A film and television journalist for over a decade, Gregory was raised in Northern England but is now based in the US. He has written for the BBC, New York Times, Guardian, GQ, and Yahoo! Movies, to name but a few, all while defiantly trying to keep his accent. 
Gregory James Wakeman

Gregory James Wakeman

Film and TV journalist

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Articles (2)

‘The Kitchen’: How to build a terrifyingly dystopian London in 6 steps

‘The Kitchen’: How to build a terrifyingly dystopian London in 6 steps

When Ridley Scott started work on the visuals for ‘Blade Runner’s dystopian future, he drew inspiration from the chemical plants in Hartlepool near where he grew up.  The Kitchen’s directors Kibwe Tavares and Daniel Kaluuya followed the same path when they began building their version of London for their new Netflix sci-fi. Set in a not-too-distant future where social housing has been all but eliminated, it sees Izi (‘Top Boy’s Kane Robinson) and Benji (Jedaiah Bannerman) navigating life in a tight-knit urban community known as ‘the Kitchen’. The police start throwing people out, but many who live there refuse to leave their homes – and start to fight back.  Even though they’re from different sides of the Thames – Kaluuya was raised near Caledonian Road, while Tavares hails from Streatham and Brixton – the filmmaking pair knew they wanted to make a movie that explored their relationship with a fast-evolving London. ‘And we started to build out from there,’ says Taveres. The director talks us through his approach to world-building his dystopian London – and shares some exclusive concept art...
The best fall getaways in Pennsylvania

The best fall getaways in Pennsylvania

Everyone raves about summer, but we’ve got a special place in our hearts for fall. After all the wild holidays and the parties, the fall weather is a welcome change. And as soon as the greenery begins to change color, Pennsylvania becomes a cozy haven, just waiting to be explored.  In Pennsylvania, there’s a whole load of picturesque towns to discover, and long, scenic nature hikes to take. The best part is it’s not on everyone’s radar, so it won’t be overrun by day-trippers (unlike the likes of New York and New England). We’ve rounded up the best fall getaways in Pennsylvania to experience the state in all its natural beauty. Enjoy.  RECOMMENDED:🍎 The best fall getaways from NYC📍  The best things to do in Philadelphia🍝 The best restaurants in Pittsburgh Monica Weymouth is a writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

News (9)

Conjuring the nightmare: how ‘Nosferatu’ found its hell on earth

Conjuring the nightmare: how ‘Nosferatu’ found its hell on earth

Robert Eggers has been dreaming about making a movie adaptation of Nosferatu since he was a child. This was when Eggers first saw and fell in love with FW Murnau’s seminal 1922 silent film Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror. As he grew older, and set his sights on becoming a filmmaker, Eggers constantly fantasised about his own take on the character and story. In high-school, he even oversaw a theatrical production of Nosferatu so impressive that the artistic director for New Hampshire’s Edwin Booth Theatre asked for it to be performed there, too.  After the success of The Witch, The Lighthouse, and The Northman, Eggers was finally ready to give Nosferatu the big-screen treatment. In the gothic horror film, naive estate agent Thomas Hutter (Nicholas Hoult) travels from Germany to Transylvania to meet with Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgård). When the ancient vampire attacks Thomas, his wife Ellen Hutter (Lily-Rose Depp) begins to have visions of Orlok. Soon her increasing sense of dread becomes a reality.  One of the most atmospheric and haunting stories ever created, Eggers knew that Nosferatu wouldn’t work if he picked the wrong shooting locations. So where was Nosferatu shot? Which locations were reminiscent of the original story, but also allowed him to make the movie in his own distinct style and vision? Take a look below to find out. Where was the new Nosferatu shot? Photograph: Aidan Monaghan/Universal Pictures The doomed town of Wisborg was built at Barrandov Studios, Prague
‘Black Doves’ Filming Locations: Where was the trending Netflix show shot?

‘Black Doves’ Filming Locations: Where was the trending Netflix show shot?

