DOCUMENT PINEWOOD STUDIOS BEHIND THE SCENES

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BEHIND THE

SCENES

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Contents

04

Introduction

06

The Story So Far...

08

The Place

16

The Hub

22

From Script

to Screen

24

Shooting a Scene

26

Sound Stage and

Backlot

30

Skyfall

at

Pinewood Studios

34

It’s Not Just Movies

36

In the Press

38

National. Global.

40

Conclusion

This document is submitted as part of the

Pinewood Studios Development Framework Planning Application February 2013

It has every kind of environment, every

kind of trickery, there’s a sense that

every bit of the industry is there. That

sense of magic being created is very

strongly present at Pinewood.

Sir Kenneth Branagh

Actor/Director

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1936

Pinewood studios officially opens 1940 Pinewood Studios requisitioned by the armed

forces and used to film war time documentaries 1935

Partnership between Charles Boot and J. Arthur Rank established

1934

Estate purchased by Charles Boot

Pinewood Studios is a hub for skills, technology

and creative people. It is recognised as one of the

world’s premier centres of film and TV production,

with an unparalleled range of sound stages,

backlots, offices, workshops, support services and

other facilities.

Having hosted some of the best known and most successful films of all time, Pinewood Studios has a unique place in cinema history. This document goes behind the scenes at Pinewood Studios, shedding light on the facilities, businesses, people and skills needed to produce films as well as exploring the film making process, from writing a screenplay to theatrical release. The document further describes Pinewood Studios’ role as an

interdependent hub of creative expertise and enterprise which extends beyond the world of film to TV, video games, animation and music video production. Over 800 films have been made at Pinewood Studios during its history.

Recent productions include: Les Misérables, Skyfall, Prometheus, Dark Shadows, Snow White and the Huntsman, The Woman in Black, My Week with Marilyn, X-Men: First Class, and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

01. Aerial view of Pinewood Studios 02. The Underwater Stage

03. Foley artist recording sound effects

04. A League of Their Own © Sky 1 HD

05. Set for Mamma Mia built on 007 Stage

06. The Richard Attenborough Stage 07. Set under construction for Snow

White and the Huntsman

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BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios | 07 06 | BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios

1948

John Davis appointed managing director, taking over from J. Arthur Rank

1958

Carry On Sergeant, the first film of the Carry On... series, released

1947

Two iconic Pinewood productions, Oliver Twistand

The Red Shoesare released 1946

Pinewood Studios reopened

In 1934, Heatherden Hall Estate in

Buckinghamshire was purchased by Sheffield

entrepreneur Charles Boot. Initially used as an

up-market country club, the estate was turned

into a film studio in partnership with J. Arthur

Rank. Boot officially named the studio Pinewood

to echo the name of Hollywood and the

woodland surrounding the estate.

The Studios were officially opened

on 30 September 1936 followed by a successful period of British film making. Initially the studios

comprised five stages, which remain at the heart of the current site. The studios played an important role in the developing British film industry, with 42 films made between 1936-39. Notable films made at the studios over the following years included

Talk of the Devil (1936), The Red Shoes

(1948), Oliver Twist (1948) and A Town Like Alice (1956). In the 1940s, the Studios were requisitioned by the armed forces primarily to produce war time documentaries. After reopening, the 1950s and 1960s saw the start of two famous film series to be produced at Pinewood Studios, the Carry On films and the James Bond films.

The story so far...

The 1970s saw the construction of the iconic 007 stage for the film

The Spy Who Loved Me and today the stage is the largest in Europe. More recently Pinewood Studios was acquired from The Rank Group. Early in 2001, Pinewood Studios and Shepperton Studios merged. In 2005 the company floated on The London Stock Exchange.

The Pinewood Studios Group now also operates studio complexes in Canada, Germany, Malaysia and the Dominican Republic as part of its global offer of over 1million sq ft of stages.

It’s my heritage, my personal heritage, I film everywhere in the world and I think all things considered what we have to offer here are as good as anything you’re going to get in Hollywood.

Sir Ridley Scott

Director: Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator and Prometheus

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The Place

Overview

Stages

Large scale buildings for

accommodating film and TV sets. Workshops

A variety of spaces primarily for constructing sets and props including timber and plastering workshops. Offices

Flexible space which is let to film production companies to act as an HQ or production base for a particular project.

Backlots

Open spaces used for constructing large scale outdoor filming sets and used alongside stages.

TV studios

Dedicated facilities for making television programmes.

Ancillary

A range of other uses such as support services, including catering and hospitality, post production facilities and screening rooms.

Pinewood Studios

comprises a range

of different types of

facility which perform

complementary roles.

