Amazing Grace directed by Michael Apted and stars Ioan Gruffudd, Albert Finney and Michael Gambon.

This Walden Media feature film is based on the life of parliamentarian and slavery abolitionist William Wilberforce. The producers needed various locations including 18th docks to double for London and our Locations team put together a strong bid for the region.

After recceing several options in the South West in 2005, Bakers Quay at Gloucester Docks was the favoured choice of both the director and production designer, Charles Wood. Charles planned to build a substantial set for a three day shoot recreating East India Docks circa 1780 and using the existing period warehouses as a backdrop.

But the first of many obstacles to filming in Gloucester came to light when producer Mark Cooper contacted the UK Film Council saying the shoot was in danger of going elsewhere as the docks needed dredging in order to accommodate Square Sail's tall ships.

With no location manager on board at this point, South West Screen's Film Liaison Manager, Sue Craig, set about establishing key contacts and lobbying support within the Gloucester Heritage Urban Regeneration Company, British Waterways, Gloucester City Council and various key location owners.

Other problems included:

• Llanthony Bridge, a swing bridge essential for access to the main basin would be closed for five weeks for refurbishment. While a road closure was needed for three days during filming the bridge needed to be fully operational at other times
• Major construction work for the new GLOSCAT college, including noisy pile driving, was scheduled to coincide with the filming
• The Bakers Quay area was under multiple private ownership and due for redevelopment under the Urban Regeneration Scheme which was opposed by some local businesses

By brokering relationships and working with key local partners, Sue helped to smooth the way for the production so that by the time location manager Bill Darby came on board, he had the right contacts to hand. Ultimately British Waterways and the City Council worked with the shoot to reschedule various operations and after nearly four weeks of set building the production went ahead.

With the addition of locations at Trafalgar House near Salisbury and Chettle House in North Dorset the South West benefited from nine days filming with over 100 supporting artists employed and 120-160 cast and crew accommodated in the different locations.

In the words of Charles Wood

"After considering several options Gloucester Docks seemed to like the ideal location for us to construct an 18th century London set. But with some major obstacles to overcome this shoot would not have happened here without the early intervention and consistent support of South West Screen when we were in pre-production. In the end, the location worked exceptionally well and we had tremendous co-operation from Gloucester City and the individual location owners."

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