On Saturday, 27th September 2025, the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich was transformed into a spectacular living film set — a celebration of 100 years of cinema that didn’t just honour film history but made it. Together with Elstree Studios, the College set a new Guinness World Records™ for the largest gathering of people dressed as film and TV characters.
As I photographed the event, I found myself surrounded by over 874 fans, each channelling an iconic character from the screen — from Queen Charlotte and Jack Sparrow to Luke Skywalker, Batman and Indiana Jones. The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement, creativity, and pure love for cinema.
A Real-Life Movie Set
The Old Royal Naval College (ORNC) is no stranger to spectacle. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Thames, its grand baroque architecture has doubled for palaces, courts, and city streets in countless productions. But for one day, the real-life film set became home to hundreds of costumed movie fans, gathering for a joyful and record-breaking moment that linked a century of British film heritage with the passion of today’s audiences.
Photographing across the site — from the Painted Hall to the riverside lawns — I caught glimpses of cinematic worlds colliding: Stormtroopers chatting with Bridgerton-era debutantes, Jack Sparrow striking a pose beside Batman, and Indiana Jones brandishing his whip under Christopher Wren’s sweeping domes. The spirit of film was everywhere.
A Century of Film at the Old Royal Naval College
This record-breaking event wasn’t just a celebration of fandom — it marked 100 years since the first film was shot at the Old Royal Naval College.
That milestone goes back to 1925–1926, when the silent feature Sons of the Sea, directed by H. Bruce Woolfe, became the first known production to use the College as a filming location. Scenes were filmed around the Water Gate and the Nelson Pediment, turning the historic riverside into a backdrop for naval drama at the dawn of British filmmaking.
The film itself may now be considered lost, but its legacy endures — Sons of the Sea set a precedent that would define the site’s cinematic identity for the next century. The ORNC has since starred in hundreds of productions, from Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) to The Madness of King George, Les Misérables, The King’s Speech, and more recently Napoleon and Bridgerton. Its classical architecture allows it to become anywhere — London, Paris, or even a fantasy kingdom — and that’s part of its timeless magic.
Elstree Studios: Britain’s Cinematic Heart
While the Old Royal Naval College provides grandeur and history, Elstree Studios has been the creative powerhouse of British cinema for the same 100 years. Founded in 1925, it quickly became home to legendary productions — from Star Wars and Indiana Jones to The Crown.
There’s even a neat bit of crossover trivia: for Indiscreet (1958), starring Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman, the famous Painted Hall of the College was recreated in full scale at Elstree because the real one was under restoration. So while the ORNC couldn’t appear on screen that time, its spirit travelled to the studios that helped define British film.
Together, the two sites tell a parallel story: one of place and one of production — both integral to the nation’s cinematic heritage.
Photographing the Celebration
As a photographer, the Film 100 celebration was a dream. Every direction I turned was a frame-worthy moment — Darth Vader striding past baroque columns, Bridgerton-era gowns fluttering in the breeze, and superheroes saluting before the Guinness World Records officials.
I moved between locations throughout the day, capturing portraits of participants and wide shots of the gathering as it built toward the record count. When the final number — 874 fans dressed as 45 screen characters — was confirmed, the crowd erupted in cheers. The fans were so happy to be part of the event.
This wasn’t just cosplay; it was a living tribute to 100 years of storytelling — a reminder that film connects us across time and imagination.
The Legacy Continues
It felt especially fitting that the Old Royal Naval College, where British film began in the 1920s, continues to play such a vital role in the industry today. Whether serving as the royal court in The Favourite or the opulent setting of Bridgerton, it remains a living, breathing part of film culture — not just a museum piece, but an active participant in the stories we tell.
Elstree Studios, too, continues to innovate. With new sound stages and streaming-era productions filling its calendar, the studio remains a cornerstone of the UK’s creative economy — and a symbol of continuity between cinema’s golden age and its digital future.
Looking Back — and Ahead
As the crowds drifted away and the record was officially confirmed, I paused by the Thames, imagining that first film crew shooting Sons of the Sea here a century ago. They could never have foreseen that, 100 years later, hundreds of fans would return in costume to celebrate the same enduring love of cinema.
It was a fun, inspiring day to photograph — and a reminder of how deeply film is woven into our culture, from the silent reels of 1926 to today’s streaming blockbusters.
Here’s to the next 100 years of storytelling, creativity, and movie magic at the Old Royal Naval College and Elstree Studios.