The great thing about Pinewood is that it’s a one-stop shop. It’s very comforting for producers to know that you can come into a studio environment where everything’s all in one place.

Callum McDougall

Executive Producer: Quantum of Solace, Casino Royale, Wrath of the Titans and Skyfall

Studio Services Main Road Main Road Main Road Mai n Ro ad

Paddock Lane Carpenters Road

Cove red W ay Cove red W ay

Stills Road Services Way

007 Drive

Studio Drive Peter Rogers Way

Br occoli Road Goldfinger Avenue So ut h Lo dg e D ri ve H e at h e r den L ane Garden Suite Croquet Pine Suite Lawn Suite Stage Scoring Stage A G Photographic Dry Cleaners North Lot Mansfield Timber Building Theatre 7 Cutting Rooms 007 Stage Warner Lodge South Lodge North Lodge Stables/ Coach House Heath Farm Nursery Water Tower Double Lodge Car Park Car Park 5 Concrete Standing Car Park Car Park 2 Car Park 1 Overflow Car Park Car Park 3 Coach House Car Park Car Park 4 Main Entrance Pinewood Road Black Park Location Gardens Hall Gardens Paddock Lot Orchard Lot North Lot

Hall of Fame North Corridor

Post Production East Corridor Cutting Rooms South Corridor HGV Parking CANAL+ 1 2 3 4 5 6 Portacabins 14 - 20 So ut h Lo dg e D ri ve Grooms Cottage Car Park Paddock Tank A Stage _E_Stage FStage H Stage N & P Block P Stage B Stage C Stage D Stage LStage MStage S Stage R Stage The Richard Attenborough Stage StageG 007 Stage South Dock U Stage Studio Services Boiler House Wardrobe Studio Stores Vaults

Club Bar &

Restaurant Coffee Shop & Canteen Ballroom Heatherden Hall Fitness Room Print Room Gas Store HV Security / Reception Recycling Centre 16 15 13 Power House Workshop North Dock Workshop2 11 12 29 32 2 A 5 6 8 18 30 9 19 20 28 22 21 27 26 25 23 24 1A 33 31 1 North Dock Workshop No. 1 2 3 4 7 6 5 10 14 TV Studio

one TV Studiotwo Technicolor Plasterers Shop H I J

Carpenters Shop Section B

Carpenters Shop Section C Wood Mill Carpenters Shop Section A

A B P13 C D E F G Garages East Side Complex

Panalux NorthLamp Store TV Complex Props Building Stanley Kubrick Building L & M Block Avid Technology Portacabins 5-11

Main Administration Building

Spray Shop Stages TV Studios Onsite Amenities & Services Offices Workshops Recycling Centre Cycle Sheds Bus Stops Post Production

& Digital Content Services

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1976

007 stage constructed for the James Bond film, The Spy Who Loved Me; the stage is used to film the climatic scenes in the bow of a supertanker

1978

Superman released to critical acclaim, directed by Richard Donner

1964

Goldfinger released; streets within Pinewood Studios used to stage the car chase around Goldfinger’s factory 1962

Dr. No released, marking the start of the James Bond franchise

The Place

Key Facilities

Yet, if you are lucky enough to tour Pinewood Studios, which is closed to the public, it is swiftly apparent that the site is far from glamorous. Away from the cameras the realities of a site which accommodates the complex logistics as well as the day-to-day running of commercial film and television productions are apparent. The site’s physical constraints mean there is very little scope for any building, facility or space which isn’t highly functional.

Each film production has different requirements for accommodation and Pinewood Studios has the capability to provide a bespoke facilities package accordingly. The typical model for a major production however is for the provision of office space to form a production base for a particular project, with other facilities managed flexibly according to the filming schedule. This would typically involve using a range of workshops, sound stage space, backlots, pre production and post production facilities.

Pinewood Studios has grown over time in line with the evolving needs of the industry. To walk around Pinewood Studios today is to take a trip through cinematic history. From the internal street named ‘Goldfinger Avenue’, the signed photographic displays and original set design drawings on the walls of the main buildings, to the iconic 007 Stage, the site is steeped in film heritage. Today, Pinewood is a world class modern production complex with its unique combination of large stages, TV studios, water filming facilities, on-site support services and in-house expertise.

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Underwater Stage

A state-of-the-art internal water tank with water held at constant 30 degrees and filtered by UV light to enable a safe and comfortable environment for filming underwater scenes.

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Paddock Tank

A flexible external stage for aquatic scenes, model work and CGI with a gigantic blue screen backing.

