Interviews

Our interviews showcase the rich and fascinating history of the various film and television studios which have existed in Elstree and Borehamwood; telling the stories of how some of the world’s most well-known and best-loved film and television shows were made, from the people who helped make them.

We started by filming several interviews about Stanley Kubrick for a project entitled “Kubrick Visions” in May 2010. The interviewees were:

  1. Jan Harlan, Producer: A Clockwork Orange to Eyes Wide Shut
  2. Christiane Kubrick, Stanley Kubrick’s widow, actress and artist
  3. Katharina Kubrick, Stanley Kubrick’s daughter
  4. Julian Senior*, Publicist MGM and Warner Brothers
  5. Tony Palmer, Composer and Director
  6. Kelvin Pike, Camera Operator 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Shining
  7. Ron Punter, Scenic Artist: The Shining
  8. Ray Merrin*, Post-Production Sound: The Shining
  9. Sir Ken Adam*, Set Designer: Dr Strangelove

We have been filming interviews as “The Elstree Project” since September 2010. Below is a complete list of the people interviewed as of October 2024.

  1. June Randall*, Continuity: The Shining, A Clockwork Orange, The Avengers
  2. Kelvin Pike, Camera Operator
  3. Ron Punter, Scenic Artist
  4. Ray Merrin* and Terry Rawlings*, Post-Production Sound
  5. Alf Newvel*, Rigger: The Great Muppet Caper
  6. Johnny Goodman*, Production Supervisor: The Saint
  7. Paul Welsh* MBE, Film Historian
  8. Doug Scott*, Stills Photographer
  9. Ken Baker, Assistant Director: Labyrinth, The Saint, The Baron, Gideon’s Way, Department S
  10. John West, Assistant Studio Manager
  11. Alan Tomkins*, Art Director: Hanover Street
  12. Mick Mason, Camera Technician: The Shining
  13. John Hough, Director: The Avengers, The Saint, The Champions, The Baron, The Zoo Gang
  14. Tom Staples, Boom Operator: The Saint
  15. Jim Hill, Studio Director
  16. Neville Reed, Head of Studios: Elstree Film and Television Studios 1996 – 2006
  17. John Kirsop, Stagehand and Grip
  18. Ken Pullan*, Carpenter
  19. John Willis, Publicist
  20. Mick Brady, Props and Special Effects: 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Prisoner
  21. Julian Senior*, Publicist MGM and Warner Brothers
  22. Sir Roger Moore*, Actor: The Saint, The Man Who Haunted Himself
  23. Brian Clemens*, Writer: The Avengers
  24. John Herron, Film Librarian
  25. Geoff Glover, Camera Operator: Star Wars, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
  26. Brian Elvin, Camera Operator: Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), Department S
  27. Annie Elvin*, Matte and Roto Supervisor: Who Framed Roger Rabbit
  28. Ron Punter, third interview – related entirely to Who Framed Roger Rabbit
  29. Barry Wilkinson, Props Master: Labyrinth, Who Framed Roger Rabbit
  30. Martin Baker, Floor Manager and Producer: The Muppet Show, Labyrinth, The Great Muppet Caper
  31. Doug Milsome, Assistant Camera and Cinematographer: The Prisoner, The Shining
  32. Keith Clement, Head of Development: BBC Elstree Centre
  33. Brian Cook, Assistant Director: 633 Squadron, Danger Man, The Shining, Flash Gordon
  34. Brian Blessed, Actor: The Avengers, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), Flash Gordon
  35. John Spooner, Clapper Loader: British National Studios
  36. Kenneth Cope*, Actor: William Tell, The Avengers, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)
  37. Steven Spielberg, Producer and Director: Indiana Jones trilogy, Who Framed Roger Rabbit
  38. Joe Turkel*, Actor: The Shining
  39. Walter Murch, Film and Sound Editor: Julia; Director: Return to Oz
  40. Roger Morris, Managing Director: Elstree Studios
  41. Keith Dagley, Development Co-ordinator: Brent Walker Elstree Studios
  42. Damien Clusky, Carpenter: MGM-British Studios
  43. Dave Prowse*, Actor: Star Wars, A Clockwork Orange
  44. Ruby Burke, Tea Lady at MGM-British Studios
  45. Simon Pegg, Actor: The World’s End, Man Up
  46. Bryony Dixon, Senior Curator: BFI Silent Film
  47. Lisa and Louise Burns, Actresses: The Shining
  48. Morris Bright, County Councillor: Chairman, Elstree Studios
  49. Barbara Windsor* MBE, Actress: Sparrows Can’t Sing, EastEnders
  50. Garrett Brown, Inventor of the Steadicam: The Shining
  51. Louise Gold, Muppeteer: The Muppet Show, The Dark Crystal
  52. Rona McKendrick, Production Manager: EastEnders
  53. Brian Harris, Camera Operator: Hanover Street, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
  54. Peter Price, Assistant Director: Danger Man
  55. Robert Watts*, Producer: Star Wars, Indiana Jones trilogy, Who Framed Roger Rabbit
  56. Gary Kurtz*, Producer: Star Wars, Return to Oz, Labyrinth
  57. Colin Wood, Boom Operator
  58. Eric Robinson, Clapper Loader
  59. Mickey Pugh, Props: Greystoke The Legend Of Tarzan
  60. Mike Uwins, Chef: ATV Elstree Studio
  61. Dennis Fraser MBE, Grip
  62. George Gibbs*, Special Effects: Indiana Jones Trilogy
  63. Kelvin Pike and Brian Osborne: The Dam Busters
  64. Sally Thomsett, Actress: The Railway Children
  65. Jenny Hanley, Actress: Scars of Dracula
  66. Dave Goelz, Muppet Performer: The Muppet Show, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth
  67. Trevor Horn CBE, Musician and Record Producer: The Buggles “Elstree”
  68. Howard Berry, Official Historian of Elstree and Borehamwood’s Studios
  69. Bradley Walsh, Presenter: “The Chase”
  70. John Stephenson OBE, Mechanical Character Designer: The Dark Crystal, Greystoke, Return to Oz
  71. Tim Rose, Animatronics, Puppetry and Actor: The Dark Crystal, Return to Oz, Return of the Jedi

*  = deceased