What NOT to do when filming an old diva like Trinity College Dublin
FILMING a TV hit like Normal People on campus would be a boon for many colleges – but Trinity isn’t a normal college, and standards must be upheld.
Concerns over filming after dark, making sure the university was painted in a positive light, and shooting delays due to a royal visit were just some of the issues raised during the filming of the hit drama at Trinity College.
Element Pictures, the makers of Normal People, were even worried at first their budget might not stretch to the location fees charged by the college. An email from their location manager said that if Trinity was ‘genuinely beyond their reach’ they would need to know early on to scout other possibilities. ‘A TV series like Normal People budgets approx. [figure redacted] for location fees,’ said the message. ‘We do not have the resources of a large feature film, but we certainly have the ambition.’
As discussions began in January 2019, Trinity was extremely keen to ensure Normal People was filmed in the location the novel was set in, according to records released under FOI. ‘I would be very keen to get this across the line, especially with so many references to Trinity in the book,’ said one email.
Another said the college would need to be sure that Trinity came out of the production well.
‘As this book explicitly references TCD as a location, rather than an unnamed or other location,’ an email said, ‘in the first instance we need to determine whether we are happy if TCD is positively shown in the [programme].’
In another email, Trinity was told about an ‘atmospheric sound guy’ who would be recording on campus. ‘[He] will be walking around campus all day tomorrow recording sound – very low key – just in case someone thinks he’s acting strangely.’
Concerns were also raised over what procedure to follow for artworks being identifiable in the background of certain scenes.
‘This is the screen shot below they have in the dining hall,’ said an email, ‘you can actually make out Mary Robinson. What is the practice in a case like this?’
Not all requests proved straightforward with some night-time shooting plans causing issues.
In one email, Trinity’s accommodation manager said he was ‘concerned about the proposal for filming after dark in the vicinity’ of one of the college houses.
Another plan for a day’s filming had to be moved because of a royal visit to the college in July 2019.
At one stage, the producers also needed a dinner of ‘meat, new potatoes, [and] peas in gravy’ for one scene but Trinity queried whether the food needed to be edible. ‘Will these meals be eaten?’ said an email. ‘[The location manager] mentioned they could be prepared as they won’t be eaten – it’s just that the kitchen closes early on a Friday.’
Thankfully, the college campus appeared to blossom in the limelight. One email said: ‘I have to say [the college] really looks amazing … I have seen some footage and the impact Trinity makes on screen is phenomenal.’
A spokeswoman for Trinity said: ‘[We were] delighted to witness the impact Normal People has had in Ireland and globally, not only because it was partly filmed on the grounds, rendered such a vivid picture of our campus and featured many Trinity actors, but also because – possibly uniquely – its talented writer, director, and one of the lead actors were Trinity alumni.’
‘Happy if TCD is positively shown’