Filming at Kings Cross

[Bletchleyite]

Not sure how they'll explain the overhead wires. CGI them out?

Probably. Or even forget to do that; I definitely recently watched something olde-worlde in which they had forgotten and left them in.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Probably. Or even forget to do that; I definitely recently watched something olde-worlde in which they had forgotten and left them in.

Ever see the episode of Poirot where he comes into Hull (disguised as a southern station) in a steam train but with a pacer and super sprinter sat in platforms 3 and 4

 

[TUC]

If capacity is so tight at Kings Cross how can they manage to have two platforms out of use for several days?

 

[Deepgreen]

Only 0 and 1 were closed. The 'security' were clearing platforms 2 and 3 between trains.

That sounds rather draconian and of dubious 'legality' for ticket-holding passengers.

 

[Bletchleyite]

That sounds rather draconian and of dubious 'legality' for ticket-holding passengers.

It's perfectly allowed for the railway to dictate when passengers do and do not go onto platforms, and I imagine it was to prevent them ending up with people with modern clothes on the film.

However, I don't know if the railway did agree to this, nor does it sound like it was done particularly politely nor professionally.
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Ever see the episode of Poirot where he comes into Hull (disguised as a southern station) in a steam train but with a pacer and super sprinter sat in platforms 3 and 4

Not seen that one, I can't recall what it was now but it really spoilt the scene for me.

 

[lincolnshire]

That sounds rather draconian and of dubious 'legality' for ticket-holding passengers.

They should have brought the platform staff from Blackpool North as pervious postings on here about there procedures for for platform access leave a lot to be desired.

 

[D1009]

If capacity is so tight at Kings Cross how can they manage to have two platforms out of use for several days?

From my understanding of this thread it was only Saturday and Sunday.
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That sounds rather draconian and of dubious 'legality' for ticket-holding passengers.

Why draconian? Ticket holding passengers only need to be on the platform to board a train. I imagine the film company paid Network Rail a substantial sum for this kind of access, so why should the general public be allowed to disrupt the filming activities?

 

[Cherry_Picker]

In addition, I went to get a few photos of the train between my own workings. I was in full (TOC) uniform when a bod in a hi-vis asked me if I had a valid ticket for travel. I politely explained that I worked for a TOC, which I named. He asked if I was getting on a train, I explained that I would be - as I worked for a TOC at this station. He asked a third time, at which I showed him my ID card, and explained that I was at work and I would be taking a few pictures. He wasn't chuffed, but he left me alone to try the same charade with passengers.

Anyone else had this?

A few years ago Channel Four were filming *Peep Show* at Marylebone (and much like in a recent movie about a lost bear from deepest darkest Peru, they were pretending it was Paddington) and one of the film crew tried to stop me from going through the barrier towards the wall sidings. I simply informed him that he could go forth and multiply and walked past him.

 

[Townsend Hook]

If anyone's interested the full list of stock borrowed from the Bluebell is:
592-SE&CR C 0-6-0
1098-SE&CR '100 seater' Bogie 3rd
7598-LBSCR Bogie 1st
661-LBSCR 4w (originally 6w) First
3360-LCDR 4w 3rd Disabled Saloon (originally Brake 3rd)
114-LCDR 4w Brake 3rd
6686-SR Maunsell Brake Composite
1309-SR Maunsell Open 3rd
1336-SR Maunsell Open 3rd

Personally I'm surprised Warner Bros didn't opt for the Bluebell's Metropolitan Railway Ashbury set, giving four matching Edwardian non-corridor carriages rather than the totally mismatched (in terms of design, size and colour) set they took. Not to mention the Mets were already NR registered for their annual summer holiday on the Underground..

 

[theageofthetra]

Just wondering if that is the first time a SECR C class (or some of the carriage types) have ever been to King's Cross?

 

[NorthernSpirit]

In addition, I went to get a few photos of the train between my own workings. I was in full (TOC) uniform when a bod in a hi-vis asked me if I had a valid ticket for travel. I politely explained that I worked for a TOC, which I named. He asked if I was getting on a train, I explained that I would be - as I worked for a TOC at this station. He asked a third time, at which I showed him my ID card, and explained that I was at work and I would be taking a few pictures. He wasn't chuffed, but he left me alone to try the same charade with passengers.

Anyone else had this?

Frankly the film company cannot obstruct an employee of a TOC going about their business. I would've given the hi vi bloke an Unpaid Fares Notice and a fine for failing to purchase a valid ticket before travelling.

Maybe hi vi bloke was bored and decided to cause aggro to anyone he sees.

 

[jopsuk]

I love the "but he probably didn't have authority from NR/the TOCs" outrage. He almost certainly did...

 

[DarloRich]

However, I don't know if the railway did agree to this, nor does it sound like it was done particularly politely nor professionally.