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2000

Pinewood Studios acquired from Rank Group plc by team led by Michael Grade and Ivan Dunleavy

2001

Pinewood Studios and Shepperton Studios merge 1989

Tim Burton’s Batman released 1984

007 stage is used for the filming of the James Bond film, A View to a Kill, starring Roger Moore and Christopher Walken

The Place

Key Facilities

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Stages A-E

Core of original studios now providing a mix of large and medium stages

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007 Stage

Built for The Spy Who Loved Me, the 007 stage remains an iconic building within the Studios and the largest soundstage in Europe.

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01 / 02

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Richard Attenborough Stage The newest sound stage opened in 2012 with a 50 ft high gantry and state-of-the-art technical features designed to accommodate both feature films and live event TV shows.

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Stages R & S

Large sound stages used for both film and TV productions.

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Heatherden Hall

The original Georgian style house and gardens at the heart of Pinewood Studios used as a location for many films.

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The North Lot

A flexible outdoor space which has been host to many large scale outdoor sets, including Gotham City from Tim Burton’s Batman and Blofeld’s volcano lair, from the James Bond film, You Only Live Twice.

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Office Accommodation

As well as offices for its own staff and support facilites, Pinewood Studios has a range of flexible office spaces for productions to be able to base themselves on site.

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The Wood Mill

An essential aspect of set building at Pinewood Studios, the fully equipped carpentry workshops include panel sizing machines, solid timber sawing, planing, joining, moulding and turning machines.

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Workshops

Pinewood Studios provides a range of different workshops, including intrinsically safe (IS) facilities which are required for working with certain materials used in sets such as paint spraying and fibre glass moulding.

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TV Production Facilities

Pinewood has recently invested in dedicated TV production facilities, including upgraded High Definition TV production galleries and studios.

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03

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01. Heatherden Hall 02. TV Studios 03. 007 Stage

04. Post Production and Sound Mixing Theatre

05. The Underwater Stage 06. Plasterers’ Workshop

The Place

Key Facilities

01 02 03 06 05 04

There are definitely times when there is not enough studio space to accomodate all the inward international investment... There is still a capacity issue when things are going well.

Paul Greengrass

Director: The Bourne Supremacy,

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2012

Richard Attenborough sound stage officially opened at Pinewood Studios; the stage is the highest at 50 feet

2012

Sir Ridley Scott’s Prometheus and Skyfall released; Skyfall marks 50 years of the James Bond franchise 2011

My Week With Marilyn released; principally filmed at Pinewoods Studios, it told the story of the 1957 production, The Prince and the Showgirl also filmed at Pinewood 2004

Pinewood Studios floats on the stockmarket

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03 01

04 These come together to form a

unique studio community supporting all types of production activity. The unique structure of the film and media industry means that each film is a bespoke assembly of personnel and expertise dedicated to the requirements of that particular production.

The range of businesses based at Pinewood is astonishing. Skilled plasterers and sculptors make scenery and props, model makers produce props, sets and vehicles to scale for special effects work, scenic artists paint detailed backdrops, greensmen are involved in landscaping and carpenters make and assemble sets. The work is undertaken by highly skilled teams working to tight deadlines.

As well as these trades, every film needs a huge range of other specialist staff, including make- up and hair, wardrobe (including costume design and manufacture), personal training for actors, transport services, laundry, dry cleaning and catering.

The Hub

Film Crafts

Pinewood Studios owns the property and

facilities at the site. In addition, there is a

growing community of around 200 related

businesses renting buildings, offices and

workshops on site.

These skills and services are located in one place to meet the requirements of a ‘manufactured film’.

Pinewood Studios hosts many different businesses offering the full variety of these services to film productions in situ, thus ensuring convenience and efficiency in terms of time and cost, which are critical to the industry.

Each film also needs to hire all the specialist equipment to be used in the production process along with personnel. For example, Pinewood Studios is home to specialist lighting companies and several different camera equipment suppliers. Similarly, rigging and scaffolding are essential for building and operating complex film and TV sets and there are three specialist firms based at Pinewood. The advantages of specialist companies being on-site relate to the volumes of equipment required, the narrow time frames and tight budgets that constrict filming schedules and the need for experts to be ‘on hand’ at all times.

01. Set construction using timber 02. Wood machinists at work in the Mill 03. Apprenticeship scheme awards 04. Sculptor making prop

The best part about working here is the quality of the crafts people and the crew, you know it’s really superb.

Gregory Goodman

Producer: X-Men First Class, Gulliver’s Travels, 8 Mile and Three Kings

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08 04 01 02 05 03 06 07

The Hub

Film Crafts

The cluster of businesses operating at Pinewood Studios has grown to meet the needs of the industry and drive economic benefits from being located close to the studio facilities and each other.

The work of the specialist firms based on site and the studios is complementary and reinforcing.

Where there is competition between individual tenant businesses, benefits still arise from co-location because the hub as a whole is more

competitive and successful than individual businesses would be on their own.

