Save The British Film Industry.Com

Pinewood Shepperton plc Pinewood Shepperton plc (the “Company”), is the leading European provider of studio and related services to the worldwide film and television industry. The Company has entered into a comprehensive agreement with Canal+ Image UK Limited (Canal+, part of the Vivendi group) to provide an archival service including the managed storage, preservation and restoration of audio and picture assets. The Canal+ archive consists of some 140,000 items including the renowned Ealing Film library. The archival preservation and restoration service is a new revenue stream for the Company. It will be based at Pinewood Studios and fully operational by early 2010. Canal+ has stored its archive at Pinewood Studios for some years. The agreement includes the refurbishment of their existing premises of 11,000 sq ft and the construction of a controlled environment archive facility of 2,000 sq ft. The capital investment of £2 million will be funded by Pinewood Studios. Canal+ has entered into an agreement for a long-term lease covering the refurbished and new facilities. 12 November, 2009 For further information, please contact: Pinewood Shepperton plc Ivan Dunleavy – Chief Executive 01753 656 183 Brunswick Group LLP James Olley / Oliver Hughes 020 7404 5959 www.pinewoodgroup.com

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We love Paris, Canal + (indeed one of our group was among the first ever subscribers in the mid 1980s), love French films and film makers.  We love archives. But we also love The UK, every county, every town, every street. Our issue with Pinewood is the focus is everywhere else than The UK. Fine if they did not have a monopoly of UK film factory facilities, a near monopoly of public purse TV outside of the M25 (in almost flagrant breach of the spirit of the 2003 Communications Act), a habit of arrogantly monopolising public purse monies for film and TV infrastructure (monies provided from all over The UK) and then using these same public monies to make sure those outside The South East can not get on the ladder without relocating to The South East.  We would not mind if they were NOT watching a further share price fall today.  All The British eggs are in one basket. The basket looks very fragile.

Prudence, patriotism, business self-interest would initiate active negotiations with big UK regional players such as The West Midlands to increase and secure finances, increase physical resources, explore merchandising revenue,….hey but they are omniscient and walk on water so it must end well.  Much like ITV before they started sacking 20% of their loyal staff.

Pinewood Studios is starting to resemble Charlton Athletic FC  before the crash. It could have been avoided so easily.

Jonathan Stuart-Brown

www.savethebritishfilmindustry.com