PRODUCTION
UK TV STUDIOS Demand for TV Studios is still relatively
flat, with far fewer new entrants than into the world of the sound stage. Versa Studios is an exception, having launched in London and now extended to Manchester. “The barriers to entry are far higher,” says Charlie Ingall, executive director and co-founder of Versa. Being accessible to talent and to audiences remains critical. In its West London studio, where shows can brand the exterior of the building, Versa recently hosted John Bishop with a live audience. “The audience knows that they’ve arrived to be entertained,” says Ingall. In Manchester, its new studio facility – opening later in 2023 - is based in the city centre, by the new Soho House members club.
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constructed with sustainability in mind, with an Environmental Social and Governance framework that includes 100% green power. “People are looking at their carbon footprint,” says Clark. Studios can save air miles. “You don’t have to go abroad, you can recreate in a studio, especially with virtual productions.” With remote production stepping up a
gear, studios play a critical role. “It allows for better utilisation of kit and resources across global events, benefitting sports like golf and tennis among others,” says Portbury at IMG. “Our work with the ATP embraced remote production for its ATP 500 events during the pandemic and we’re now rolling it out across the ATP 1000 tournaments as well.” In the UK, PSBs have lifted demand in the
nations and regions. But some studios report a drift back to the centre. Studioworks now
manages four sound stages at Roath Lock and has its newly refurbished TV studio at Kelvin Hall in Glasgow, near BBC Scotland Street studios. It’s still a slow burn, says Moultrie. “The volume of work isn’t at a level where we’d expect it to be, or where we’d forecast it, it’s not getting that level of support from a commissioning perspective.” What’s needed is returning multicamera shows, “getting the commissioners to commit and lock productions in.” There’s also a disconnect between where
a pilot is shot and where the subsequent commission is made. While a pilot might be made in London, with a clear understanding that the series will shoot elsewhere, there are instances where regional studios, and local crew, gear up around a title only to see it shot hundreds of miles away.
PEOPLE PROBLEMS Despite a lull in production in 2023, there’s still a major shortfall of trained crew predicted going forward, bearing in mind the number of sound stages coming on line. Versa has its runners programme encouraging young people from the local community to join a show and gain experience. Pinewood Studios launched its ‘Behind the Screen’ trainee programme in April. At dock10 they’re committed to training
studio craft talent, with an in-house training scheme, which includes much-needed virtual studio developers. At VR studio Distortion, Brigden notes that “there’s still a big lack of skills.” His team has brought this specialism to Bristol. Studioworks is working with partners to
address skills shortages head on, training up larger numbers across craft disciplines. “We need to do something at scale and to be a bit disruptive,” says Moultrie.
If you can imagine it, we can film it
Located in the heart of London, our two broadcast studios ooer exceptional facilities including virtual production, live streaming, full-service content creation, green screen, dry hire, and pre-lit studio spaces.
t +44 (0)20 7725 5858 60
televisual.com Summer 2023
www.broadley.tv
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