Residents’ dismay at filming that portrays neighbourhood in a negative light

Members of a Kingsdown community have spoken of their dismay at the TV and film companies that paint their neighbourhood in a negative light.

Residents of Dove Street flats say that Bristol City Council keeps approving filming on their estate, a series of council-owned tower blocks to the west of Stokes Croft, that tell stories about “serial killers, drug addicts and extremists”.

Bernardita Munoz-Chereau (also known as Bernie) says a number of the shows filmed there are “portraying my neighbourhood under the darkest of lights”.

She received a letter last week telling her about proposed filming for the new series The Outlaws (previously The Offenders).

The six-part series, which is hosting its world premiere in Bristol next month, follows seven strangers coming together to complete a community payback sentence.

A publicist for the show has told Bristol24/7 the series will not paint the neighbourhood in a negative light and that the setting is the home of one of the lead characters.

Carolina House is one of three council blocks located on Dove Street, Kingsdown – photo by Billy Stockwell

Meeting at a children’s playground to discuss some of the issues that are concerning them about the frequent filming, residents say the location was going to be used “to shoot the latest character thriller about ex-convicts fighting a ferocious local gang”. It is now believed that particular filming has moved to another part of the estate.

Sudi Ahmed, a 36-year-old key worker who lives at Dove Street flats, says that it was her eleven-year-old son who was first to read the letter from the production team.

“He read the letter and said, ‘why are they filming movies like that in our area? Do they mean that we, growing up in this area, are going to end up like them?’”

“That was quite a hard question for me to hear,” says Sudi.

According to residents, this isn’t the first time that filming on their estate has caused problems. Bernie says that last month she heard a drone flying outside her window, even though residents had no idea that filming was planned to take place on the estate that day.

This particular production crew were apparently disappointed about the new planting troughs that residents had installed because they “didn’t fit the desolate concrete high-riser that they were expecting”, she says.

Residents at Dove Street flats have recently installed planting troughs on their estate – photo by Billy Stockwell

Three years ago, Mike Stuart, another Dove Street resident who has lived at the estate for over a decade, had an episode of BBC One’s Casualty filmed in his flat.

The storyline followed a woman with drug problems who jumps off a footbridge over a dual carriageway and causes a deadly crash.

Mikes says that fake beer cans, ashtrays and packets of cheap biscuits were placed around his flat for the filming, adding that this was “reinforcing the stereotype” of poverty.

“The reality is that Dove Street is actually a very family-friendly place. Most kids living in suburbia probably don’t have such a friendly environment.

“Social housing was originally designed to create a fairer world. People were really excited about homes in the sky.

“Now the attitude has completely changed, mainly through neglect but also because people repeat the same story that social housing is the worst place that you can live.”

This communal area outside Dove Street flats might be demolished – photo by Billy Stockwell

Bernie says that if these stories were used to reflect the reality of her community, which is currently working hard to revamp its outdoor spaces, there could be transformative change.

“We need to consider the power of the story, that’s the main thing,” she says. “Where are the filmmakers portraying the community work that we are doing?”

She thinks that the council should consider the storylines of films and TV series before their applications get granted.

Other residents agree. Andreas Anwanvter, another Dove Street resident, adds: “It’s true that this area has its problems, but it’s not all problems, we have key workers here and people that are very important for the community and for society.

“It’s good to address tough realities, but there’s a whole variety of people and stories that you could tell about this place.”

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Read more: The Kingsdown gardens bringing a community together 

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Bristol was designated a UNESCO City of Film in 2017, a status only held by 13 cities around the world, which recognises Bristol as a world leader in the field of film.

Mayor Marvin Rees has previously said that the status provides Bristol with a “unique chance to harness the power of a diverse industry and empower people to collaborate on combating inequality and break down the barriers to opportunity”.

However, Bernie says that if the benefit that filming brings is at the cost of the Dove Street community “then it is completely unfair”.

Ani Stafford-Townsend, a Green councillor for central ward, says that “the creative arts are an invaluable part of our lives, and the expanding use of Bristol as a location brings multiple benefits to the city”.

“When TV and film companies use our streets, it can bring those communities great benefits,” says the Green councillor.

“However, it can also cause great inconvenience and even harm. The flipside to the beauty of Bristol is some of the most deprived areas of the country. That deprivation is not for sale and exploitation.

“All the communities in our city work hard to create a better community for themselves and that needs to be supported. When a film company, especially multi-billion ones such as Netflix or Amazon, uses our streets they should be putting back into the community.”

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Read more: Record shop owner to have cameo appearance in ‘The Offenders’

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A Bristol City Council spokesperson said: “Bristol has a long-standing reputation as being a leading filming destination and benefits both economically and culturally from this sector and our status as a UNESCO City of Film.

“Striking a balance between supporting productions and everyday city life is an important part of the negotiations the Bristol Film Office undertake.

“Production companies are required to notify all neighbouring residents and businesses affected by filming at least seven days in advance of filming taking place.

“In this particular case letters were sent to residents stating intentions for filming and providing a designated contact to resolve any concerns, with seven days’ notice.

“If a film crew receives permission from a private resident to film in their property, any arrangements are solely between the production company and the individual concerned.

“Where there has been disruption or significant levels of filming, the Bristol Film Office – which issues permits for commercial filming in the city – recommends that a local resident’s group or charity is identified by the production company and that a donation is made to support the local community.

“Very recently Bristol Film Office has been made aware of the newly formed residents group for the Dove Street area and has been in contact with the relevant production company to recommend a donation is considered for this group.”

Main photo by Billy Stockwell

Read more: Four major dramas begin filming in Bristol

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