Lake District Film Studios has announced the opening of what is believed to be the first dedicated film and TV studio facility in Cumbria.
The Thursby facility features a 650-square-foot space built around a green screen infinity cove and a 450-square-foot space with a podcast studio featuring three Rode mics and three Blackmagic cinema cameras run through a production switcher. Both studios support live streaming and the site includes a workshop, green room and crewing service to enable the sourcing of local production crews.
Founded by filmmaker Ben Phoenix, Lake District Film Studios aims to provide local infrastructure to support productions in the area, allowing them to base themselves directly in the county rather than moving to facilities elsewhere.
A Creative Cumbria meeting will be held at the studio every two months, open to all creative workers in the region.
“Cumbria is probably the one part of the UK without a film industry, and yet the Lake District draws production here all the time. There’s just never been anywhere to base it,” said Phoenix. “We built this place so productions have a proper base: somewhere to keep the budget and the crew in the region, instead of just passing through.”
Carlisle-based director of photography and producer, Chris Armstrong, added, “There are so many local untold stories. It feels like we’re at the genesis of a truly Cumbrian filmmaking scene, and the skills to make it happen are coming home.”
