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Sands Films

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sands Films
IndustryFilm production
Founded1975
Headquarters
London
,
England
Websitewww.sandsfilms.co.uk

Sands Films is a small, independent, British film production company, founded by producer Richard Goodwin and director Christine Edzard in the early 1970s, and based in Rotherhithe, London. The company is known for its production of costumes for period dramas and is run by Olivier Stockman and Christine Edzard. Since 2005 the building has been open to the public regularly via the Sands Films Cinema Club and Music Room, adding to the "remarkable and very valuable operation, which not only creates in-house, but also opens a window on another world."[1]

Background

[edit]

The building that Sands Films occupies is a former granary, now a grade II listed building.[2] The business was founded in 1975[3] and, since 1976, it has housed a small film stage, film theatre, picture library, workshops and costume stores.[4] The Goodwins initially used the derelict building rent-free, on the basis they completely repaired and renovated the property.[5] Managing director Olivier Stockman has worked for Sands Studios since 1980.[3]

In 2011, the company's annual turnover exceeded £1 million for the first time.[5] After its rent almost quadrupled since 2000 and it had been asked to pay back-rent for an unrenovated part of the building, the company began to raise funds to purchase the property. This included selling shares at £500 each,[5] and later in 2012, they successfully bought the property, with plans to modernise its production facilities. The studio and its struggle to survive increasing rent and costs was the subject of a BBC Inside Out program in 2012.[6] The BBC film also highlights the four generations who have worked at Sands since it was founded.[7]

As an independent film production studio Sands Films has its own soundproof stage, workshops, costume department, set construction workshop, cutting room, cinema and other services needed to make films. It is a self-sufficient and fully integrated production facility. Cinema and television companies as varied as Working Title, Talkback, BBC, Channel 4, Freemantle, Ridley Scott Associates, Sky TV, the Royal Opera House, the New York Metropolitan Opera and Canal+ have used the facilities at Sands Films for their projects.

The weekly film club is free, with donations invited, and is housed in a "cosy" cinema in the 18th century building which contains "a myriad of aesthetically pleasing spaces". These include music performances, book launches, political debates and theatre productions, as well as the non-digital Rotherhithe Picture Research Library which is an educational trust and is open to all at no cost.[8][9]

With the covid-19 lockdown the studio intensified its live streaming activities. Stockman explained:

“Sands Films always had a connection with live music and music performance in general. But during the Covid lockdown, the studio’s recording and broadcasting facilities were made available to musicians who were deprived of their live audience, and therefore of their income. We offered the Music Room as accessible and open to all: without a paywall, fees or anything. All we asked is for donations from those who can afford it."[7]

Since then all Sands Films’ music events have been hybrid, with a live audience in the theatre, online viewers at home and unrestricted access remaining the same. While performers are paid a minimum guarantee, Stockman says:

"Our open door policy reflects the fact that art and culture should not be treated as commodities. Music, in particular, is destined to all and should not be conditional upon a financial transaction.”[7]

Griff Rhys Jones has described Sands Films as "romantic and inspiring; efficient, fun and creative. I love working down there. I love the atmosphere. You feel lucky to be there and privileged to get stuck into the serious business of creating fantasy in such surroundings.” [10]

Productions

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Productions by Sands Films include Stories from a Flying Trunk (1979), The Nightingale (1981), Biddy (1983), Little Dorrit (1987), Old Ways New Ways (1988), The Fool (1989), As You Like It (1991), Amahl and the Night Visitors (1996), The IMAX Nutcracker (1997), The Children's Midsummer Night's Dream (2001) and The Good Soldier Schwejk (2018).

The studio has delivered full production packages to companies requiring a London studio base, such as A Passage to India (1984) and Bright Star (2009). Sands Films was the production base for The Long Day Closes (1992), including the building of all sets. Sands Films supplied facilities to Working Title's productions of Anna Karenina (2012) and Les Miserables (2012), and to Touching the Void (2003). The studio was a co-production partner on A Dangerous Man: Lawrence After Arabia (1990), La luna en botella (2007) and Garbo: El espia (2009).

Other films the company has been involved in for production services include Agatha Christie films produced by EMI - Death on the Nile) (1978),[11] The Mirror Crack'd (1980), Evil Under The Sun (1982) - and Seven Years in Tibet (1997). Sands hand-embroidered the costumes for the main characters in the BBC's 2015 series Wolf Hall.[12]

In 2017, Sands Films produced The Good Soldier Schwejk, written and directed by Christine Edzard and based on The Good Soldier Švejk by Jaroslav Hašek. The project partly was funded by the auction of a costume worn by Mark Rylance in the BBC's Wolf Hall.[13]

Filming began in October 2024 for a new production called The Man with the Plan which will star Simon Callow and comedian Mark Thomas.[14]

