Latest news with #Pinewood
Telegraph
07-05-2025
- General
- Telegraph
The untold story of the RAF's wartime female propaganda unit
They were a small but dedicated group of women who played a key role in boosting the nation's morale. The weapons wielded by Sergeant Dorothy 'Knicky' Chapman and her colleagues against the Nazis and their allies may have been film cameras and tripods rather than guns and shells, but they were vital in explaining to besieged Britons how the war effort was being waged. A rare collection of photographs showing the untold story of their work in the RAF's wartime Film Production Unit is now being revealed for the first time. Previously unseen photographs of its work have been published by Historic England to celebrate the 80 th anniversary of VE Day. The more than 150 photographs, which Chapman collected at the time, offer a rare glimpse of the unit's endeavours at Pinewood Studios, the home of British filmmaking, where it produced newsreels and coverage of key events in the war, including the D-Day landings. These explained in vivid detail to a civilian audience the efforts of Britain's forces, both on the battlefield and the home front, and were deemed crucial in maintaining morale. Among the films made by Chapman and the RAF FPU at Pinewood were 'Operational Height', which told the story of the crews of the barrage balloon ships guarding the ports of the Thames Estuary, and a 16-minute 1943 film, Soldiers Stories: The RAF Regiment. Another was 'The Big Pack', showing the work of the RAF's Maintenance Command in organising the supplies needed for a major overseas operation. The photographs show the women of the FPU training to operate complex film equipment in difficult conditions, such as while wearing gas masks or in total darkness. Some are not without humour, with one showing WAAF Corporal Peggy Harvey in her uniform, applying her makeup while pumping up the tyre of a military vehicle at RAF Iver Heath, Pinewood. The unit's members were drawn from the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF), which was founded in 1939 to fill non-combat roles in the RAF with women. Chapman, who had worked at photographic studios in Coventry and Sheffield after studying art and photography at Coventry School of Art, volunteered to join the WAAF before conscription was introduced. She was part of the first intake of 26 women to be trained at the No. 2 School of Photography, now the Defence School of Photography, at RAF Cosford, in 1941. Chapman was one of a small number picked to work in the stills department and her collection features stills from a number of the RAF's film sets and productions. She also worked alongside some of those who would go on to shape the British film industry, including a young Richard Attenborough, who volunteered to fly on bombing missions across Europe to film their outcome. WAAF photographers proved vital to the war effort in training RAF crews to carry out aerial reconnaissance, providing intelligence that was crucial to the progress of the war. As well as their vital work, the collection captures the women taking part in more relaxed off duty activities, including playing sports, dances at RAF Iver Heath and a theatre production of the comedy 'George and Margaret'. Chapman continued her passion for photography after the war - taking a job creating microfiche at the Science Museum and amassing a collection of several thousand slides documenting architecture across the country. But for most of the women the demobilisation of the WAAF marked the end of their lives in film. Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, said: 'This remarkable collection commemorates the unsung heroes of the Second World War and sheds light on the history of wartime filmmaking. The photographs provide rare insight into a lesser-known aspect of our wartime heritage, from the crucial role of Pinewood Studios as the centre of military filmmaking to the pioneering women of the WAAF.' Heritage Minister Baroness Twycross added: 'This remarkable collection reveals the vital role Pinewood Studios played during the war and shines a light on the hidden contribution of women like Knicky Chapman who broke barriers in military photography. Their legacy will continue to inspire future generations.'
