#Elstree Studios

[coolthingsguyslike]

[savage-kult-of-gorthaur]

"TRAINED TO HANDLE EVERYTHING IN THE IMPERIAL GROUND ARSENAL..."

PIC(S) INFO: Part 2 of 2 -- Spotlight on behind-the-scenes shots of UK actors Paul Jericho and Ian Liston played the Imperial Walker pilots at Elstree Studio, UK, c. 1979

MINI-OVERVIEW: "The Empire’s combat drivers are trained to handle everything in the Imperial ground arsenal, but AT-AT pilots see themselves as elite, controlling their massive four-footed assault vehicles in combat against Rebel targets. While driving early models of their massive walking tanks, AT-AT pilots nearly annihilated the Ghost crew and three surviving clones on Seelos, and later obeyed General Veers’ orders during the Empire’s advance on Hoth’s Echo Base, destroying numerous snowspeeders and blasting apart the Rebels’ ground defenses."

-- STAR WARS (official)

Sources: https://starwarsaficionado.blogspot.com/2020/10/an-empire-at-40-from-enemys-vantage.html & Star Wars (official site).

[freddiemercurylegendabovelegends]

Late April, 1989 - Queen Story!

Queen filmed promo video for “I Want It All” at Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, UK, director David Mallet

"We were heading into the period where we decided to share the credit for all the songs, and John has said that [the song] was pretty much a finished song when we went into the studios – that's true, it was just this riff that I was obsessed with for months. The actual title was a favorite phrase of Anita's, a very ambitious girl: 'I want it all, and I want it now '... We were never able to perform this song live. It would have become something of the staple core of the Queen show, I'm sure, very participatory. It was designed for the audience to sing along to, very anthemic."

- Brian May, interview 2003, from Greatest Video Hits 2

[frogshunnedshadows]

A 90 year old set decorator & painter from Elstree Studios reflects on his career.

[ruindunburnit]

Found the cutest little mural during my walk

[the-irrelevant-trumpeter]

is it weird to email a film & tv studio just to find out which stage a show was filmed on

[thecubes]

[jackbatchelor3]

Old backlot, new locations.

😯😯😯

[thefrogdalorian]

The Best of Both Worlds

Din Djarin x Female Reader Modern!AU

Summary: When a new Star Wars TV show called The Mandalorian premiered, you found yourself completely enamoured with the titular character. Enjoyment of watching the lone bounty hunter travel through the galaxy quickly turned to obsession. There was just something about the show that captured your imagination. Now, you spend much of your free time — when you're not working a fast-paced, minimum wage and incredibly stressful job at a prestigious London Museum— speaking to your online friends about your love for the show. There's just one thing... Despite how much you love The Mandalorian, no one knows the identity of the man behind the helmet... either in the show, or in real life. You only know him as Mando. No one has ever seen his face, no one knows his name.  Even after the countless hours of speculation from fans online, which even you have occasionally participated in, no one is any the wiser to the identity of the mysterious man who wears the shiny armour.  Surely, given the depth of your love for the show, you'd recognise if the man who you spend so much time obsessing over online was to ever cross paths with you. Right?

