Twickenham Studios Appoints Cara Sheppard to Join as Managing Director 

The Oscar and BAFTA-winning Twickenham Studios operated by Time+Space Studios, are a much-loved and world-renowned studios that have been reopened for the last four months with all the many numerous Covid-19 measures in place to ensure a safe industry leading standard in Film and TV production. 

Managing partners Piers Read and Jeremy Rainbird acquired Twickenham Studios earlier this year and took over management control, marking the beginning of a bold and exciting new era for the studios. Working closely with the new TW1 board they have been focused on nurturing the team and leading the business through the Covid-19 pandemic and into a bright new future.

Read and Rainbird are excited to bring across Cara Sheppard as the new MD to further grow the TW1 full service offering across post production and stages. Cara joins having run Warner Bros De Lane Lea, the Oscar and BAFTA winning post-production house, as MD for the last four years - a role which was fundamental for the growth and success of every aspect of the post-production studio. 

Cara was responsible for enhancing the quality and reputation of the artistic offering. She has a keen eye for talent and brought on such key industry names as: Asa Shoul and Peter Doyle. She ensured Warner Brothers worked on big name feature film and TV projects, evolved the client experience and enhanced the commerciality of the business. Cara also created a fully serviced production Digital Dailies offering and new facility. She also ensured it became the only studio connected to a post facility in Soho via dark fibre. Under her leadership De Lane Lea also went on to on win ‘Best Production House’ at the 2019 Screen International Awards.

Cara previously spent over five years with Sky as a senior manager of post production operations, as well as running post production at Goldcrest. She is also an important board member with UK Screen.

Heading up Twickenham Studios, Cara will lead and guide all aspects of production, postproduction and emerging technology. Her role is focused on helping the studios confidently navigate the ever-changing market ensuring TW1 is positioned to continue to lead the way. As MD she will further develop key relationships with UK as well as Hollywood and wider International clients, whose projects can all be supported at the studios through the remote working TW1 set up. Cara will also grow the focus on investment in films, grass roots talent, education partnerships and our diversity and inclusion programme. 

Cara Sheppard comments on joining TW1 as the new MD: "I’m delighted to be joining the world renowned and highly awarded film and TV studios that is TW1. On meeting Piers and Jeremy, the two Twickenham Studios Managing Partners. I instantly felt we shared a vision and strategic ambition for the business. This is a time to bravely respect the legacy of the studios and all the iconic work that has gone before, from the likes of Zulu, The Italian Job, 1917, War Horse, Baby Driver, The Iron Lady to Netflix’s The Witcher, ITV’s Belgravia, Netflix’s Black Mirror, Bohemian Rhapsody and most recently Netflix’s The Duchess and the current top trending film on Netflix Enola Holmes. From which I want us to be ambitious, so as to evolve TW1 into a future focused, multi-discipline studio aimed at UK, US and wider International clients. 

I will be focused on our creative offering, the acquisition and development of the industry’s best talent. Enhancing our unique TW1 client experience here in St.Margarets. I want to ensure TW1 is a destination, as well as being able to house projects servicing clients anywhere in the world. TW1 will be a creative hub to collaborate with leading industry partners. A place to nurture grass roots talent and bravely lead our investment into the next generation. Ensuing we are the chosen London studio for large Hollywood and Independent features, TV series, music videos, commercials, documentaries through to a variety of emerging technology projects. At such an important time for film and TV, I am truly excited about our plans for TW1 and look forward to the journey”.

TW1 managing partner Piers Read and Jeremy Rainbird commented: "As we continue the rebirth of Twickenham Studios and finalise plans for the redevelopment of the complex, to invest into new facilities and the whole look of TW1; we are thrilled to attract someone of Cara’s calibre across from her successful role as Managing Director at Warner Brothers. Cara is such a key addition to the expanding team - further bringing vision, energy, creative direction and client focus. We share Cara’s vision to establish Twickenham Studios into a major tech and innovation hub hosting world-class production in the U.K.

She will be a key ambassador for the studios as we move ahead, with her reputation and profile within the Production and Post Production industry, we are keen for her to continue to nurture her close relationships within the industry worldwide to as to further evolve our important UK and wider Hollywood relationships with production companies, agencies, studios, leading industry manufacturers, vendors, clients and talent.”

TW1 chairman Sunny Vohra adds: "When we met Cara, we knew she was exactly what the Twickenham Studios needs to take this business and further grow its commerciality. She is a strong entrepreneurial and commercial leader with over 15 years’ experience in post-production - such a background will ensure the continued success of the company. Furthermore, as we enter a new phase in the redevelopment of TW1 Cara will be key to our future creative direction.”