Windmill Lane Pictures acquired by businessman Ian Hyland
Ian Hyland is already behind Catalyst Media Group and Quartet Books in London
Publisher Ian Hyland has acquired Dublin's Windmill Lane Pictures and plans to relaunch the brand as an international documentary filmmaker.
Windmill Lane Studios was originally founded in 1978 by James Morris, Russ Russell, Brian Masterson and Miert Avis as a recording studio and TV commercial post-production facility.
During the 1980s, the studio worked with a host of major artists, including U2 and Bruce Springsteen, and also benefited from the increased demand for music videos sparked by the popularity of MTV.
In the early 1990s, the recording and visual and audio post-production work split. Windmill Lane Pictures became known for some classic TV commercials and, later that decade, developed its production services for features, drama and animation productions.
Windmill Lane Pictures was the creative producer behind U2’s Zoo TV and Zooropa Tour visuals, which included contributions from Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, Allen Ginsberg, Salman Rushdie (with fatwah), and Chuck Fishbein, among others.
During the 2000’s, the business worked with some major film and TV directors including Jim Sheridan, John Boorman and Neil Jordan.
Ian Hyland, who is also owner of Catalyst Media Group in Dublin and Quartet Book Publishing in London, will become Chairman of Windmill Lane Pictures.
Speaking on the purchase, Mr Hyland said: "Windmill Lane Pictures is an iconic creative brand with an unrivalled legacy and reach across the global creative community. It was a great tragedy to see the business so challenged for reasons out of its control.
"However, it is now our intention to create a new beginning for Windmill Lane Pictures as a documentary and film-maker with an international focus. I very much look forward to building on the rich legacy and heritage that has been built by so many talented people who have worked with Windmill Lane and open a new chapter for this brand.”
Mr Hyland said that one of the first projects that Windmill Lane Pictures will work on is an international co-production on the history and future of Irish America.
