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BRIDGET'S DOCKS DIARY
The movie version of hit book, Bridget Jones's Diary, is relocated to the swish, upmarket Tower district of London Docklands as well as other parts of Bermondsey, SE1. For Dockwatchers locations like Butler's Wharf, Mill Street, Dockhead, Tower Bridge and Borough come easy on the eye as does the loft home of Hugh Grant. Overall, the hit movie is a splendid showcase for the Docks lifestyle and should encourage 1,000s to try keeping up with the Jones's...

ROLLING RIVER
Three Mills Island is a 17-acres island in the River Lea growing fast as a film studio. Historic Georgian and Victorian buildings, including a Grade I Listed tidal mill, are at the centre of film and programme making around the 15 studios created onsite. There are production and support services, catering and scores of locations close by suitable for pub commercials or the biggest Bond blockbuster filmed in1999. Oscar winner, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels was made here. Edwin Shirley 020 7363 0033. website: http://www.threemills.com

WATCH THE GAP
Few James Bond fans would spot the gaps in the river speedboat chase film in the 1999 blockbuster, The World is Not Enough. Heading downstream and turning right into St Saviour's Wharf could not produce the flying exit depicted in the movie. The dock is a dead-end and two miles away from the scenes shown in the next frames. Dock watchers noted similar scenes shifted several times in the £7 million opening sequence.

SHELL BY DATE
Producer, Stanley Kubrick created the siege of the Vietnamese town of Hua in Full Metal Jacket from the ruins of Beckton, Docklands gas works. After days of explosions rocked the area, local council officials turned up on the set demanding an end to the nuisance. Kubrick casually waved a piece of paper at them, confirming he had a permit to shoot the battle scenes. The officials left without knowing the "permit" had expired days previously.

WHITE HOUSE SHOOT
The happy family cavorting in the riverside townhouse in the Isle of Dogs left after a day. They were Nigerian actors, recruited in London for a soap powder commercial for Unilever Nigeria to be shown on Nigerian TV. It was cheaper to produce it in London Docklands.

DOORSTEP COFFIN
Neighbours did a double take when they spotted a coffin flung across the doorstep of a house in the Isle of Dogs, London Docklands. It had been left there by crew shooting the Anglo-French movie, Cement Garden, of which the coffin was a key prop zealously guarded by the crew as they returned after a hard day's filming in the wastes of Beckton.

SPICE ISLAND WARS
There was a riot when the Spice Girls shot their 1998 Spice Girls: The Movie in London Docklands. Hordes of local children put the Docklands Sailing Club under siege in their efforts to get to the feisty five doing boat chases on the other side of the locked and bolted steel gates. At the other end of the dock, offices emptied as blokes nipped out for a glimpse of the girlies.