Sands Films Productions
Year Title Director Writer Producer Awards
1979 Stories from a Flying Trunk Christine Edzard Hans Christian Andersen,
Christine Edzard
John Brabourne,
Richard Goodwin[15]
1981 The Nightingale Christine Edzard Hans Christian Andersen Richard B. Goodwin[16] Won award at 12th International Short and Documentary Film Festival, Lille, 1982.[17]
1983 Biddy Christine Edzard Christine Edzard Richard B. Goodwin[18] Celia Bannerman (as Biddy) won an award at the Moscow Film Festival [19]
1987 Little Dorrit Christine Edzard Charles Dickens,
Christine Edzard
John Brabourne,
Richard B. Goodwin[20]
Two Academy Award nominations for Actor in a Supporting Role (Alec Guinness and Writing (screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium) (Christine Edzard) [21]
LA Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress (Miriam Margolyes)[22]
Two BAFTA Award nominations for Best Screenplay – Adapted, and Best Costume Design, and one for the Golden Globes (USA) for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Evening Standard Award for Best Actor in 1987 (Derek Jacobi)[23]
1988 Old Ways New Ways Olivier Stockman Olivier Stockman Trevor Ingman [24]
1990 The Fool Christine Edzard Christine Edzard,
Olivier Stockman
Celia Bannerman[25]
1991 As You Like It Christine Edzard William Shakespeare,
Christine Edzard
Olivier Stockman,
George Reinhart [26]
1996 Amahl and the Night Visitors Christine Edzard Gian Carlo Menotti,
Christine Edzard
Olivier Stockman [27]
1997 The IMAX Nutcracker Christine Edzard E. T. A. Hoffmann,
Christine Edzard
Celia Bannerman,
Andrew Gellis,
Lorne Orleans,
Olivier Stockman [28]
2001 The Children's Midsummer Night's Dream Christine Edzard William Shakespeare,
Christine Edzard
Olivier Stockman [29]
2018 The Good Soldier Schwejk Christine Edzard Jaroslav Hašek,
Christine Edzard
Olivier Stockman [30]

