About Birmingham
Birmingham, situated in the West Midlands, is known as the ‘City of a Thousand Trades’ because it was one of the world’s first manufacturing centres. Today, Birmingham is best-known as England’s ‘Second City’, as it has the second-largest population behind London. Additionally, the city is beloved for its iconic rock music, extensive canal networks and enjoyable nightlife.
Birmingham is a great place to shoot a video. Not only are there plenty of suitable locations for your shoot, but the city is also well-connected to several other major UK cities, such as London, Nottingham and Manchester, so travelling to Birmingham from elsewhere is relatively straightforward. In this guide, we will help you plan a successful video shoot in bustling Birmingham.
Video Shoot Location Options in Birmingham
Organising a successful video shoot is no walk in the park. There is plenty for you to consider, such as the video shoot location, vendors such as a caterer, talent agency and a furniture hire company, outfits, equipment such as cameras and lighting, accommodation and much more. Enlisting help from vendors is one of the best ways to reduce your workload and by extension, reduce stress.
- Furniture Hire
If you’re shooting parts of your video in a studio and you need to hire some furniture, there are plenty of local and national furniture hire companies offering a wide selection of items, such as sofas, chairs, tables, illuminated furniture, tableware and much more.
- Catering
To ensure that your cast and crew have enough energy to create a visually striking video, you need to enlist the help of an expert caterer. If your shoot is due to last a couple of days, you’ll need the help of a catering team to provide breakfast, lunch, dinner and refreshments throughout the day. Thankfully, there are several extremely talented caterers available to help in the Birmingham area.
- Talent Agency
If you haven’t cast all the roles in your production yet, don’t worry. Several reliable talent agencies in Birmingham will help you find the right people for your video with suitable skills and availability.
Video Shoot Location Vendors in Birmingham
- Furniture Hire UK
If you need to hire furniture for your video shoot, look no further. Furniture Hire UK stocks a wide selection of items, such as chairs, tables, guests, benches, beanbags, sofas, picnic tables, armchairs, marquees, mobile bars, illuminated furniture, pouffes and much more. The company offers an affordable and fast furniture hire service with competitive rates and plenty of items to choose from.
- The Warwickshire Catering Co.
The Warwickshire Catering Co, which provides catering services in the Birmingham area, has the experience and resources to provide you with cost-effective food and drink for your video shoot. The chefs have over 50 years of experience creating dishes using a wide selection of fresh ingredients, so you, your cast and your crew can have a restaurant experience on set. Furthermore, the company will provide dishes for those with special dietary requirements, such as vegan, vegetarian, wheat-free and dairy-free dishes.
- Alan Sharman Agency
Birmingham-based talent agency Alan Sharman Agency was established in 2007. The agency works with advertising agencies, brands, casting directors, photographers and production companies to provide a professional service. With over 50 years of industry experience between them, the Alan Sharman team have years of knowledge and experience helping models, actors, presenters and creatives find suitable work in the industry. So if you need to fill roles in your video, consider contacting the team at Alan Sharman Agency.
Pros and Cons of Video Shoot Locations in Birmingham
Advantages
- Hotels
If your shoot is set to last a few days, you’ll need to find somewhere suitable for you, your cast and your crew to stay if you’ve travelled to Birmingham from elsewhere. There are several great hotels to choose from, including easyHotel, Genting Hotel, Clayton Hotel, Novotel Birmingham Airport, Radisson Blu and Hampton by Hilton.
- Attractions
If you’re visiting Birmingham from elsewhere and you have spare time, don’t miss the opportunity to explore some of the city's best attractions. Popular attractions include Cadbury World, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, the Black Country Living Museum, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and the National SEA LIFE Centre.
- Transport networks
Birmingham has an excellent transport network made up of roads, high-speed rail and buses. Plus, Birmingham has its own airport, so if you’re travelling from afar, it’s easy to reach the city.
Disadvantages
- Weather
If you’re planning to shoot parts of your video outside, keep in mind that Birmingham does experience some bad weather. So make sure to urge your cast and crew to bring suitable clothing to set, such as umbrellas and raincoats.
- Price
Some video shoot locations might be expensive to hire, especially if they are in high demand. However, you can also find plenty of affordable locations to hire in Birmingham.
Famous Locations in Birmingham
- Lickey Hills Country Park
Hidden on the outskirts of Birmingham, Lickey Hills Country Park is a stunning green space that will make you feel like you’re in the middle of the countryside. There are several woodland paths to follow, as well as a cafe where you can buy refreshments after a long day of exploring. The park comes to life in autumn when the trees change from green to orange, red and gold. So if you’re visiting at this time of year, don’t forget to snap a few photos of the beautiful foliage.
- Birmingham Tolkien Trail
Fans of the celebrated author J. R. R. Tolkien, who wrote fictional classics The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, won’t want to miss this exciting opportunity to follow the Tolkien Trail. Tolkien grew up in Birmingham, and the area is thought to have inspired some of the environments in Middle Earth. The trail will take you to Sarehole Mill, Tolkien’s childhood home; 264 Wake Green Road; Moseley Bog, which is thought to have inspired The Old Forest; and Edgbaston and Ladywood, where Edgbaston Waterworks and Perrott’s Folly, which is believed to have inspired Orthanc, home of the wizard Saruman, can be found.
