behind the scenes

DOCUMENT
4
PINEWOOD STUDIOS
BEHIND THE
SCENES
Contents
Skyfall © 2011 Danjaq LLC and United Artists Corporation.
All rights reserved.
04
26
Introduction
Sound Stage and
Backlot
06
The Story So Far...
08
The Place
16
The Hub
22
From Script
to Screen
24
Shooting a Scene
30
Skyfall at
Pinewood Studios
34
It’s Not Just Movies
36
In the Press
38
National. Global.
40
Conclusion
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
This document is submitted as part of the
Pinewood Studios Development Framework Planning Application
February 2013
Actor/Director
04 | BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios
BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios | 05
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.
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
02
05
04
07
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.
06
01
03
1934
Estate purchased by Charles Boot
1935
Partnership between Charles Boot and
J. Arthur Rank established
1936
Pinewood studios officially opens
1940
Pinewood Studios requisitioned by the armed
forces and used to film war time documentaries
06 | BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios
BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios | 07
The story so far...
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
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.
1946
Pinewood Studios reopened
1947
Two iconic Pinewood productions, Oliver Twist and
The Red Shoes are released
1948
John Davis appointed managing director,
taking over from J. Arthur Rank
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.
1958
Carry On Sergeant, the first film of the
Carry On... series, released
08 | BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios
BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios | 09
The Place
Overview
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
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.
Black Park
North
Dock
Workshop
No.
1
3
5
6
7
1
Stills Road
Carpenters Shop Section B
Carpenters Shop
Section A
2
Plasterers
Shop
Photographic
Wood Mill
Power
House
Workshop
1A
A
Garden
Suite
Dr i v
ge
L od
e
S ou t h
Croquet
Lawn Suite
Ballroom
Heatherden Hall
Club Bar &
Restaurant
D
B
C Stage
E
D Stage
G
Hall of Fame
Car Park
1
rd
en
Garages
Post
Production
5
12
I
G
S
North Lot
Mansfield
Timber
Building
Recycling
Centre
Stage
Concrete
Standing
Car
Park
8
A
6
11
18
5
J
007
Stage
30
007 Drive
Panalux
North
Lamp
Store
TV Studio
one
TV Studio 10
two
14
TV Complex
Theatre 7
Cutting
Rooms
North Lot
27
19
26
20
28
21
Car Park
4
Stage
22
25
Portacabins
14 - 20
24
23
Studio Drive
GasStore
HV
Stables/
Coach
House
HGV Parking
Water Tower
Grooms
Cottage
Car Park
Heath
Farm
Nursery
Double Lodge
North
Lodge
Pinewood Road
4
29
H Stage
Stage
Vaults
East Side
Complex
South
Lodge
3
Peter Rogers Way
e
Overflow
Car Park
1
32
Stage
Dry Cleaners
Coffee Shop
& Canteen
ad
the
6
o
nR
Hea
2
R
The
Richard Attenborough
Stage
North Corridor
Car Park
2
n
La
Props
Building
Stage
H
E
F
Fitness
Room
Warner
Lodge
Stage
ai
South Lodge D
C
M
ri v
e
Location
Gardens
B
Covered Way
Orchard Lot
Main Administration Building
Pine Suite
M
Stanley Kubrick
Building
Stage
Print
Room
East Corridor
16
Hall
Gardens
F
P
Stage
Studio
Stores
A Stage
P13
Cutting
Rooms
Portacabins 5-11
South Corridor
13
Main Road
15
Stage
Car Park 5
Scoring
Stage
Wardrobe
Main Road
U
Stage
L
Carpenters Road
Paddock Lane
31
L & M Block
Services Way
Boiler
House
33
Carpenters Shop Section C
Car Park
Avid Technology
N&P
Block
Goldfinger Avenue
Paddock
Tank
9
Studio Services
2
Spray Shop
4
Covered Way
Main Road
Paddock Lot
North Dock
Workshop2
Broccoli Road
South Dock
CANAL+
Technicolor
Coach House
Car Park
Car Park
3
Security /
Reception
Main
Entrance
Key
Stages
Recycling Centre
TV Studios
Cycle Sheds
Onsite Amenities
& Services
Bus Stops
Offices
Workshops
Post Production
& Digital Content Services
10 | BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios
BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios | 11
The Place
Key Facilities
01
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.