I love the "but he probably didn't have authority from NR/the TOCs" outrage. He almost certainly did...

And there is my point. The OP clearly interacted with someone not well briefed, professionally trained or comfortable with the environment in which he was working. All the wibble about thrusting copies of photography guidance at him or offering a penalty fare notice pointless silliness. Look at the byelaws.

I am sure any issue could be sorted out with a quiet, polite chat and coming to a mutually acceptable solution.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I love the "but he probably didn't have authority from NR/the TOCs" outrage. He almost certainly did...

Not encountered filming before, then? They think they are all powerful - you hear plenty of reports of them trying to close public footpaths and access land when they have not applied for a formal closure and are therefore not legally able to do so, for instance.

And this, it seems, is rarely done by saying "Excuse me, we're just filming a movie, would you mind going the other way please?"

 

[whoosh]

If we are going to get all jobsworth vs jobsworth, bear in mind the notice in the late notice case:

"Please be advised that in 6th & 7th February 2016 filming will take place on Platforms 0 & 1 at Kings Cross station.
The access from the footbridge will be closed while filming is taking place.
All staff are advised to use the main reception entrance to gain access to booking on point and PNB facilities.
All staff are reminded to be in possession on their valid ID as security staff will be present throughout filming and staff may be asked to produce ID.
Staff are advised not to take any photos or videos and not to post anything on Social Media"


It makes me laugh how staff get fed up of people ignoring instructions when there's a steam special etc, but then when there's a film being shot it's "I know my rights, who do you think you are asking me for ID, please stand back so I can take a photo!" Lol!

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Is this the first time a Class 20 (or even two of them) have been at Kings' Cross?

 

[Deepgreen]

From my understanding of this thread it was only Saturday and Sunday.
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Why draconian? Ticket holding passengers only need to be on the platform to board a train. I imagine the film company paid Network Rail a substantial sum for this kind of access, so why should the general public be allowed to disrupt the filming activities?

Passengers on a separate platform would not necessarily disrupt filming, but, if they would, why did the BTP allow several at one point in the morning alone to take photos from platforms 2/3? If that argument is extended, then all nearby train activities at the station could be deemed to be disrupting filming. I would resist a trend to make stations/parts of stations no-go areas for passengers just because there there happens not to be a train immediately available for them, except those specifically-defined areas which may have been agreed with NR/TOCs to be used for other purposes, e.g. filming - in this case platforms 0 and 1. Of course, if some people start behaving deliberately disruptively, the BTP/station staff, etc., can always step in as required.

 

[DarloRich]

Passengers on a separate platform would not necessarily disrupt filming, but, if they would, why did the BTP allow several at one point in the morning alone to take photos from platforms 2/3?

They might be if they were in the shot behind the train perhaps?

If that argument is extended, then all nearby train activities at the station could be deemed to be disrupting filming. I would resist a trend to make stations/parts of stations no-go areas for passengers just because there there happens not to be a train immediately available for them, except those specifically-defined areas which may have been agreed with NR/TOCs to be used for other purposes, e.g. filming - in this case platforms 0 and 1. Of course, if some people start behaving deliberately disruptively, the BTP/station staff, etc., can always step in as required.

Calm down! No one is trying to make station no go areas and I would agree with you if they were. There are clearly specific reasons in this particular case which i would assume extend to not running a train into an adjacent platform if filming is taking place.

 

[Deepgreen]

They might be if they were in the shot behind the train perhaps?



Calm down! No one is trying to make station no go areas and I would agree with you if they were. There are clearly specific reasons in this particular case which i would assume extend to not running a train into an adjacent platform if filming is taking place.

What on earth gives you the impression that I am anything but calm? If simply stating concerns and expressing views is automatically not calm, then this forum is a veritable frenzy!

My point was that it appears that some parts of stations are being made (albeit temporarily) no-go areas on a seemingly fairly arbitrary basis (I don't mean the actual film set, but other nearby areas) - if one is challenged but stands one's ground, access is often permitted, but for those who cave in, this is not the case. This partly harks back to the long-running issue of photography on stations by enthusiuasts/the public, and the officious attitude displayed by so many 'in authority' until common sense appeared to prevail in the shape of guidelines from TOCs and the BTP.

Yes, it's perfectly possible that other activities may appear on camera during filming, but that has to be managed by the director in the context of the set, just as filming in other public or 'semi-public' environments has to be. The modern use of digital editing /CGI, etc., makes this far easier than used to be the case.

At least the train wasn't blown up, as was the case with a double-decker bus on Waterloo (I think) bridge the other day, causing dismay to onlookers who were unaware of filming!

 

[jon0844]

Passengers on a separate platform would not necessarily disrupt filming, but, if they would, why did the BTP allow several at one point in the morning alone to take photos from platforms 2/3? If that argument is extended, then all nearby train activities at the station could be deemed to be disrupting filming.

