Hemel Hempstead is the new Hollywood, council says

Masters of the Air "transformed" Hemel Old Town, says film officer Amy Greenland

A council film officer said her home town has become the UK's answer to Hollywood.

"I call it Hemelwood", said Amy Greenland. "After Life was filmed here and it put Hemel Hempstead on the map."

The TV series Masters of the Air, which was produced by Steven Spielberg, was also partly filmed in Hemel Old Town.

Ms Greenland said film crews were in the area for a few weeks for the World War Two drama, which "went down well with local businesses".

Ms Greenland, the filming lead officer for Dacorum Borough Council, added that the Old Town had been used for other TV series, such as Grantchester and Ladhood. But, she said, it was "transformed" for Masters of the Air.

• The WW2 pilots who became Masters of the Air

"It's not really recognisable. The quaint shop fronts here were all turned into bombed-out streets and bomb shelters"

Amy Greenland says she is "really proud" that Dacorum has "a good reputation of being film friendly"

Ms Greenland said the town's popularity was partly due to the area being home to many new film studios.

"It's really close to London and we've got so many iconic film studios around us, which means the crews don't need to relocate.

"We're trying to provide film crews with everything they need," she said.

Sue Heaslip says it was a privilege to have the After Life Netflix series filmed in the area

Sue Heaslip works at the Tea Tree tearooms in the Old Town, where Ricky Gervais filmed a scene for the After Life Netflix series.

"It's a lovely high street, this is a very traditional shop, and it's a privilege to have it filmed here," she said.

Ms Heaslip said it had even boosted tourism in the area.

"We've had quite a lot of people say they've come to visit after seeing After Life, from as far as Ireland, Germany and America."

Hairdresser Michelle Rush says the film connections are bringing more people into Hemel Old Town

Hairdresser Michelle Rush said a production company had approached them for a shoot in July because they wanted a barber shop to film in.

"Obviously we've got a big window, so they want to film from the outside looking in."

She said the activity had "definitely" brought more people into the area.

"It's good because we do need more people in the Old Town."

Ricky Gervais filmed the third series of his Netflix production After Life in Hemel Hempstead

Ms Greenland agreed that the film industry was "making a positive impact" on the whole area.

"It's good that we can provide a service where we can help productions, but the main focus is to help local businesses," she said.

She believed that the wider area would continue to attract film and TV producers.

"There will be a lot more to come. Not just Hemel, it's Berkhamsted and Tring as well; we've got lovely surrounding interests that are all of interest."

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