Preview any template or checklist free. For the clean file, leave your email once: it arrives straight away, you join From the Barn (monthly, leave whenever you like), and the same sign-up opens every template.
- FilmA ten-minute voice and body warm-up for presenters
Explainer film · Be good on camera and on stage
A ten-minute routine for breath, body and voice before you present, record or go live. The order to run it in, and what to avoid beforehand.
- TemplateCall sheet template (UK, with nearest A&E and weather)
Excel or Google Sheets · free preview · Plan and run a shoot
A UK call sheet template with call times, location, nearest A&E, forecast and scenes, and how to issue one that the whole crew reads.
- ChecklistColour temperature and gel cheat sheet
PDF, 2 pages · free preview · Camera, light and sound
Colour temperatures for tungsten, daylight, HMI and fluorescent, with LEE CTB and CTO correction filters, and the mistakes that give a green or orange picture.
- ChecklistData wrangling checklist: 3-2-1 backup and checksums
PDF, 2 pages · free preview · Camera, light and sound
A data wrangling checklist for film and video shoots, covering offload, checksum verification, the 3-2-1 backup rule and the mistakes that lose footage.
- Long readDrone filming in the UK: CAA rules and permissions
7 min read · Rules, rights and safety
What a UK drone shoot needs from the CAA and from the landowner: Flyer ID, Operator ID, insurance, distances, class marks and film office permission.
- ToolField of view and focal length calculator, by sensor
Calculator · free, no sign-up · Camera, light and sound
Work out the field of view and the width of frame for any lens and sensor, with the formula, a worked example and the sensor sizes to check first.
- GuideFree tools: MediaInfo, Shutter Encoder, QCTools and HandBrake
4 min read · Camera, light and sound
Four free tools for checking, converting and quality-checking video files, what each does, where it fits on a shoot and the mistakes to avoid.
- Long readGet your voice heard: prepare, WIIFM, structure, body language, voice
6 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
Alastair Greener's keynote on being heard, as a written guide: preparation, what's in it for the audience, structure, body language and voice.
- GuideHow to read an autocue without looking like you're reading
4 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
Write for the ear, mark your breaths, let the text come to you and read in thoughts rather than lines. A practical autocue guide from the studio.
- GuideLighting a cove to white, and to black
5 min read · Camera, light and sound
How a working studio lights a 5.3m x 7.1m infinity cove to clean white and to full black: sixteen 500W floods on the sweep, 1.2kW fresnels for people, six Arri L3-Cs for colour, 42 dimmer channels.
- ToolLoudness targets for podcasts and platforms
Calculator · free, no sign-up · Make a podcast
Loudness targets for Apple Podcasts and Spotify, the difference between loudness and peak, and a step-by-step calculation to find the gain change for an episode.
- FilmMic technique for podcasts: distance, angle, plosives
Explainer film · Make a podcast
How far to sit from a podcast microphone, which angle to speak at and how to stop plosive pops. An illustrated step-through plus written notes and common faults.
- ChecklistQuestions to ask before you hire a studio
PDF, 3 pages · free preview · Commission a video
The questions to ask before you hire a studio, from what the rate includes to the real room size, access, crew and cancellation terms, with Granary's figures.
- ToolScript timing calculator: words per minute for talks, voiceovers and films
Calculator · free, no sign-up · Be good on camera and on stage
Time a talk, voiceover or film script from its word count and your own words per minute, and build 10, 20, 30 and 40 minute versions that fit the slot.
- TemplateShot list and storyboard templates
Excel or Google Sheets · free preview · Plan and run a shoot
A shot list and storyboard template for brand and agency shoots, with the order to fill them in and the mistakes that waste a shoot day.
- TemplateShot list template for film and video shoots
Excel or Google Sheets · free preview · Plan and run a shoot
A shot list template with the columns crews use on the day, a worked example for one scene, and the mistakes that waste time at the camera.
- TemplateStoryboard sheets for 16:9, 9:16 and 2.39:1
PDF, 10 pages · free preview · Plan and run a shoot
Free storyboard sheets in three frame shapes, with a method for drawing panels a crew can shoot from and the mistakes that make boards useless on set.
- GuideTeleprompter training: what a first session covers
3 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
What a first teleprompter session covers: writing for the ear, pace, eyeline, pauses and recovering from a slip, with a practice run to try at home.
- FilmThree-point lighting and beyond
Explainer film · Camera, light and sound
Key, fill and back light explained in plain terms, with placement, fill ratios, four-point variations and the mistakes that make people look flat or pasted on.
- Long readUsing AI imagery and voice clones in ads: UK rules
6 min read · AI in production
What the ASA and CAP expect of ads made with AI imagery or a cloned voice, where UK law on voice and likeness stops, and the consent steps to take first.
- Long readVision mixing basics: ATEM and vMix
7 min read · Film and stream events
ATEM is a hardware vision mixer and vMix is software on a Windows PC. What each does, how to choose, how to use both and how to run your first show.
- GuideWhat strobes on camera: patterns, colours, white
2 min read · Camera, light and sound
Which clothing patterns cause moire and flicker on camera, which colours clash with a backdrop and why white can be a problem. A costume guide.
- ToolWhen to use AI and when to shoot it for real
Interactive · free, no sign-up · AI in production
A decision guide for business video: which parts AI can make, which parts need a real camera, and the questions to answer before you commission either.
- Long readAI and copyright in the UK: where things stand
6 min read · AI in production
What the UK government's March 2026 copyright and AI report says, what the law is today, and what a business commissioning content should do about it.
- Long readAI in the production workflow, stage by stage
6 min read · AI in production
Where AI helps in video and audio production, stage by stage: which tasks suit it, which stay with a person and the check to run before work moves on.
- Long readalbert certification: what broadcasters ask for and the studio data you'll need
6 min read · Rules, rights and safety
What BAFTA albert certification involves, what Channel 4 asks of producers, and the studio and supplier data to collect before you shoot.
- ChecklistAmazon and e-commerce image specs
PDF, 2 pages · free preview · Photography and headshots
Amazon main image rules: a pure white background, at least 1000 pixels, the product filling 85 per cent of the frame and no text. A checklist to use before upload.
- ToolAspect ratios and safe areas for every platform
Calculator · free, no sign-up · Edit, deliver and publish
Which aspect ratio suits YouTube, TikTok, Reels, Facebook and LinkedIn, and how to keep faces and captions clear of platform overlays.
- FilmCalm your nerves in three minutes: the 3-4-5 breath
Explainer film · Be good on camera and on stage
A simple breathing routine you can do in three minutes before you present or go on camera. Steps, a worked example and the mistakes to avoid.
- TemplateContent day planner: one day, 30 assets
Excel or Google Sheets · free preview · Commission a video
A content day planner for brand teams: list the assets, group them by set-up, time each set-up and check the day fits before you book.
- ToolContent type chooser: explainer, testimonial, social, podcast
Interactive · free, no sign-up · Commission a video
Pick the right type of business video by the job it must do: an explainer, a testimonial, a social clip or a podcast, with a short chooser.
- TemplateCreative brief template for video
Word or Google Docs · free preview · Commission a video
A creative brief template for video: the objective, audience, deliverables, approvals and budget fields, with a worked example and common mistakes.
- Long readCrew rates explained: reading a Bectu rate card
6 min read · Rules, rights and safety
How to read a Bectu rate card, which one applies to your job, what to check before you quote or budget, and how small-shoot day rates compare.
- Long readCrew roles A to Z: what every job on set does
8 min read · Crew roles and careers
An A to Z of film and TV crew roles in the UK: what each job does, which department it sits in, how crews are organised and how people get in.
