Historic DockyardRochester BridgeThe authority. The Medway has its own harbour authority, Peel Ports Medway, so permission to film on the water comes from them rather than the Port of London Authority. We handle it.
The tide. The Medway is tidal up to Allington Lock above Maidstone, and its banks dry out widely at low water, so we time shoots and boat movements around the tide.
Our work here. We shot Kid Apollo’s music video on the Medway at dusk, with a barge under tow as a moving stage, and photographed a tug landing crew at the dockyard wall at Chatham at first light.
The light. Wide water and low banks give big skies, and dusk and first light are the strongest times of all.
On the water. Filming on the Medway needs permission from Peel Ports Medway, the harbour authority, and we apply for it as part of the job.
In the air. Rochester Airport’s flight restriction zone reaches the river at Chatham’s Historic Dockyard, so a drone there needs the airport’s permission, and we check every other position against the zone before the day.
On land. The dockyard, the castle and the riverside each have their own owners, so filming on land needs their permission, separate from the water.
ProductionsKid Apollo, i let the sun back inA 30-metre flat-top barge under tow as a moving stage at dusk, for Kid Apollo’s i let the sun back in video.Read the job
Our productionsCrew Transfer Photography: Tug Operations at ChathamAerial photography of a workboat crew transfer at first light on the Medway: a Damen Stan tug working onto the dockyard wall at Chatham to put crew ashore.Read the jobThe harbour authority, Peel Ports Medway. We apply to them, plus anyone else the location needs, as part of the job.
Yes. We shot Kid Apollo’s video here at dusk, with a barge under tow as a moving stage, our boats and our crew.
Yes, all the way up to Allington Lock above Maidstone, and the banks dry out widely at low water, so the tide shapes the day.
Usually, with the airspace checked for the exact position. Rochester Airport’s zone reaches the river at Chatham’s Historic Dockyard, where a flight needs the airport’s permission.