Making and supplying of period costumes

[edit]
Year Title Designer Academy Award Best Costumes BAFTA/ Other Award
Best Costumes
1992 A Dangerous Man: Lawrence After Arabia TV movie Claudie Gastine
1994 The NeverEnding Story III: Escape from Fantasia film Vin Burnham, Monique Prudhomme
Screen Two Episode: Hope in the Year Two TV series
1997 Amistad film Ruth Carter Nominee [31]
Oscar and Lucinda film Janet Patterson Nominee [31]
The Woman in White TV series Odile Dicks-Mireaux
1999 Great Expectations film Odile Dicks-Mireaux Winner[32]
Topsy-Turvy film Lindy Hemming Winner [33]
Les Enfants du Siecle film Anaïs Romand
2000 Gormenghast TV series Odile Dicks-Mireaux Nominee[34]
2001 The Lady and the Duke film Pierre-Jean Larroque
2002 Gangs of New York film Sandy Powell Nominee [35] Nominee [36]
Tipping the Velvet TV mini series Susannah Buxton
2003 The Lost Prince film Odile Dicks-Mireaux
2004 Vanity Fair film Beatrix Aruna Pasztor Winner Satellite Awards
Stage Beauty film Tim Hatley
Phantom of the Opera film Alexandra Byrne
2005 Pride and Prejudice film Jacqueline Durran Nominee [37] Nominee [38]
Oliver Twist film Anna B. Sheppard
Une Vie TV Movie Catherine Leterrier
Fingersmith TV series Susannah Buxton
2006 Marie Antoinette film Milena Canonero Winner [39] Nominee [40]
2007 Becoming Jane film Eimer Ni Mhaoldomhnaigh Nominee Irish Awards[41]
Atonement film Jacqueline Durran Nominee [42] Nominee [43]
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street film Colleen Atwood Nominee [42] Nominee [43]
2007-2008 Lark Rise to Candleford TV series Phoebe De Gaye, Pam Downe
2008 The Other Boleyn Girl film Sandy Powell
The Duchess film Michael O'Connor Winner [44] Winner [45]
John Adams TV series Donna Zakowska
2009 Bright Star film Janet Patterson Nominee [46] Nominee [47]
The Young Victoria film Sandy Powell Winner [46] Winner [47]
Creation film Louise Stjernsward
2010 Burke and Hare film Deborah Landis
Alice in Wonderland film Colleen Atwood Winner [48] Winner [49]
The Tempest film Sandy Powell Nominee [50]
2011 Wuthering Heights film Steven Noble
Albert Nobbs film Pierre-Yves Gayraud
La Princesse de Montpensier film Caroline de Vivaise Nominee Cesar Awards
Jane Eyre film Michael O'Connor Nominee [51] Nominee [52]
Anonymous film Lisy Christl Nominee [51]
L'Apollonide film Anaïs Romand Winner César Awards
2012, 2016 The Hollow Crown TV series Odile Dicks-Mireaux
Nigel Egerton
Nominee BAFTA Craft Awards
2012 Lincoln film Joanna Johnston Nominee [53] Nominee [54]
Bel Ami film Odile Dicks-Mireaux
Les Miserables film Paco Delgado Nominee [53] Nominee [54]
Anna Karenina film Jacqueline Durran Winner [53] Winner [54]
Great Expectations film Beatrix Aruna Pasztor Nominee [54]
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter film Varvara Avdyushko, Carlo Poggioli
The Raven film Carlo Poggioli
Quartet film Odile Dicks-Mireaux
2013 12 Years a Slave film Patricia Norris Nominee [55]
The Invisible Woman film Michael O'Connor Nominee [55] Nominee [56]
La Religieuse film Anaïs Romand
The Devil's Violinist film Birgit Hutter
Pride and Prejudice: Having a Ball TV movie Amy Cartwright
2014 Mr Turner film Jacqueline Durran Nominee [57] Nominee [58]
Amour Fou film Tanja Hausner
A Little Chaos film Joan Bergin
Outlander S1 TV series Terry Dresbach, Glenne Campbell
Casanova Variations film Andreas Donhauser, Renate Martin
2015 Far from the Madding Crowd film Janet Patterson Nominee Satellite Awards[59]
Macbeth film Jacqueline Durran Nominee Satellite Awards[59]
Wolf Hall TV series Joanna Eatwell
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell TV series Barbara Kidd
Cinderella film Sandy Powell Nominee [60] Nominee,[61] Nominee Satellite Awards[59]
If It Be Love film Johanna Elf
2016 Roots TV series Diana Cilliers
Ruth Carter
Nominee Creative Arts Emmy Awards
Victoria TV series Rosalind Ebbutt
To Walk Invisible TV movie Tom Pye
A Dangerous Fortune TV Movie Eimer Ni Mhaoldomhnaigh
Love & Friendship film Eimer Ni Mhaoldomhnaigh
Outlander S2 TV series Terry Dresbach Nominee Emmy (for "Not In Scotland Anymore") [62]
2017 Taboo TV series Joanna Eatwell
Victoria and Abdul film Consolata Boyle Nominee [63]
Will TV series Kym Barrett
Tulip Fever film Michael O'Connor
Beauty and the Beast film Jacqueline Durran Nominee [63] Nominee [64]
Harlots TV series Edward Gibbon
Outlander S3 TV series Terry Dresbach Nominee Emmy (for "Freedom & Whisky")[65]
2018 Peterloo film Jacqueline Durran
The Sisters Brothers film Milena Canonero Nominee César Awards[66]
Mary Magdalene film Jacqueline Durran
Un Peuple et son Roi film Anaïs Romand Nominee César Awards[66]
Le Retour du Heros film Pierre Jean Larroque
Harlots 2 TV series Charlotte Mitchell
Outlander S4 TV series Terry Dresbach, Nina Ayres
2019 Little Women film Jacqueline Durran Winner [67] Winner [68]
The Personal History of David Copperfield film Suzie Harman
Robert Worley
Winner BIFA,[69] Winner Satellite Awards [70]
Gentleman Jack TV series Tom Pye
Harlots 3 TV Series Richard Cooke
2020 Ammonite film Michael O'Connor Nominee,[71] Nominee BIFA[72]
Outlander S5 TV series Trisha Biggar
2021 The Irregulars TV series Edward Gibbon
The Electrical Life of Louis Wain film Michael O'Connor
2022 The Gilded Age S1 TV series Kasia Walicka Maimone, Patrick Wiley
Emily film Michael O'Connor
Chevalier film Oliver Garcia
Outlander S6 TV series Trisha Biggar
The Corn is Green (National Theatre) theatre Ultz
A Christmas Carol (Old Vic) theatre Rob Howell
2023 Firebrand film Michael O'Connor
The Gilded Age S2 TV series Kasia Walicka Maimone, Patrick Wiley
Jeanne du Barry film Jurgen Doering Nominee César Awards
The Little Mermaid film Colleen Atwood
Napoleon film David Crossman Janty Yates Nominee [73] Nominee [74]
Outlander S7 TV series Trisha Biggar
The Great S3 TV series Sharon Long Winner Emmy (for "Choose Your Weapon") [75]
Tom Jones TV series Hazel Webb Crozier
2024 A Thousand Blows TV series Maja Meschede
Manhunt TV miniseries Katie Irish
Mary & George TV miniseries Annie Symons
Renegade Nell TV series Tom Pye
Belgravia: The Next Chapter TV series Phoebe De Gaye
The Count of Monte Cristo film Thierry Delettre
The Count of Monte Cristo TV series Ursula Patzak

References

[edit]
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  7. ^ a b c Eliza Frost (October 4, 2023). "Lights, camera, action at Sands Films in Rotherhithe". South London Community matters.
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