Therefore to separate the different elements of the site from one another would be to lose the competitive advantage.

01. Construction and decoration of sets 02. Plastering within a workshop

03. Scenic artists and sculptors crafting a period production 04. Wig making

05. Drapes department 06. Set construction 07. Art department 08. Metal works

When you have all the film making facilities under one roof, the convenience of, and the control you have is invaluable; and beyond that, to work with the best craftsmen, best sculptors, painters, model makers in the world. Amazingly, that’s all under one roof too.

Lloyd Levin

Producer: Die Hard, Green Zone and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

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03

The Hub

Innovation, Expertise and

Technology

01. Chocolate river from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on the 007 Stage.

02. Mixing desk

03. Pressburger Theatre 04. The Underwater Stage 05. Film restoration

The fast moving requirements of the film and television making business and the clustering of expertise in one location means Pinewood Studios is at the forefront of innovation in film production techniques. For example, for the TV mini-series Band of Brothers, a revolutionary method for portraying gun shots on film using

compressed air instead of incendiaries was developed at Pinewood Studios by the special effects team involved. This improved safety for actors and crew as well as allowing for close-ups which had previously not been possible.

The adaptability of Pinewood Studios means that it is able to accommodate the unique and sometimes bizarre requirements of film productions. For the 2004 Tim Burton film, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Pinewood Studios was host to approximately 40 live squirrels, which were specially trained over a period of 10 weeks to open walnuts and deposit them on a conveyor. In the film, the 40 squirrels were used along with CGI and animatronics for a scene inside the Willy Wonka’s factory.

One of the unique facilities available at Pinewood Studios is the Underwater Stage. This is complemented by the outdoor Paddock Tank and water tanks located within six of the other sound stages. However, it is not possible to make use of these facilities without the right technical skills and know-how to plan and manage shooting underwater in a risk free way.

Technical experts with years of experience of working on hundreds of high profile productions, including recent Bond films Casino Royale and Skyfall. Provide advice to the international film and TV industry as well as hands on practical support, safety advice and equipment. The combination of this specialist skill set and experience with the unique facilities helps to attract filmmakers to Pinewood Studios.

01

02

04

05 Shooting film to tape is likely to continue as a majority

media. However, Pinewood is also equipped to provide for bespoke digital film workflows. Stages and studios are fully equipped and networked with fast fibre-optic communication, all linked to a secure data centre. Post-production facilities allow digital film footage to be reliably transferred, stored and managed.

The embedded investment in the studio runs to hundreds of millions of pounds.

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BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios | 23

22 | BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios

From Script to Screen

Screenplay development

The producer options a novel, commissions a ‘treatment’ and subsequently a screenplay and script.

Hire director

A creative director, such as Sir Ridley Scott may be involved in the film at an early stage, others may be hired later on in the process.

Casting of lead roles

The leads are cast and their availability is checked, stars can be difficult to secure, but their involvement can help lend credibility and improve the chances of a box office success.

Securing a distributor

A distributor is needed to publicise the film and ensure that it will receive an audience

Financing

Initially ‘seed money’ is secured to develop the concept; subsequently the primary funding may be secured from a variety of sources; confirmation of funding leads to a ‘green light’

Formation of the film production company

Generally a ‘special purpose vehicle’ (SPV) is established.

Crew

The film crew is assembled and hired.

Casting

The cast is chosen, usually through auditions.

Stage 1 – Development

Stage 2 – Pre Production

Stage 5 – Release

This work is carried out in Post Production department and dedicated theatres

Sound mixing

The sound is added to the edited film footage.

Screening

The film is shown to the producers and in some cases the film is test screened. Theatrical release

The film is released in cinemas.

DVD, Blue-ray, video-on-demand and download release.

The film world has many unresolved development projects and ideas, many of which have creativity in abundance, but may never see the light of day because they are not commercially attractive or viable. For a major film project to receive the all important ‘green light’ a range of different factors need to come together, perhaps most significantly from a practical perspective, securing the backing of a distributor and the required financial investment to pay for the production.

At its heart, film

making is a highly

commercial as well

as creative enterprise.

Stage 4 – Post Production

Effects

Visual and digital effects are added. Editing

The footage is edited and assembled, initially as a rough cut then as a final cut, with adjustments to colour and image quality.

Sound recording / dubbing

Atmospheric sound and effects are recorded separately from the photography, music is composed and any additional dialogue is recorded.

Stage 3 – Production

The recorded footage is reviewed, managed and backed up on a daily basis using the screening facilities and digital infrastructure.

Sound recording

Depending on the type of scene, dialogue can be recorded at the same time as the image, although much of a film’s soundtrack is added in post production. Cinematography

Before principal photography begins, each set is carefully constructed using a combination of multiple sound stages and back lots according to the schedule.

