Batman in Bloomsbury

Summary

The undefined website details the filming of the new Batman movie, "Batman Begins," at the University of London's Senate House, which serves as a stand-in for Gotham City Police Headquarters, and discusses the building's architectural and cultural significance.

Abstract

The article "Batman in Bloomsbury" on the undefined website describes the ongoing filming of the Batman movie "Batman Begins" near the author's flat in Bloomsbury, London. The imposing Senate House, a period building with a significant history and presence, is being used as the Gotham City Police Headquarters in the film. Director Christopher Nolan's preference for practical effects and period architecture is noted, with Senate House fitting the bill for a 1930s US police department building. The article also mentions the building's reputation as the inspiration for the 'Ministry of Truth' in George Orwell's "1984" and its frequent use as a filming location. Senate House is part of an imagined New York skyline, contributing to the city's "Celluloid Skyline." The piece, originally from cityofsound.com, was updated with YouTube videos showing scenes filmed at Senate House and a tweet featuring the Bat signal projected onto the building for Batman Day in 2019.

Opinions

The author expresses a sense of awe and respect for the grandeur of Senate House, describing it as "mighty" and "austere."
The incongruity of US police cars and Gotham Police Department insignia in the "genteel" area of Bloomsbury is noted with mild amusement.
The author admires director Christopher Nolan's commitment to using non-CGI effects and appreciates the choice of Senate House for its architectural suitability to the film's aesthetic.
There is an appreciation for the mythology surrounding Senate House, including its rumored influence on Orwell's "1984."
The author finds it interesting how London's architecture contributes to the portrayal of an exaggerated, cinematic version of New York City.
The updates to the original post with videos and a tweet suggest a continued interest and pride in the local landmark's role in popular culture.

UCL’s Senate House standing in for Gotham City Police Headquarters

As I type this, a block away from my flat, under the austere and glowering gaze of the mighty Senate House—a building unpicked in detail here—they’re filming the new Batman movie (called Batman Begins, aka The Intimidation Game, which was what was actually written on the papers stuck on the windscreens of the crew’s numerous trucks) (Ed. This piece was originally published at cityofsound.com on 23 May, 2004.)

I didn’t see any of the glittering cast (dir. Christopher Nolan, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Katie Holmes, Morgan Freeman, Rutger Hauer etc.) though I did see plenty of replica US police cars with Gotham Police Department insignia on the side. Rather incongruous in genteel Bloomsbury, I can tell you. I was stopped from taking any proper photos, so only managed to sneak off this quick Nokia-cam one indicating the production staff trying to film without closing the streets down.

A 2003-era Nokia cameraphone image of Batman Begins

Apparently Nolan is a big fan of Blade Runner’s non-CGI effects, and so hence the importance of period architecture presumably. I think he’s picked well. Senate House would seem to be a perfect stand-in for a 1930s-style monolithic US police department building.

Senate House’s mythology is greater than its non-inconsiderable physical presence, and is reputed to be the model for Orwell’s ‘Ministry of Truth’ in 1984 (again, as noted previously). These days, it’s frequently a host for scurrying film crews, and now it appears to be part of a Raymond Hood-inspired alternative New York too, as Gotham City. Simulacrum indeed.

It’s interesting to ponder that a chunk of London’s fabric gets used to conjure this exaggerated unreal New York — somehow London becomes another chapter in New York’s Celluloid Skyline.

Ed. Years after this post, people have posted various videos of Batman being filmed at Senate House, including this first sequence from the wonderful South Entrance, a marble-clad space I’ve cut through many times on the way to Russell Square.

Ed. This piece was originally published at cityofsound.com on 23 May, 2004.