Underwater Stage
Encyclopedia
The Underwater Stage is an underwater film studio stage at Pinewood Studios
in Iver
, Buckinghamshire
, United Kingdom
. It is the only one of its kind in Europe. The stage was opened in 2005 after four years of planning and development. The stage's water tank is permanently filled, and the water is constantly heated, maintained at 22˚C (72˚F). The water is filtrated using an ultraviolet
system which creates crystal clear water and a comfortable environment to work in for both cast and crew.
Plans for the construction of the stage were first announced in April 2004. The stage was opened on 18 May 2005, by Gordon Brown
, the then Chancellor of the Exchequer
. Brown opened the stage by pressing a button that dropped an automobile into the water tank.
The stage has been used for television, film, commercials, pop videos and photo shoots. The stage has hosted: The Da Vinci Code
, Basic Instinct 2
, Scoop
, Silent Witness
, a music video for James Blunt
, and a Water Aid promotion with actress Keira Knightley
. It has also been utilised for scientific experiments involving imaging sonar.
Pinewood Studios
Pinewood Studios is a major British film studio situated in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, approximately west of central London. The studios have played host to many productions over the years from huge blockbuster films to television shows to commercials to pop promos.The purchase of Shepperton...
in Iver
Iver
Iver is in the south-east corner of the English county of Buckinghamshire and it forms one of the largest civil parishes in the South Bucks district.Iver railway station is in Richings Park.-Etymology:...
, Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It is the only one of its kind in Europe. The stage was opened in 2005 after four years of planning and development. The stage's water tank is permanently filled, and the water is constantly heated, maintained at 22˚C (72˚F). The water is filtrated using an ultraviolet
Ultraviolet
Ultraviolet light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays, in the range 10 nm to 400 nm, and energies from 3 eV to 124 eV...
system which creates crystal clear water and a comfortable environment to work in for both cast and crew.
Plans for the construction of the stage were first announced in April 2004. The stage was opened on 18 May 2005, by Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
, the then Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
. Brown opened the stage by pressing a button that dropped an automobile into the water tank.
The stage has been used for television, film, commercials, pop videos and photo shoots. The stage has hosted: The Da Vinci Code
The Da Vinci Code (film)
The Da Vinci Code is a 2006 American mystery thriller film directed by Ron Howard. The screenplay was written by Akiva Goldsman and based on Dan Brown's worldwide bestselling 2003 novel, The Da Vinci Code...
, Basic Instinct 2
Basic Instinct 2
Basic Instinct 2, also known as Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction, is a 2006 German/British/American/Spanish thriller film and the sequel to 1992's Basic Instinct. The film was directed by Michael Caton-Jones and produced by Mario Kassar, Joel B. Michaels, and Andrew G. Vajna. The screenplay was by...
, Scoop
Scoop (2006 film)
Scoop is a 2006 American-British romantic comedy/murder mystery written and directed by Woody Allen and starring Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson, Ian McShane, and Allen himself...
, Silent Witness
Silent Witness
Silent Witness is a BBC crime thriller series focusing on a team of forensic pathology experts and their investigations into various crimes. First broadcast in February 1996, the series is still airing to the present day, with a fifteenth series expected to air in January 2012. The series was...
, a music video for James Blunt
James Blunt
James Hillier Blount , better known by his stage name James Blunt, is an English singer-songwriter and musician, and former army officer, whose debut album, Back to Bedlam and single releases, including "You're Beautiful" and "Goodbye My Lover", brought him to fame in 2005...
, and a Water Aid promotion with actress Keira Knightley
Keira Knightley
Keira Christina Knightley born 26 March 1985) is an English actress and model. She began acting as a child and came to international notice in 2002 after co-starring in the film Bend It Like Beckham...
. It has also been utilised for scientific experiments involving imaging sonar.