Principal photography commences with additional filming for certain scenes on location.

The services of many of the personnel and firms based at the studios as well as the facilities are employed in preparing for and during shooting.

It is typically only after this that a production will arrange studio facilities, such at those at Pinewood Studios, to base the production and shoot the film.

The diagram summarises the stages of the film making process from script to screen for a typical novel-based production.

Developing an understanding of the film making process helps to explain the required facilities, skills and funding.

Story boarding

The scenes of the film are planned out and the sets are designed.

Location planning

The location manager chooses locations and deals with the logistics of filming on location, for example in central London.

Scheduling, Budgeting & Insurance

All the production logistics and financial arrangements are detailed.

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Shooting a Scene

Each film production requires a

vast technical crew. This section

describes some of the key crew

departments who would typically

be on set during a shoot.

When principal photography for a major production is based at Pinewood Studios, the number of crew on site can be considerable, with each department requiring large teams of specialist staff.

Production

The Producer oversees the film from start to finish. The department includes a Production Manager, Unit Manager and Location Managers, as well as numerous assistants and runners who may be on set during a typical shoot.

Direction

The Director is responsible for the creative vision, dramatic interpretation of the screenplay and overall style of a film. The Director is supported by a number of Assistant Directors who deal with logistics,

organisation and scheduling. The department also normally includes a Script Supervisor and runners. Runners act as assistants for the production, undertaking a variety of basic tasks such as transporting documents and equipment and taking messages. Becoming a runner is often a first step on a career ladder in the film industry.

Art Department

The visual appearance of a film is essential to transporting the audience into the world of the story. The settings for each scene in a film need to be carefully planned and designed to be both evocative and realistic.

The Art Department is typically the largest department within a film crew. For large scale productions, in particular science fiction, fantasy or period films, the department may employ many hundreds of staff. The Art Department is overseen by the Production Designer who works with the Director to determine the visual identity of the film. Sketches are prepared to provide inspiration for the detailed design, procurement and construction work required for the sets.

Shot on Paddock Tank at Pinewood Studios.

During the shoot, each set needs to be carefully constructed and then dismantled according to the production schedule. The Art Department therefore needs to be on standby before, during and after filming. Some of the key roles in the Art Department are as follows:

Construction

The Construction Department works closely with the Art Department to build, paint and plaster the sets. Overseen by the Construction Manager, the department includes skilled and creative tradesman, such as carpenters, riggers and plasterers.

Camera

The Director of Photography (DoP) oversees all the cinematography for the film, composing shots, controlling camera movements and the lighting. The camera crew works for the DoP and includes a number of specialist and highly skilled roles, such as the Camera Operator and the 1st and 2nd Assistant Camera. These crew members move and position the camera, focus each shot and are responsible for film and/or digital media. The department normally includes a number of trainees and technicians.

Costume, Hair and Make-Up

The costume department is responsible for design, hire, fitting, purchase, manufacture and continuity for all costumes worn by actors. For a period drama or fantasy, costumes often need to be bespoke. The costume department therefore needs to have its own facilities on site and be on set during the shoot.

The cast needs a team of hair and make-up specialists to prepare them for their roles. For certain productions, specialist prosthetic make-up may be required.

Lighting and Electrical

Lighting is essential to film sets, as artificial lighting rather than daylight is normally required. The lighting department needs to set up and control a range of specialist equipment to create various different moods and atmospheres for the film, as well as light the cast in the right way for their roles.

The department staff need to have electrical training and a range of technical roles are required, including the Gaffer, who oversees the electrics, and the Best Boy, who is the lead lighting technician.

Special and Visual Effects

The special effects department oversees the physical effects during shooting. These could be as mundane as weather conditions which need to be simulated or large scale explosions.

Visual effects can be distinguished from special effects as relating more to post production alterations/additions. However, on set the visual effects department can be responsible for adding markers and controlling green or blue screens.

Production Sound

The sound department on set normally includes a production sound mixer and boom operator as well as technicians to record sound during filming. Source www.creativeskillset.org • Production Designer • Art Director • Set Decorator • Production Buyer • Artist • Draughtsman • Drapesmaster • Props Manager • Greensman

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69 BACKLOT SOUNDSTAGE OFFICES WORKSHOPS STAgES wOrkShOP OFFICES

Figure 4.3 The conceptual model for film production Figure 4.2 The three main building types

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BACKLOT SOUNDSTAGE OFFICES WORKSHOPS

STAgES

wOrkShOP

OFFICES

Sound Stage and Backlot

Pinewood Studios’ sound stages

together with its backlots are at

the centre of principal photography.