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
If Trump has his way, the next Bond will be set in California
The next James Bond movie might have to be filmed in California. Producers will have to find somewhere in Massachusetts or Maine that can double up for Hogwarts for the new Harry Potter series. And Notting Hill II, if it ever happens, might have to shift Hugh Grant's bookshop to Greenwich Village. In a move that was audacious even by his standards, President Trump has announced plans for 100pc tariffs on films shot outside the US – which would be devastating for what has emerged as one of the UK's most successful industries, and one that has already been subsidised by billions in tax breaks. If Trump follows through with his threat, it will illustrate just how high a price the UK is paying for Sir Keir Starmer's failure to land a trade deal – because the film industry could soon be wiped out. If the UK has had an industrial policy over the last decade – and you would need a pretty big magnifying glass to have much chance of finding one – supporting the British film industry has been one of its main planks. Over many years, successive chancellors have handed out generous tax breaks to films shot in the UK, regardless of whether the story has anything to do with Britain at all. The result? Studios such as Pinewood have expanded massively. Amazon shot much of its Lord of the Rings series – the most expensive TV show of all time – in Britain, while movies such as 'Wicked', 'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore' and 'Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning' were all filmed at least partly in the UK. Indeed, while Rachel Reeves hammered most businesses in her Budget last year, she handed out a helpful new tax credit to the sector. With all that help, the UK has built a globally successful film industry, with spending estimated at more than £5bn a year. President Trump has now put all that at risk. After the likes of George Clooney and Meryl Streep campaigned so passionately against him, Trump could be forgiven for not having much affection for Hollywood. However, the president clearly has an affection for the golden age of American film-making. 'The movie industry in America is dying a very fast death. WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!', the US president wrote on a Truth Social posting, slipping into the characteristic capitals that he reserves for his most strongly held opinions. His solution to this problem? A draconian new tax on the industry. Any movie that is not filmed in the United States could soon be subject to a 100pc tariff. That won't just apply to a handful of French or Korean art house movies, which probably don't do much business in the multiplexes of Tennessee or Texas anyway, but to all the blockbusters filmed elsewhere. It is, of course, only a threat right now. President Trump often does not follow through on his more eccentric tariff proposals, or reverses them once a few billionaire friends point out how much damage they might do. By the end of the week, Jeff Bezos, whose Amazon now owns the MGM studio and the rights to Bond, might well have managed to get the policy reversed. That said, Trump has a point. There has been a huge decline in American film production – as not just the UK but Canada, Spain, Hungary and many other countries lure production away with generous tax breaks. It is one of the many ways in which the US faces competition that is often far from fair. But if the film tariff goes ahead, it poses two major risks to the British economy. First, it will wipe out the industry here faster than the villain's lair is demolished in the final scene of a Bond movie. Sure, you might be able to get some generous tax breaks when you shoot a film in the UK. But if you have to pay a tariff of 100pc when it is shown in the US, it simply won't be viable. No one will want to pay an extra $10 (£7.52) at the multiplex for a Marvel film that appears completely American just because it happened to be shot in Buckinghamshire instead of Hollywood. The industry will be destroyed. The huge investment in sound stages, in post-production facilities, in props, costumes and special effects will all go up in smoke. All the well-paid jobs the industry creates will disappear, along with the roles for the actors. And of course, all the tax breaks that the Treasury has lavished on the industry will turn out to have been for nothing. The industry might still be able to make the occasional niche movie for Channel 4. but the blockbusters will all be gone. Next, and just as seriously, Trump's targeting of films suggests that services may be next in line. Until this weekend, President Trump had only imposed tariffs on stuff. But a film is much more like a 'service', especially if it streamed. Will the rest of the media be next? Or financial services, or consultancy? The UK has a surplus in services with the US worth £68bn annually – and we know the president hates surpluses. If Trump targets this imbalance, it would come as a devastating blow to an already fragile economy. In reality, the Starmer government has been far too slow to wrap up a trade deal with the Trump White House. It has spent far too much time obsessing over the relationship with the EU, and it has not been willing to offer up the headline concessions – such as allowing chlorinated chicken or scrapping the tech tax – that would get a deal over the line. A deal might well have exempted the UK from film tariffs and rescued the industry. But right now, it looks as if an inept government has blown it, and risks leaving the British industry to wither as a result. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. 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Telegraph
05-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
If Trump has his way, the next Bond will be set in California