02
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.
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.
Paddock Tank
A flexible external stage for
aquatic scenes, model work
and CGI with a gigantic blue
screen backing.
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.
01 / 02
1962
Dr. No released, marking the start of the James Bond franchise
1964
Goldfinger released; streets within Pinewood Studios
used to stage the car chase around Goldfinger’s factory
Hornblower © Ecou Films for ITV Drama. All rights reserved
Dark Shadows © Warner Bros Pictures. All rights reserved
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
12 | BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios
BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios | 13
The Place
Key Facilities
06
06
05
01 / 02
11
04
11
11
11
12
10
11
08
11
11
03
10
09
05
09
Richard Attenborough Stage
The newest sound stage opened in
2012 with a 50 ft high gantry and stateof-the-art technical features designed
to accommodate both feature films and
live event TV shows.
06
03
Stages A-E
Core of original studios now providing a mix of
large and medium stages
06
1984
007 stage is used for the filming of the James Bond film, A View to a Kill, starring
Roger Moore and Christopher Walken
04
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.
1989
Tim Burton’s Batman released
Stages R & S
Large sound stages used for both
film and TV productions.
07
Heatherden Hall
The original Georgian style house
and gardens at the heart of Pinewood
Studios used as a location for many films.
08
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.
09
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.
2000
Pinewood Studios acquired from Rank Group plc by team
led by Michael Grade and Ivan Dunleavy
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.
11
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.
12
TV Production Facilities
Pinewood has recently invested in
dedicated TV production facilities,
including upgraded High Definition
TV production galleries and studios.
2001
Pinewood Studios and Shepperton Studios merge
14 | BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios
BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios | 15
The Place
Key Facilities
01. Heatherden Hall
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,
The Bourne Ultimatum, United 93 and Green Zone
01
02
04
03
05
06
02. TV Studios
03. 007 Stage
04. Post Production and Sound
Mixing Theatre
05. The Underwater Stage
06. Plasterers’ Workshop
16 | BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios
BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios | 17
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.
01
These come together to form a
unique studio community supporting
all types of production activity.
These skills and services are located
in one place to meet the requirements
of a ‘manufactured film’.
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.
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.
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 makeup and hair, wardrobe (including
costume design and manufacture),
personal training for actors,
transport services, laundry,
dry cleaning and catering.
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
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.
02
03
01.Set construction using timber
02.Wood machinists at work in the Mill
03.Apprenticeship scheme awards
04. Sculptor making prop
2004
Pinewood Studios floats on the stockmarket
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
2012
Richard Attenborough sound stage officially opened at
Pinewood Studios; the stage is the highest at 50 feet
04
2012
Sir Ridley Scott’s Prometheus and Skyfall released;
Skyfall marks 50 years of the James Bond franchise
18 | BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios
The Hub
Film Crafts
BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios | 19
01. Construction and
decoration of sets
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.
02. Plastering within a workshop
03. Scenic artists and sculptors crafting a period production
Lloyd Levin
04. Wig making
Producer: Die Hard, Green Zone and
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
05. Drapes department
06. Set construction
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.
07. Art department
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.
08. Metal works
05
01
06
04
02
03
07
08
20 | BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios
BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios | 21
The Hub
Innovation, Expertise and
Technology
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.
03
01
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.
02
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.
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.
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.
The embedded investment in the studio runs to hundreds
of millions of pounds.
04
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
05
22 | BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios
BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios | 23
From Script to Screen
At its heart, film
making is a highly
commercial as well
as creative enterprise.
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.
Stage 1 – Development
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.
Formation of the film production company
A distributor is needed to publicise the film and ensure
that it will receive an audience
Generally a ‘special purpose vehicle’ (SPV) is
estab
lished.
Crew
Financing
The film crew is assembled and hired.
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’
Casting
The cast is chosen, usually through auditions.
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
Stage 4 – Post Production
Cinematography
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.
Developing an understanding of
the film making process helps to
explain the required facilities, skills
and funding.
All the production logistics and financial
arrangements are detailed.
Stage 3 – Production
Principal photography commences with additional filming for
certain scenes on location.
The diagram summarises the stages
of the film making process from
script to screen for a typical novelbased production.
