Christopher Billows, Head of Media Ventures, Orchard Capital Partners LLP
SECTOR: DISTRIBUTION

“From a distributor’s perspective, it was invaluable being able to talk to Producers so candidly and learn how to bridge the gap in understanding that can exist. I learned that you need to find a common language; show them they you can talk creatively and understand their priorities and concerns, and that your numbers needn’t be their ‘enemy’.

You can never have enough understanding of the other business areas that impact upon your own. Inside Pictures immerses you with your immediate peers, and with very senior executives, who will equip you with this knowledge. Being thrown into this group of 15 people was a fantastic experience. To have peers that you can be very frank and informal with, asking about what you do and don’t understand, is refreshing and valuable. I hope that the 15 of us will keep in touch over years to come.

Having always worked in studios, the course made me realise exactly how difficult the current changes in the industry will be for independents. If we are going to create a sustainable film industry in the UK, we need an awareness of what is not working currently so that we can try to fix it in the new world we are entering.”

Stefan Demetriou, VP, Visual Content Strategy & Acquisition, EMI UK
SECTOR: MUSIC & PRODUCTION

“With convergence, boundaries between traditional industries are increasingly blurring and coming from a predominantly music-led organisation Inside Pictures presented an extremely timely and relevant development programme.

Inside Pictures has immersed me in a world and an array of people that it would have been inconceivable to achieve any other way. I think that this scheme is probably the single most important thing that I’ve done in my career.

Inside Pictures has provided me with the perfect road map to take my career to the next level. It has also helped me to identify the transferable skills I already have that relate to film.

It has helped me to think more entrepreneurially, and has given me the confidence to launch new projects.

Having the umbrella of Inside Pictures around you will unequivocally help your career. None of us from the current cohort believe that the schemes will actually finish in January 2009. I know we’ll keep in touch with each other and with the course leaders.”

Laura Hastings-Smith, Producer, Wayward Films
SECTOR: PRODUCTION

“There were so many highlights of the course. Obviously the LA module 2 was a fantastic experience. I don’t believe that you could get that access in such a condensed form in any other way.

Of the course broadly, practically each session was a highlight. There is no ‘eureka’ moment. The course works by going over industry issues from different angles and perspectives to deepen and broaden your knowledge, so there’s a cumulative effect.

As a Producer, it’s very important to learn how the market works; how exploitation and recoupment affect the way in which you structure the financing of a project. It’s definitely made me more aware of the impact of the market on all aspects of a project, and will affect the way I select, budget, cast and finance projects.”

Susie Hock, Director, Business & Legal Affairs, Universal Pictures International
SECTOR: BUSINESS & LEGAL AFFAIRS

“Networking is a major part of the programme. As well as all the amazing people that came to speak with us, the cohort of 15 participants is a fantastic network to be a part of. We all keep in touch and ask each other questions. And if we can’t help personally, we can sign post each other on to more relevant people from our networks.

Inside Pictures has given me a deeper level of understanding of the whole industry.”

Ken Marshall, Producer, Steel Mill Pictures
SECTOR: PRODUCTION

“I found the marketing sessions on how to understand the market and how to market your film very beneficial. Particularly valuable were the conversations on how to sell your film to financiers.

Module two in LA was invaluable for the networking, and the phenomenal amount of contacts that we all made. For me at this stage in my career, I think the Agents and Lawyers will be particularly advantageous. If, for example, I’m negotiating with the Guilds in North America, I’ll have a name that I can call which will be incredibly useful. And there are many other contacts that I know I’ll take advantage of further into my career.

Hearing anecdotes from people who have worked in the industry for decades was an enlightening experience. It really put our own experiences into perspective and built my own aspirations for the future”

Andrew Reid, Head of Production, Northern Ireland Screen
SECTOR: PRODUCTION & FINANCE

“The trip to LA was fascinating. We met senior figures from the studios and other leading companies in the industry. We were exposed to the size and scale of the US domestic industry, which is just so different to the UK industry. Particular highlights for me were the Paramount session on the marketing campaign for Iron Man and the Reliant Pictures session on business and legal affairs, and the general terms of talent and finance deals. And of course the session with the Director David Fincher was incredible. He has an incredibly detailed knowledge of the expected costs of each of his films, and won’t compromise if someone won’t put the finances up. He’ll simply move on to the next project.

Inside Pictures puts you through a detailed, in-depth programme of activities that explains every aspect of the business to you. The course has left me with a deeper understanding of the commercial side of the business. I have already been able to put learning from the course into practice, and can feel that my approach to development has changed.

Being part of a mixed cohort of Producers, Executives and Distributors was a fantastic experience, and we have all learned a great deal from each other, on top of the actual course itself. It’s been a great experience and I would strongly recommend it to anyone else considering it.”

Rachel Robey, Producer, Wellington Films Ltd
SECTOR: PRODUCTION

“I wanted to explore different models for creating a sustainable, profitable business. My business partner and I want to be able to focus on making feature films, so I wanted to examine strategies for developing our company without vertically integrating. We know it will be challenging to focus on feature films and sustain a profitable business, so Inside Pictures was the perfect space to be able to learn about different models.

Week one was like a foundation course in the nuts and bolts of the whole film value chain. As the 15 participants all come from different parts of the industry, week one provided an essential grounding in areas outside of our usual specialism so that we were all brought up to a similar level of understanding. This meant that for the rest of the programme, and particularly module 2 in Los Angeles, we were able to hit the ground running and participate in all the sessions.

In particular the finance and legal sessions were fascinating. The sessions delivered by Wiggin LLP provided an incredible overview of how Hollywood actually works, and how deals are done. You assume that if you get financed by a studio it’s much more straightforward, but actually it’s probably equally as complicated as piecing together independent financing.”