From horror chocolatier to Netflix collaborator—how Essex craft talent is powering the film supply chain
When Netflix and Guillermo del Toro’s production team needed chillingly realistic props for their Frankenstein adaptation they turned to a rather unusual supplier—Sarah Hardy, Essex-based “horror chocolatier” and founder of The Edible Museum in Sible Hedingham. This fascinating corner of the creative supply chain is making waves, even landing a feature on BBC News!.
Essex craft talent
Rather than opting for digital effects, del Toro insisted on authentic, handcrafted props. That’s where Sarah’s skill and artistry came in. The production’s Action Props Buyer contacted Sarah to craft “jewel-like” chocolate beetles in a precise palette, with colour coding tied to the narrative and specific characters (for instance, red hues reflecting Frankenstein’s mother).
Sarah delivered a stock of anatomically accurate pieces made of milk, dark and white chocolate, combining her sculpting background and mould-making techniques to achieve hyper-realistic results. The crew loved them—and ordered more, immediately. To meet tight filming timelines, Sarah and her team worked throughout the weekend to ship the props to Glasgow and meet the productions deadline.
Essex Creativity Within the Film’s Supply Chain
This isn’t just chocolate—it’s Essex-made chocolate! The Edible Museum is a perfect example of a local business stepping up as a specialist supplier in a high-stakes film production pipeline.
Sarah’s craft reflects years of experience in artisanal sculpting and mould-making, earning recognition from Guillermo del Toro himself, who chose her authentic craftsmanship over CGI and AI for this project.
Colour played a vital role in the visual narrative underpinning the storytelling in this adaptation of Mary Shelley’s gothic novel. By working closely with Sarah the production team achieved the precise aesthetic they needed.
Film schedules move fast, and not only was Sarah’s work exceptional in quality, but as an independent supplier, she was able to be agile, working through the weekend to deliver the props on time.
Helping to put Essex on the Global Stage
Sarah’s edible creations gained national attention when BBC News spotlighted her as a “horror chocolatier” – highlighting how carving out a niche can help to attract new opportunities for creative businesses.
Essex suppliers, prop specialists, artisans and creative makers like Sarah are becoming an important part of the film and TV supply chain – proving that local skills bring big productions into the county.
For small businesses or budding creative enterprises in Essex, collaborations like this prove that mastering a craft remains a highly valued selling point, even in an era of increasing AI use.
The Essex film and production supply chain is open to opportunities. If you offer a craft or provide a unique service, keep your phone close—you never know, the next call could be from a major production!.
If you work with film and TV production, let us know about – we want to help Essex’s creative supply chain to shine even brighter!
You can find out more about Sarah Hardy’s work and The Edible Museum
Email film@essex.gov.uk
