The 'Challenges of Filming The Essex Serpent' in Maldon is one of several evening talks on offer as part of the Saltmarsh Coast Walking Festival this week.

TV location manager Harriet Lawrence and Jonjo Stickland, owner of underwater filming specialist company Marine Dept, will discuss the appeal of the Essex Saltmarshes for filmmakers.

The filming of The Essex Serpent, based on Sarah Perry's award-winning novel, created a lot of excitement throughout the Maldon District in March 2020. Several settings in Maldon town, the Promenade, North Fambridge and Tollesbury were used - and film sets, crews and actors became quite a commonplace sight for a while.

At The Blue Boar this Thursday (September 14) from 7pm, the filmmakers will recount the challenges of shooting the series between the tides.

Harriet Lawrence and Jonjo Stickland will discuss the challenges of filming on the Saltmarsh Coast at a talk at The Blue Boar on Thursday. (Image: Visit Maldon District)

With a deep love of architecture and landscapes, Harriet Lawrence found her calling in Location Managing in the early 1990s.

Harriet has found the moon on Earth, Scotland inside of the M25, the Maldives in a Heathrow hotel and Wolverhampton in Central Scotland. She has filmed underground, over-ground, on beaches, mountains, prisons, and stately homes.

Related article: Maldon District: Free walking festival to allow residents and tourists to explore Saltmarsh Coast 'like never before'

During lockdown, she spent most of her time in Essex's muddy tidal estuaries, working on an adaptation of The Essex Serpent for Apple TV.

Jonjo Stickland owns Marine Dept, which has a talented pool of boat crew and skilled divers who work round the world with film and TV productions. Recent credits include Guy Richie's new film Ungentlemanly Warfare, Paddington 3, Wonka, Wednesday, and The Essex Serpent.

Film crews and Hollywood A-listers were spotted filming in and around Maldon during the pandemic. (Photo: Paula Wiseman)

He started his career as a dinghy sailing instructor, moving into international yacht racing, while diving as a hobby. Jonjo stumbled upon film work while running a classic yacht on Mamma Mia and found a career that brought all his skills together.

Harriet and Jonjo's talk is just one of ten talks being given at the end of each day of the Saltmarsh Coast Walking Festival.

A full evening entertainment schedule can be found on the Visit Maldon District website.

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