The next James Bond movie might have to be filmed in California. Producers will have to find somewhere in Massachusetts or Maine that can double up for Hogwarts for the new Harry Potter series. And Notting Hill II, if it ever happens, might have to shift Hugh Grant's bookshop to Greenwich Village. In a move that was audacious even by his standards, President Trump has announced plans for 100pc tariffs on films shot outside the US – which would be devastating for what has emerged as one of the UK's most successful industries, and one that has already been subsidised by billions in tax breaks. If Trump follows through with his threat, it will illustrate just how high a price the UK is paying for Sir Keir Starmer's failure to land a trade deal – because the film industry could soon be wiped out. If the UK has had an industrial policy over the last decade – and you would need a pretty big magnifying glass to have much chance of finding one – supporting the British film industry has been one of its main planks. Over many years, successive chancellors have handed out generous tax breaks to films shot in the UK, regardless of whether the story has anything to do with Britain at all. The result? Studios such as Pinewood have expanded massively. Amazon shot much of its Lord of the Rings series – the most expensive TV show of all time – in Britain, while movies such as 'Wicked', 'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore' and 'Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning' were all filmed at least partly in the UK. Indeed, while Rachel Reeves hammered most businesses in her Budget last year, she handed out a helpful new tax credit to the sector. With all that help, the UK has built a globally successful film industry, with spending estimated at more than £5bn a year. President Trump has now put all that at risk. After the likes of George Clooney and Meryl Streep campaigned so passionately against him, Trump could be forgiven for not having much affection for Hollywood. However, the president clearly has an affection for the golden age of American film-making. 'The movie industry in America is dying a very fast death. WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!', the US president wrote on a Truth Social posting, slipping into the characteristic capitals that he reserves for his most strongly held opinions. His solution to this problem? A draconian new tax on the industry. Any movie that is not filmed in the United States could soon be subject to a 100pc tariff. That won't just apply to a handful of French or Korean art house movies, which probably don't do much business in the multiplexes of Tennessee or Texas anyway, but to all the blockbusters filmed elsewhere. It is, of course, only a threat right now. President Trump often does not follow through on his more eccentric tariff proposals, or reverses them once a few billionaire friends point out how much damage they might do. By the end of the week, Jeff Bezos, whose Amazon now owns the MGM studio and the rights to Bond, might well have managed to get the policy reversed. That said, Trump has a point. There has been a huge decline in American film production – as not just the UK but Canada, Spain, Hungary and many other countries lure production away with generous tax breaks. It is one of the many ways in which the US faces competition that is often far from fair. But if the film tariff goes ahead, it poses two major risks to the British economy. First, it will wipe out the industry here faster than the villain's lair is demolished in the final scene of a Bond movie. Sure, you might be able to get some generous tax breaks when you shoot a film in the UK. But if you have to pay a tariff of 100pc when it is shown in the US, it simply won't be viable. No one will want to pay an extra $10 (£7.52) at the multiplex for a Marvel film that appears completely American just because it happened to be shot in Buckinghamshire instead of Hollywood. The industry will be destroyed. The huge investment in sound stages, in post-production facilities, in props, costumes and special effects will all go up in smoke. All the well-paid jobs the industry creates will disappear, along with the roles for the actors. And of course, all the tax breaks that the Treasury has lavished on the industry will turn out to have been for nothing. The industry might still be able to make the occasional niche movie for Channel 4. but the blockbusters will all be gone. Next, and just as seriously, Trump's targeting of films suggests that services may be next in line. Until this weekend, President Trump had only imposed tariffs on stuff. But a film is much more like a 'service', especially if it streamed. Will the rest of the media be next? Or financial services, or consultancy? The UK has a surplus in services with the US worth £68bn annually – and we know the president hates surpluses. If Trump targets this imbalance, it would come as a devastating blow to an already fragile economy. In reality, the Starmer government has been far too slow to wrap up a trade deal with the Trump White House. It has spent far too much time obsessing over the relationship with the EU, and it has not been willing to offer up the headline concessions – such as allowing chlorinated chicken or scrapping the tech tax – that would get a deal over the line. A deal might well have exempted the UK from film tariffs and rescued the industry. But right now, it looks as if an inept government has blown it, and risks leaving the British industry to wither as a result.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Pinewood Technologies signs 5-year software deal with VW Group Japan
