UK film production boosted by Pinewood studios

The iconic British film studios of Pinewood have announced they are to help fund UK film production. The news comes less than a year after the ConDems announced the abolition of the British Film Council.

Pinewood is famous for being the home of the saucy postcard humour Carry On film franchise of the 1950s through to the 1970s, while in more recent years box office hit Harry Potter have utilised the facilities.

The company behind the complex made a pre-tax profit of £5.8 million, a 31% rise from previous figures. And some of the funds are to be invested in British movie making.

Chief executive Ivan Dunleavy says on the project: “Although our financial commitment to each film will be relatively small, we can, in addition, offer British films access to the world class facilities and production expertise at Pinewood and Shepperton studios which would normally be beyond their budget.”

The new project will see up to £2 million spent on each film, as well as cash being  used to renovate and improvement the facilities at the Pinewood site.

As well as Pinewood the company also operates the Shepperton Studios and the former Thames Television owned Teddington Television Centre, making it Europe’s largest provider of stage and studio space.

ATV Network’s science fiction drama Space 1999 was produced at the Pinewood complex and parts of the company’s cult series UFO were also recorded at the studios. Recent television work includes EastEnders’ burning down the set of the Queen Vic pub at Pinewood in a special studio able to cope with fire effects.