- ToolDepth of field calculator, with a worked example
Calculator · free, no sign-up · Camera, light and sound
How to work out depth of field from focal length, f-number and distance, using the hyperfocal formula, with a worked example and the mistakes that cause soft shots.
- ChecklistFilming and streaming a conference: the organiser's checklist
PDF, 2 pages · free preview · Film and stream events
A checklist for organisers filming and streaming a conference: outputs, speaker agreements, audio feeds, stream tests, backups and who owns the run of show.
- Long readFilming in public places: council permits and film offices
8 min read · Rules, rights and safety
Who to ask before you film on a UK street, in a park or on council land, how much notice film offices want, and which office covers your area.
- Long readFilming people: UK GDPR, consent and when you need a release
6 min read · Rules, rights and safety
When you need a signed release to film people in the UK, how consent and UK GDPR apply to footage, and what to do for crowds, staff, children and public places.
- ToolFrame rates and shutter: the 180 degree rule and flicker-free shutters for UK 50Hz
Calculator · free, no sign-up · Camera, light and sound
Set a 180 degree shutter at any frame rate, and pick shutter speeds that stay flicker-free under UK 50Hz mains lighting, with a worked example for 25p and 24p.
- GuideFraming yourself on camera: headroom and distance
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
How much headroom to leave, how close to sit to the lens and why your mouth needs to be clear. Five minutes of set-up checks before you record.
- TemplateGuest booking email and prep sheet
Word or Google Docs · free preview · Make a podcast
A booking email and a prep sheet for podcast guests, with the details to include, the order to send them in and the mistakes that cost a recording slot.
- Long readHook, Message, Recap, Call to action: the HMRC structure
6 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
A four-part way to structure any talk, pitch or video: what each part does, how long to give it, a worked example and a fill-in outline to copy.
- GuideHow many words fit in 30 seconds? Timing a voiceover script
5 min read · Commission a video
About 80 to 90 words for a 30-second ad, fewer with a phone number in it. Speaking rates for ads, explainers and e-learning, and how to time a script.
- ToolLighting plot planner for studio shoots
Interactive · free, no sign-up · Camera, light and sound
How to draw a lighting plot for a studio shoot, with a planner for fixtures, grid positions and channels, a worked example and the mistakes that cost time.
- GuideLive session recording: audio and multicam
4 min read · Plan and run a shoot
How a band is recorded live to multitrack audio and multiple cameras: input list, desk to computer, sync, levels and a day plan you can use.
- ChecklistLocation recce checklist
PDF, 3 pages · free preview · Plan and run a shoot
A location recce checklist covering permission, access, power, light, sound and safety, with a worked example and the mistakes that cost a shoot its day.
- TemplateLocation release (UK): what to fill in
Word or Google Docs · free preview · Rules, rights and safety
What a UK location release must cover, step by step, with a worked example and the common mistakes that leave a shoot without permission on the day.
- Long readLocation sound starter: boom, lav, room tone
6 min read · Camera, light and sound
How to record usable dialogue on a small shoot: boom position, lavalier placement, levels, monitoring and the room tone your editor will ask for.
- Long readMake-up for HD and 4K: what the camera sees
6 min read · Camera, light and sound
What HD and 4K cameras show on skin, how HD make-up differs, how to control shine and edges, and how light and lens choices help the make-up artist.
- GuideMic technique: handheld, lectern and head mic
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
How to hold a handheld mic, when to leave the lectern mic alone, and how a head mic should sit. Plus how to decide whether you need one and why to soundcheck.
- Long readMusic licensing for brand video in the UK
7 min read · Rules, rights and safety
Who owns the music in a track, which licence covers a brand video, and the four safe routes to music you can use on a website, social or paid ads.
- ToolOne shoot, a month of posts: repurposing map
Interactive · free, no sign-up · Edit, deliver and publish
How to turn one filmed shoot into a month of posts, with a repurposing map for each source and a calendar that keeps every cut in order.
- ToolPodcast format chooser: interview, panel, solo or narrative
Interactive · free, no sign-up · Make a podcast
Interview, panel, solo or narrative: how to choose the podcast format that fits your guests, your material and your editing time, and the mistakes to avoid.
- GuideProduct photography on an infinity cove
5 min read · Photography and headshots
How to light and shoot products on an infinity cove: the plan view, a lighting layout for white, glass and shiny metal, and how to keep a range consistent.
- TemplateProduction budget top sheet (UK)
Excel or Google Sheets · free preview · Plan and run a shoot
A UK production budget top sheet: how to total each department, show VAT and contingency, and check the total against the detailed budget.
- Long readPromotion is the problem: a 30-day launch plan
6 min read · Make a podcast
Promotion is where most podcasters get stuck. A 30-day plan for the first month after launch, with weekly jobs, a calendar table and the numbers to expect.
- TemplateRecord yourself and review: a self-review sheet
PDF, 2 pages · free preview · Be good on camera and on stage
A self-review sheet for a recorded talk. What to check for tics, eyeline, pace and reactions, and how to turn one watch into three changes for the next run.
- GuideRecording a voice reel: length, scripts and session
4 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
How long a voice reel should be, which reads to put in it, how a directed session runs and what to avoid. A practical guide for actors and voice artists.
- TemplateReleases: talent, location, property, minors
Word or Google Docs · free preview · Rules, rights and safety
What to put in talent, location, property and minor releases for UK shoots, with the UK GDPR consent points and the child licence check.
- TemplateRisk assessment template for a studio or location shoot
Word or Google Docs · free preview · Rules, rights and safety
A risk assessment template for studio and location shoots: hazards, who could be harmed, controls, ratings and actions, with the legal duty behind it.
- GuideSelf-tape set-up at home vs in a studio
4 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
A phone, a plain wall, soft light and clean sound is enough for most self-tapes. What to set up at home, and when a studio session earns its fee.
- GuideShooting on an infinity cove: lens, distance, height
5 min read · Camera, light and sound
How to pick a lens, camera distance and lens height on a 5.3m by 7.1m infinity cove, with the frame-width sums and a worked two-shot example.
- TemplateShooting schedule and stripboard
Excel or Google Sheets · free preview · Plan and run a shoot
How to build a shooting schedule and stripboard for a UK shoot, grouping scenes by location and cast so the day runs with fewer moves.
- GuideShort film funding: BFI NETWORK and regional film hubs
5 min read · Rules, rights and safety
How BFI NETWORK short film funding works in England: awards of £5,000 to £25,000, who can apply, what it pays for, the yearly calendar and the application steps.
- Long readShould your business have a podcast?
6 min read · Make a podcast
Should your business have a podcast? Five questions to answer first, what it costs in time and money, what the survey numbers say, and the cheaper options.
- Long readStart a podcast: the honest first 90 days
6 min read · Make a podcast
A 90-day plan to start a podcast in the UK, with what surveys of real podcasters say about audience, time, cost and quitting, so you plan for the real thing.
- GuideStudio day vs location day: the real maths
3 min read · Commission a video
Compare a studio day with a location day line by line, using Granary's published studio and crew day rates and the location costs to check before you decide.
- FilmStudio safety induction: what a briefing should cover
Explainer film · Rules, rights and safety
The general safety points a studio induction should cover, from electrics and height to floors, haze and water, and who has to assess the actual job.
- GuideTestimonial videos: how to get customers to say yes
5 min read · Commission a video
Who to ask for a testimonial video, how to word the request, the questions that get a good answer, and the consent a UK business should have signed.
- ChecklistThe MC's checklist: every question to ask the organiser
PDF, 2 pages · free preview · Be good on camera and on stage
The questions an MC should put to the organiser before a live, online or hybrid event, covering the room, running order, tech and things going wrong.
