Screening Spire
If you have ever felt that returning to Oxford at the beginning of a new term is like stepping onto a film set, then you may be closer to the truth than you think. While the history of Oxford may be dominated by important scientific and intellectual advances, arcane traditions, and a dubious rivalry with 'the Other place', those of us with more of a mind for pop-culture can take comfort in the important role that our town and university have played as a staple location for television and film productions over the last 50 years.
The regular presence of Oxford on the silver screen is an inevitability. It would be impossible to make bio-pics (an increasingly popular genre) of individuals like Oscar Wilde and Iris Murdoch without including Oxford, because some of the most formative and interesting parts of their lives were spent living and studying here. More than this, Oxford - particularly the University - has served as a backdrop to the activities of many fictional characters whose lives have been adapted from literature to film. It wouldn't be Brideshead Revisited were it not for Charles Ryder's "romantic affection" for Sebastian Flyte while they were students here, so the scenes filmed on location at Hertford and Wadham were vital to maintaining the integrity of Waugh's novel. The Oxford skyline is so distinctive that, whether for historical or fictional stories set here, no other city or town can be used in its place if a film is to look authentic.
Even stories that are not specifically set in Oxford have made use of the unique architectural setting that the city provides. One needs only point out that the most common way to describe most Colleges and their dining halls involves some reference to Harry Potter, to show that it is no surprise that both the Divinity School and Duke Humphrey's library in the Bodleian were used in the films, and Christ Church's oak panelled Tudor hall provided the basis for the Great Hall of Hogwarts.
While the usual suspects - iconic buildings such as the Sheldonian Theatre and the Rad Cam - have been used in films such as Richard Attenborough's Shadowlands, most colleges can claim to have appeared on film at least once. Christ Church can boast (as usual!) having being featured in both Harry Potter and the Brideshead Revisited mini-series, and New College's bar should serve its Martinis shaken not stirred, since the college can be seen in Tomorrow Never Dies.
However, whilst it may be less glamorous than most Hollywood productions, it is the ITV series Inspector Morse that has been most prolific in its use of University locations - including Oriel, Brasenose, New, Pembroke and Exeter. Morse is so much a part of Oxford that there is both a walking tour and a book dedicated to exploring the haunts of the old detective - including the scenes of some of theprogramme's complex crimes.
Morse was seen nursing a drink in most of Oxfords best known and loved pubs - including the Turf, KA and the Eagle and Child - when he was not investigating grisly murders around town. Do I hear an excuse for a Morse-inspired pub-crawl? Perhaps the series should also be made required introductory viewing for freshers, as it even includes scenes set in the Covered Market, Pitt Rivers Museum and Blackwells bookshop. A few episodes of Morse, and they would know their way around the city before they even arrive.
However, more hardened Oxford types with an eye for detail may notice that the University's portrayal on film is not always entirely accurate. Filmmakers often pick and choose parts of colleges to make up castle-like buildings of their own, or even to create composite colleges whose architecture best suits the needs of the film, as in both Harry Potter and Brideshead. This versatility is a prime reason why the city is attractive to film-makers: if they do not want to make use of Oxford's most instantly recognisable features, they can pick and choose a quad from one college, the steps of another and a chunk of Broad Street, and create a customised world tailored to the requirements of their film.
The slow but steady influx of film and television productions over the years has rendered Oxford the second most filmed city in the UK after London. Yet, impressive though this is, it can still be questioned whether enough has been done to make sure that Oxford is fulfilling its enormous potential in this area. Other cities such as Liverpool that have far less impressive credentials than Oxford in terms of their architecture and proximity to London have put far greater resources into securing productions for their areas. The cultural development agency for Oxford, 'Oxford Inspires', had aimed to decide on whether to appoint a full-time film officer for the city by the end of 2004, but a spokesperson told The Oxford Student that this deadline had been put back and that they were still "in the process of commissioning a report from some consultants", with the next meeting on the matter to be held in mid-February.
The University's public relations office has a 'Film Co-ordinating Officer' to oversee such matters for the University, and to promote the use of University buildings; it is time that the city as a whole followed suit and employed a professional whose time was dedicated to doing the same. Considering the positive effect of film productions on any town's cultural heritage - the income and jobs that are brought in, as well as likely tourism opportunities - the decision made by the consultants working for Oxford Inspires will be vital for Oxford's future.
It is crucial that Oxford does not rest on its proverbial laurels, because a modern cultural city cannot be sustained by Tolkien and Lewis Carroll alone. While the history of traditional arts and media (especially publishing) in Oxford is strong, our politicians and our university must recognise the importance of remaining at the cutting edge of media and the arts. Oxford must capitalise on its historic image, pulling in period drama productions and demonstrating the advantages of filming here on location as opposed to on a Hollywood set, or of using increasingly sophisticated special effects scenery. Why not think outside the box as well? While it would be a stretch to argue that the next Spiderman movie should be set here, Oxford does consist of more than just the ancient buildings at its core, and the surrounding suburbs and countryside are also worth promoting. Finally, organisations like Oxford Inspires must encourage local and student filmmakers, as well as attracting outside projects. After all, what could be better advertising for Oxford than a home-grown film success? Hopefully the decision on a full-time Film Officer for the city will not be further delayed, and the cultural and economic best interests of the city will be prioritised.
13th Jan 2005