INDUSTRY STUDIOS
generation of talent is something the UK’s studios take seriously. Shinfield Studios is a founding member of Screen Berkshire, which provides opportunities for work and training, building on the regional screen skills talent pool. Farnborough also leans in with its outreach programme – which includes evenings for teachers to visit the studio and learn about opportunities for students looking to get into creative careers – as well as its skills academy, running bootcamps that span a range of disciplines. Ensuring that the workforce is adequately skilled in an age where new tech is constantly reshaping the playing field is no mean feat, but Richard Landy has a tip for budding filmmakers: “Learn how to prompt AI. Seriously,” he stresses. “It’s moving so fast that you’ve got to try and keep abreast of the new technologies and adapt to change. As for the bigger picture: try to find your voice and stick with it.
“I haven’t got a crystal ball, so I can’t look into the future, but keep all of the relevant tech at your fingertips; try to master it,” he adds. “And most importantly – find someone who’s got some money and can pay you to do what you want to do!” THE UK ON THE GLOBAL STAGE Despite all the complexities of the current landscape, the UK remains an undisputed heavyweight in the global production market. Generous tax incentives, a highly skilled crew base and an impressive infrastructure of world-class facilities mean the country continues to punch above its weight in attracting inward investment. Morrison suggests that collaboration between studios is also part of the UK’s strength. “Each studio offers something slightly different, and we all talk and work together too,” she says. “We’d all rather a production came here than went
elsewhere; so however we can work together to offer the best solution, we will.” Beth Gallagher at Shinfield agrees that the combination of government incentives and experienced talent is hard to beat, but warns that maintaining that edge will require vigilance. “Ensuring that the UK continues to offer world-class infrastructure is clearly paramount for attracting large-scale inward investment productions,” she concludes. “The best-known producers, studios and franchises are still choosing the UK – that says everything.” LOOKING AHEAD The road ahead isn’t without its bumps – tighter budgets, shifting commissioning strategies, the unknowns of AI and even political volatility across the pond all loom large – so what do those at the coalface think the road ahead looks like? At Broadley, Richard Landy is pragmatic: “AI will affect us all, I’m sure, but how remains to be seen. I do think growth in 2026 is going to be steadily moving in the right direction, and there are still jobs out there for people. The content monster needs feeding and they need to find people to keep feeding it.” At Shinfield, the outlook is bright, with a full shooting schedule well into next year. “This momentum points to a strong outlook for 2026 and beyond, particularly for inward investment projects,” says Gallagher. “We’re also seeing an uptick in enquiries from UK independent film producers, and we hope to see that build further in the coming years.” At Farnborough, Rachel Morrison is embracing the sense of possibility that comes with being a newer player in the market. “What mainly keeps me up at night is excitement,” she admits. “It’s quite a different offer to what it has been, and that full gamut – from your stunt driving to your unit base shooting in the stages – feels like the exciting journey forward.”
PLANET-FIRST APPROACH
Farnborough (left, below) has placed sustainability at its core, making it easier for crews to achieve their green goals; Shinfield (top right) is enjoying a full calendar of bookings
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