- GuideThe stick of rock test: one message all the way through
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
A quick test for any talk: one key message running through every part, with the cut-down check that shows which parts are not earning their place.
- Long readUK tax reliefs explained: AVEC 34%, animation 39%, independent film 53%
6 min read · Rules, rights and safety
How the UK's AVEC rates of 34%, 39% and 53% work for film and TV, who qualifies, how the 80% cap and BFI certification fit in, and what a claim involves.
- GuideWhat actually happens in a media training day
7 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
A media training day explained hour by hour: what you actually do, how the practice interviews work, what playback shows you and what you take home.
- GuideWhat casting directors want from a showreel
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
What goes in an actor's showreel, how long it should run, how to order the clips and the shooting mistakes that make a reel hard to watch.
- GuideWhat does a boom operator do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a boom operator does on a UK shoot, who they work with, the kit and skills, the sound trainee route in and whether a small shoot needs one.
- GuideWhat does a digital imaging technician (DIT) do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a DIT does on a UK shoot, how they support the DoP, the data and backup work, how people get in and whether a small shoot needs one.
- GuideWhat does a director of photography do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a director of photography (DoP) does on a UK film or TV shoot, who they work with, the kit and skills, how to get in, and when a small shoot needs one.
- GuideWhat does a key grip do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a key grip does on a UK film shoot, who they work with, the kit and skills, the grip training route and whether a small shoot needs one.
- GuideWhat does a production designer do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a production designer does on a UK film or TV shoot, how they lead the art department, who they work with, and when a small shoot needs one.
- GuideWhat does a production sound mixer do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a production sound mixer does on a UK film or TV set, the kit and skills, who they work with, how to get in, and when a small shoot needs one.
- GuideWhat does a runner do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a runner does on a UK film or TV shoot, the hours and kit, who they report to, how people get started, and whether a small shoot needs one.
- GuideWhat does a script supervisor do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a script supervisor does on a UK film or TV shoot, how they keep continuity between takes, who they work with, and whether a small shoot needs one.
- GuideWhat does a spark (lighting technician) do?
4 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a spark does on a UK film shoot, who they work with, the kit and skills, how people get in, and whether a small shoot needs one.
- GuideWhat is an infinity cove?
5 min read · Camera, light and sound
An infinity cove explained with the measurements of a real one: a 5.3m x 7.1m two-wall cove near Chichester, its 70cm sweep, 4.5m walls, repainting, and what it costs to hire.
- GuideWhat is audio description?
7 min read · Edit, deliver and publish
Audio description explained: what it is, how it is written and recorded, the UK 10% broadcast quota, and the new Media Act rules coming for Netflix, Disney+ and ITVX.
- ChecklistWhat to bring to a podcast recording
PDF, 1 page · free preview · Make a podcast
A checklist for a podcast recording day: what to prepare at home, what to pack, and what to check on arrival so the session runs on time.
- GuideWIIFM: why should anyone watch your talk or video?
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
WIIFM means what is in it for them. How to show the audience why they should watch in the first minute or two, and three questions to answer before you write.
- Long readYour first studio day: what to expect, hour by hour
9 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
A presenter's first studio shoot, hour by hour: arrival, mic-up, sound checks, rehearsal, takes, playback and the wrap, and what to do at each stage.
- ChecklistA presenter's five-minute make-up kit
PDF, 2 pages · free preview · Camera, light and sound
A small make-up kit for presenters, with a five-minute routine for shine, under-eye and lips, and the mistakes that show up on camera.
- Long readAccessible video: captions, transcripts, audio description
6 min read · Edit, deliver and publish
What WCAG 2.2 asks of captions, transcripts and audio description, what Ofcom's access targets mean for producers, and how to plan accessible video from the script.
- Long readAI video for small businesses: what's real, what's risky
6 min read · AI in production
Where AI helps a small business make video today, where it creates legal or trust problems, and five checks to run before anything AI-made goes public.
- ToolAnimation or live action? A chooser
Interactive · free, no sign-up · Commission a video
Answer five questions to see whether a business video should be animated or filmed with real people, places or products, with the time and cost trade-offs explained.
- ToolAre you camera-ready? 12-question self-assessment
Quiz · free, no sign-up · Be good on camera and on stage
Twelve honest questions that show which part of on-camera presenting needs work first, from breathing and rehearsal to the set-up, the voice and the listening.
- Test fileAudio test pack: tones, pink noise and sweeps
Free download · Glossaries and test files
How to use a 1 kHz tone, pink noise and a sweep to check a sound chain before a shoot, with the level to set and the mistakes to avoid.
- TemplateAV script template (two-column)
Word or Google Docs · free preview · Plan and run a shoot
A two-column AV script template for films and corporate videos, with picture and sound cues, timings and the mistakes that cost an edit.
- ChecklistBefore you come in: the presenter's pack
PDF, 6 pages · free preview · Be good on camera and on stage
A printable pack for presenters: the self-assessment, then steps for the week before, the day before and the morning, plus what to expect at the barn.
- GuideBuilding a set in the barn: what's allowed
3 min read · Camera, light and sound
The size limits, floor and fixing rules, and water and haze questions to settle before you build a set on the cove, with the order to work through them.
- Test fileColour test patterns and bars
Free download · Glossaries and test files
What SMPTE colour bars and the PLUGE pattern are for, how to set a monitor with them, and how to use a test pattern at the head of a file.
- ToolData rate and storage calculator for camera files
Calculator · free, no sign-up · Camera, light and sound
Work out a shoot's storage from the camera's bitrate, with the megabit to gigabyte conversion, a three-camera example and the mistakes that run cards out.
- ChecklistDelivery specs cheat sheet for broadcast and online
PDF, 2 pages · free preview · Edit, deliver and publish
A one-page list of the delivery checks for broadcast and online video, covering frame rate, size, loudness, peaks, bitrate, audio and test patterns.
- ChecklistDialogue loudness and delivery specs
PDF, 2 pages · free preview · Edit, deliver and publish
The loudness, true peak and file checks to run on a dialogue mix before delivery, with the EBU R 128 targets, a checklist and the mistakes that get edits sent back.
- TemplateEpisode planner and run sheet
Excel or Google Sheets · free preview · Make a podcast
A one-page episode planner and run sheet for podcasts, filled in step by step, with a worked example and the timing and tech mistakes that waste time.
- Long readEthical storytelling: consent that people understand
6 min read · Rules, rights and safety
How charities can get consent for stories, photos and film that people truly understand: what to explain, what the form covers, how long it lasts.
- GuideEye contact with a lens: arrows, eyeline and the window
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
How to look into a camera lens and still seem to talk to someone. The arrows technique, where to put your eyeline, and where to put the call window on a video call.
- Long readFilming in schools: consent, safeguarding and GDPR
6 min read · Rules, rights and safety
What a school and a film crew need to agree before a camera comes in: lawful basis, consent, pupils who must not be shown, and safe handling of footage.
- GuideGreen screen wardrobe rules
2 min read · Camera, light and sound
What to avoid wearing in front of a green screen, why spill and shine cause problems, and how to test a costume before the shoot.
- GuideHow long does a video take to make?
3 min read · Commission a video
How long a business video takes from brief to final file, what sets the timeline, how many revisions to expect, and why the shoot is often the shortest stage.
- ToolHow long does an audiobook take to record? Calculator
Calculator · free, no sign-up · Commission a video
Work out the studio hours and editing hours for an audiobook from its word count, with the method, a worked example and the errors that throw plans out.
