Star Wars studio looks to prevent attack of the drones

Pinewood Studios is looking at how to stop movie buffs using drones to snoop on top-secret productions, such as the first production work on Star Wars Episode VIII.

Pinewood, the home of hit films including 22 of the 24 James Bond films to date, has conducted a security exercise on how to counter drones being used to fly over its lots and take photographs of productions and sets.

“Piracy is the enemy of new content,” said Michael Grade, the chairman of Pinewood, speaking at a Broadcasting Press Guild lunch. “It is a very damaging prospect and security is a major element. We have got an exercise now going on about how to counter drones and cameras. It’s lovely to have Star Wars, it’s lovely to have James Bond. The key thing is to keep the big Hollywood studios who fund these pictures coming back.”

Pinewood has just delivered Spectre, Daniel Craig’s latest outing as secret agent 007, and the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Work has already started on the next movie in the series, Episode VIII, out in the US in May 2017, and on the spin-off Rogue One, out next December.

Grade, who led the management team that bought Pinewood in 2000 and subsequently floated Europe’s largest film studio, said big Hollywood movie companies have become increasingly obsessed with protecting their blockbusters in the digital age.

“One of the biggest changes in the time we have been here [running Pinewood] is the extent to which security is [paramount] now,” said Grade. “All Hollywood studios, every film-maker, is paranoid about piracy and security. It is part of the conversation when they come in. Their security team will come in and look at our resources and systems and if they don’t like it, they will say so and we will have to meet what they need.”

Grade was asked if Pinewood, which also owns Shepperton Studios in the UK and has joint venture facilities in sites including Atlanta, Toronto and Malaysia, was considering the option of shooting down drones that enter production facility airspace.

“You may say that [but] I couldn’t possibly comment,” he quipped. “We are waiting for the report. We will need to see what can be done.”

He was asked if it was the threat of snooping posed by newspaper and online media groups or hardcore movie buffs that prompted the drone security exercise.

“Anybody with a drone or a GoPro [wearable camera],” he said, adding that Pinewood hasn’t yet faced a security breach from a drone to his knowledge.

Grade said Pinewood is used to dealing with the increasing security needs of Hollywood studios.

“We are a dedicated specialist facility and we deliver,” he said.