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LOCATIONS FOCUS: PINEWOOD STUDIOS GROUP
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Aisling Magill, marketing co-ordinator for the Pinewood Group, gives us the lowdown on the studios.
What is the history of your location?
The Pinewood Studios Group comprises Pinewood, Shepperton and Teddington Studios, and is the leading service provider of film and television related services across the UK.
All former country houses, their impressive heritage dates back to the 17th century. The studios operated on their own and in some cases competed with each other until the studios merged in more recent years to become the Pinewood Studios Group.
Over the years, the Pinewood Studios Group has accommodated some of the most spectacular moments, memorable stars and ambitious sets on screen; Batman, Lara Croft, James Bond and Superman have all walked our corridors, while our stages and back-lots have become ice palaces, Cambodian tombs, space ships and Paris Operas.
Our filming locations also have an impressive credit list: Batman Begins, The Great Gatsby, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Hamlet, The Omen, The Mummy, X-men and BBC Extras have all used locations across our studio complexes.
What does it mean to the local people?
Both Pinewood and Shepperton can be used as wedding venues and we usually hold a charity dog show once a year, in our gardens, for the RSPCA. Other than for these events, our studios are not open to the general public in order that we can provide a secure and private filming environment.
How long has it been used as a location for the film/broadcast industry?
Our production history dates back to the early 20th Century and the era of silent film. Over the years we have housed feature films, live TV dramas, commercials, pop promos, animations and photo shoots, as well as many location shoots.
What makes it so attractive as a filming location?
The Pinewood Studios Group has a wealth of exterior and interior location possibilities. Standing on over 200 acres between them, the Studios offer woods, fields, lush formal gardens, old manor houses, formal boardrooms and multi-story carparks that are all supported by a specialist media campus.
What makes your location different from the others?
To ensure your production runs smoothly we have virtually all the expertise and infrastructure a production might need on hand. Pinewood and Shepperton provide a range of production services so that, quite simply, every last detail of your production can be taken care of on site.
There are the services provided by the studios themselves, as well as the vast array of services provided by over 250 independently-owned companies who have decided to make the studios their home.
Our stages, back-lots, tanks, an underwater stage, production offices, post production facilities and a comprehensive range of fully serviced, managed and furnished production facilities are all within easy reach of all of our locations.
Whether you are based at the studios or doing location shoots in the local area, the Pinewood Studios Group can provide a huge range of accommodation for your production.
What is your favourite piece of trivia about your location?
Some of the river scenes on the Oscar-winning African Queen were actually shot on the river Ash at the back of our Shepperton location.
www.pinewoodgroup.com
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