Content Warnings: Reader is AFAB, uses she/her pronouns and in her mid 20s. Age gap between her and Din is noted but not really central to the story. Grogu is human, hints of past trauma/child abuse before Din adopted him are mentioned but not described in detail. Some mature scenes later on in the fic but not explicit smut... because I just cannot write x reader smut! Author's Note: SO very excited to finally share this fic! Thank you to the lovely @suresnips for being my beta. I really appreciate you ♡ This baby was originally my NaNoWriMo 2023 project and was inspired by this post from @toxic-seduction that I saw one evening and couldn't stop thinking about! POVs will alternate chapter to chapter from Din to reader. It was fun to write that way! Set in London for a few reasons: partly because I love the movie Notting Hill and it has some of those vibes (if you squint), also, the village where Din lives is based on Elstree Studios just outside London, where the OT was filmed and ultimately because NO WAY was I writing a modern!AU set in the states, it would've been painfully obvious a Brit wrote it. While there are lots of references to places in London, I don't live there so it might not be truly accurate (Londoners don't come for me). Also, to be political for a sec, reader works at the British Museum and I hate that institution. This was actually the line of work I was interested in when I was at Uni but for many different reasons I did not pursue it. However, it works for the plot of this story and as you'll see, she doesn't exactly love it either and goes on a few rants. Just wanted to make that clear that her job there is not an endorsement of it or anything. I can't stand them or their historical apologist bs and I wish we would give back all the things we stole (including the Parthenon Marbles)! Finally, it was incredibly important to me that the actor behind Mando in this fic clearly be the fictional character of Din Djarin rather than the real person Pedro Pascal, because rpf is not my jam! I hope I did that pretty well but just wanted to warn that if you're expecting me to use Din as some kind of way to write a Pedro fic, this won't be for you! Okay, I'll shut up now! This fic is fully written, just needs editing so hopefully I'll get a couple of chapters up each week, but life happens. I'm very proud of this one and I really hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Also if you would like to be added to my taglist for this fic, please let me know! Happy reading ♡

❁ My Masterlist ❁ Read on AO3 ❁

Why Does It Always Rain On Me? [Reader POV]: After a dreadful day which saw you drenched by a rainstorm after leaving a hectic day at work, you reflect on your love for Mando and upcoming excitement for the sci-fi convention you will soon be attending with your internet best friend.

He Is My Only Priority [Din's Pov]: The character of The Mandalorian is known and loved by millions. But there is another, much softer side to the man who portrays him that Din Djarin is determined to keep hidden from the world, despite the challenges that presents for him and his beloved son, Grogu.

This Is Why (I Don't Leave The House) [Reader's POV]: Your internet bestie arrives in preparation for the Star Wars convention you will attend together. Everything is set for the greatest weekend of your life! Until you arrive at the con and find yourself overwhelmed by all the crowds and noise. At least you have numerous incredibly realistic Mando cosplays to distract you from how stressed you feel, and there's one in particular which is uncannily accurate...

Curiosity Killed The Cat [Din's POV]: Despite his reservations and against his better instincts, Din heads to a Star Wars convention that he was invited to. Although he fears that his cover will be blown, curiosity gets the best of Din and he can't resist attending a panel. But Din doesn't exactly find the answers he was looking for. Instead, he finds something far more precious. Something that he would never have expected...

He's So Tall (And Handsome As Hell) [Reader's POV]: Being back in the real world and returning to work after an incredible weekend at the convention where you had so many fun experiences is taking its toll on you. The thought of collapsing on your couch in front of The Mandalorian is the only thing keeping you going. However, the universe has other plans for you. News of an out-of-hours tour for a private client that you are asked to lead almost sends you over the edge, but when you finally meet the man, he is the opposite of what you were expecting. Weirdly, he seems familiar...

With A Little Help From My Friends [Din's POV]: Din returns to the set of The Mandalorian to begin filming a new season. Despite his experience and capability, he finds that he struggles to focus as his thoughts remain firmly fixed on a certain someone...

You're The Sunflower [Reader's POV]: Despite feeling certain that you'll never see the ridiculously handsome man you gave a tour of the museum to, a special delivery is about to change everything...

Your Face Hung Up High In The Gallery [Din's POV]: After a difficult few days of filming The Mandalorian, Din is excited to spend time with you as he finally takes you on your first proper date...

Have I Known You Twenty Seconds or Twenty Years? - (Reader's POV):  Despite a messy evening which led to you waking up in an opulent hotel which you have no memory of falling asleep in, memories of kind brown eyes and breathless kisses soon come flooding back to soothe your soul. Your relationship deepens as the two of you spending time together whenever your busy schedules allow. But one night, a turn of events causes you - despite Din's reassurances - to wonder if everything you have been working so hard to build together has just come crashing down around you...

