8:38am Tuesday 24th June 2008
By Arron Hendy
FILM and television crews have generated £1.7 million for Weymouth and Portland this year, according to council figures.
The borough council said the film The Boat That Rocked is one of 18 location shoots that have visited so far including television and print media.
The figure is based on the number of people brought to the area and local services that have been used.
The productions have taken up 7,000 beds in local accommodation and The Boat That Rocked is expected to have brought in £1.5 million during its shoot at Portland Port.
Director Richard Curtis is being asked to hold a film premiere in Weymouth on its scheduled release in May 2009 after giving the area a glowing report.
He said: "The area was beautiful with the people always hospitable, and of course the fish and chips were universally sensational.
"We all have fond memories of our time in Dorset and the extras were outstanding.
"We were very impressed by all the local people who helped make the film."
Around 150 extras made it on to the shoot after the Prince Regent Hotel was used for auditions.
Mr Curtis' latest film is a comedy based around the pirate radio stations of the 1960s.
His previous work includes Four Weddings And A Funeral, Notting Hill, Bridget Jones's Diary and Blackadder.
Council communications manager Jacqui Gisborne said the legacy of Richard Curtis using local facilities would be enormous.
She said: "I think it is a great showcase for the town to be used by film and television crews and it creates publicity and a profile that the council cannot afford to buy. It's quite a small industry and the location manager, Adam Richards, says he's now got this area in his memory bank.
"I hope their visit will leave this area a big film legacy and develop the potential for more film making here in the future."
The manager of The Old Rooms Inn on Weymouth's harbourside, Matthew Betts, enjoyed constant visits from the cast and crew of The Boat That Rocked.
He said: "It was really good for business while they were here and they enjoyed relaxing by the harbour.
"Lots of them came in for the Champions League final and another time they won the quiz."
The arrival of EastEnders in April is estimated to have helped the area to the tune of £50,000.
This figure includes the location fee, accommodation costs, food, equipment hire, security and the use of Pavilion rooms and car parks.
It has been requested that Weymouth will be mentioned during the two episodes filmed in the resort.
They will be aired to EastEnders' nine million viewers in July.
The communications team is also in discussions about a documentary to look at the effect of the Olympics on Weymouth compared to London.
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