In Netflix’s seriously bingeable new thriller Black Doves, London is as much of a character as Keira Knightley’s spy Helen Webb (not her real name) or her old friend, Ben Whishaw’s espionage enforcer Sam Young.  The pair play so-called ‘Black Doves’, agents for hire who retrieve and sell industrial, political, and diplomatic secrets to the highest bidder. To muddy the waters, Webb is married to the UK’s Secretary of State For Defence. Her secret identity is suddenly in danger of being revealed when her lover is murdered by a mystery sniper.  Celebrating the feel of London during the Christmas period was a key goal for a show created by Giri/Haji’s Joe Barton. ‘There’s a London Christmas aesthetic that everyone thinks they know really well,’ producer Harry Munday tells Time Out. ‘We also wanted to show assassins and gangs getting mixed up in that.’ In order to achieve that distinctly London atmosphere, Black Doves filmed in a mind-blowing 85 different locations over 93 days, with the first three episodes shot between the middle of October and late December 2023. Production on the final three episodes took place between January and March 2024.  But where exactly did Black Doves film in London? Read on to find out.  Photograph: Netflix Jason’s bloody death was shot on the South Bank  The South Bank takes on a key role in Black Doves. It’s here that Helen’s lover, Jason (Andrew Koji), is shot in the opening moments of the first episode. According to Munday, filming took place i
Where was ‘Wicked’ filmed? The locations behind the movie musical smash

Where was ‘Wicked’ filmed? The locations behind the movie musical smash

Wicked’s magical performances, stunning songs, and eye-catching locations have all combined to transfix movie fans.  The adaptation of Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman’s hit Broadway musical, twists The Wizard Of Oz story on its head. Told from the perspective of Galinda (Ariana Grande) and Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), the story depicts their topsy-turvy time as roommates at Shiz University, while teasing how the pair became Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West, respectively.  Since Wicked is based on one of the most popular stories in American history, with L Frank Baum’s original novel released all the way back in 1900, it might be surprising to film fans that the musical fantasy was shot entirely in the United Kingdom. What’s impressive, though, is that director Jon M Chu, production designer Nathan Crowley, and their teams were still able to recreate the Americana aesthetic so perfectly.   But where did Wicked actually film? Take a look below at Wicked’s filming locations. Photograph: Universal PicturesJon M Chu on set with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande Oz was partly created at home of Harry Potter Wicked was primarily filmed at Sky Studios Elstree in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, just over 14 miles north of London.  In order to have as much control of production as possible, they took full advantage of the state-of-the-art film studio’s 12 soundstages. In fact, production on Wicked was so humongous that they even had to use stages at the nearby Elstree Studi
Where was ‘Gladiator II’ filmed? The locations behind the Roman epic

Where was ‘Gladiator II’ filmed? The locations behind the Roman epic

Gladiator II has been over 24 years in the making.  After Gladiator grossed over $465 million at the box office and picked up five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor, there were many reports about the potential follow-up. There were rumours that one script explored the resurrection of Russell Crowe’s Maximus. In another, Maximus was cursed to live forever and fought in the Crusades, World War II and Vietnam.  Ultimately, writer David Scarpa and returning director Ridley Scott decided to set the second Gladiator 16 years after the events of the original. The sequel revolves around Lucius Verus (Paul Mescal), who lives with his wife in Numidia. When Roman soldiers invade the province, Lucius is forced into slavery and taken to Rome, where he becomes a gladiator. After being bought by Marcinus (Denzel Washington), Lucius is made to confront his true parentage, all while his owner plots to overthrow the young emperors Caracalla (Fred Hechinger) and Geta (Joseph Quinn). Photograph: Paramount PicturesRidley Scott and Paul Mescal on the set of ‘Gladiator II’ Where was Gladiator 2 filmed? In order to make Gladiator II look and feel as similar to its predecessor as possible, Scott decided to return to some familiar locations for production. But where exactly was it shot? Read on to find out.  Photograph: Paramount Pictures Fort Ricasoli, Malta – Rome’s Colosseum where Mescal fights on a Roman ship  When Scott shot the original Gladiator, he used the tiny Medit
The 6 New York locations that helped turn ‘The Warriors’ into a cult classic

