The Production Guild Awards: Contribution to the Industry Award
Production Guild Awards: Contribution to the Industry Award
Jackie Rowden and Hugh Whittaker
Nikki Baughan, Sept 2016
This year’s Production Guild Awards, held on Saturday September 24, will once again celebrate the best of the UK’s world-leading film and TV production talent, recognising the talents of individuals across the broad spectrum of skills and sectors.
Five trophies will be presented at the ceremony including the Special Award, given posthumously to late entertainment/media insurance executive and longtime Guild supporter Terry O’Neill. This year’s Inspiration Award will go to Location Manager Harriet Lawrence, who has worked on myriad big and small-screen projects including Suffragette, Downton Abbey and Dancing on the Edge, while the Spotlight Award will be given to up and coming Assistant Accountant Pollyanna Gill in recognition of her work on such projects as Now Your See Me 2 and the forthcoming Brad Pitt-starrer Allied. The Member/Team of the Year Award will be shared by the production team behind Susanne Bier’s critically acclaimed TV drama The Night Manager. Finally, the Contribution to the Industry Award goes to Jackie Rowden and Hugh Whittaker , who have supplied equipment to and supported the industry for over 40 years,
“I really enjoy what I do, and the industry and people I work with, so to have my long career and hard work recognised by The Production Guild is a really special honour,” says Rowden, who has been in the industry since 1972, and in 2010 was approached by Warner Bros to set up a brand new production rental business at their Leavesden studios to support productions there and beyond. “I’ve always tried to help Guild members and newcomers to the industry understand what they need to know, and Production Rentals Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden is an affiliate company of the Guild and are always looking for creative ways to help productions get the best deals within budget.
“There are lots of ways the Guild can help people starting out in the industry,” continues Rowden. “It's networking events are really good, and they also offer a range of professional training courses as well as information and advice.”
Fellow award recipient Hugh Whittaker, who entered the industry in the late 1970s and is now director of Panavision Europe also praises the Guild’s support of industry newcomers which goes beyond events and a supplementary membership rate.
“Panavision is an affiliate company of the Guild,” he says, “so we work to support its members and welcome new entrants to the industry. Being on the supply side, we appreciate the importance of good, well-informed production teams and we always try to find a creative solution with the budget constraints of a production.”
Whittaker says that he is delighted by the Guild award. “Seeing people you’ve supported at the start of their careers go on to great things or helping a successful production is a reward in itself, but having my contribution noted by the industry is a real compliment too.”
For more information, visit www.productionguild.co.uk