History goes HD with Heckler move to Paramount

In a bold move, blending heritage and high tech, Sydney-based post house Heckler is relocating to the historic former Paramount Pictures building in Surry Hills.

After a long negotiation process, keys to the heritage listed 1940s art deco icon were officially handed over last week. The work to transform the interior into the HQ for the rapidly developing shop commences immediately.

Heckler executive producer Will Alexander said he first saw the space at a pop up exhibition in September 2011.

Says Alexander: “I just fell in love with it immediately, it started out as a pipe dream and it’s amazing to think it’s now real. In such a competitive market location to us really is paramount. There’s something incredible about walking into the space and being part of something so historic that we can breathe new life into.”

Built in 1940 the building is a classic example of inter-war art deco grandeur. Designed by Henry Pynor, it is one of few surviving buildings recording the boom in Australian cinema development in the 1930s. Others include the 20th Century Fox building and the Hollywood Hotel.

The site, perched by the park on the corner of Brisbane and Commonwealth Streets, became the offices and distribution centre of Paramount Films in 1940 with the New South Wales office on the ground floor and the national office on the first floor. Film storage and distribution services were run from the lower ground floor.

The serendipity of a production business inhabiting the legendary building is not lost on creative director Garry Jacques.

Says Jacques: “It’s obviously a huge honour to be in a building with so much heritage in the moving picture business and for us to be taking it into the future feels quite amazing, plus what’s really exciting to us is that with much more room and scope than we have currently we will be able to service clients in the unique Heckler way more than ever.”

The immense interior proportions with layers of production history etched into the very walls, rooftop with sweeping 300 degree views and the original 1950s basement cinema, resplendent with bucket seats and original projectors, all add unique dimensions to the character of the Hecklers’ new home.

Teaming up with Simon Sweetapple from Beebo Constructions, they now have the task of remodeling the top floor to the heritage guidelines that have governed the building since 1989 to the requirements of a 21st century post production studio.

Heckler plans to be in operation by July with an official launch event in September to coincide with its second birthday. A soft launch will be held on Thursday June 7th in conjunction with a fundraising event for the animated short film, A Cautionary Tail, starring Cate Blanchett, David Wenham and Barry Otto.