The performance of the studios for film production is driven by the availability of stages of different scales. At Pinewood there are 16 stages from 1,728 sq ft to 59,092 sq ft in size.

The backlots are vital to major film production providing the sites for complex external sets which work in conjunction with the stages. At Pinewood, there are three principal backlots – North Lot, Paddock Lot adjacent to the Paddock Tank and Orchard Lot to the south. Other open areas are used for set construction as required.

During shooting, the sound stages and lots will typically be surrounded by vehicles and trailers associated with the production. These accommodate all the equipment for the different crew departments but also include catering units and accommodation for stars.

When major productions are shooting at Pinewood Studios the limits of current space and the physical configuration of the facilities is a constraint that brings congestion, inconvenience and cost inefficiencies. Sound stages and back lots provide

the necessary large scale and highly flexible spaces required to construct complex sets as well as accommodate the vast array of crew, cast, props, equipment and support services in close proximity to the main action. The use of sound stages and backlots is typically managed from offices on site, (the production base) according to a filming schedule. Changes to the film industry and increased use of technology have not diminished the need for studio facilities. Dedicated large scale sound stages and back lots, remain central to major film productions as they allow for optimum degree of flexibility and control compared to filming on location.

Dedicated sound stages include a number of distinguishing design features. For example, there is a need for substantial internal clear heights and a high level gantry to allow set components and equipment to be moved around safely.

Major, ‘tent pole’ films need both bigger square footage and height. The likes of Elstree, 3 Mills and Ealing are only ever going to be used for overspill or smaller-scale films, as they’re not big enough for major productions.

Adrian Wootton

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05 04

01

03 02

Sound Stage and Backlot

01. Prometheus set built on the North

Lot; 007 Stage extended

02. Set construction on a sound stage 03. Outdoor set built on the Paddock Lot for Dark Shadows

04. Congestion during busy times along 007 Drive

05. Congestion during busy times along Broccoli Drive

It is very important that studios are able to describe themselves as at the cutting edge of technology and state-of-the-art with large production stages and the right balance of ancillary space too.

Nik Powell

Director

National Film and Television School

I can walk to that stage, back to the back lot, down to the paddock tank, everywhere you go you’re looking for this combination.

Gregory Goodman

Producer: X-Men First Class, Gulliver’s Travels, 8 Mile and Three Kings

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30 | BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios | 31

Skyfall provides a useful case study to illustrate how the facilities

and expertise at Pinewood Studios were employed for a recent

major film production. It also gives an indication of the sheer

number of people involved and the importance of major film

productions based at the studios as a source of employment.

Skyfall at Pinewood Studios

Use of Facilities

The Skyfall production team used offices within the main administration building at Pinewood Studios as a production base, from which the film was managed using the other facilities on site as well as off-site filming locations. Initially a small team of key crew members moved into the offices, with expansion into further office space and workshops as the time for principal photography moved closer.

The filming schedule, as with all major productions, was based on a variety of factors including the requirements of the particular scenes within the script, the

availability of key cast members and the availability of the studio facilities. This required the production team to enter into discussions and work closely with Pinewood Studios at an early stage, twelve months before principal photography started. As the key scenes were planned out, the exact requirements for individual sets dictated which stages and back lots would be needed.

According to the production notes for Skyfall:

“Thirty-one different sets were constructed on eight sound stages at Pinewood, including the interior of the MI6 underground bunker, the interior of the Golden Dragon Casino, where Bond first meets Severine, and the exterior of the Dead City, an abandoned island off the coast of Macao, where Silva resides.

The 007 Stage was home to the spectacular underground train crash that occurs when Bond is chasing Silva. For the crash, the crew built two full size train carriages, each weighing seven tons. It was too dangerous to allow people to stay on the sound stage, so ten remotely operated cameras were placed inside the 007 Stage to cover the crash from various angles.

The paddock tank doubled as the exterior of the Golden Dragon Casino. The set was lit by three-hundred floating lanterns and two thirty-foot high dragon heads. Twelve artisans were flown in from China to create the authentic structures. They were made from wound steel cables, silk fabric and lit from within by 400 light bulbs” The Skyfall production made use of Pinewood Studios’ screening facilities to review recorded footage on a daily basis. The production also used Pinewood’s editing facilities and digital infrastructure to manage and back up the footage.

I don’t think you’ll find as many studios in Hollywood that can accommodate very very large pictures the same way that Pinewood can. In terms of stage space, workshop space, backlot, I mean they have a very very good backlot, paddock tank. There really aren’t any stages in Hollywood that can accommodate a picture the sort of size of a Bond picture or any other of the big action films.

