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SHEPPERTON STUDIOS
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feature, The Mummy starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz, and a big budget TV film of Cleopatra. Hallmark’s TV production Alice In Wonderland is shooting here at the moment.
“We’ve got 16 stages and every one of them is busy with something or other, which is fantastic. It’s been like this for about four or five years, to be honest even prior to Ridley and Tony’s buy-out, but their arrival saw things really start to move. They’ve imported an LA feel to the place as well and they’re involved in everything from the design of offices, to how the stages should be laid out. They’ve also brought to Shepperton the needed long term investment which is great for us.”
As a result of this far sighted approach Shepperton can once again boast state of the art post production facilities, some of which are housed in buildings that recall its illustrious past, from the complex of offices in The David Lean Building to the luxury of The Korda Theatre. A total of 47,000 square feet of new sound stages have been added in the past four years, including brand new ones replacing the old J & K stages.
Furthermore, Shepperton Holdings co-owns The Mill, which is one of the biggest and arguably now the best computer graphics company in the business. Another recent acquisition has been The Magic Camera Company, a fact that emphasises the board’s determination to expand into newer, cutting edge areas of post production.
Several recent hits have benefited from this investment, among them The Madness of King George, Lost In Space, Kenneth Branagh’s epic Hamlet, Shooting Fish, the recently released Elizabeth as well as some of Tim Burton’s forth- coming production Sleepy Hollow.
But that’s not all. Many TV shows are shot at Shepperton, shows as varied as Red Dwarf, Bramwell and Thomas The Tank Engine. The stu- dio is also home to around 160 commercials each year - past favourites include Gary Lineker’s Walkers Crisps ads, Bob Hoskins reminding us “it’s good to talk” and Nicholas Lyndhurst’s multi- character commercials for WH Smith.
With 80 specialist craftsmen-contractors on site, numerous producers and directors with their offices on the lot, and a permanent staff of 75 pushing the studio towards the 21st century, the operation at Shepperton seems every bit as styl- ish and impressive as one of the Scott Brothers’ own films. “In the end,” Carrigan smiles, “all we’re trying to do is give filmmakers the very best that’s available anywhere in the world.” ■ ANWAR BRETT
Photos from top: Four Weddings And A Funeral; Shepperton’s Art Department; The David Lean Building; Production Office suite; The Korda Theatre; still from Lost In Space; Conference Room and the video conference equipped Boardrooms; still from Elizabeth and Lord Attenborough directing his Gandhi (Stills courtesy of photographer Hugh Gilbert (Shepperton) and BFI Stills & Posters)
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