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Margam Castle offered a ‘blank canvas’ and the flexibility to build interior sets of Renaissance-period Florence. We also used the castle’s thousand acres of parkland to double for the Tuscan countryside. There aren’t many locations like this in the UK or worldwide. All the other locations we used in South Wales were all within easy travelling distance, which made Bay Studios in Neath Port Talbot a very attractive area to set up our base. Gareth Skelding
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Location manager (Da Vinci’s Demons, Torchwood, The Sarah Jane Adventures, Sherlock, Doctor Who)
Unrivalled locations and support
Cheaper to film than more expensive locations such as London Home to one of the largest indoor film studios in Europe Rich variety of architecture and landscapes
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TV & Film production
The Bay Studios at Fabian Way provided enough space to base everything at the one site, which is a tremendous advantage for a production of this size. The convenience of the location has also provided us with easy access to all our filming locations across South Wales. We are also really pleased with the proactive approach by Neath Port Talbot Council’s Business Development Team which has helped us from the very beginning. Julie Gardner
Producer (Life on Mars, Doctor Who, Torchwood, Da Vinci’s Demons)
Gateway to south Wales and areas of outstanding natural beauty High-end TV, film and animation can qualify for UK tax relief on qualifying UK spend Drama productions supported by Welsh Government
www.npt-business.gov.uk
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Neath Port Talbot
Business Support For any enquiries contact the Business Development Team on 01639 686 835; email business@npt.gov.uk or visit www.npt-business.gov.uk
Working together
The Bay Studios
to achieve more
The Neath Port Talbot County Borough is a major hub for UK and international television and film productions. Its rich variety of local architecture and landscapes, short transit times between locations and wealth of local creative industry expertise has supported the film and television industry for more than 60 years. Conveniently located along a key stretch of the M4 motorway, the County Borough also serves as a gateway to other popular film locations across South Wales and the capital city of Cardiff. Neath Port Talbot is also home to one of Europe’s largest indoor film studios, Bay Studios, on Fabian Way.
Neath Abbey
Da Vinci’s Demons (2012/13), Re-creating medieval Florence with a replica set of the Duomo Cathedral at the Bay Studios in Fabian Way.
Ivy Tower
Da Vinci’s Demons (2012/13), Ruins at Neath Abbey provide perfect backdrop for this period drama. Being Human (2012), Doctor Who (2007), Merlin (2010).
Margam Castle
Doctor Who 50th Anniversary episode (2013) at the Ivy Tower, near Gnoll Park in Neath.
Carmarthen
To Pembrokeshire
A48 Cross Hands
A483
Neath Valley
Da Vinci’s Demons (2012/13), Margam Castle is transformed into Florence’s Medici Palace. The Sarah Jane Diaries (2007), Torchwood (2007), Merlin (2012), Doctor Who (2012), Bhoothnath Returns (2014).
Ammanford
A474
The Dark Knight Rises (2012), On the south western border of the Brecon Beacons, in the Neath Valley. The Batcave is hidden behind the 88-foot (27 metre) curtain of thundering water known as Henrhyd Falls. The highest of dozens of cascades across the Brecon Beacons National Park.
To Brecon Beacons National Park To Blaenau Gwent
A465
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Wales is perfect for making historical productions. The Neath Port Talbot area has great locations and landscapes. It’s a gateway to everything we needed. All of which was easily accessible from our production base at Bay Studios. David S Goyer
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Producer of Da Vinci’s Demons & co-writer of the Dark Knight Batman trilogy
Gower Peninsula
M6
Neath n Ivy Tower n Neath Abbey
M4
Swansea Manchester
A483
n The Bay Studios n Margam Castle n Port Talbot
M1
M50
Cardiff
M40 M4
M11 M25
London
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1 & 2 (2010/2011), Robin Hood (2010), Snow White and the Huntsman (2012).
Gower Peninsula
Da Vinci’s Demons (2012/13).
Swansea
Twin Town (1997), Mine all Mine (2004), Film Little White Lies (2006), Doctor Who (2006 – 2009), Edge of Love (2008), Submarine (2010), Torchwood (2006 – 2011), Night of the Living Dead: (2012), The Longest Night (2012), Set Fire to the Stars (2014). The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2010), Wrath of the Titans (2012), Dr Who (TBC), Merlin (TBC), Da Vinci’s Demons (TBC).
M4
Bristol M5
Pembrokeshire Coastline
Blaenau Gwent
Birmingham M5
Blade Runner (TBA), Port Talbot’s spectacular three mile long steel plant with its floodlights, huge towers and flames, inspired director Ridley Scott’s dystopian city of the future in which he set this classic sci-fi noir thriller. 1996 blockbuster Darklands also filmed in parts of the iconic Steelworks. I Know You Know (2008), Flick (2008), One Chance (2013), Dreck/Nacropolis (2012), The Passion (2012).
Locations in the surrounding areas
n Neath Valley
Llanelli
Port Talbot
M20
To Cardiff
Brecon Beacons National Park King Arthur (2004).