It doesn’t seem that long ago that there always stories about Pinewood and Shepperton Studios having financial troubles, but since they banded together (and have now been joined by Teddington Studios) into the Pinewood Studios Group, the company’s gone from strength-to-strength, not just cementing their position as the UK’s leading movie production facilities company, but expanding internationally with bases in Canada, Germany and Malaysia.
Now they’re going to the Caribbean, with the announcement they’re teaming up with the Idomina Group to build Pinewood Indomina Studios in the Dominican Republic. The state of the art film and television production facilities will initially comprise 5,000 sq m of sound stage space along with 15,000 sq m of associated production support facilities, primarily designed to service the growing Caribbean, South and Central American markets.
The 35 acre site will also include an 8 acre water effects facility including a 75m x 75m exterior water tank with natural ocean horizons (the tank is right next to the sea, so if you put a boat in it and frame the shot right, it’ll look like it’s in the middle of the ocean), blue screen capabilities and a fully equipped diving and marine department. When completed it will be the only tank of its type and size in the region.
Construction will begin immediately, with the facility expected to open in 2012. It’s good news for Pinewood, which last year suffered a setback when it’s grand £200 million redevelopment plans for its main Buckinghamshire studio were denied planning permission, meaning they haven’t been able to build the extensive permanent street sets and 1,500 homes they’d hoped to.