Barbara Broccoli

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Skyfall at Pinewood Studios

Credits

Director’s Unit

The director’s unit is listed as including 12 people working with the director, Sam Mendes, as part of the first unit with a further 12 involved in directing other units such as those shooting specific external locations.

Camera and Electrical The camera and electrical

department for Skyfall involved 106 staff, including the cinematographer, grips, electricians, focus pullers, gaffer, lighting programmers, riggers and a variety of assistants and technicians.

Art Department

100 staff are listed as being part of Skyfall’s art department. This includes the full range of personnel involved in designing and creating the props and sets for the film including carpenters, artists, draughtsmen, set painters, decorators, and a greensman.

Principal Cast

The principal cast for Skyfall involved 91 actors, as well as many extras. Costume, Make-up and Hair The production included 16 staff involved in hair dressing and make-up with 22 in the costume department.

Special & Visual Effects

The special effects department for Skyfall as listed on IMDB.com included 33 staff. This was the team involved in creating the live action effects, such as explosions. A further 75 individuals were involved in stunts, including stunt performers.

Sources

www.IMDB.com | www.cinemovie.tv Williams, G (2012) Bond on Set: Filming Skyfall, Dorling Kindersley Ltd, London

Analysis of the list of credits

for

Skyfall illustrates the

range of personnel involved

in the production and the

extent of expertise needed

to make the film.

The extended crew for the film exceeded a thousand people. Skyfall used a dedicated film crew, many of whom operate on a freelance basis, but also made use of tenant businesses at Pinewood Studios, including a range of equipment hire companies and support services.

Department

Visual Effects / Animation Production, Casting and other Camera and Electrical Art Department Principal Cast Stunts Sound

Costume, Make-up and Hair Special Effects Director’s Unit Transport Editing No. of Personnel1

16

Director’s Unit

Camera and Electrical

138

Production, Casting and other

38

Costume, Make-up and Hair Transport Sound

50

Stunts Art Department

75

100

Special Effects1

33

91

Editing1 Principal Cast

Visual Effects / Animation1

421

15

24

1_{Activity and personnel also off studio}

site 421 138 106 100 91 75 50 38 33 24 16 15 1,007

(18)

It’s Not Just Movies

Film production is not the only

activity at Pinewood Studios.

There is an increasing emphasis

on TV and video game production

as well as animation.

TV is a growing area of the business at Pinewood Studios and recent investments have been made in upgrading its facilities.

Pinewood Studios can accommodate high budget TV drama productions, which use the same facilities as films, as well as light entertainment shows such as My Family, Would I Lie To You, Lee Mack’s All Star Cast and A League of Their Own.The facilities offer a full service to such

productions which includes the use of multiple, TV specific cameras as well as lighting and sound recording equipment.

In addition to recording traditional ‘studio shows’, Pinewood has seen in recent years a trend towards large, light entertainment shows such as Sing If You Can and Got to Dance, recorded on its film stages. These shows typically require large, complex sets and large audiences which would not fit in the smaller full service TV production facilities. Video games have increasingly become big business and now incorporate cinematic elements and digital effects traditionally associated with film production. Among these are motion capture and character animation services for film, television, animation, commercials and video games. Motion and performance capture typically involves recording an actor’s facial or body movements using multiple cameras in a studio.

The footage is then mapped to a digital 3-D model which mirrors the movements of the actor. This technique can be used for video games and some special film sequences although will not replace ‘real life’ filming.

01. Foley for video games 02. Actors involved in motion capture

03. TV gallery

05. Virgin Atlantic commercial shot at Pinewood 06. TV camera 03 01 02 06 04 05

The fact that you’re based at Pinewood which is the centre of the business in this country does give you a certain amount of kudos. And we put two very good brand names together, we put New Tricks and we put Pinewood together and I think that it’s a powerful combination. And I think it’s been good for both of us.

Keith Thompson

(19)

National Lottery

draws to be

broadcast from

Pinewood Studios

From January, the National Lott

ery’s Saturday draw will be broadcast from new stat_{e-of-the-art facilities} at Pinewood Studios.

Camelot and the BBC hav

e agreed a new contract to continue showcasing the National Lott

ery on BBC One. Under the new four-year contract, which has the option to be extended for a further

two years, the flagship Saturday draw show will be br_{oadcast from the film} studios in Iver Heath.

Slough & South Bucks Expr

ess, 06 December 2012

In the Press

Pinewood and

Shepperton

fitted with

Dolby Atmos

Mixing theatres at the two studios are the very first

facilities in the UK to be fitted with Dolby’s end-to-end

audio platform.

The Pinewood Group’s mixing theatres at Pinewood

and Shepperton Studios are to be fitted with Dolby

Atmos, becoming the first facilities in the UK to be

fitted with Dolby’s end-to-end audio platform.