There's A War Inside Of Me - [Din's POV]: The realities of the secret he is keeping from you begin to weigh heavily on Din's mind and he seeks advice from a certain curly haired co-star on what his next move should be. Things don't go exactly according to plan, not least because of the typically awful English weather...

It Could Be Love, We Could Be The Way Forward - [Reader's POV]: With your respective busy jobs keeping you and Din apart, a mystery date after a hectic day at work is exactly what you needed.

The Calm - [Din's POV]: When filming overruns and conspires to keep Din from the fun weekend he planned for you, he agonises over his decision. Fortunately, he manages to salvage the weekend, even after a calamity involving a rowboat...

The Storm - [Reader's POV]: The happiness you feel in response to a question Din posed to you is somewhat clouded by lingering doubts. Yet your affection for each other helps you to push those emotions down, until a weekend spent at his cottage changes everything...

P.S. - I tried to be inclusive for all body types and skin tones in this fic, but if I missed something, I do apologise. If you do spot something that takes you out of the fic, I am more than happy for constructive criticism as I wouldn't want anyone to be excluded on those grounds. I am always trying to do better and would love to know where I went wrong so I can improve and be more aware of these things going forward, so I would appreciate it if you could let me know if you do spot anything. Thank you so much! ♡

[holespoles]

Fun fact: Elstree Studios where The Shining was filmed also housed The Muppet Show! Richard Hunt invited cast members from The Shining to their studio which is how we got these photos of Danny Lloyd. Shelley Duvall also performed a background Muppet in Spike Milligan's episode!

[citizenscreen]

Janet Leigh in London while filming Terence Young’s SAFARI at Elstree Studio in 1955.

[debdarkpetal]

The band on the set of the promotional video for 'Bohemian Rhapsody' at Elstree Studios, Hertfordshire, England, in November 1975. Photo by Watal Asanuma.

[savage-kult-of-gorthaur]

THE QUASI "ALBINO" ANSWER TO THE ALL-BLACK IMPERIAL TIE FIGHTER PILOTS.

PIC(S) INFO: Part 1 of 2 -- Spotlight on a behind-the-scenes and/or promo close-up of an Imperial AT-AT (All Terrain Armored Transport) pilot, photographed in Elstree Studios, UK, from the American epic space opera film "STAR WARS: Episode V -- The Empire Strikes Back," c. 1979.

Sources: www.imperialshipyards.net/SMF/index.php?topic=238.15 & STAR WARS (official).

[charlotte-of-wales]

“Princess Kate makes secret visit to Strictly Come Dancing studios – and took Charlotte and Louis”

The Princess of Wales watched Strictly stars rehearse yesterday on a secret studio visit — before her children got the chance to be judges.

Kate took her two youngest, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five, along with her.

They were allowed to sit in the judges’ chairs and deliver verdicts with scoring paddles for dancers Katya Jones and Neil Jones.

Kate, 41, and the youngsters were then introduced to presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, and got to meet pros including Dianne Buswell and Nadiya Bychkova.

During their two-hour visit, they were shown the costume department, where Louis tried on a small gold crown, and stood on the balcony where the contestants gather above the dance floor at BBC’s Elstree studios.

A source said: “Kate and Charlotte are huge fans of Strictly so they were delighted to be invited.

“Kate took pictures of the children in the judges’ seats. She seemed really relaxed and was all smiles. She was polite, sweet and charming with everyone and made sure Louis didn’t get over-excited.”

"There was a strict security lockdown on set and staff were told not to take any photos.

“The children were especially excited and got dressed up.

"They were thrilled to be on set and to meet their favourite celebrities.”

King Charles, 75, and Queen Camilla, 76, are also big fans, as was the late Queen.

[arthur-two-sheds-jackson]

And now we know how the aquarium in The Meaning of Life was done!

John Cleese turned into a newt fish and all of the Pythons as fishies. Elstree Studios, 1982

🐠🐠🐠🐠🐠🐠

[starlightmay]

Queen filming the Bohemian Rhapsody music video at the Elstree Studios, UK.

(I'm fairly sure these are new! 💜)

— November 10, 1975

©️ Watal Asanuma