Editing AP Films (section)

==Origins==
[[File:Maidenhead - Islet Park - geograph.org.uk - 4214469.jpg|thumb|Islet Park House in [[Maidenhead]], APF's production base in the 1950s]]

Established in 1957 by editor-director [[Gerry Anderson]] and cinematographer [[Arthur Provis]], following the liquidation of their employer [[Polytechnic Films]], AP Films {{sfnp|Archer|Nicholls|1996|p=29|ps=}} was set up, named after the initials of Anderson and Provis. They took with them producer [[Reg Hill]], cinematographer [[John Read (producer)|John Read]] and secretary, then known as [[Sylvia Anderson|Sylvia Thamm]]. Thamm would later become Anderson's second wife.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/12195884/Sylvia-Anderson-TV-producer-obituary.html|title=Sylvia Anderson, TV producer - obituary|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=16 March 2016|access-date=18 November 2018}}</ref> The company was created with the intention of it becoming a conventional film production house.

With no commissions and funds running low, APF were approached with an offer of collaboration with children's author [[Roberta Leigh]] and her colleague [[Suzanne Warner]] to produce the puppet TV series ''[[The Adventures of Twizzle]]'' for [[Associated-Rediffusion]]. With some reluctance, the company took on the commission and the programme was such a success that it immediately led to a further collaboration with Leigh for the first series of ''[[Torchy the Battery Boy]]''.

In 1959, Provis left the company amicably following disagreements with Anderson over future strategy.{{sfnp|Archer|Nicholls|1996|p=40|ps=}} APF then went on to make its first wholly independent production of ''[[Four Feather Falls]]'', a puppet Western created by [[Barry Gray]] who was better known for his musical contributions to the company's productions, for [[Granada Television]]. In 1960, APF made a live-action thriller feature film, ''[[Crossroads to Crime]]'', for [[Anglo-Amalgamated]], and a series of TV advertisements for a London travel company.