- GuideHow much does a corporate video cost? A studio's breakdown
5 min read · Commission a video
A corporate video costed line by line from a Chichester studio's published rates: room, crew, edit, and three worked examples, all +VAT.
- GuideHow to brief a studio or a video crew
5 min read · Commission a video
The eleven things a one-page video brief needs, what each one changes in the quote, and what a good studio should send back. From our barn near Chichester.
- GuideInfluencer and creator ad labelling: the UK rules
2 min read · Rules, rights and safety
When a creator's post is an ad, which labels the ASA and CMA accept, where the label must go, and what brands must do to stay on the right side of the rules.
- ToolLED wall shoots: pixel pitch and viewing distance
Calculator · free, no sign-up · Camera, light and sound
A pixel pitch and viewing distance calculator for LED wall shoots, with the formula, worked figures and the camera limits that the eye figure does not cover.
- TemplateLive event run sheet template, and how to fill it
Excel or Google Sheets · free preview · Film and stream events
A run sheet template for live events and streams: the columns, how to time each cue, who owns it, a worked example and the mistakes that cost a show.
- Long readMusic licensing for filmmakers in the UK
6 min read · Rules, rights and safety
How to clear music for a film in the UK: sync and master rights, what PRS and PPL do, library music, public domain, cue sheets and the mistakes to avoid.
- GuideOne camera or three?
3 min read · Make a podcast
What multi-camera podcast recording actually changes: cutting on reactions, hiding edits, thirty clips instead of ten. Three 4K cameras at Granary Digital's podcast studio near Chichester, explained plainly.
- GuidePace: why you are still too fast when you speak
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
Nerves speed your voice up, and the speed feels right from the inside. How to measure your pace from a recording and slow down without sounding strange.
- GuidePlanning a one-day music video in a studio
4 min read · Plan and run a shoot
How to fit a performance music video into a ten-hour studio day: passes, looks, haze, colour and playback, with real prices from our barn near Chichester.
- Long readPlanning a video course: modules, length, retention
6 min read · Commission a video
How to plan an online video course before you film: one promise, 4 to 8 modules, lessons of 3 to 6 minutes, retention habits and a studio schedule.
- ToolPodcast budget: what it really costs in the UK
Calculator · free, no sign-up · Make a podcast
What a UK podcast really costs per year, the hidden lines most budgets miss, a formula for your own numbers and Granary's published package prices.
- Long readPresenting on Zoom and Teams: setup, light, sound
6 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
How to look and sound good presenting on Zoom or Teams: sound first, then light, camera height, background, eye contact and a pre-call check.
- GuideRehearsal vs run-through: what the crew needs from you
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
A run-through tests the technology and a rehearsal tests you. What to bring to each, what to ask before you arrive, and what the crew cannot fix on the day.
- GuideRoom sound: why a treated room beats a better mic
2 min read · Make a podcast
Why the room you record in matters more than the microphone you buy, with a ten-minute test to hear the difference and a checklist for a quieter, softer room.
- TemplateRunning order and cue sheet for a filmed event
Excel or Google Sheets · free preview · Film and stream events
How to fill in a running order and cue sheet for a filmed or streamed event: timings, speakers, cues, camera, audio and a named contact for each item.
- Long readStories: the washing line, dialogue, start in the middle
6 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
How to find, tell and keep stories for talks and video: a washing line of stories, dialogue instead of narration, and starting at the exciting moment.
- ToolStreaming bitrate and bandwidth calculator
Calculator · free, no sign-up · Film and stream events
How to work out the bitrate and the upload speed a live stream needs, with the upload figures to check, a worked example and the bits and bytes mistake.
- GuideThe ABC technique: acknowledge, bridge, communicate
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
A three-step way to answer a difficult interview question without dodging it: acknowledge the question, bridge to your point, then say it plainly.
- GuideThe power of the pause in speaking and presenting
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
Where to put pauses when you present or record: before a main point, after it, at transitions and on stage moves. How long to hold them and how to practise.
- GuideThree ways to appear on video: to camera, off-camera interview, presenter-led
3 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
To camera, off-camera interview or presenter-led: what each one is, when it suits a video, and the mistakes that make each one look stiff.
- GuideTimecode and sync explained, with an LTC test file
3 min read · Camera, light and sound
What timecode is, how linear timecode (LTC) is carried on audio, which frame rates to use in the UK, and how to check a recorder with a 25 fps test file.
- ChecklistVideo specs cheat sheet for TikTok, Reels, YouTube and LinkedIn
PDF, 2 pages · free preview · Edit, deliver and publish
Current upload limits and recommended settings for TikTok, Reels, YouTube and LinkedIn video, with the checks to run before you export.
- Long readWhat content should a small business make first?
6 min read · Commission a video
A first-timer's order of play for small business content: what to make first, what to leave until later, and how one shoot day becomes weeks of material.
- GuideWhat does a 1st assistant director do?
4 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a 1st AD does on a UK film or TV shoot, who they work with, how people move up into the role, and when a small shoot can do without one.
- GuideWhat does a focus puller (1st AC) do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a focus puller does on a UK film shoot, who they work with, the kit and skills, how people get in and whether a small shoot needs one.
- GuideWhat does a rigging gaffer do?
4 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a rigging gaffer does on a UK film or TV set, how they work with the gaffer and sparks, the safety rules that apply, and when a shoot needs one.
- GuideWhat does a vision mixer do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a vision mixer does in a live or multi-camera production gallery, who they work with, the skills, how to get in, and when a stream needs one.
- GuideWhat to wear on camera for a video shoot
4 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
What to wear for a video shoot: patterns that crawl, microphones that rustle, and clothes that vanish on a white cove, a black stage or a green screen.
- TemplateWrite the introduction the MC will read
Word or Google Docs · free preview · Be good on camera and on stage
A fill-in template for the introduction a host reads out before your talk. Who you are, why the audience should listen, why you, the title and your name.
- GuideWriting for the ear: short sentences, short words
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
How to write a talk, script or voiceover that sounds natural spoken aloud. Short sentences, plain words, and a read-aloud test you can run on your script today.
- GuideYour first day on set: etiquette in 20 rules
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
Twenty practical set etiquette rules for a first day on a film or TV shoot, covering phones, silence, food, props, safety and being useful.
- GuideYour voice and face in the AI era: what to sign and what not to
2 min read · AI in production
What to check before signing anything that lets someone record, clone or reuse your voice or face, drawn from Equity's AI toolkit and the ASA's position.
- GuideFree software for live production: OBS, Companion, CasparCG
5 min read · Film and stream events
A short, honest list of free and open source tools for live production: OBS, Companion, CasparCG, Ontime, QPrompt and Wireshark, and what each is for.
- Long readFreelancer basics: insurance, IR35, invoicing, rates
6 min read · Rules, rights and safety
What a first-time UK film or TV freelancer needs sorted: public liability and kit cover, IR35 and status, invoice terms, late payment and day rates.
- ToolPower on set: 13A, 16A, 32A and load maths
Calculator · free, no sign-up · Camera, light and sound
Work out a film supply load from the watts, with ratings for 13 A, 16 A and 32 A connectors, a worked example and the limits a competent person must check.
- ChecklistVoice and likeness: a consent and contract checklist
PDF, 2 pages · free preview · AI in production
A checklist for agreeing how a voice or face can be recorded, cloned, reused and withdrawn, with a worked example and the mistakes that cause disputes.
- GuideWhat does a best boy do?
4 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a best boy does on a UK film set, who they work with, the kit and skills, how people get in, and whether a small shoot needs one.
- Long readWhen a studio beats a location
6 min read · Plan and run a shoot
Studio or location? A working studio owner's test for when control wins, when a real place wins, what each day really costs and when to use both.
