Beyond Our Ken

We all tend to take for granted that a lot of work goes into the making of our favourite tv shows and films, but its rare that we can take a look behind the scenes of the day to day operation in the studio. After I was lucky enough to interview Visual Effects Manager for Century 21 Studios, Ken Holt, he kindly kept in touch with me and offered a few more glimpses into the world of filmaking.

Ken worked hand in hand with Derek Meddings on UFO and Thunderbirds, having moved from a position as cinematographer for MGM studios. He recalls that the working practices at the film studio were very different from Century 21, especially with the resourceful Mr Meddings on the team. He told me:

" We were preparing some location work in Black Park close to Slough and Pinewood, a site well used by the British Film Industry .The action here was the Aliens had crashed landed in the forest and the SHADO boys were sent to sort them out. It involved a lot of live action, coupled with visual effects, such as rayguns blasting and bullets firing.  We shot a couple of scenes chasing the guys and the effects called for a lot of explosions on the ground and then hitting a tree. The Director called cut and reload and expected a hiatus to wait for the effects boys to set up. But not knowing he was dealing with Derek who had brought along his own tree with all the bullet holes with charges already in place, so all Derek did was turn the tree round, with a new set of charges in place and called to the Director 'V E boys ready!' . They did not work like that in the States! We also used the Black Park location when I was with MGM to do the horse riding sequences for the 1958 film, Tom Thumb."

Ken also sent me some photographs of some rare material from a newspaper shoot promoting the new series UFO.

"We were invaded by the press when we started UFO. Not only the live action but also to see how our Visual Effects worked. After the interviews they went for shots of the studio and sets and decided that the Moonscape needed brightening up so as soon as they saw Roni my secretary they asked if they could place her on the Moon. She was happy to oblige and we all thought it was good, not expecting to see it in the middle pages of the Daily Mirror but Gerry and everyone were ok about it. Roni was a great girl and a good secretary".

From Daily Mirror November 24 1969
'First secretary on the moon - Attractive 21 year old Roni Leighton.
Roni, who would enjoy a trip to the moon, thinks a fortnight would be long enough for the first visit. Our picture was taken at Century 21 on Slough Trading Estate on the set where filming for 'UFO' is taking place. ATV will eventually screen it. Roni is a secretary at Century 21.'

Ken told me that during the design of the sets for Moonbase, Century 21 were supplied by NASA with materials to enable them to make the moon surface look as realistic as possible. Ken's talent and expertise are still in demand today and I would like to thank him for taking time out of his busy schedule, to provide us with this rare insight.