STROUD District Council is holding an event for businesses and landowners from across the district to promote their sites as possible film locations.

In conjunction with Creative England, the council wants to encourage venues to come forward so that they and the district can reap the potentially huge financial and tourism benefits that filming can offer.

Geoff Wheeler, leader of Stroud District Council said: “Last year our district played host to filming for JK Rowling’s BBC2 drama The Casual Vacancy leading to huge media interest locally, nationally and internationally.

Aside from the long-term boost to tourism, filming can be worth over £35,000 per day to the area, with production companies spending money on local facilities, booking hotels, taxis and dining out.”

A cast of film and TV location experts will be at the seminar, on the morning of Wednesday, July 22 at Ebley Mill, to explain what makes a star location.

Creative England, which works on behalf of the British Film Institute and the UK Government to promote and support film production in the English regions, will also be on hand to explain how to sign up to their national database.

Looking after the needs of production crews is equally important – and the council is hoping accommodation and catering companies will come along to find out more about what it takes to house and feed the stars and the technicians.

The council will also be signing up to the Film Friendly Partnership Charter with Creative England.

Ellie Cook, Creative England’s production liaison manager for the South West will be at the event, explaining how to be ‘film friendly’ and what locations can expect from having a film or TV production on site.

Ellie said: “By signing the Film Friendly Charter and working closely with Creative England, Stroud District Council shows it is keen to work with production companies from around the world.

“The area has many stunning locations – and such exposure helps to put Stroud and its surroundings on the map.

“We also hope that home and land owners will come to the conference. We’ll be happy to talk to them about what it means to be the location and how to put themselves on our database.”

Local company Snow Business - responsible for creating snow scenes for Hollywood productions such as Bridget Jones’s Diary, Harry Potter and The Avengers – will be adding their touch of winter wonderland magic to the event by covering the entrance to Ebley Mill with snow.

Other speakers will be the owners of Chavenage House in Tetbury, which recently played host to the classic BBC series - Poldark, along with the representative of Berkeley Castle - most recently used as a location in Wolf Hall.

Both venues have profited from the increased interest in their locations following TV exposure and have used that kudos extensively in their own promotions.

But it’s not just stately homes that Creative England wants to hear from – it also wants the owners of ordinary homes – such as those featured in The Casual Vacancy.

Creative England worked closely with Stroud District Council during the filming of The Casual Vacancy, alongside representatives from the police and highways to ensure the production ran as smoothly as possible.

The organisation also helped the production team to find filming locations within the region.

Thanks to amazing locations, talented crew and attractive tax breaks, the UK is fast becoming the first choice destination filming. Anyone interested in attending the conference should email tourism@stroud.gov.uk .

However places are limited. Anyone interested in adding their locations or properties to the Creative England database can also do so themselves by visiting www.creativeengland.co.uk