardous edges, but fortunately there were plenty of good boulders to rig the ropes off here. We still had to keep in mind the fact that we couldn’t have ropes in shot, so that made things a bit more challenging. Plus you had to work quickly, but carefully and efficiently. I think the stunt team definitely had the more difficult task here though, as the camera operators could keep further away from the edges than the cast.
Late each evening, a call sheet would arrive in my inbox telling us where we would need to be in the morning and which scenes were going to be shot. Each day was a bit different, and it was amazing to get an insight into what happens on a film set, and to also see all the different departments working together so effectively. At one location they had a stunningly scaled down model of Thrushcross Grange, and at another location they had to film Jacob riding a fake horse (the upper half only!) mounted on a trailer being towed by a pickup truck. At another location……well, you’ll just have to wait for the film!
Everything was so quiet…no shouting….no rushing, just purposeful movements. You could tell most people were used to working in challenging environments, and days were long. It was a joy to watch and be involved with! Finally, the ease at which we could obtain delicious coffee & cake in the middle of wild and remote moorland wasn’t lost on us!! If only it was always like this on our jobs!
The film shoot only lasted around 1.5 weeks, as most of the filming had already been completed on huge sets down in the London studios, and I returned home for the final day to leave Ian and Sean to accompany the crew to Bridestones for the final scenes.
Its now the 12th February as I write this, and we are really looking forward to going to see Wuthering Heights tomorrow evening and remembering a wonderful job from 2025!! 😊
Official Trailer for Wuthering Heights
Looking for technical advice and safety support for your upcoming TV, Documentary or Film production, or perhaps suggestions for locations in the land we know so well…..then please don’t hesitate to get in touch for a friendly chat! 😊