I think a bigger issue is when they're doing filming at a station and you become part of it. For the last TV show, there were quite small posters on pillars to warn people they might be filmed, but there was no easy way to opt out. It's not as if people were told before entering King's Cross (by train or from the street) that this was happening.

Now, personally I couldn't careless if I'm seen on a TV programme, but that's (to me) a bigger concern than part of a station closed off as long as the relevant permissions are obtained. It would be no different to an area being closed for repairs, or to be cleaned after an incident etc.
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At least the train wasn't blown up, as was the case with a double-decker bus on Waterloo (I think) bridge the other day, causing dismay to onlookers who were unaware of filming!

Apparently there were suitable warnings/notices, but people could obviously see the explosion from considerably further away on account of it being on a bridge.

I saw the comparison with 7/7 and given I was on a bus on the same road at the same time the bus was blown up that fateful day, can honestly say that when I turned around to see the aftermath of the bomb (from the top of a diverted 63 bus) there was certainly no huge balls of fire.

 

[Townsend Hook]

I think a bigger issue is when they're doing filming at a station and you become part of it. For the last TV show, there were quite small posters on pillars to warn people they might be filmed, but there was no easy way to opt out. It's not as if people were told before entering King's Cross (by train or from the street) that this was happening.

Now, personally I couldn't careless if I'm seen on a TV programme, but that's (to me) a bigger concern than part of a station closed off as long as the relevant permissions are obtained. It would be no different to an area being closed for repairs, or to be cleaned after an incident etc.

In Britain there is no legal right not to be filmed or photographed in a public place, so technically filmmakers don't have to provide any kind of 'opt-out'.

 

[Deepgreen]

Another source has suggested that the filming was actually for 'Wonder Woman'. He has posted a shot on 'Flickr' under the user name 'Trains and Travel'. I have not posted the link here so as not to risk a breach of protocol there.

 

[jon0844]

In Britain there is no legal right not to be filmed or photographed in a public place, so technically filmmakers don't have to provide any kind of 'opt-out'.

I know that, but you did have the option to be removed from filming if you asked. But you had to know!

 

[matt]

Another source has suggested that the filming was actually for 'Wonder Woman'. He has posted a shot on 'Flickr' under the user name 'Trains and Travel'. I have not posted the link here so as not to risk a breach of protocol there.

That seems more likely as the Harry Potter spin-off is set in New York. Also there is no problem with you linking to someone else's photos (but usually a good idea to say they are not yours)

 

[Ediswan]

Not encountered filming before, then? They think they are all powerful

A colleague of mine once took great delight in making it very clear to a (small) film crew that while they might have thought they had found a convenient source of mains power for their lights, the outside door their cable was running through was about to closed and locked. Having given fair warning, he pulled out their plug.

(No need to get started on "theft of electricity", there was implicit permission to draw power, but not to keep that door open.)

 

[scotsman]

Frankly the film company cannot obstruct an employee of a TOC going about their business. I would've given the hi vi bloke an Unpaid Fares Notice and a fine for failing to purchase a valid ticket before travelling.

Maybe hi vi bloke was bored and decided to cause aggro to anyone he sees.

I knew he was with the film company, and I'm not one for aggro. I'd rather try and have a constructive discussion - it's just that this bod just didn't have a clue about where he was.

 

[Chris125]

That seems more likely as the Harry Potter spin-off is set in New York. Also there is no problem with you linking to someone else's photos (but usually a good idea to say they are not yours)

It also explains the presence of Chris Pine.

 

[Clip]

If they were concerned about people being in the shot(s) they should've just closed the barriers at each adjacent platform after a train has arrived or gone.

Saying that though are those barriers still there Ive never took much notice of late.

 

[Deepgreen]

By way of light relief - I took a series of photos at Eridge (I was staying at a nearby cottage at the time and happened upon the event by chance) in spring 1984 when filming was taking place at the station. I never found out what the filming was for, but the attached photos show; 1) a special effects man running along the platform with a smoke generator, and 2) the waiting room being used as the 'Production Office'. Now...the remarkable thing here is that the train was a normal service working! I can't imagine what the (probably few) passengers must have thought was going on, but the low-key and very relaxed process seems a stark contrast to the King's Cross example!

 

[Crossover]

By way of light relief - I took a series of photos at Eridge (I was staying at a nearby cottage at the time and happened upon the event by chance) in spring 1984 when filming was taking place at the station. I never found out what the filming was for, but the attached photos show; 1) a special effects man running along the platform with a smoke generator, and 2) the waiting room being used as the 'Production Office'. Now...the remarkable thing here is that the train was a normal service working! I can't imagine what the (probably few) passengers must have thought was going on, but the low-key and very relaxed process seems a stark contrast to the King's Cross example!

That looks very Top Gear-ish!