We now have an additional office in Elstree Studios to add to our office in Westminster. A friend asked me why I would get an additional office there as most of my work is done in clients’ offices or Central London. It’s a fair question. This is my response.
Elstree is a storytelling hub, home to a big BBC studio and a HUGE new SKY studio. But Elstree Studios has a huge film history – which goes back over a century.
Elstree Studios was founded in 1926 during the silent film era. Its first significant production was “Madame Pompadour” (1927). Alfred Hitchcock’s “Blackmail” (1929) was filmed here – one of the first British “talkies”. Alfred damn Hitchcock!!!! Damn.
During World War II, Elstree Studios was requisitioned for military use. After the war, film production started again with “The Dam Busters” (1955), which was massive.
Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968) was followed by the “Star Wars” franchise. The original “Star Wars” (1977) was partly filmed here. George Lucas stayed, and so did the sequels. There is a massive George Lucas studio there.
Spielberg’s “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981) and Kubrick’s “The Shining” (1980) are Elstree films! Jack Nicholson
George Lucas and Steven Spielberg (Steven damn Spielberg!) joined forces in the Save Our Studios campaign. Spielberg even paused filming for an afternoon to go and lobby MPs!
“The King’s Speech” (2010) by Tom Hooper and “Paddington” (2014) by Paul King were filmed here – so were “The Saint” and “The Crown”. (Elstree also hosted “Big Brother” and “Strictly”.)
Laurence Olivier, Alec Guinness, and Jack Nicholson have all acted here.
Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Tom Hooper, and Paul King have all directed here!
Elstree Studios is not just an office or a physical location. It is U.K.’s Hollywood along with Pinewood Studios. It’s a symbol of a century of British cinema and storytelling. It’s an obvious place for StoryPower® to have an office.
