Acclaimed romance writer Rosamunde Pilcher grew up in Lelant, and though she later lived in Scotland, she retained a deep love for Cornwall that shone through in her novels. Her stories have captured the hearts of readers around the world, but are particularly beloved by European television audiences thanks to a long-running series of stunning TV movie adaptations by German production company FFP New Media.
Having produced the series for over twenty-five years, Ello Bolz is perfectly placed to explain the appeal of Pilcher’s work. “They are romantic stories with happy endings, embedded in the breathtakingly beautiful Cornish landscape” — this makes them ideal source material for family-friendly escapist viewing.
Like many in our industry, Ello has become enamoured with the breadth of photogenic locations that Cornwall has to offer. “The stunning coastline, the enchanted forests, the variety of wildlife, the white and empty beaches, the lively fishing villages and ports — plus castles and large country estates! Everything oozes history.”
When I ask whether she can possibly pick a favourite, Ello gives honourable mentions to Godrevy, with its iconic lighthouse, Mullion and St. Ives. However, her very first “Pilcher location” remains a special favourite — Prideaux Place, the Elizabethan country house overlooking Padstow, where she first worked in 1994.
Has the experience of filming in Cornwall changed since then? “St. Ives and Padstow were sleepy little towns with ‘normal shops’ — not too touristy at all. It’s certainly busier now!” Ello has seen landscapes change over the years, with the arrival of housing developments, wind farms and fields of solar panels, and adds that these days, like everywhere, there’s a little more “red tape” to navigate.
None of these changes have impacted her appetite for working here, as evidenced by the fact that the series now consists of around one hundred and twenty films. Due to this enduring success, FFP New Media established a permanent UK base in Newquay in 2011. Ello explains that Newquay is ideally situated, with all of their regular locations within a 30-mile radius and good transport connections. They use the Headland Hotel for cast accommodation, and there are plenty of rented accommodation options for crew.
Ello explains that the Rosamunde Pilcher series is a truly international collaboration. They hire local locations department and art department crew members, runners, drivers, drone and helicopter operators, and local cast via a Liskeard-based casting director, while most of the HoDs are from Europe. Over the years, they have built very close relationships with “location owners, skippers, National Trust wardens, harbour masters, life guards…” and cultivated a positive relationship with the Cornish public, many of whom will have seen the crew at work at least once. In peak tourist season, they tend to avoid busy beaches and harbour towns, instead shooting at inland locations or private properties.
This longstanding relationship with the local industry and community is of enormous mutual benefit. FFP New Media spends millions of pounds in Cornwall every year, and in 2016 they were thanked (along with Rosamunde Pilcher herself) by the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall. Of course, the economic impact doesn’t end at the production costs and auxiliary spending by cast and crew; a quarter of a million German tourists visit Cornwall each year, flocking to see the locations they’ve fallen in love with on screen.
Does she have any indication of whether visitors’ experience of the real Cornwall lives up to what she and her colleagues have created on screen? Well, that depends on the weather — but essentially, Ello believes no one could accuse them of false advertising. When it comes to Cornwall, “What’s not to like?”
Our interview takes place in late May, during the Coronavirus lockdown, when the near future of all television and film projects is uncertain. Ello tells me that FFP New Media have suspended their filming plans for now, although they hope they’ll be able to commence later in the year. Immediate concerns aside, does she have any final advice for other international production companies considering working in Cornwall?
“Cornwall is a great location choice, with talented film workers. Come and enjoy!”
Written by Alex MJ Smith, with thanks to Ello Bolz.
