r/FilmIndustryLondon

Had some really great reception here to the trailer and if anyone wants to see the film its available here

We hired PR Rep AJ Feuerman after she was recommended by our distributor, and unfortunately the experience was extremely disappointing.

From the beginning, there was very little engagement with us as filmmakers. AJ never made any real effort to meet with us to understand the film, our goals, or how we wanted the campaign positioned. She missed two scheduled meetings in a row, explaining that she had overslept for one and forgotten the other. That lack of attention became representative of the entire engagement.

The campaign itself produced very limited results. We saw minimal trailer views, very little meaningful placement, and only a small number of reviews. There was virtually no proactive communication, strategy discussion, or sense that the campaign was being actively managed. The only time she seemed consistently engaged was when it came to arranging payment.

For an independent film, every marketing dollar matters, and this was one of the poorest investments we made. Based on our experience, I would not hire her again and could not recommend her to other independent filmmakers. A terrible, terrible hire, it would have been more beneficial for me to just burn the cash we paid, at least, it would produce some fleeting heat.

I’ve been line producing and supervising foreign productions in Thailand for 15 years, including KING THE LAND and PRICE OF CONFESSION for Netflix and MADE IN KOREA for Disney+. Figured this sub might have questions about how production actually works here, so ask away.

Some things people usually want to know:

The rebates. Thailand has three separate programs — one for foreign productions, one for local productions, one for post production. Knowing which one you qualify for can change your whole budget.

Film permits and how long they really take.

The visa and work permit process for foreign crew.

What specific line items cost compared to the US or Europe.

Shooting in the islands and what that actually takes logistically.

Since everyone asks this one: Thai crews work in English on foreign productions. Communication is not the problem people expect.

No question is too small. I’ll answer everything in the comments.

We just recently released “Production Assistant 101: Your Guide to Thriving on Set”. Hoping to help film students bridge the gap between film school and what sets are actually like.

If you’ve ever stayed through the credits of a blockbuster and wondered how thousands of people coordinate to make magic happen- or if you’ve ever dreamed of being one of them- my wife Anne and I wrote something for you.

We’ve spent years on major TV and Film sets in Los Angeles, working alongside the best in the field. We noticed a huge gap: there’s plenty of film school theory out there, but very little "boots-on- the-ground" advice for how to actually survive and thrive on a professional set. When you’re just getting started, it can be overwhelming. The most common starting place? PA.

That’s why we wrote Production Assistant 101: Your Guide to Thriving on Set.

What’s inside?

This isn't a textbook; it’s a tactical manual. We cover the stuff they don't teach you in film school:

Set Etiquette: How to handle yourself around A-list talent and high-pressure producers.

Lingo: Understanding "Lock it up," "Martini shot," and everything in between.

Networking: How to turn a day-player gig into a long-term career.

The Reality: The long hours, the hustle, and the absolute thrill of seeing your name in those credits.

The industry can feel like a "members-only" club, but it shouldn't be. We wanted to lower the barrier to entry and give aspiring filmmakers the confidence to walk onto any set (whether it’s an indie short or a network drama) and look like a pro from Day 1.

It’s kind of surreal, but we’re officially live for order on Amazon and B&N, and we’d love for this community to check it out!

Hello everyone,

I’m a video editor with 5 years of experience working in TV news, using Avid Media Composer.

I’m currently looking to work abroad, and I’ve been doing a lot of job hunting in London. However, as I’m French, it seems to be quite complicated due to visa sponsorship requirements.

I really want to make the move and I’m open to different opportunities, even starting as an assistant editor, ingest operator, or MCR operator, as long as there is an opportunity to grow into a video editor role afterwards.

I wanted to ask if any of you have advice or experience with this.
How does visa sponsorship usually work in the TV/media industry?
Is it better to contact companies directly, or should I mainly apply on LinkedIn?

Any advice or similar experiences would be greatly appreciated!

Best

Going to apply for BFI NETWORK England short film funding next year and doing research into the steps required to make a film. I will be director/writer for the project, and will be required to cost everything before submitting an application for funding. Would love some help if anyone has answers. Any useful sites with this kind of information would be AMAZING - kinda need a film-making Bible at this point. Thanks in advance!

Supply Teacher: A tragedy in fancy dress

Hi everyone,

I’m Douglas, a writer/director based in Hertfordshire, and I’m looking to put together a skeletal crew for a short film I’m making entitled Supply Teacher. I’m hoping to shoot in early September.

Supply Teacher is a surreal tragicomedy about a supply teacher who has spent decades drifting transparently through the same school, forever temporary and never quite belonging. When he’s finally given the chance to prove himself, he throws himself into increasingly ridiculous attempts to win over a completely indifferent classroom.