- GuideWho is responsible for an AI-made ad?
3 min read · AI in production
The advertiser is responsible for AI-made ads under the CAP Code. What the ASA says, the five checks to run before publishing, and the common mistakes.
- GuideActor headshots in 2026: what UK casting directors want to see
5 min read · Photography and headshots
Spotlight's photo rules, the looks worth shooting and how much retouching casting directors accept, plus our £195 inc VAT actor session near Chichester.
- GuideCommercial, corporate and advertising photography explained
3 min read · Photography and headshots
Commercial, corporate and advertising photography are different jobs, with different briefs and usage terms. How to tell which you need and brief it.
- FilmCoverage explained: master, singles and inserts
Explainer film · Plan and run a shoot
What coverage means on a film set, what a master, singles, two-shots and inserts each do, and how to plan the shots so the scene can be cut without jumps.
- GuideHow we clone a voice with consent
3 min read · AI in production
A case study of one consented voice clone: where it was used, how it is labelled, and the five questions we think any voice agreement has to answer.
- GuideIntimacy on set: coordinators and closed sets
3 min read · Rules, rights and safety
What an intimacy coordinator does, what UK guidance says about hiring one, and how to plan a closed set for scenes with nudity or simulated sex.
- TemplateIntroduce yourself in 60 seconds: a fill-in template
Word or Google Docs · free preview · Be good on camera and on stage
A fill-in template for a 60-second introduction, with four timed beats, a worked example and the mistakes that run the clock over.
- GuideLinkedIn profile photos: what works at a small size
4 min read · Photography and headshots
LinkedIn photo sizes, how to crop for the small circle, and which background, light and expression survive at thumbnail size. Headshots from £149 +VAT.
- Long readLinking speakers, keeping time, setting tone
7 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
How a good MC links speakers, keeps an event to time and sets the tone the organiser wants, with scripts, a timing method and a rehearsal plan.
- TemplateMotion graphics brief template
Word or Google Docs · free preview · Commission a video
A one-page brief for a logo sting, lower third or animated graphic. What to fill in, a worked example and the mistakes that cost a review round.
- GuidePreparing products for a studio shoot
4 min read · Photography and headshots
How to get stock ready for a product shoot: sorting, spares, cleaning, glass, liquids, colour and file names, from a studio near Chichester.
- GuideReactive or proactive: two kinds of media interview
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
Reactive and proactive media interviews need different preparation. Learn which one you are in, the questions to ask first and how to prepare.
- GuideTeam headshot day: how to get fifteen people photographed and matching
5 min read · Photography and headshots
Running a team headshot day: the running order, file names, one background, dress notes and camera-shy colleagues. Up to 15 people for £950 +VAT.
- GuideWhat does a composer do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
A film or TV composer writes original music timed to the cut. How the work runs, who they work with, how people get in and when you can skip one.
- GuideWhat does a director do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a film or TV director does from the script to the final cut, who they work with, how people get into directing and when you need one.
- GuideWhat does a producer do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a film or TV producer does, what they do on a shoot day, who they work with, how people get into the job in the UK, and when you need one.
- GuideWords that cost you credibility: fluff, superlatives, -ly words, jargon
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
The words that weaken a presentation: superlatives, intensifiers, -ly adverbs, fluff and jargon, and a simple way to find and replace them in a script.
- GuideYouTube is now the app UK listeners use most for podcasts, says Edison. What that changes for a business show
4 min read · Make a podcast
Edison found in July that UK weekly podcast listeners use YouTube more than any other app. What that changes for a business podcast, with costs.
- GuideA DeLorean on the cove, doors up
3 min read · Commission a video
A DeLorean driven onto Granary Digital's infinity cove near Chichester and shot with both gullwing doors open in haze and coloured light. What the shoot involved and what it shows about drive-in studio work.
- GlossaryAI glossary for marketers and producers
Glossary · Glossaries and test files
Plain definitions of the AI terms that come up in briefs, quotes and production meetings, with the questions to ask when each one matters.
- TemplateApproval rounds without chaos: a feedback template
Word or Google Docs · free preview · Commission a video
A feedback form for video approvals, with the rules to agree before the first cut, the steps for each round and the mistakes that cost time.
- ToolBlocking diagrams for a studio
Interactive · free, no sign-up · Plan and run a shoot
How to draw a top-down blocking diagram of a studio set, with the actors, camera and lights to scale, before the crew arrives and the day starts.
- TemplateBriefing AI work the way you brief a crew
Word or Google Docs · free preview · AI in production
A brief template for AI picture, video and voice work, covering the goal, the must-stay rules, real references, the approver and the delivery format.
- GuideBroadcast delivery: DPP AS-11 explained
3 min read · Edit, deliver and publish
What the AS-11 UK DPP HD file specification asks for, the video, audio, caption and metadata settings, and how to prepare a delivery without surprises.
- Long readBS 7909 explained for small crews
6 min read · Camera, light and sound
What BS 7909 is, when it applies to a film or photo shoot, what a small crew should do about temporary power, and what the Bectu course covers.
- ChecklistBTS and EPK checklist for a film shoot
PDF, 2 pages · free preview · Photography and headshots
What to shoot, agree and collect on a film shoot so the electronic press kit and behind-the-scenes material are ready when the film is finished.
- TemplateCrew deal memo for UK productions: a template
Word or Google Docs · free preview · Plan and run a shoot
A crew deal memo template for UK productions, with the terms to cover, the employment status check to make first and a worked example.
- GuideCutting fillers: um, ah, like
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
How to find the fillers in your speaking, replace them with a pause and rehearse the joins between points, with a simple record and listen routine.
- GuideEditing order of work: clean, tighten, mix, master
5 min read · Make a podcast
The order to edit a podcast in: clean the audio, tighten the talk, mix the voices and music, then master. Why the order matters and what to check.
- GuideFifty ways to open (hooks that work)
5 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
How to start a presentation with a hook, plus fifty fill-in-the-blank opening lines: questions, stories, statements, topical openers and more.
- TemplateFilm treatment template: what to put in it
Word or Google Docs · free preview · Plan and run a shoot
A film treatment template with the sections to write, in order, plus a step-by-step method, a worked example and the mistakes that make producers stop reading.
- GuideGetting discovered: SEO for podcasts
3 min read · Make a podcast
What you control in podcast search: the show name, the description, episode titles, show notes and transcripts, and a page for the show.
- TemplateGreen memo template for film and TV crews
Word or Google Docs · free preview · Rules, rights and safety
A free green memo template for film and TV productions. What to commit to, who owns each action, and how to share it with cast, crew and suppliers.
- GuideGrip kit explained: flags, frames, C-stands
5 min read · Camera, light and sound
What flags, frames, C-stands, bounce and apple boxes are for on a film or photo shoot, how they fit together and how to use them safely in a studio.
- GuideHow much do professional headshots cost in the UK in 2026?
4 min read · Photography and headshots
UK headshot prices in 2026 from published price lists: business, team and actor sessions, what moves the price, and what our sessions near Chichester cost.
- GuideHow much does a video podcast cost to make in the UK?
4 min read · Make a podcast
UK market ranges for podcast studio hire, editing and agency production, set against our own prices: from £108+VAT an hour or £395+VAT an episode.
- GuideHow to end: bookends, loops, last lines
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
How to end a talk so the room remembers it: bookends, loops and plain last lines, with a step-by-step plan and the mistakes that undo a good close.
- GuideHow to measure whether a video worked
3 min read · Commission a video
Decide what a video is for before you publish it, then measure the few numbers that show whether it did the job. A plain method with a worked example.
