Open University professor conducting research into the effect of Star Wars: The Force Awakens film shoot on Greenham Common
A university professor wants to hear from any Star Wars fans who witnessed film crews descending on Greenham Common as part of her study on the environmental impact of filmmaking.
The common has been the filming location for several film and television productions over the years, including most notably Star Wars: The Force Awakens as well as Fast and Furious 9, an episode of Top Gear and scenes from Beyoncé’s self-titled 2013 visual album.
The filming for Star Wars took place in September 2014 and Dr Rebecca Harrison from the Open University’s film and media department wants anyone who was affected by the filming to complete a survey to aid her research.
She said: “I want to know what wildlife is disrupted when cameras and catering trucks move in; how people feel when roads are closed, or recreational sites are closed off, and why the advantages of location shoots are always promoted in economic terms.
“I want to look beyond the headlines to understand how film shoots might become more environmentally friendly for plants, animals, and people in future.”
Dr Harrison requested anyone who experienced or was affected by the Star Wars shoot to come forward, from local residents to councillors, filmmakers, or anyone affected by site closures.
She said other interested groups might include bird watchers, business owners, dog walkers, or teenagers who currently use, or used, a site to get away from the prying eyes of adults.
She added: “However you’re connected to Greenham Common, there’s a short, five-minute version of the survey with multiple-choice questions, or a longer one for people with more to say.”
To access the short survey, visit https://rebrand.ly/x05x9sq and to access the longer one, visit https://rebrand.ly/ky0eifc
Greenham Common is one of 14 Star Wars shooting locations that Dr Harrison is visiting throughout the UK and she will be discovering the differences between how they appear today — complete with wildlife, human visitors, litter and traffic — and how they appeared in the blockbuster sci-fi franchise.
Official figures from the British Film Industry say that in 2023, £4.23 billion was spent in the UK by film and high-end television production companies.
Dr Harrison said: “It’s clear that there are economic advantages to allowing location shoots —but we need to make sure they’re managed in a way that suits local communities and protects the habitats of our increasingly endangered wildlife.”