Stage 2 – Pre Production
Securing a distributor
Before principal photography begins, each set is carefully
constructed using a combination of multiple sound stages and
back lots according to the schedule.
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 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.
Stage 5 – Release
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.
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.
24 | BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios
BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios | 25
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.
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.
Production
Some of the key roles in the Art Department are as follows:
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.
• Production Buyer
• Drapesmaster
• Art Director
• Artist
• Greensman
• Set Decorator
• Draughtsman
• Props Manager
Direction
Construction
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.
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.
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.
Shot on Paddock Tank at Pinewood Studios.
Skyfall © 2011 Danjaq LLC and United Artists Corporation.
All rights reserved.
• P
roduction
Designer
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.
Camera
The Director of Photography (DoP) oversees all the
cinematography for the film, composing shots,
controlling camera movements and the lighting.
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.
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.
Production Sound
Costume, Hair and Make-Up
www.creativeskillset.org
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.
The sound department on set normally includes a
production sound mixer and boom operator as well
as technicians to record sound during filming.
Source
26 | BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios
BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios | 27
Sound Stage and Backlot
Pinewood Studios’ sound stages
together with its backlots are at
the centre of principal photography.
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
Film London
WORKSHOPS
SOUNDSTAGE
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.
OFFICES
BACKLOT
WORKSHOPS
STAgES
SOUNDSTAGE
OFFICES
WORKSHOPS
STAgES
BACKLOT
wOrkShOP
SOUNDSTAGE
Figure 4.3 The conceptual model for film production
69
STAgES
OFFICES
WORKSHOPS
wOrkShOP
OFFICES
Figure 4.2 The three main building types
SOUNDSTAGE
BACKLOT
Figure 4.3 The conceptual model for film production
69
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.
28 | BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios
BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios | 29
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
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.
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.
Nik Powell
Gregory Goodman
Director
National Film and Television School
01
05. Congestion during busy times along
Broccoli Drive
Producer: X-Men First Class, Gulliver’s Travels,
8 Mile and Three Kings
02
03
04
05
30 | BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios
Skyfall at Pinewood Studios
Use of Facilities
BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios | 31
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
Producer with Michael G Wilson of the Bond films
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.
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 threehundred 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.
32 | BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios
BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios | 33
Skyfall at Pinewood Studios
Credits
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.
24
138
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.
Director’s Unit
Special Effects1
38
Costume, Make-up
and Hair
50
106
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.
421
100
Stunts
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.
Editing1
Principal Cast
75
Transport
91
15
Sound
16
33
Production, Casting
and other
Art Department
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.
Visual Effects /
Animation1
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.
Department
Visual Effects / Animation
421
Production, Casting and other
138
Camera and Electrical
106
Art Department
100
Principal Cast
91
Stunts
75
Sound
50
Costume, Make-up and Hair
38
Special Effects
33
Director’s Unit
24
Transport
16
Editing
15
Camera and Electrical
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.
No. of Personnel1
1,007
Sources
www.IMDB.com | www.cinemovie.tv
Williams, G (2012) Bond on Set:
Filming Skyfall, Dorling Kindersley
Ltd, London
1 Activity
site
and personnel also off studio
34 | BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios
BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios | 35
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.
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
Producer: New Tricks
04
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.
05
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
01. Foley for video games
02. Actors involved in motion capture
03. TV gallery
04. Got To Dance on R Stage
Image: Justin Downing
© Sky 1 HD
02
03
05. Virgin Atlantic commercial
shot at Pinewood
06. TV camera
06
36 | BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios
BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios | 37
In the Press
The Independent, 28
November 2012
g
n
i
r
a
o
s
s
i
d
o
o
w
e
n
i
P
s
r
e
t
s
u
b
k
c
o
l
b
o
t
s
thank
s Misérables,
the forthcoming Le
d
an
ll,
yfa
Sk
ie,
ov
nd m
ve boosted
The latest James Bo
blockbusters that ha
e
th
g
on
am
e
ar
,
away
starring Anne Hath
s.