What starts as an ordinary lesson gradually turns into something much stranger. The teacher becomes cowboys, pirates, generals and gods.

From there, costumes, reality and performance start to blur, and his desperate attempt to recognised eventually take him somewhere completely unexpected.

Ultimately it is a universal tale on the desperation of being appreciated.

It’s deliberately theatrical and heightened rather than socially realist.

Furthermore, It’s mainly set in one classroom, but the film offers a lot to play with visually through costumes, performances, physical comedy and the increasingly surreal relationship between the teacher and his surroundings.

For roles I’m seeking:

Cinematographer / DoP
Camera operator
Sound recordist
Gaffer / lighting
Production assistant / AD
Production design / props / costume

I’m especially interested in emerging filmmakers, students and recent graduates. I’m 18 myself, so I completely understand the difficulty of navigating the industry. Therefore, I’m open to collaborate with anyone, regardless of their experience. Most importantly, anyone who is compelled, and excited by the project.

I already have my lead actor attached and the screenplay is finished. I’m now trying to get the rest of the cast and crew together.

The shoot will be in Hertfordshire in early September.
This is an unpaid independent short. Unfortunately, I don’t currently have a budget to pay crew, so I’m looking for people who want to collaborate on something creative. Everyone involved will be properly credited, (and
drinks and refreshments will be provided!) and I’m more than happy to provide the finished film and relevant footage for portfolios and reels.

If you’re interested, send me a message, or email me with the email attached, with a bit about yourself, what you’d like to do on the film, and any examples of your work if you have them.

I’m also prepared to send over the screenplay if you’d like to have a read.

Thank you for reading, and feel free to pass this on to anyone who might be interested.

I hope to hear from you!

Douglas,
douglaswatsonfilms@gmail.com

Hey all,

I am an emmy award winning composer from LA and looking to expand my network in London. I am planning to visit London next year for a few weeks to meet with other creatives. Is there a good time during the year where there would a lot of events to meet with people? Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated!

thank you so much!

Hi, I am asking on behalf of a friend who is a film student and is looking into renting equipment for her thesis film. Is there anyone here who rents equipment? If not, where can I search for someone or a company that does? Thank you beforehand 🙏

I’m a French writer-director, trained in Paris, and I’ve recently moved to London. I also run my own production company, and I’m now looking to build a small, motivated filmmaking team here.
I’m currently developing two projects in London:
• A short film
• A proof of concept for a TV series
My goal is to bring together a group of talented and motivated people who want to make films, collaborate creatively and, ideally, build a team that can work together across different projects.
I’m looking to connect with:
🎥 Director of Photography / Cinematographer
🎬 1st / 2nd AC
💡 Gaffer / Lighting
🎧 Production Sound Mixer / Boom Operator
🎨 Production Designer / Art Department
👗 Costume Designer / Wardrobe
💄 Hair & Makeup
📍 Location Manager / Location Scout
🎬 1st AD / Production
🎞️ Editor
📋 Script Supervisor
…and generally filmmakers who want to get involved and bring something to the table.
I’m especially interested in people who have studied film, have previous experience on set, or are seriously committed to developing their craft. But experience isn’t everything — attitude, reliability, curiosity and good energy matter just as much.
The first projects will be unpaid, and I want to be completely transparent about that. The idea is to create actual work together, with proper credits and material that everyone can use for their portfolio/reel, while building a team and a creative relationship that can grow into more ambitious and properly funded projects.
I’m not looking to assemble a huge crew for one weekend and never see each other again. I’d like to find people I genuinely enjoy working with and build something lasting.
I’m new to London, so I’m also looking to meet filmmakers here, exchange ideas and build a strong creative network from scratch.
If you’re interested, send me a DM and tell me a little about yourself:
• What you studied / where you trained
• Your experience and usual role
• Any previous work or portfolio
• What kind of films you’re interested in
• What you’d like to contribute to a project like this
If you’re passionate about filmmaking and actually want to make things happen, I’d love to hear from you.
Let’s make films, not just talk about making them.cheers

Hi all, going into my 3rd year of uni and inevitably thinking about what’s next. The ultimate dream is to work in the film/TV industry, however I do hold a strong interest in sports media as well and currently do freelance photography/videography for my local club’s social media.

I feel like moving to London puts me in the best possible place to make connections and find work (plus I just love living in cities), but how should I go about it?

- How much money do I need to build up?
- What are the best ways to find work?
- Where are the best places to live?
- Any random advice will be taken on board 🫡

Thanks!