- GuideHow to record a self-tape that follows the UK rules
5 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
The UK self-tape code and Spotlight's guidance on framing, eyeline, idents and file names, plus how to get the sound right at home or in a studio.
- Long readHybrid events: presenting to a room and a camera
6 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
How to present at a hybrid event: where to look, how to rehearse for a venue that is also a TV studio, how to involve both audiences, and how to keep to time.
- GuideInterview formats explained
4 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
The interview formats a spokesperson meets, explained by a broadcast engineer: live, as-live, pre-recorded, down the line, remote, panel and doorstep. What each demands and how Granary Digital rehearses them.
- GuideLabelling AI content and content credentials, explained
2 min read · AI in production
What Content Credentials (C2PA) record, what they cannot prove, and what to ask your producer or agency before you publish AI-made pictures, video or audio.
- ChecklistLens and sensor crop cheat sheet
PDF, 2 pages · free preview · Camera, light and sound
How sensor size and crop factor change a lens's field of view, with a table of common crop values, the arithmetic and the checks to make before the shoot.
- GuideLighting a show that's being filmed: what to tell your lighting designer
4 min read · Film and stream events
Lighting designer Mike Stevens on the five things to send before anything else, the decisions to make early, and why a filmed show needs lighting for camera.
- GlossaryLighting glossary for film and video crews
Glossary · Glossaries and test files
Thirty lighting terms explained in plain English for presenters, producers and crew, from barn doors and bounce to T-stop, lux and tungsten.
- TemplateLower thirds and title-safe templates
Zip of files · free preview · Edit, deliver and publish
How to build lower thirds and keep titles inside the safe area, with a template to set up, a worked example and the margins to check.
- Long readLower-carbon shoots: what a studio day saves against location
6 min read · Rules, rights and safety
Where a shoot's carbon comes from, what a studio day can and cannot save against location, and how to count your own numbers before you book.
- ToolLux and T-stop at distance: a photometrics calculator
Calculator · free, no sign-up · Camera, light and sound
How light falls off with distance, how lux and T-stop differ, and how to use a calculator to set your lights before a shoot, with a worked example.
- GuideMoiré, refresh and shutter on LED walls
3 min read · Camera, light and sound
What causes moiré, flicker and rolling bars when filming an LED wall, how refresh rate and shutter angle affect them, and the checks before the shoot.
- TemplateMusic cue sheet template: fill it in before the lock
Excel or Google Sheets · free preview · Rules, rights and safety
A music cue sheet template for short films and programmes, with each field explained, a worked example and the mistakes that delay music reporting.
- GuidePackshot vs lifestyle: which images you need
3 min read · Photography and headshots
A packshot shows the product alone and a lifestyle image shows it in use. How to work out which pictures your products need, shot list and common mistakes.
- Long readPowerPoint as wallpaper: slide rules that work on a big screen
6 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
Slide rules for talks on a large screen: text size, fonts, images, templates, blank slides and what to check with the AV team before you present.
- GlossaryProduction glossary
Glossary · Glossaries and test files
Plain definitions of the production terms crew, producers and clients hear on a UK film or video shoot, from 1st AD and call sheet to stripboard and wrap.
- GuideProduction insurance explained
3 min read · Rules, rights and safety
The insurance cover a UK film or video shoot usually needs, which cover the law requires, and what to settle with a broker before you book crew or kit.
- GuideProjecting 10% more without shouting
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
How to project about a tenth more than your conversational voice using breath, posture and aim, without pushing from the throat or shouting.
- GuideRain rig safety: water, power and footing
3 min read · Rules, rights and safety
General safety guidance for a rain rig on a set: keeping power away from water, planning drainage and footing, and looking after the people in the rain.
- TemplateSpeaker release and recording consent form
Word or Google Docs · free preview · Film and stream events
A template for a speaker release that records permission to be filmed, where the recording will appear and how a speaker can ask for changes. With a worked example.
- GuideStudio carpentry: flats, plinths, risers
4 min read · Camera, light and sound
How a barn workshop turned the flats, plinths, lecterns and stage pieces every set needs into a made-to-order range, and when to commission a build.
- GuideSubtitles and captions: styles and file formats
3 min read · Edit, deliver and publish
What the Ofcom access rules say about subtitles, how to choose a subtitle file format, and how to time and check a file before you deliver it.
- GuideSync, PRS and PPL for musicians putting out video
3 min read · Rules, rights and safety
Which music rights a musician clears before posting a video, covering PRS for Music, PPL, sync and the recording, explained for UK artists.
- GuideThe one-minute video: why short wins
3 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
Why a one-minute video works, how to plan one point, one example and one action, and the mistakes that stop short clips being finished.
- GuideThe preparation iceberg: why most of a good talk is unseen
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
Why most of a good talk happens before the day, and the order to do the hidden work in: audience, message, structure, stories, slides, then timed run-throughs.
- GuideUsing AI to draft a script without losing your voice
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
How to use AI for a first draft of a talk or script, then rewrite it in your own words with your own stories, and the checks to make before you use it.
- GuideVocal variety: the rollercoaster
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
How to vary your pace, pitch and volume on purpose so a talk does not go flat, with a practical method you can rehearse this week.
- ChecklistWalkie-talkie lingo cheat sheet
PDF, 2 pages · free preview · Plan and run a shoot
The radio phrases used on UK film and TV sets, what each means and how to use them, with a one-page PDF cheat sheet to print and keep.
- GuideWhat does a 3rd assistant director do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a 3rd assistant director does on a UK film or TV set: support for the 1st AD, background artists, the public and the crew, and how people get in.
- GuideWhat does a camera operator do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a camera operator does on a UK film or TV shoot, who they report to, the skills the job needs and how people get into the camera department.
- GuideWhat does a casting director do?
2 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a casting director does on a UK film or TV drama, how they run auditions and negotiate terms, the routes into the job and when a shoot needs one.
- GuideWhat does a clapper loader do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a clapper loader (second assistant camera) does on a UK shoot: slating takes, logs, media, batteries, who they work with and how to get in.
- GuideWhat does a costume designer do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a costume designer does on a UK film or TV drama, who signs off the looks, the routes into the job, and whether a small shoot needs one.
- GuideWhat does a costume supervisor do?
2 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a costume supervisor does in the wardrobe department, who they work with, the skills and routes in, and when a small shoot needs one.
- GuideWhat does a dolly grip do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a dolly grip does on a UK film or TV shoot: the camera move, the dolly and track, safety, who they work with and how to get into grip work.
- GuideWhat does a hair and make-up artist do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a hair and make-up artist does on a UK film or TV drama, how they work under the designer, the routes in and when a small shoot needs one.
- GuideWhat does a lighting director (TV) do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a TV lighting director does on a multi-camera show: the look, the lighting plan, the crew, the safety duties and how people get into the role.
- GuideWhat does a line producer do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a line producer does on a film or TV shoot, who they work with, how people reach the role in the UK, and whether a small shoot needs one.
- GuideWhat does a production coordinator do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a production coordinator does to run the production office on a film or TV shoot, who they work with, and how people move into the role in the UK.
- GuideWhat does a production manager do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a production manager does on a film or TV shoot, who they report to and lead, the skills the job needs, and whether a small shoot needs one.
- GuideWhat does a prop master do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a prop master does on a UK film or TV drama, who they work with, the skills the job needs, the usual routes in and whether a small shoot needs one.
- GuideWhat does a set decorator do?
4 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a set decorator does on a UK film or TV drama shoot, who they report to, how people get into the job, and whether a small shoot needs one.
