Manchester’s prolific media industry is set for a major boost with the opening of The Foundry Film Studios, an 8,000 sq ft purposely-built venue located adjacent to MediaCityUK, and designed specifically for the creation of TV and advertising content, photography shoots and events.
The £1.5 million facility on Ordsall Lane in Salford, is being managed by a young and visionary team, which comprises of managing director James Shannon (aged 28) and Madeline Penfold (aged 23), both whom have an impressive track-record in delivering creative content (location and studio) for clients.
They have thoughtfully designed the space to craft and deliver an artistic hub where content producers can be supported in a creative, yet digital and agile environment, technology boundaries can be challenged and where their team of mobile film makers have the ability to spring into action to capture footage remotely to be beamed back into the facility.
The Foundry Film Studios also offers an innovative and adaptable space, where events producers can deliver innovative concepts for up to 600 people in a unique and inspiring environment.
“Our combined ambition was to create a space which is ultimately an artistic hub and where collaboration is at the core.
We wanted to make it feel like a home-from-home environment and develop an alternative to the cold, un-welcoming feeling that is so often found in a lifeless empty studio. We have built a space where traditional workflows can be broken and a place where we can continually adapt to the needs of our clients. The TV industry has evolved and boundaries are constantly being pushed. Experience, process and technology are very much a focus of the Foundry Studios and being able to work with our clients across the world offering them an immersive live experience is second to none”, said James Shannon MD.
Madeline Penfold, Producer said: “The development of the Foundry Studios has been a wonderful collaborative project bringing together such inspirational and creative people. We’ve listened carefully to the needs of our clients, looked at the changing needs of the industry and brought together a team of talented in-house directors, photographers, producers, editors and production support in a space where we can challenge traditional techniques and join our clients on a ground-breaking journey creating and delivering content. There’s so much happening in Manchester in the creative and digital sector and we want to ensure The Foundry is positioned right at the heart of the excitement”.
The Foundry is home to two expansive studios, with one studio containing one of the largest infinity coves in the northwest.
The facilities are complemented by edit facilities, dressing rooms, creative breakout areas, a mezzanine platform, bar area and its own in-house collective of directors, producers and editors.
The team (currently about 10 full-time staff) has a proven track record and the experience of working to a wide-range of briefs to produce ground-breaking content for online, social and TV and the facilities to take an idea from concept, to production, into post-production – all under the same roof, whilst being able to stream onto different devices in or outside the venue. This desirable way of working means content can be viewed and tested on mobile, desktop and tablet whilst in the production process.
Foundry Studios’ in-house team are already working with fashion and retail clients producing content for TV and online.
Jason Tyldesley, CEO at Sofology, who has recently used the new facility said:
“Foundry Film Studios have created a production space and workflow that allows Sofology to not only shoot the big TV campaigns, but to also turn around high quality, high volume product films on a continuous basis”.
The Foundry and its team also has experience of delivering location shoots of varying sizes and will be continuing to offer their services to clients looking to shoot out and about and not just in the new facility. Maddie is also a trained photographer and she and her team can offer photography expertise and guidance for shoots when needed.
