When the hotly anticipated crime drama Fightland lands on Sky this week, viewers will be immersed in the glitz, grit and high-stakes drama of the professional boxing world. What they may not realise is that many of the series’ biggest moments were filmed right here in Barking & Dagenham.

From Executive Producer Curtis Jackson, better known as 50 Cent, the series is one of the first major productions to showcase the strength of East London’s rapidly growing film and television industry. Eastbrook Studios served as the show’s production hub, while Film Barking & Dagenham helped unlock a diverse range of local filming locations.

Working closely with the Film Barking & Dagenham team, Fightland used Dagenham Science Park to create a remarkable range of on-screen environments, including a prison, hospital ward, mortuary and more. The flexibility of the Science Park, combined with its proximity to Eastbrook Studios, makes it an exceptionally valuable filming location.

The production also made extensive use of the Switch Building. Supervising Location Manager Christian McWilliams is a strong advocate for the site:

“It’s an incredible space. It’s got a huge former car park next to it that we used for our vehicles, and the building itself offers something you simply can’t recreate on a stage.”

POWER PARTNERSHIPS

Fightland’s engagement with Barking & Dagenham went far beyond making use of our outstanding locations.

The production opened its doors to students from our Make It Here programme and BFI Academy students. Learners explored the production offices and toured the show’s extraordinary sets at Eastbrook Studios, giving them invaluable insight into the behind-the-scenes workings of a major high-end television production.

We also partnered with Assistant Location Manager Josh Faux, who delivered an inspiring industry insight session on location filming for students from local colleges and universities.

These kinds of experiences are key to building aspiration and confidence, helping young people take their first steps into the screen industries. We are incredibly grateful for the time, expertise and opportunities this production provided to our learners.

Fightland is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when great productions partner with Barking & Dagenham. By making use of our distinctive locations while creating meaningful engagement opportunities for local learners, the project has delivered benefits both on screen and within our community.