Aviles will use her new role to further boost the West Country’s film-friendly reputation

Laura Aviles has joined Patchway Studios as industry adviser, following five years as head of film at The Bottle Yard Studios and Bristol Film Office.

Patchway Studios opened in north Bristol in 2022; the facility was previously a large-scale refrigeration operation, so the space was already cavernous and came with an excellent power supply.

The studios have hosted the full shoot on Arthurian epic The Winter King, with interior and exterior set-builds, as well as a variety of unit-base bookings, such as A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and The Dream Lands, and several stills/commercials shoots.

Patchway Studios is run with the input of a committee of advisory board members, all of whom are experienced HoDs in physical production, comprising supervising location managers Poppy Gordon Clark and Monty Till and production designer James North.

Aviles’ role as industry adviser will utilise her knowledge of regional HETV drama and feature film production to further raise the studio’s profile, and to support the growth of scripted production in the area.

Having worked in the screen industry for 30 years, and having boosted the Bristol area as a film-friendly destination during her time at The Bottle Yard Studios and Bristol Film Office, Aviles is keen to boost the region even more. She told The Knowledge: “I am personally committed to further raising the West of England’s reputation within the film and TV industry.

“With the possibility of a regional production incentive on the horizon, it is vital that studio space in the region is maximised to meet rising demand. With two 20,000 sq ft studios, a 56,000 sq ft backlot, ample offices, ancillary facilities, and generous parking, Patchway Studios is ideally placed to strengthen the region’s production offer.

Aviles is also keen to create pathways, via training programmes, that will enable crew to make the transition from unscripted to scripted production.