The filming for “Think of England,” a satirical drama set during WWII, has officially concluded. This project is helmed by BAFTA-nominated writer and director Richard Hawkins, known for works such as “Theory of Flight” and “Everything.”
Set against the backdrop of the Allied invasion of France, the film explores the commissioning of two British film projects at the highest levels. One project, directed by Laurence Olivier, is personally endorsed by Winston Churchill, who insists on a grand production of Shakespeare’s “Henry V,” complete with a state-of-the-art, 3-strip Technicolor camera and ample film stock.
“Think of England” follows a diverse group tasked with a covert mission: creating adult films for soldiers at the front lines. The synopsis notes, “With the war ongoing, maintaining fighting morale is essential—an important lesson from the last conflict.”
The eclectic crew of aspiring filmmakers features a war-wounded former movie star, a renowned German director, a munitions machinist turned aspiring actress, an Etonian captain from the Ministry of Information, a boozy, aging hair and makeup artist, and a naïve young man standing on the brink of the war’s horrors. Additionally, a gaunt and ragged Luftwaffe pilot observes from a distance.
A talented ensemble has been cast, including Jack Bandeira (“Lockwood & Co”), Natalie Quarry (“Call the Midwife”), John McCrea (“Cruella”), Ronni Ancona (“Big Impression”), Ben Bela Böhm (“Angels & Demons”), Ollie Maddigan (“The Olive Boy”), and Oscar Hoppe (“Munich: The Edge of War”).
Produced by the father-daughter team of Nick O’Hagan (“The Good Liar,” “The Serpent Queen”) and Poppy O’Hagan (“Worm,” “Good Boy”) at Giant Films, the project is currently managing all sales rights. Executive producers include Geoffrey Freeman of High Street Films, along with Andrew Wood and Lucas Wood-Oliván.
The creative team features cinematographer Sarah Cunningham (“The Banishing”), production designer Chris Richmond (“The Amazing Mr. Blunden”), costume designer Nadia Dunn-Hill (“Wimbledon”), hair and makeup designer Alexis Arenas (“Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan”), and casting director Matt Sheppard (“Boiling Point”).
Recent filming took place at Shinfield Studios in Reading and on location in Anglesey, North Wales. Poppy O’Hagan remarked, “Despite the challenges of indie filmmaking, we constantly remind ourselves of the privilege it is to bring such distinctive stories to life.”
Hawkins expressed enthusiasm about completing principal photography, stating, “Seven extraordinary narratives, four cinematic grammars, three different media, two aspect ratios, and one complete film—all in the can!”
The production of “Think of England” was achieved in collaboration with Amelia Price of Sustainable Film to promote environmentally conscious filmmaking.