York Science Park sees boost in TV and film production as residents go behind the camera

Several of the companies located in York Science Park are currently filming for a range of videos, TV programmes and films as the park is establishing itself as “a real creative media hub.”

One company involved in the filming is Air Television Ltd, which just announced a contract win to supply a new 15 part, BBC 1 series following the work of British recruits to the Australian emergency services.

Filming has just started in Australia and will feature the work of police officers, flying doctors, firefighting pilots and their crews, and then all the film will be brought back to York Science Park to edit.

Air Television is also working with Channel 5 and has previously produced corporate videos for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Viscount Classical Organs, which involved a major musical recording at Selby Abbey.

In addition, film production company UMedia was recently a temporary resident on the Science Park whilst filming in York in conjunction with an Italian film company and the University of York’s Department of Theatre, Film and TV.

Suzanne Reid, from UMedia and UK Production Manager of the film ‘The Correspondence’, directed by Giuseppe Tornatore, said: “We needed to find a serviced office for a short period of time to be used as our Production Office and base in York whilst prepping the film and The Catalyst at York Science Park was perfect. They supplied all of the furniture, the phones and the broadband and it was very easy and quick to set up. We only needed the office for four weeks and the Science Park team were very helpful in making this work for us with short notice to get everything up and running.”

Furthermore, RADA teacher and founder of In Flow Training, Dominic Colenso, recently turned his office in York Science Park’s Springboard into a mini studio. In Flow Training is a specialist communications training company working with SME’s, start-ups and entrepreneurs and Dominic has been creating a number of videos for a new online course he is launching to help people communicate with maximum impact.

Dominic said: “Video is such powerful tool and this series of films I am developing is designed to help businesses take their message to a larger audience. It’s full of the top tips and techniques we use as actors and is the first of many I hope to produce in the future. I will also be interviewing other business experts to expand the content I provide on my website, making it a really useful resource for businesses both in the UK and overseas.”

Finally, the park’s newest occupier is Meridian Line Films, an independent TV production company which also creates programmes for new media such as YouTube. The firm was established by Liz McLeod, who has been producing specialist factual programmes for major broadcasters in Britain and internationally for over 20 years.

Commenting on her move to York Science Park, Liz said: “We already have strong links with the University of York’s Department of Theatre, Film and TV and so being based practically next door to them in Springboard made perfect sense. We are very excited about the opportunities in TV and video production at the moment and already have a number of prospective new projects in the pipeline.”

Tracey Smith, managing director, York Science Park, also commented: “It’s really exciting to see so many residents involved in making and using TV and video. We have become a real creative media hub and demand is constantly growing for great footage and the skills needed to create and deliver that footage. As well as the skills provided by some of our residents, our proximity and links to the University’s Department of Theatre, Film and TV is also a great benefit and we’re delighted that we have such a positive relationship with the team and their commercial enterprise Heslington Studios Ltd.”