Shepperton’s studio
od
wo
ne
Pi
at
revenues
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
UK’s Pinewo
o
Shepperton d
s
deal to run igns
Isle of
Man film fu
n
London – U
K studio fa
cilities ope
has signed
rator Pinew
an agreem
ood Shepp
en
that will se
erton
e the comp t with the Isle of Ma
n governm
a
n
y take on th
adviser on
ent
e role of m
film investm
anager of a
£25 million
ent opport
nd
($40.4 milli
unities for
on) media d
the island
’s
evelopmen
The Guard
t fund.
ian, 31 De
t 3D
abeth II tries ou
HM Queen Eliz
ses
Pinewood glas
Skyfall becomes ie
first £100m mov
at UK box office
cember 20
12
Pinewood
5
7
s
e
t
a
r
b
e
l
e
c
years filming
the best of
British and
Hollywood
studios
hur Rank, the
rt
A
J
by
d
de
Foun
ter and
7, Harry Pot
00
to
e
m
ho
are
still invest
busters – but
ck
lo
B
an
ic
er
Am
in UK talent.
id Grade,
ing place”, sa
az
am
an
is
“It
hepperton.
of Pinewood S
an
rm
ai
ch
e
th
cilities we
the unique fa
of
se
au
ec
“B
the leading
p is probably
ou
gr
e
th
,
ve
ha
operator
udio manager
st
d
te
ca
di
de
anywhere.”
The Observer,
2 October 2011
Pinewood £30K
facilities prize
for MGEITF
pilot contest
Pinewood has put up a studio
prize package worth over £30
K to
the winner of its pilot compet
ition at this year’s MediaGu
ardian
Edinburgh International Tel
evision Festival.
The Pinewood pilot compet
ition is now open for entrie
s from
programme makers with an
idea for a studio based forma
t. The
best five ideas will be inv
ited to pitch to a panel of
channel
controllers live at the Fes
tival, which runs between
Thursday
23rd August and Friday 25t
h August.
The winner will then be given
an opportunity to shoot a min
i pilot
for their programme at Pin
ewood Studios. The prize wil
l cover
use of one of Pinewood’s 9,0
00 square foot TV studios,
with an
HD gallery, plus production
facilities and access to Pin
ewood’s
post production department.
Televisual, 17 July 2012
Pinewood and
Shepperton
fitted with
Dolby Atmos
are the very first
Mixing theatres at the two studios
Dolby’s end-to-end
facilities in the UK to be fitted with
audio platform.
tres at Pinewood
The Pinewood Group’s mixing thea
be fitted with Dolby
and Shepperton Studios are to
s in the UK to be
Atmos, becoming the first facilitie
io platform.
fitted with Dolby’s end-to-end aud
keting, EMEA, Dolby
Julian Pinn, director, cinema mar
Shepperton Studios
Laboratories added: “Pinewood and
the world – it is
are truly iconic and known all over
first studio facilities
exciting to see that they will be the
os.”
in the UK to have installed Dolby Atm
Screen Daily, 22 November 2012
latest
gely successful
Skyfall, the hu
me the
Bond, has beco
outing of James
m at
more than £100
first film to take
e.
the UK box offic
December 2012
The Guardian, 31
National Lotter
y
draws to be
broadcast from
Pinewood Studi
os
From Januar
y, the Nationa
l Lottery’s Sat
will be broadc
urday draw
ast from new
state-of-the-a
at Pinewood S
rt facilities
tudios.
Camelot and
the BBC have
agreed a new
continue show
contract to
casing the Nat
ional Lottery on
BBC One.
Under the new
four-year cont
ract, which ha
to be extended
s the option
for a further
two years, th
Saturday draw
e flagship
show will be
broadcast from
studios in Iver
the film
Heath.
Slough & Sout
h
Bucks Expres
s, 06 Decembe
r 2012
38 | BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios
National. Global.
BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios | 39
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
The films made at Pinewood
Studios have a global audience
and incorporate skills drawn from
a wide pool of creative talent.
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.
Filmed at Pinewood Studio’s A Stage.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
All rights reserved. Harry Potter Publishing Rights © J. K. Rowling
40 | BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios
Conclusion
BEHIND THE SCENES – Pinewood Studios | 41
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 codependent 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.
Pinewood Studios today is a worldleading hub of creative enterprise
at the centre of the UK film industry.
Captain America: The First Avenger © 2010 MVLEFFLLC.
TM & © 2010 Marvel Entertainment, LLC and its
subsidiaries. All rights reserved
Produced by Turley Associates
www.turleyassociates.co.uk