Four Liverpool students got the opportunity of a lifetime when they were asked to join the production staff for the filming of The Batman.
The latest Dark Knight adaptation starring Robert Pattinson, which hit cinemas this weekend, was shot in Liverpool with its Georgian architecture and waterfront doubling as Gotham City, and St George’s Hall used for pivotal scenes in the film.
Joining the star studded cast were Benjamin Jones, Katie Goody, Joanna Hughes and Jake Sampson, who had applied for work placements on a ‘major film production’ through Liverpool John Moore's University, but at the time didn't know for which movie.
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Benjamin Jones, originally from Cumbria, said: “I received an email through Liverpool screen school from Liverpool Film Office, advertising for location assistants on a major feature production.
"It didn’t even click that this was for ‘The Batman’ until I read an article in the newspaper. When the call came through, it took me at least five minutes to process what was happening. It was all very exciting especially as I’m a big comic fan enthusiast.”
The film studies and creative writing student has since wrote a blog about his experience and explained how he moved everything from Gotham police uniforms and journalist props to ball gowns and fireman turnouts.
He added: "The second day we were tasked with moving more costumes, this time for the starring cast, but also setting up dressing rooms. I’m fairly certain one of us was holding the Batsuit in a cardboard box for a split second before the head of costume removed it elsewhere."
The placement lasted two weeks and saw the students, now graduates, preparing and maintaining set locations for costume and make up, ensuring safety on set, moving character costumes and setting up set vehicle tracks.
The students, whose call time was 7am each morning, often worked alongside the main cast on set too.
Katie Goody, a 22-year-old film studies and creative writing student, explained she wasn't sure how she would react the first time she any of the cast members, but quickly got used it.
She added: "Part of me had expected to barely see them at all, but that wasn’t the case. Whilst the first time I saw Robert Pattinson, I was definitely surprised, it quickly went away.
"As cool as it is to see the people you admire standing a few feet away from you, when you go on to set, you’re there to do a job, so freaking out doesn’t even cross your mind as its probably one of the fastest ways to ensure you never work in the industry again."
Working on the set of a global film production meant the group were sworn to silence to not share any spoilers from filming. The quartet had to sign a comprehensive NDA [non-disclosure agreement] which prohibited them taking any photographs whilst on set.
Ruth Doughty, programme leader for film studies at John Moores, said: “Our connections with Liverpool Film Office, mean students here are among the first to hear about exciting placements, where they can gain valuable experience and get into the film industry.
"Liverpool, is the second most filmed in UK city after London and has an almost chameleon-esque sensibility. Our city has featured as the backdrop for films set in New York, Russia, London and Birmingham.
"What’s more, filmmaking in Liverpool is about to grow exponentially with the new Film Studios under development at the former Littlewoods site on Edge Lane, making it an ideal place for those interested in film, media production or journalism, to study.”
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