What really happens when Hollywood lands in your venue? Newnham College finds out
When the Hollywood film After the Hunt – starring Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield – hit cinemas recently, few would have guessed that part of its Ivy League setting was actually filmed in the heart of Cambridge. But what happens behind the scenes when a venue becomes a movie location? Conference and event manager Freya Vaughan shares how Newnham College prepared for its starring role.
Freya Vaughan
Freya Vaughan
In April 2024, I received an exciting enquiry from a freelance location scout seeking a UK location to replicate Yale University for a major Hollywood feature film. With the filming scheduled for July-August 2024, I knew we needed to act fast.
The task was to identify potential filming locations that could mimic Yale’s architecture, and Newnham College was a strong contender. We quickly arranged a site visit, showing the scout our meeting rooms, dining spaces, and the beautiful grounds. Shortly after, I received confirmation that the film's director and team were interested in visiting the College - a promising step, but also a reminder of the challenges ahead.
Summer is the busiest season for external events at the Cambridge Colleges, and Newnham was nearly at capacity for conferences, summer schools, and weddings. This made the logistics of fitting in a film crew complex. Coordinating the College's schedules and the production team’s requirements was going to be crucial, but the prospect of hosting a high-profile film was well worth the effort. The senior team at Newnham could see what a coup this could be and were keen to collaborate with the film crew.
Andrew Garfield and Julia Roberts in After The Hunt, filmed at Newnham College, Cambridge. Pic by Amazon MGM Studios
Andrew Garfield and Julia Roberts in After The Hunt, filmed at Newnham College, Cambridge. Pic by Amazon MGM Studios
"Summer is the busiest season for external events - this made the logistics of fitting in a film crew complex"
A significant boost came when the location scout expressed particular interest in the Jane Harrison Room. Located in an area of the College not often used for external events, this room, however, posed its own challenges - it’s our primary wedding venue, typically booked well in advance.
Despite the hurdles, the opportunity presented both practical and rewarding prospects, making it a sound decision. Once I learned the director was Oscar-winner Luca Guadagnino, I recognised what an incredible opportunity this was and knew it deserved the utmost care.
During a subsequent visit, the production team expressed interest in making alterations to the Jane Harrison Room, including repainting, installing false walls, and modifying light fittings. While this raised new logistical issues - such as removing artwork and coordinating with our Curator for its safe relocation - it also signalled their serious intent. We managed to schedule the work during a narrow window between weddings and summer school arrivals.
As the planning progressed, the scope of the production’s use of Newnham expanded. In addition to the Jane Harrison Room, they requested bedrooms for green rooms, storage areas, crew catering space, and parking arrangements. This introduced more moving parts to an already complex arrangement but working closely with the friendly and professional production team made it a rewarding challenge.
By June, just a month before filming, much of the preparation was still based on trust. Open and honest communication was key to building confidence on both sides. That said, moving forwards with film production events, we will be requesting deposits much earlier in the process to reflect the amount of work that happened behind the scenes before finalising contracts.
Finally, in July, the transformation of the Jane Harrison Room began. After our second wedding of the season left the room to go to their reception on a nearby lawn, the production crew moved in to transform the room into a Yale University classroom. By Monday morning, the room was unrecognisable, complete with new paint, temporary walls, and period-appropriate decorations.
Filming days saw part of the College closed off, but I was able to monitor the progress, even catching a glimpse of the film’s lead actor heading to her next take. The crew remained professional throughout, ensuring that everything was approved with me before making any changes. Thanks to the excellent cooperation between Newnham staff and the film crew, the entire process went off without a hitch.
The key takeaways from this experience are:
● Rapid response to enquiry: Hollywood feature film request received in April 2024 for July-August filming, requiring quick action.
● Summer scheduling conflict: Filming dates coincided with the busiest season for College events, requiring careful coordination.
● Capacity considerations: The surrounding building had been contracted to a summer school client and the filming location to a wedding.
● Scheduling logistics: Filming was scheduled within a 7-day gap between weddings and the arrival of summer school guests.
● Production requests: The crew requested significant alterations to the Jane Harrison Room.
● Collaborative planning: Multiple departments were involved to ensure approvals and preparations.
● Expanding requirements: Additional facilities were requested, including bedrooms, storage, parking and crew toilet access.
● Short lead time: Contracts and deposits were delayed due to the tight timeline, requiring mutual trust.
● Positive outcome: The film production was a success, demonstrating adaptability, communication, and collaboration.
● Key learning: Ask for a contact for PR activities while the activity is happening.
This project highlighted the importance of adaptability, clear communication, and trust when managing a high-profile, fast-moving event alongside everyday operations. The successful partnership between Newnham College and the film production team was a testament to everyone’s willingness to collaborate and find solutions, making this a truly memorable and rewarding venture for the College.
Newnham College falls under the Meet Cambridge umbrella.