- GuideWhat does a sound assistant do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a sound assistant (sound trainee) does on a film or TV shoot: batteries, cable, kit, radio mics, who they report to and how to get started.
- GuideWhat does a unit manager do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
A unit manager runs the unit base on location: parking, facilities and catering. What the job covers, who they work with and when a shoot can skip one.
- GuideWhat does a VFX supervisor do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
A VFX supervisor plans which shots need visual effects, supervises them on set and signs off the finished work. Shoot-day role, team, kit and UK routes.
- GuideWhat does a video assist operator do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a video assist operator does on a film or drama set: monitors, playback, the shot archive, who they work with, and how to get into the job.
- GuideWhat does an art director do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a film or TV art director does: turning the production designer's concept into sets, drawings and a budget, who they lead and how people progress.
- GuideWhat does an assistant editor do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What an assistant editor does in a cutting room on a UK film or TV drama, who they work with, the software and routes in, and when a small shoot needs one.
- GuideWhat does an editor do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a film or TV drama editor does through the shoot and the post-production, who they work with, the routes in and what Granary charges for an editor.
- GuideWhat does an intimacy coordinator do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
An intimacy coordinator plans intimate scenes with the performers and the camera before the shoot. What the job covers, who they work with and when you need one.
- GuideWill my car fit in the studio?
4 min read · Commission a video
The numbers a car photographer needs before booking a drive-in studio: 2.4m wide, 4.5m high doors, a 5.3m x 7.1m cove, ground-level access, which cars fit clean on white, and what a Defender needs.
- GuideYour first job as a runner: how to get in
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
How to get your first runner job on a UK film or TV shoot, with the main routes in, the skills employers ask for and what to check before you start.
- GuideA cottage interior, built on the cove for Channel 4
4 min read · Commission a video
A Channel 4 drama directed by Tim Pope needed a cottage interior. It was built and dressed on Granary Digital's infinity cove near Chichester in five days by a six-person crew, then shot.
- GuideAudio course production: what we learnt making The Phoenix Formula
3 min read · Commission a video
What we learnt making The Phoenix Formula, a 24-episode audio course: testing demand, checking sources, mastering, a private feed and selling it lawfully.
- GuideBeing 10% more than you on camera, 20% on stage
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
Why a camera shows less of you than a room does, how much more to give on camera and on stage, and a record and compare routine to find your level.
- GuideCalls to action people act on: what should they do, think or feel?
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
How to write a call to action that people act on. Choose one thing to do, think or feel, make it specific, place it after the recap and make it easy to take.
- GlossaryCamera glossary
Glossary · Glossaries and test files
Plain definitions of the camera terms a film or video crew uses, from aperture and bit depth to timecode and white balance, in alphabetical order.
- TemplateCamera report template: what to log on each take
Excel or Google Sheets · free preview · Camera, light and sound
A camera report template for logging every card, clip and take on a film or video shoot, with the fields, the order to fill them in and common errors.
- GuideCharity film on a small budget
2 min read · Commission a video
How a charity can make a credible film on a small budget: one job, one story, one location, consent planned early and cut-downs chosen for the channels that matter.
- TemplateContinuity log template for script supervisors
Excel or Google Sheets · free preview · Plan and run a shoot
A continuity log template for film and video: the fields a script supervisor fills in for each take, a worked example and the mistakes that cause reshoots.
- TemplateCostume continuity sheet: a template for every look
Word or Google Docs · free preview · Camera, light and sound
A costume continuity sheet for film and video shoots, with the columns to fill in, a worked example, the steps on set and the mistakes that show on screen.
- TemplateDaily production report: a template and how to fill it
Excel or Google Sheets · free preview · Plan and run a shoot
A daily production report template for a film or video shoot, with the fields to complete, who fills them in and the errors that cause trouble the next morning.
- GuideData with a human face: story first, figures second
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
How to present figures so people remember them: lead with one person, choose one number per point, and say what it means in plain words.
- TemplateDeliverables spec sheet template for video
Excel or Google Sheets · free preview · Commission a video
A deliverables spec sheet for video jobs, with one row per file, the columns that matter and a worked example for a film and its cutdowns.
- GuideDMX basics: universes, addresses, our 42 channels
5 min read · Camera, light and sound
How DMX512 universes and addresses work, how to avoid clashes, and how the White Space's 42 dimmer channels and two universes fit into the picture.
- Long readEdit workflow: proxies, conform, delivery
6 min read · Edit, deliver and publish
A practical edit workflow from card to master: when proxies help, how to keep a timeline clean for the conform, and what to check before you deliver.
- TemplateFestival strategy and submission tracker
Excel or Google Sheets · free preview · Edit, deliver and publish
How to plan which film festivals to enter and keep every deadline, fee and reply in one tracker, with a worked example and the common mistakes.
- ToolFile size and bitrate calculator for podcasts
Calculator · free, no sign-up · Make a podcast
Work out how big a podcast episode will be from its bitrate and length, how much a year of episodes needs, and where the unit mistakes happen.
- GuideFood photography in a studio: styling, light, hero shots
4 min read · Photography and headshots
How to light, angle and style food in a studio, and how to plan the hero shot first, with a shoot-day order that protects the dishes that die fastest.
- GuideHow does remote ADR work?
7 min read · Commission a video
How a remote ADR session runs: Source-Connect Pro, transport sync, streamers on picture, full-quality takes at both ends, and what the director and actor need.
- GuideHow many videos can you film in a day?
4 min read · Commission a video
Eight short videos on a pre-lit stage, four if you relight for each one. Where studio time goes, with worked days and prices near Chichester.
- GuideHow not to look nervous: habits to drop
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
The small movements that give nerves away on stage or on camera, what to do instead, and how to rehearse the change before the day.
- GuideHow to be a good podcast guest
4 min read · Make a podcast
How to prepare for a podcast interview, sit well at a broadcast microphone and help the show afterwards, from a podcast studio near Chichester.
- GuideInclusive and neurodiverse-friendly presenting
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
How to plan a talk that most people can follow and join in: predictable structure, plain language, advance notes and clear choices for every listener.
- TemplateInterview your CEO well: a question bank
Word or Google Docs · free preview · Commission a video
Interview questions for a CEO on camera, grouped by theme, with follow-ups, a simple method for running the interview and the mistakes to avoid.
- Test fileLatency and sync test file: how to use it
Free download · Glossaries and test files
How to use a free 30 second test file with a flash, a beep and a frame counter to measure picture and sound offset through a live chain.
- FilmLav placement: where to clip a lavalier microphone
Explainer film · Camera, light and sound
Where to clip a lavalier mic on a presenter or actor, how to hide the cable and stop clothing noise, with steps and the mistakes to avoid.
- TemplateMake-up continuity sheet: a template for every look
Word or Google Docs · free preview · Camera, light and sound
A make-up continuity sheet for film and video: the columns for base, eyes, lips and hair, a worked example, steps on set and mistakes to avoid.
- GuideMake-up for green screen and coves: what to change
2 min read · Camera, light and sound
How green spill and a white infinity cove change make-up on camera, with steps for a matte look that holds on the monitor and the common mistakes.
- GuideMentally healthy productions: using the Whole Picture Toolkit
2 min read · Rules, rights and safety
How to use the free Whole Picture Toolkit from The Film and TV Charity to plan crew wellbeing on a production, stage by stage.
- ChecklistName, artwork and trailer checklist for a new podcast
PDF, 1 page · free preview · Make a podcast
A checklist for the three things to settle before episode one: the show name, square cover art that works at thumbnail size, and a short trailer.
- GuideNDI, SDI or HDMI: which to use and when
2 min read · Film and stream events
How NDI, SDI and HDMI move video, what HD-SDI and NDI bandwidth figures mean, and which connection suits which live job.
