Having Pact membership with all the support that comes with has been extremely beneficial.
Why did you decide to apply for Future North East and what were you hoping to get out of it?
We applied for several reasons, which included getting to know our North East colleagues better, hearing other production companies’ journeys with the industry, making new contacts within the industry, having updates from the various commissioners and having the huge benefit of Pact membership for two years.
How has being on the scheme most helped you and your company over the past two years?
We have made some new contacts and formed great relationships with our colleagues in the North East. Having the support of Pact has been game changing.
Which masterclass session did you find most useful/inspiring and why?
We really enjoyed listening to and meeting Josh and Aidan from Listen (an audio and video production company creating podcasts for talent, brands and broadcasters). We have followed up since the session and are now working together.
What's it been like having a peer network of other producers during the scheme?
While each of the businesses on the scheme are at different stages, it has been really useful getting to know everyone better. We have and are collaborating with some as a result. It’s always useful sharing information, especially when work in the area is so scarce.
Duncan Gray and Antonia Hurford-Jones
What has been the single most beneficial part of being on the scheme?
Having Pact membership with all the support that comes with has been extremely beneficial.
Have there been any outcomes or developments from being on the scheme that have surprised you or that you hadn't anticipated?
We didn’t realise that Pact members were entitled to reduced fees for markets - and as a consequence were able to go to MIPCOM in 2024 which was a really effective way to have a lot of meetings in a short space of time.
Over the past two years whilst being on the scheme, how has your business developed?
We have continued to pitch to commissioners across all Broadcasters and Streamers. We have produced two series for the BBC. We are recording our first podcast next week. We are working with an Advertiser Funded Programming (AFP) specialist.
How do you feel you have personally developed as a producer and business owner over the past couple of years?
We are much more aware of needing to work towards new funding solutions and not rely on broadcasters funding our projects.
Looking ahead, what goals do you have for your indie now that the scheme is over?
To survive is all that can be hoped for as a small regional indie in the current climate.
Future North East was a tailored leadership and development programme for ten ambitious independent production companies based in the North East of England. The two-year growth scheme - which we ran in partnership with North East Screen - began in July 2023 and provided the selected companies with access to industry experts and the tools to help grow their businesses domestically and internationally.
Read More Future North East
Case Studies
Wander Films
"Having a group of people who are on a similar journey who are also facing the same challenges made everything feel more possible."
Schnoobert
"When we started the scheme, we were essentially a one-person operation with a website. Today, we’re a fully operational and profitable business."