UK FILM STUDIOS


PRODUCTION


slow horses


VR workflow. Garden Studios has been a forerunner in providing


virtual production LED Volume facilities and has worked with over 80 productions using its VR stage. CEO Thomas Hoegh sees that executive producers have been steadily getting on board with VR. “We are seeing a vast inflow of projects in the later stages of development,” he says. “I think the virtual production turbocharge will come when the agents of top talent realise, they can get more projects in per year by insisting on using more virtual production.” For now, the demand for VR stages, with their


high price ticket, remains limited. Warner Bros Leavesden launched its VR stage in 2021, which was used for HBO’s House of the Dragon, but it has already reverted to a traditional sound stage. Others have opted to stick with traditional builds


You have got a lot of stuff that’s already bedded in in the UK


for now. “We still think there’s a long way to go in this area,” says Nick Smith at Shinfield. At Space Studios, Rob Page says: “We’ve not


looked at specifically putting in a volume, but should this sub-sector increase dramatically, we’ve future- proofed in terms of power, connectivity, things like internet broadband, to ensure that we could easily accommodate a VR stage.” Working with VR technology takes new skills.


“You need to know what you’re doing, a humbling undertaking that you don’t achieve in a heartbeat,”


says Hoegh. This can be added to the list of skilled crew that are needed to fuel the steady expansion in studios facilities across the UK.


SKILLS TO PAY THE BILLS Training is high on the agenda at all studios. “It’s great us building the new infrastructure and


responding to the demand,” says Adrian Wootton at the BFC. “But unless we’ve got the skilled people and have upskilled the people we’ve got, then we won’t be able to carry on meeting that demand.” Pinewood is putting £15m behind a training hub


called Centre Stage, in partnership with the National Film and Television School, as well as working with national and local training agencies. Andrew Smith thinks industry estimates of 20,000 additional crew needed by 2025 is on the low side, he reckons 50,000, if you look at studio developments with planning permission in place. “We need to get a move on and deliver,” he says. At Space Studios in the North West, Rob Page


feels that crew shortages and corresponding wage inflation is not as acute as in other regions, but recognises that training is mission critical, “making sure that we’re engaged with both national bodies, local regional bodies, wherever there’s a training agenda. It’s in everybody’s best interest.” Skilling up local crew is essential; studios


Spring 2023 televisual.com 73


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