The 6 New York locations that helped turn ‘The Warriors’ into a cult classic

One of the most beloved New York movies ever made, The Warriors, will be find a whole new fanbase on October 18, courtesy of Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis’ concept album based on the novel and Walter Hill’s iconic 1979 movie.  While Broadway fans are still waiting for news on Miranda’s long-rumored stage musical, Davis has confirmed that they’ve “spent the last three years musicalizing the Warriors’ journey home, from the South Bronx to Coney Island.  The Warriors tells the story of the titular New York City street gang: leader Cleon (Dorsey Wright), second-in-command Swan (Michael Beck), and enforcer Fox (James Remar). They have to travel 25 miles from the Bronx to their home turf on Coney Island when they’re framed for the murder of a legendary gang leader—a man striving to reunion the city’s rival criminal factions. Along the way, they travel through various New York locations, seeking refuge and avoiding the gangs that want retribution. With The Warriors reaching cult status over the past 45 years, fans now trek to these spots to pay tribute to the film. But where should fans go to see where the crime thriller was shot? Here are the six New York locations that turned The Warriors into a cult classic. Where was The Warriors filmed? Photograph: Shutterstock 1. Wonder Wheel, Coney Island The 150-foot Coney Island Ferris wheel that gave Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park its name is so iconic that The Warriors’ co-writer and director Walter Hill used it in the film’s o
How ‘The Penguin’ turned New York into a new kind of Gotham

How ‘The Penguin’ turned New York into a new kind of Gotham

Creating Gotham is an integral part of any Batman story.  It’s arguably even more important that The Penguin gets it right, though, as showrunner Lauren LeFranc’s crime drama miniseries won’t include Bruce Wayne or his crime-fighting alter ego.  Instead, Colin Farrell reprises his role as Oswald ‘Oz’ Cobb – aka The Penguin – for the show’s eight episodes. Set one week after the events of The Batman, The Penguin will depict the villain’s further rise to power in Gotham City’s criminal underworld.  LeFranc and production designer Kalina Ivanov travelled across New York to scout and shoot The Penguin, channelling the city’s real history, and a few New York movie references, into their new Gotham. ‘Our mandate from was The French Connection meets Scarface. I would always think of Goodfellas too,’ Ivanov tells Time Out. ‘The approach was cinematic from the beginning.’ But where exactly did The Penguin film in New York? Ivanov talks us through The Penguin’s locations and reveals why they were picked.  Photograph: Macall Polay/HBOCristin Milioti in episode 1 of ‘The Penguin’ La Selva, Long Island Located in Upper Brookville on Long Island, La Selva is a Mediterranean-style villa dating back to 1918. As soon as Ivanov saw it, she knew that it was the perfect home for Sofia Falcone (Palm Springs’ Cristin Milioti), the daughter of the recently deceased crime boss Carmine (Mark Strong), who fights Penguin for control of Gotham’s criminal underworld.  ‘Carmine was a third-generation ga
Where is ‘Bridgerton’ season 3 filmed? Inside the filming locations you can actually visit

Where is ‘Bridgerton’ season 3 filmed? Inside the filming locations you can actually visit

When work began on Bridgerton’s third season, the team behind Netflix’s smash-hit historical romance knew that they had to take episodes to the next level.  ‘With season three we just wanted to make everything bigger everywhere,’ says location manager Tony Hood. He’s worked on all three seasons, as well as its spin-off Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. ‘More colour, bigger costumes, bigger locations… more everything,’ he says of the ethos behind the grander-than-ever mansions, country piles and manors in the new season. ‘We wanted it bigger and better.’ Fans intent on getting a closer look at how the Bridgerton and Featherington families live will feast their eyes on a plethora of real locations – some old, some new.But finding (and using) those locations comes with some unique challenges. ‘In every room you walk into there are priceless pieces of furniture or art that usually can’t even be breathed on, let alone moved,’ says Hood. ‘We have to shift these things that are worth an astronomical amount of money.’ So what opulent Regency venues appear in season 3? We asked Hood to take us through its locations.  Photograph: Hugh MorhersoleOsterley Park Osterley Park and House, London A few miles west of London, you’ll find the Georgian splendour of Osterley Park and House. The abode, originally dating back to the 1570s, makes a starring turn in the second episode of the new season when it plays host to the Full Moon Ball. ‘It’s a beautiful building,’ says Hood, ‘and it worke
Onde foi filmada 'A Acólita'? As localizações surpreendentes da nova série de 'Star Wars'

