Studios - where it all begins

There was a time when a large unoccupied building would be considered good enough as a studio.
FRED RIDGARD looks at how companies have realised that a successful studio requires careful planning and the correct installations.

Studios have come a long way since the old days. When any large unoccupied building often did double duty as a studio. I am not knocking any of this, as many studios, such as the original SA Film Studios at Lonehill were well thought out (apart from the roof!) and some. Like old Johannesburg Film studios in Auckland Park, used what was available. All produced excellent films.

These days, production needs a quicker and easier, and a more rapid turnaround time is needed for television. A look at the method in which various companies have addressed the many requirements for successful studios is worth a look.

Atlas Studios, in Frost Avenue, Milpark, is an example of big, bold, innovative design, the beginnings of a complex which will end up as a complete Television City, with everything for production and post production under one roof.

Begun as a refurbishment project of the old Atlas Bakery premises (originally built for Coca-Cola in 1951) by architect husband and wife team. Jonathan and Lorien Gimpel, who specialize in the conversion of old buildings, it soon grew into a novel studio complex. The huge concrete vaulted ceilings proved ideal for a daylight studio of 600square metres floor space, and an average height of 7.5 metres. Lots of light, height and space.

"The two sound stages are 455 and 480 square metres in floor area. They are beautifully furnished, with meticulous attention to detail, soundproofed, soundreated, air-conditioned with a complete lighting grid and lots of power makes these two ideal for the building of large sets for drama production.

Access is full and large enough for drive -in vehicles.

On a smaller scale, but with the same attention to detail, are the Linden Studios of Realtime Picturers. Quenton Haffern, in collaboration with architect Alan potter acquired a well-known but run-to-seed watering hole, the old Linden Hotel which has been completely rebuilt and refurbished.

This, in itself, presented more than a few problems, for example, to accommodate the shooting stage and get the upper floor bearers in correctly, it became necessary to literally jack up the entire one side of the building by a few millimeters and support this on piling structures.

It is now a fully equipped state of the art facility. The studio itself is 10m x 8m, with a height of 4.2m to the lighting grid. Soundproofed and sound treated, it is ideal for smaller shoots, and the specially laid floor I perfectly level to accommodate dolly shots.

The studio can be linked to a control room, so complicated audio set-ups are easily accommodated, and this also gives the possibility of direct packaging of a programme. Haffern has also tried to become a one-stop shop under one roof, and he embarked on a steady and planned path a few years ago. Real-time Pictures now boasts a well rounded facility. It has a linear edit suite, ideal for linking into the shooting stage, and also still the quickest way to edit if fancy graphics are not needed, and the offline editor has done the preparation correctly. This is Edit One, and is a four machine suite, complemented with Abekus 8100 Magic Dave, and Delta.

In the non-linear department, Edit Two is the Edit Box. Edit Three is the DPS Quatros, Edit Four a Discreet Logic system and Edit Five runs a DPS Velocity.

The audio suite is also fully equipped with all of the toys necessary for a good sound sweetening job. The audio workstation is the very latest Pro Tools HD, with Mackie HUI controller. There is also a graphic suite, and full transfer facilities. Realtime`s excellent facilities are complemented by equally excellent people, each one an expert at his or her equipment

Also small, but with an equally well thought out road ahead, is Roddy Barker`s studio in Randburg, Camera Facilities began as a purely equipment hire facility, and the studio grew out of this. Once again this studio is just under 100 square metres in area, with a 4m high lighting grid. Upgrades are on the way, and this studio is about to be completely refurbished.

Barker recently spent some time overseas, investigating a particular niche market in the industry that he is looking to service. I will be bringing news of this path. The studio has make-up and dressing rooms, as well as secure parking, a necessity in these times. All of Roddy`s facilities are on 24-hour availability basis.

SaSani Limited, South Africa, Largest supplier of Film and Television services in Southern Africa, operates several studios in both Johannesburg and Cape Town. In fact in total, Sasani Studios offers almost 4 000 square metres of studio space for both film and Television Production.

Based in Johannesburg, Sasani Studios consists of four purpose built stages at the Highlands North complex. Three of these stages 2, 5 and 3 houses the ever popular soap drama, Egoli and have done so for over 13 years. These three stages are configured for TV shooting and are fully equipped with digital camera chains.

A unique feature is a `central ` control room, able to switch between studios and controlling lighting, vision, sound and camera control.

Stages 2 and 5 are 425 square metres each and a stage 3, which is used for `swing sets` is some 215 square metres.

All three stages are obviously fully air-conditioned, soundproofed with TV specification floors, and have required dressing, make-up, green rooms.etc

Stages 1 at Highlands North is used extensively for commercials, and is 340 square metres. It has an infinity curve and is 4.6m to grid. Future projects for this stage include the game show, Mzansi and a series of Ripley`s while not a permanent feature. Control rooms can be made available in this stage for television multi-camera productions.

Also in the Highlands North complex.

ZSE TV offers two full specification television studios. A and B. Studio A is a pack shot 63 square metre studio, and studio B is 184 square metres. These studios are used for commercials and small drama/game shows, and have permanent control rooms, dressing rooms, make-up, etc

The Sasani Studios complex at the V & A Waterfront in Cape Town was the first facility in the region to offer custom made stages. These stages consist of the following: Stage 1 is some 1 110 square metres with 6m to grid height. Again built to exacting television specification, this stage is currently the home to Cape Town-based `The Imaginarium`s long running series. Charlie Jade, being shot on High Definition, and due for completion in September.

Stage 2 is 795 square metres and currently houses Penguin Films and their two series. Fishy Feshnus and Stokvel shot concurrently in the same stage. Control rooms are offered on these productions, as well as all other required areas including production offices.

Stage 3 is some 400 square metres and 6m to grid. This stage is used for commercials and Television shows.

Sasani`s philosophy in regards to stages is clear, and is an essential element of the broad spectrum of services, equipment and skills Sasani offers to the industry, further developments in terms of large shooting stages in both regions are continually monitored, and may well become a part of the strategic planning for the future.

As with the purely post production facilities, studio facilities are coming into their own. Not only are they becoming fully professional, but they are also becoming specialized: Atlas has a studio especially designed for presenters, which comes with an infinity curve and control room, and Realtime Pictures links directly into a control room if needed, so is ideal for talk and game shows.

Although it is said that there are too many studios available, they all seem to be busy and booked up, I think that this is a sign that things in the film and TV industry, and therefore the economy are on the up and up.