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being directed at the advertising and promotional end of the market. And it’s convenient. There aren’t that many large soundstages available in the capi- tal, and it is within quite a pleasant set- ting. Most companies would have to go out to Ealing or Elstree or even further out to find anything like it. We’ve had feedback, and there certainly seems to be a demand.”
As with every business venture the future is uncertain, but it is undeniably exciting to see a great name from British cinema history coming back to life in this way. When all the development work is finally completed and the site is fully oper- ational in 2002 it will be unique to these shores. And at this stage Meehan is not ruling out Lincoln Holdings’ continued involvement in the studio.
“We will have a look at how it might be administered. We’ll put in a manage- ment structure to run the studio as well as the rest of the site, because there will be other office space and public areas to the project. At the moment we probably think we will be responsible for the run- ning of the studio. Of course I have an
interest in films, but being involved in pro- duction is not something I see our compa- ny doing. We’re about working with and providing interesting spaces. I think that’s something we’re good at.”
That said, Meehan recognises the sim- ilar demands of a filmmaker and working on a development such as Gainsborough. Both tasks require great patience and a clear vision. “You are kind of like a film pro- ducer. You find your site, you have to have a vision of how you see it turning from a fairly derelict piece of land into your con- cept of your end product. You then have to enlist an architect, and you have to pick the right one for the job. A bit like choosing the right film director.
“Each one will bring a different quali- ty, and some are more suitable for certain projects than others. Then there’s engi- neers and so on, then there’s the market- ing side of it. In a sense we are pulling together a lot of different skills too.” And the end product promises to be just as satisfying. ■ ANWAR BRETT
Snatch, photographed by Tim Morris-Jones, was originated on Fujicolor Motion Picture Negative
GAINSBOROUGH STUDIOS
Photos: Vinnie Jones and Dennis Farina in Snatch; (centre) The good old days on the bustling Gainsborough back lot; (below) The almost improbable Hackney site of the new Gainsborough complex
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