Croydon: The Scrappy London Borough Turning Into a Film Star Magnet!

Croydon, a borough in south London, has recently become a popular spot for filmmakers and music video directors. The Whitgift Centre, a shopping mall in Croydon, was used as the main location for Taylor Swift's latest music video, making its escalator one of the most recognized in the world right now. The mall is only half full and looks a bit old, but that is exactly what Taylor Swift and her team wanted for their video. Croydon is going through a period of change, with new skyscrapers being built next to old, empty buildings. This mix of modern and older architecture is one of the main reasons filmmakers are drawn to the area, according to Sian Green, who works for FilmFixer, a company that helps organize film shoots.

But there are other reasons why Croydon is becoming a hotspot for filming. Marcus Hundsnes, who runs a post-production film company called Disauthority in Croydon, describes the borough as 'kind of scrappy' but says it 'gets things done. ' He believes that Croydon is a good place for creative people because it is less expensive and less crowded than central London. Over the years, Croydon has been used as a location for many famous movies and TV shows. For example, in 2011, one of Croydon's office buildings was turned into Gotham General Hospital for the Batman movie The Dark Knight Rises. Another building, No. 1 Croydon, was featured in the Netflix show Black Mirror. More recently, actors Idris Elba and John Cena filmed an action scene in Croydon for the movie Heads of State. Croydon can look like many different places on camera, from a big city to a small town, or even another country.

Filmmakers also like Croydon because it is easier to film there than in central London. There is more space, less traffic, and the local council is very supportive. The Whitgift Centre is especially popular because it is still open but has very few shops, so it is easier and cheaper to use for filming. The council has a reputation for being easy to work with, which makes Croydon attractive to production companies. This brings money to local businesses and helps the council, which is in debt. Even small film companies are doing well in Croydon. Disauthority, for example, started in a shed and now works on big projects. The founders say that Croydon is a good place to start a business because it is affordable and has a lot of potential. Famous people like Stormzy and Idris Elba have also helped promote Croydon as a film location. The borough is offering free training courses to help young people get started in the film industry. Many people in Croydon are proud that their town is becoming known as a creative hub, and they believe that the future is bright for the area.