Location scouting update

In terms of finding a modern, working factory or similar manufacturing space, Myself and Stephanie have been researching widely to find suitable companies around the Preston area and the rest of Lancashire.

There are many buildings which may have the aesthetic we are looking that are situated on industrial estates, so myself and Stephanie are communicating about whether I come up to Preston next tuesday or wednesday and we spend a day just driving to different places, explaining to companies what we want, finding suitable locations and asking persmission.

Due to the nature of the factories we are after within our shoot, we have been looking at any companies which may fit the aesthetic we want, which is modern, streamlined, light, white spaces with maybe automated/human operated machinery, polished stainless steel surfaces, linear structure, which is often seen in warehousing and possibly production lines (human/non-human) with conveyor belts, fork lift trucks etc.


I have contacted British Aerospace, now known as BAE Systems, at Warton (between Preston and Lytham St.Annes), this company also has a site at Salmesbury (Junction 31 of the M6, north of Preston). The initial reaction of the company is that due to their work and their commisions for the Ministry of Defence, it is unlikely we would be able to enter the site, particularly the manufacturing spaces due to the understandable security risks and company protection. However, the communications department have given me the email address of their on-site photographer. I have contacted him to explain our situation and asked for any information, guidance or help that he can give us in terms of being able to shoot at this location. I am currently awaiting a reply. These are some images taken from the BAE Systems website:

The metal surfaces and white, clinical tones shown in the above images are what we are wanting to have in our photographs. To be able to get a location like this would be brilliant!

On further thoughts, I have located two companies which are local to where I live in Shropshire. These may prove difficult to get the group, model and location lighting kit to, but always worth a thought! These are Grocontinental and Belton Cheese Ltd.

Grocontinental - is a manufacturing, warehouse, packing and logistics company based just a few miles from myself and very near the local train station. I feel they could be a good option, as the interior of the buildings will offer the aesthetic we want.

(Above) This is an birds eye view of the manufacturing and warehousing site

"Grocontinental is one of the UK's leading international storage and distribution companies. From the company's 24/7 purpose-built 25-acre site in Whitchurch, Shropshire, the company oversees 120,000 pallet spaces of multi-temperature storage and 4,000 daily pallet movements, all controlled by the latest in systems technology.

The company's transport division comprises 56 tractor units and 120 temperature-controlled trailers which operate throughout Europe.

Employing almost 300 people, Grocontinental remains true to the values it was founded upon in the 1930s by the father of current Chairman, Ray Grocott."

Source: http://www.grocontinental.co.uk/

Belton Cheese Ltd - is a dairy and cheese manufacturing business, which sells specialist foodstuffs both locally, nationally and internationally. They will have a similar interior aesthetic, lots of stainless steel surfaces, lots of cleanliness and workers in white coats and wellingtons! The only problem with this is as it is food production, access will be very difficult without us all having to wear hairnets!

"Award winning farmhouse cheese has been made at Belton Farm since the early eighteen hundreds, ceasing only for a short time during the last war. Belton Farm now produces many different varieties of cheese, including the local speciality: Cheshire.

Belton Farm is based in the glorious Shropshire countryside, close to the county of Cheshire." Source: http://www.beltoncheese.co.uk/index.htm

I am going to contact these companies now and get their feedback on what is possible and if they caan help in anyway...from this we will be able to decide if these locations and the distance is viable from Preston for the other group members to travel. Another issue is the location lighting kit(s) and finding a model and getting her to either travel down with the other group members or possibly finding a model who is local to this area. Anyway, these are discussions that will have after the feedback from the companies... will update soon!