Hosted by BFI Network South West and BFI Academy South West at independent cinema Watershed, budding creatives aged between 16 & 25 gained insight into the process behind the scenes of cinematic production and television shows. 

However, the best place to start was by watching the end product, highlighting what established artists had already accomplished by showing four BFI Network-produced films: Slow Burn, Homegrown, Goodbye Python & Beltane – three of which I’d covered in this previous article ‘Shorts Showcase’.

Afterwards, talent executive Jess Wheeler discussed with Goodbye Python director Frankie Fox, Beltane director Helena Houghton, and Beltane producer Yomi Ayeni regarding production and the obstacles they overcame.

For Houghton, constraints meant squeezing everything surrounding stop-motion animation (including building models and sets) alongside the usual pre-and-post-production tasks into eight months. With many in the room likely to face long-term reciprocal projects, she advised creating “a strong animatic (storyboard) to hold it all together with a team of thirty people”.

Bearing this in mind, maintaining a harmonious set was a crucial aspect of Ayeni’s role. He identified vital traits for producers as diplomatic and organised, a “blunt peacemaker” who would be “the most loved and most hated”. 

Fox emphasised the importance of a great team since putting together the first all-transgender / non-binary cast and crew for his science fiction. “Filmmaking is interpersonal relationships… you’re relying on their trust and expression of feelings”.