Julian Pinn, director, cinema marketing, EMEA, Dolby

Laboratories added: “Pinewood and Shepperton Studios

are truly iconic and known all over the world – it is

exciting to see that they will be the first studio facilities

in the UK to have installed Dolby Atmos.”

Screen Daily, 22 November 2012

UK’s Pinewood

Shepperton signs

deal to run Isle of

Man film fun

London – UK s

tudio facilities oper

ator Pinewood Sheppert_on has signed an agr

eement with the Isl

e of Man government that will see the company t

ake on the role of manager of _and adviser on film inv

estment opportunities f

or the island’s £25 million ($40.4 million) media de

velopment fund.

The Guardian, 31 Dec_{ember 2012}

Skyfall becomes

first £100m movie

at UK box office

Skyfall, the hugely successful latest

outing of James Bond, has become the

first film to take more than £100m at

the UK box office.

The Guardian, 31 December 2012

HM Queen Elizabeth II tries out 3D

Pinewood glasses

Pinewood

celebrates 75

years filming

the best of

British and

Hollywood

Founded by J Arthur Rank, the studios

are home to 007, Harry Potter and

American Blockbusters – but still inves

t in UK talent.

“It is an amazing place”, said Grade,

the chairman of Pinewood Shepperton.

“Because of the unique facilities we

have, the group is probably the leading

dedicated studio manager operator

anywhere.”

The Observer, 2 October 2011

Pinewood at centre

of apprentices plan

Students keen to learn about film and television may find themselves based at the studios involved in blockbuster hits such as Les Misérables and Skyfall. Pinewood Studios in Iver Heath, has signed an agreement with Amersham and Wycombe College with the aim of creating a centre of excellence to develop and deliver qualifications relevant to screen-based industries, including film, television, animation and video games.

Buckinghamshire Advertiser, 18 January 2013

Pinewood £30K

facilities prize

for MGEITF

pilot contest

Pinewood has put up a studio prize package w_{orth over £30K to} the winner of its pilot competition at this year’s MediaGuar_dian Edinburgh International Television Festival.

The Pinewood pilot competition is now open for entries fr_om programme makers with an idea for a studio based format. The best five ideas will be invited to pitch to a panel of channel controllers live at the Festival, which runs betw_{een Thursday} 23rd August and Friday 25th August.

The winner will then be given an opportunity to shoot a mini pil_ot for their programme at Pinewood Studios. The prize will c_over use of one of Pinewood’s 9,000 square foot TV studios, with an HD gallery, plus production facilities and access to Pinewood’s post production department.

Televisual, 17 July 2012

Pinewood is soaring

thanks to blockbusters

The latest James Bond movie, Skyfall, and the forthc

oming Les Misérables,

starring Anne Hathaway, are among the blockbus

ters that have boosted

revenues at Pinewood Shepperton’s studios.

(20)

Pinewood Studios competes for international film business and many filmmakers choose it because of the unique range of services and specialist expertise available, together with the world class facilities. Pinewood Studios benefits from proximity to London and Heathrow Airport and it forms part of a wider network of studios and related creative businesses in the South East.

However, Pinewood Studios is operating in an increasingly global and competitive market. Studios are being developed in Eastern Europe, India and China, for example, and whilst Pinewood Studios currently maintains a competitive advantage, others are starting to catch up.

The films made at Pinewood

Studios have a global audience

and incorporate skills drawn from

a wide pool of creative talent.

National. Global.

London is one of the great global cities, and Pinewood is the principal London production hub. You come to London, you come to Pinewood, you make a movie with the best crews in the world, in the best environment, with the best flexibility, with a sense of history and that’s a winning combination I think.

Paul Greengrass

Director: Bloody Sunday, The Bourne Supremacy, United 93, The Bourne Ultimatum and Green Zone

(21)

Conclusion

Pinewood Studios today is a

world-leading hub of creative enterprise

at the centre of the UK film industry.

Ideal is to have all activities (production, accounting, art, visual effects and individual offices) all in one place. Enough car parking is important, as well as being able to accommodate the ‘base camp’ on lot. Facilities such as underwater tanks are needed for some films. Offering a comprehensive package is important – can save time and money

Marvel Entertainment

Pinewood Studios is a flexible and successful community of diversely skilled and passionate people dedicated to facilitating world-class productions. The community thrives and continues to grow because it is an agglomeration of industry and talent. The facilities can and do accommodate major film productions although it is over subscribed and can be congested because of physical constraints. The community evolves over time but it is co-dependent and to a great extent physically indivisible. It remains a valuable and unique contributor to the UK economy as well as a cornerstone of its cultural heritage.

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Produced by Turley Associates

www.turleyassociates.co.uk