Onde foi filmada 'A Acólita'? As localizações surpreendentes da nova série de 'Star Wars'

Situada 100 anos antes dos eventos de A Ameaça Fantasma, a nova série Star Wars, A Acólita, desenrola-se durante uma era nunca antes vista do universo de Star Wars, em imagem real. A série do Disney+ tem Amandla Stenberg como as irmãs gémeas Osha e Mae, que representam o lado bom e o lado negro da Força. O respeitado mestre jedi Sol (Lee Jung-jae de Squid Game) investiga uma série de crimes que o levam a reencontrar a sua antiga aluna Osha, enquanto lida com a sua jovem padawan Jecki Lon (Dafne Keen) e o contrabandista Qimir (Manny Jacinto). Esse novo período temporal levou a criadora Leslye Headland a criar galáxias e mundos que fossem familiares, mas ainda assim diferentes. Para o conseguir, todos os oito episódios de A Acólita foram filmados em vários locais pela Europa. Mas onde exactamente? ©LucasFilm'A Acólita' na Madeira Madeira, Portugal A ilha atlântica da Madeira, mil quilómetros a sudoeste de Portugal, junta-se ao rico mosaico de localizações de Star Wars ao redor do mundo. As filmagens ocorreram na floresta Laurissilva de Fanal, património da UNESCO, e noutras áreas da ilha, incluindo Caniçal, Porto Moniz e Ribeira da Janela, assim como nas ilhas menores próximas de Porto Santo, Desertas e Selvagens. Quase um quarto de A Acólita foi filmado na Madeira, que representa diferentes destinos galácticos na série, incluindo o planeta florestal Khofar, localizado na Orla Exterior e lar do mestre jedi wookiee Kelnacca. A Madeira nunca tinha sido cenário de uma produção d
Where was ‘The Acolyte’ filmed? The surprising locations behind the new Star Wars series

Where was ‘The Acolyte’ filmed? The surprising locations behind the new Star Wars series

Set 100 years before the events of The Phantom Menace, new Star Wars spinoff series The Acolyte unfolds during a never-before-seen era of the live action Star Wars universe The Disney+ show stars Amandla Stenberg as twin sisters Osha and Mae, who represent the light and dark side of the Force. Respected Jedi Master Sol (Squid Game’s Lee Jung-jae) investigates a number of crimes that bring him into contact with his past student Osha, all while he contends with his young Padawan Jecki Lon (Dafne Keen) and smuggler Qimir (Manny Jacinto).   That new time period meant that showrunner Leslye Headland had to create galaxies and worlds that were familiar, yet still distinctive. In order to achieve this, all eight episodes of The Acolyte were filmed in a variety of locations across Europe. But where exactly was it shot? Take a look below to find out.   Lucasfilm Ltd.Scene from Lucasfilm's THE ACOLYTE, exclusively on Disney+. ©2024 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved. Madeira, Portugal The Atlantic island of Madeira, 1000 kilometre south west of Portugal, joins a rich tapestry of Star Wars locations around the world. Filming took place in the UNESCO laurel forest of Fanal, other areas of the island, including Caniçal, Porto Moniz, and Ribeira da Janela, and the smaller nearby isles of Porto Santo, Desertas and Selvagens  Nearly a quarter of The Acolyte was filmed on the island. It stands in for different galactic destinations in the show, including the Outer Rim forest planet of