Pinewood Technologies Group PLC has signed a five-year contract with Volkswagen Group Japan to deploy its cloud-based platform across approximately 350 Volkswagen and Audi dealerships in Japan, according to a press release. The UK-headquartered software provider said the agreement marked a 'significant new customer base' and was aligned with its strategic goals. The roll-out and associated revenues are expected to begin in the first half of 2026. Pinewood, which became an independent entity in 2024 following the sale of Pendragon PLC's UK motor and leasing divisions to Lithia Motors Inc, develops cloud-based retail systems for automotive retailers and OEMs. Volkswagen Group Japan imports vehicles and components for both the Volkswagen and Audi marques and operates a network of authorised dealerships nationwide. Lennart Nigmann, Group Network Management Director of Volkswagen Group Japan, said the platform would allow dealer partners to improve both 'customer experience and efficiency', highlighting the benefit of 'seamless integration' with existing Volkswagen Group systems. Pinewood CEO Bill Berman said the company was 'thrilled' to be working with Volkswagen Group Japan and reiterated Pinewood's ambition to make Japan a core strategic market, adding the firm hoped to 'add other OEMs in Japan as customers in the future.' The software business serves over 30,000 users across 21 countries and maintains partnerships with over 50 OEM brands. "Pinewood Technologies signs 5-year software deal with VW Group Japan" was originally created and published by Motor Finance Online, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Daily Mail
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Tom Cruise declared an 'honorary Brit' after four decades working in the UK as his cockney rhyming slang skills, love of country pubs and friendship with Prince William is revealed
has been declared an 'honorary Brit' as the BFI prepares to honour him after a whopping four decades of making movies in the UK. The American actors, 62, who is believed to own in a property in the swanky Biggin Hill area of London, first made the move across the pond in 2020 for back-to-back Mission: Impossible films. He's now a regular in the UK, with former co-star sir Kenneth Branagh, 64, revealing the Hollywood A-lister boasts impressive cockney rhyming skills and loves a trip to a country pub. Speaking about the BFI Award, Cruise gushed: 'I'm truly honoured, I've been making films in the UK for over 40 years and have no plans to stop'. Branagh, who starred alongside Cruise in 2008's Valkyrie and have remained friends, told The Times: 'He's an honorary Brit now, with a handy line in Cockney rhyming slang, I've been to the pub with him a few times. 'He finds a quiet corner, enjoys the atmosphere and is always gracious when he gets spotted. He's a natural giggler and just enjoys what he does so much and that's infectious'. He has been spotted at Wimbledon, Victoria Beckham 's 50th, was apart of the King's Coronation, Late Queen's Platinum Jubilee with British friends including The Beckham's, Gordon Ramsay and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Over the year Cruise has filmed some of his biggest films in in Pinewood, Leavesden and Shepperton studios, from 1985's Legend to 1994's Interview With A Vampire and Edge of Tomorrow in 2014. Speaking about his love of Blightly, he told The Mirror in 2022:'I guess I am an Anglophile. I spend a lot of time in Britain and that's not just for work reasons. I just love being here. 'It's a fantastic blend of old and new. I love seeing the sights, the Tower of London, Nelson's Column, Buckingham Palace and all those fantastic places which are just full of history. 'Britain is trendy, too, and has a lot that other countries then copy. I also love the British countryside. The actor's connection to the UK is made even stronger than to make-up artist daughter Isabella, 32, who lives in Croydon with her her British husband Max Parker. A source who worked with the actor, previously told MailOnline: '[Tom has] fallen in love with everything about the UK, his daughter lives here, he enjoys a good cuppa and he loves the fact he can be himself '. Before adding: The biggest thing is he's developed a proper circle of friends. He's the happiest I've ever seen him.' Last year Cruise twinned with William in tuxedos at the London Air Ambulance Charity gaga and beamed in a snap posted on the Prince and Princess of Wales 's X/ Twitter account, with the caption: 'Fancy seeing you here!' He has known to rub shoulders with the Prince and Princess of Wales, Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth, and Princess Diana - and has even said King Charles can be his 'wingman'. The royal even made a nod to Cruise, who has donated millions to the charity, in his speech. 'Here in London, the current aircraft have served magnificently. But our capital city needs a new fleet. 'And we are Up Against Time. The clue really is in the Appeal's name. By September, we need the two new red birds - decked with the latest kit such as night vision - in our skies. 'I should also take this opportunity to give a mention to my - our - fellow pilot, Tom Cruise. Tom, huge thanks for supporting us tonight. 'And if you wouldn't mind not borrowing either of the new helicopters for the next Mission : Impossible, it would be appreciated. 'We have all seen on our screens that - how can I put it - you seem to have a different take on 'normal wear and tear' to the rest of us. 'It's not the kind that buffs out, that's for sure.' Cruise has continued to bond with members of the royal family with a love of flying over the years - not least, Her late Majesty the Queen. The movie star famously took the Princess of Wales's hand as he led her up the stairs at the Top Gun: Maverick premiere back in 2022 In the late monarch's final weeks at Windsor Castle before travelling to Balmoral where she died, she invited Cruise for tea at the royal residence. She was said to have been disappointed that she had not met the star during her Platinum Jubilee celebrations, which had taken place earlier that summer. Despite not seeing the Queen during the week of celebrations, Cruise appeared in a segment of the at the Jubilee, and said of her: 'She's a woman I greatly admire. She has tremendous dignity and I admire her devotion. What she has accomplished has been historic.' Insiders said the pair 'really hit it off' during their meeting and the late Queen 'loved seeing him' - and she even allowed him to land his helicopter on the lawn of the Castle. Cruise was even invited back for lunch - but the Queen sadly passed away before he could return. The Hollywood star: 'She's just a woman that I greatly admire. I think she is someone who has tremendous dignity and I admire her devotion. 'What she has accomplished has been historic. I just remember always as a kid seeing photos of her.'
