New film office 'Screen Swindon' set up to attract movies to town
The initiative will be hosted by Create Studios from its base in the Carriage Works in Railway Village
Could Pinehurst soon be rivalling Pinewood as a famous name in the film world?
If the newly launched Screen Swindon has anything to do with it, it might.
The borough now has a film office, Screen Swindon, which aims to make it much easier for film, television and advert makers to produce their work in the town.
The initiative, which is supported by Creative England and Swindon Borough Council will be hosted by Create Studios from its base in the Carriage Works in Railway Village.
The studio’s co-director Marilyn Fitzgerald said: “I’m very pleased that we are launching a film office in Swindon, though that work is something we’ve been doing at Create for some time.
“There are film offices in Bristol, Bath, Cornwall and Gloucester and now in Swindon. And I read that what would cost a production £6,000 in London would costs it £600 here in Swindon.”
Ms Fitzgerald added: “I can promise any production company that wants to come and film here, we will look after you, from location to catering to accommodation. I will personally make sure you have everything you need to make your film here.”
Her colleague Yeva Deli said: “We have some great locations – Railway Village, Lydiard House, and some places that will easily double for locations in London.
“And our job is to make sure producers have everything else they need, from accommodation, to crew, to kit they can hire from us to catering and transport.”
Swindon Borough Council helped the start-up of Screen Swindon with a small amount of money, but the council’s cabinet member for planning and placemaking Councillor Marina Strinkovsky said it would be very happy to help in other ways: “We will do everything we can to help with licenses, or permissions, closing roads, allowing our parks or properties to be used.
“We’ll help in whatever way we can to help Screen Swindon get production companies to use the town as a location or base for filming.”
The film office is also looking for people who think their house, or a property, might be useful as a location to get in touch, and also wants to hear from catering companies, transport and logistics firms accommodation and anyone who thinks that they can offer a service to a film production.