Reel life goes on as films buck the gloom

THE Clash of the Titans 3D blockbuster – due for release this weekend – was one of a number of movies filmed at Pinewood and Shepperton studios during a resurgent 2009 for the cinema industry, the owner of the sites reported yesterday.

Pinewood Shepperton said the "appeal of film in uncertain economic times has not diminished" after cinema admissions last year hit their highest level since 2002.

The studios – in Buckinghamshire and Surrey – were also used last year to film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – the first part of the final episode in the series – and Ridley Scott's new Robin Hood adventure, due out this summer.

But Pinewood said film revenues fell 6 per cent during the year to 22.7 million, reflecting the impact of a damaging battle between US studios and the Screen Actors Guild, which left projects in a logjam until its resolution in June.

The television advertising slump also hit TV revenues, 11 per cent lower at 11.3m, with the wider group's underlying pre-tax profits slipping 6 per cent to 11.3m in 2009.

This year has got off to a good start, however, as the studio group hosted major new television game shows Ant & Dec's Push the Button and The Whole 19 Yards featuring Vernon Kay.

The firm, which also owns Teddington Studios, said the new game shows attracted capacity studio audiences of 700 for Push the Button and 400 for The Whole 19 Yards.

A number of movies are due to be filmed there this year, although Pinewood said that it cannot reveal which at this stage.