Category Archives: News

On December 1st, The Elstree Project were proud to be part of the unveiling of the renewed lobby of the REEL Cinema in Borehamwood's high street. Supported by funding from Hertsmere and Elstree & Borehamwood councils, the cinema now has an exhibition of film and television heritage from local productions.

The Elstree Project is featured in its own booth, with an interactive iPad kiosk and headphones, where visitors can go and select clips from over 20 interviews. We also feature on a special interactive poster with QR codes, where the voices of our contributors can be heard! Six students from the University of Hertfordshire worked with Howard to make the clips - creating transcripts, editing and curating the content.

Project founder Howard Berry also designed a 7+ meter long timeline of all eight studios in the two towns, which gained considerable interest. It's the most in depth display of its...

I am devastated to share the news of Paul Welsh MBE’s passing.

Our project co-founder, and lead interviewer, Paul’s knowledge and range of friends in the industry were the very basis for the founding of The Elstree Project in 2010.

After having already filmed 10 interviews with Paul as expert interviewer, in 2011 we turned the cameras around and filmed Paul’s story and connection to the studios of Borehamwood so that his contribution would be recorded in his own words. Below, I would like to share stories from his life, which include his own words from this interview.

Paul’s father worked in the industry in Borehamwood, as a foley artist at the Gate Studios in 1956. He described how his father’s work encroached into the family’s home life:

In December, there were two events to launch the new book by Lee Unkrich and JW Rinzler - “Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining”.

The new book - the most in-depth and thoroughly researched book of its kind about The Shining - is the product of over a decade of dedication and hard work by the authors. Lee Unkrich has gathered together an amazing resource of behind the scenes photos from the sets at EMI Elstree Studios and the former MGM British Studios in Borehamwood; and the authors interviewed, or gathered interviews, with every person who worked on the film.

The book was launched at the BFI with a Q&A with Lee and a screening of the US cut of the film. The following evening a private launch took place at the Kubrick estate, Childwickbury Manor, with Taschen and a second Q&A with Lee and Jan Harlan, hosted by Richard Ayoade.

On Thursday 30th June, the new Platinum Stages at Elstree Studios were launched, with a tour for invited guests provided - including a climb to the very top of the lighting grid.

Hosted by Chris Denmead MD of Elstree Studios, and Morris Bright MBE Chairman of the studios, both Paul Welsh MBE and Howard Berry from The Elstree Project were delighted to be among the invited guests who got to be among the very first to see the new stages.

Each stage is 16000 sq ft, and they can also be opened up to each other through a specially designed interior wall which still allows for soundproofing.

The new stages were built during the pandemic years, and installed during full studio operations, with the backlot...

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On May 23rd, it was the 40th anniversary of the release of The Shining. To celebrate the official Stanley Kubrick social media pages (on instagram, twitter and facebook) released a new video with various crew and cast, plus super-fan Lee Unkrich, talking about their favourite scene or moment.

The Elstree Project were proud to have aided in the production of this video, arranging contributions - recorded during Covid-19 lockdown - from Dan Lloyd (Danny), Lisa and Louise Burns (The Grady Twins), Garrett Brown (Steadicam Operator), Gordon Stainforth (Assistant Editor, Soundtrack Editor), Jan Harlan (Executive Producer) and Lee Unkrich (Pixar film director and world expert in The Shining).

The video can be viewed at any of the links above.