In the early months of 2022, Brekkie Frowny Productions approached The Film Office in search of a prime setting for their upcoming dystopian feature film, ‘The Kitchen’.
Helmed by the talented Daniel Kaluuya, both writer and co-director, the narrative unfolds in a despotic vision of London’s future, where all traces of social housing have been obliterated. Within this desolate landscape, the film’s protagonists, Izj and Benji, navigate a world where the community steadfastly refuses to abandon their home.
The production team had their sights firmly set on our exclusive location the LEB, a versatile abandoned commercial unit nestled in the heart of East London. The selection of this site proved to be ideal for constructing the urban backdrop necessary for the diverse scenes integral to the project.
Over a span of eight weeks, the team transformed the LEB into a cinematic hub, utilising it as the primary location for their filming endeavours. The abandoned commercial unit served as the canvas for expansive exterior market scenes, meticulously crafted with intricate art department detailing. Additionally, the LEB provided the backdrop for multiple interior sequences, capturing the essence of the characters’ lives within the remnants of social housing.
The production also unfolded across the Tower Hamlet’s borough, with the Robin Hood Gardens Estate as its initial hub for a month. Scenes were deftly captured in vacant flats and the streets, featuring thrilling motorbike sequences! The production returned with said motorbike filming along the always popular Roman Road filming a scene of their main character riding through the streets followed by a tracking vehicle.
Ben Lee, the Location Manager responsible for the shoot expressed,”The moment I read the ’The Kitchen’ I knew it was going to be a challenging project for me and my team, but probably one of the most enjoyable to get creative with. London in the future – whats left standing? whats gone? Whats been repurposed? Luckily for us Kibwe and Daniel had been thinking about this for years. Once the team had seen the LEB building it wasn’t long until we decided that the site was going to be the canvas for the project. With so much set build and props dressing needed to bring the site to life, the hire was a lengthy one. The LEB provided us with a standing set throughout production and with its numerous supporting spaces and vital storage rooms it was a real life saver. Big thank you to the Film Office Team. Not only for their support with the LEB, but with a number of locations that helped bring the vision of ’The Kitchen’ to life.”
Lauhren Jones, the Film Officer overseeing the project, said, “Facilitating The Kitchen for one of their main locations was a pleasure. When we initially received the project brief, we were thrilled to have another long hire use the LEB. The location has a multitude of offerings for a production such as the kitchen, and worked well in facilitating their overall needs. The team’s dedication to their craft and professionalism on-site was commendable. It was a seamless collaboration between the council and production team.”
‘The Kitchen’ was released on Netflix on the 19th January 2024.
Make your property the next movie location or production
support destination, by registering with us at filmhub.co.uk/register!