- TemplateOffload log template for camera cards
Excel or Google Sheets · free preview · Camera, light and sound
An offload log template for recording each camera card copied on set, the verified copies made, where they went and the checks that show they match.
- GuideOur staff or actors? Choosing who appears
3 min read · Commission a video
Staff bring credibility and actors bring control. How to choose who appears in a corporate video, mix the two, and brief whoever is on camera.
- GlossaryPodcast glossary: audio, recording and publishing terms
Glossary · Glossaries and test files
Plain definitions of about thirty podcast terms, from alignment level and clipping to show notes and sync clap, in alphabetical order.
- Test filePodcast test pack: tone, pink noise, sync blip and slate
Free download · Glossaries and test files
Three test files and a slate for setting levels, checking a room and matching picture to sound, with the steps for each and the mistakes that spoil a take.
- GuidePresenting to Gen Z (and every other generation)
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
How to hold a Gen Z audience and every other generation: say the length, earn the first minute, build in participation and take questions mid-talk.
- Long readPrint, TV and radio interviews: what changes for you
8 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
The same message needs different delivery in print, on radio and on TV. What the audience gets from you in each, and what to change before you say yes.
- GuideRecording a remote guest properly
4 min read · Make a podcast
How a broadcast engineer records a remote podcast guest: mix-minus so nobody hears themselves, a local recording at each end, and what to do when the line drops. From Granary Digital's podcast studio near Chichester.
- GuideRecording your audiobook for ACX: the specs, the maths and the room
5 min read · Commission a video
ACX's audio rules in plain English, how a word count turns into fifty hours of work, and why the noise floor is where home recordings fail.
- GuideSandbag and safe working load basics
3 min read · Camera, light and sound
What a sandbag does on a grip stand, where the safe working load applies, the checks to make before rigging and the HSE duties for work at height.
- TemplateShort film budget template for UK funding applications
Excel or Google Sheets · free preview · Plan and run a shoot
A line-by-line UK short film budget layout with the 10% contingency, access and delivery lines, and the figures funders look for first.
- TemplateShow notes, chapters and transcripts template
Word or Google Docs · free preview · Make a podcast
A fill-in template for each episode's written material: show notes, chapter timestamps and a clean transcript, with the order to write them in.
- GlossarySound glossary for location and studio recording
Glossary · Glossaries and test files
Twenty-nine sound terms explained in plain English for presenters, producers and crew, from boom and room tone to LTC, plosives and sync.
- TemplateSound report template, with a worked example
Excel or Google Sheets · free preview · Camera, light and sound
A sound report sheet for location and studio shoots, with the fields to fill in, a worked example line and the mistakes that cost the editor time.
- GlossaryStudio & production glossary
Glossary · Glossaries and test files
A plain-English glossary of studio and film production terms: infinity cove, chroma key, gaffer, DMX, day rate, autocue and 45 more, explained by a working studio.
- GuideTalking-head course set-ups on a budget
3 min read · Commission a video
How to set up a talking-head video for an online course at home on a budget, covering sound, light, background and eye level, with a test to check it.
- ChecklistThe presenter's grab bag: what to bring
PDF, 2 pages · free preview · Be good on camera and on stage
A fixed kit list for presenters: cables, adapters, batteries, a clicker, printed notes and backups, with a checklist to keep in the bag.
- TemplateTongue twisters for clear speech
PDF, 1 page · free preview · Be good on camera and on stage
How to use a printable tongue twister sheet as a five-minute warm-up for clear speech before a talk, a recording or a take.
- GuideTurning nerves into excitement
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
Nerves and excitement feel almost identical in the body. Learn how to name the feeling, prepare until you are steady, and point the energy at your audience.
- GuideWhat does a 2nd assistant director do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a 2nd assistant director does on a UK film or TV shoot: the schedule, the cast, the call sheet, the team around them and how people get in.
- GuideWhat does a camera supervisor (TV) do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
A TV camera supervisor sets up and matches the cameras, agrees the look and keeps picture quality steady through a show. Role, team, kit and routes in.
- GuideWhat does a colourist do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a colourist does in the grading stage of a UK film or TV drama, who they work with, the software and routes in, and when a small shoot needs one.
- GuideWhat does a data wrangler do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a data wrangler does on location: copying and checking footage, labelling and logging it, who they work with and how people get into the job.
- GuideWhat does a floor manager do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
A floor manager runs the studio floor during a TV recording, cueing presenters and guests to the director's plan. Role, shoot day, team and routes in.
- GuideWhat does a hair and make-up designer do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a hair and make-up designer does on a UK film or TV drama, who they work with, the routes into the job and when a small shoot needs one.
- GuideWhat does a jib operator do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
A jib operator moves a camera on a counterweighted arm for smooth rises, falls and swings. How the rig is set up, the shoot day, safety and when you need one.
- GuideWhat does a lighting console operator do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a lighting console operator does on a TV or live show: running the desk to the lighting plan, the crew, the kit and how people get into the role.
- GuideWhat does a location manager do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a location manager does on a film or TV shoot, who they work with, the legal points they handle, and when a small shoot needs one.
- GuideWhat does a production buyer do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a production buyer does on a UK film or TV drama, how they book props and manage budgets, the routes into the job and when a small shoot needs one.
- GuideWhat does an autocue operator do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
An autocue operator runs the script on screen during a recording, at the presenter's pace. The set-up, the shoot day, the crew and when you need one.
- GuideWhat you get from a filmed conference: a deliverables menu
3 min read · Film and stream events
The files a filmed conference can produce, item by item, with what each one is for and the questions to settle before the event starts.
- ToolDo we need a make-up artist? A decision guide
Interactive · free, no sign-up · Camera, light and sound
Answer five questions about your shoot to see whether you need a make-up artist, a short touch-up session or only a basic kit for the presenter.
- ChecklistKnow your audience: questions to ask the organiser
PDF, 2 pages · free preview · Be good on camera and on stage
The questions to ask an event organiser before you speak: who is in the room, how long you have, what is filmed, and who introduces you. Use the checklist.
- GuideMaking a school promo video
2 min read · Commission a video
How a school can plan a short promo film: one audience, approved pupils and staff, one location, a shot list and a consent process agreed before the shoot.
- GuideMC, compère, host, moderator or facilitator: which job is yours?
3 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
The difference between an MC, a compère, a host, a moderator and a facilitator, what each one does, and how to brief the right person for your event.
- GuidePAT testing for kit that travels: what the law asks for, and what it doesn't
3 min read · Camera, light and sound
Mike Stevens of MS Electrical on what the law says about PAT testing, how often to test, and why kit that travels to shoots and events needs more care.
- GuideStay in your light
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
How to stay inside the light on stage: ask for the lighting plan, find your marks in the tech rehearsal, and move with the light rather than chasing it.
- GuideWhat does a construction manager do?
3 min read · Crew roles and careers
What a construction manager does on a UK film or TV drama set build, who they work with, the routes in, and when a small shoot needs one.
- GuideWorking at height and rigging basics for film sets
3 min read · Rules, rights and safety
The basics of working at height on a film set: what counts, what the Work at Height Regulations 2005 ask for, and how to plan a rig before anyone climbs.
- Long readWorking with children: licences and chaperones
7 min read · Rules, rights and safety
When a child on your shoot needs a performance licence in England, who applies, how far ahead, what a chaperone does and the hours limits to plan around.
- GuideBooking a studio in West Sussex
4 min read · Commission a video
A 2026 guide to hiring a photo or film studio in West Sussex: what to check, day-rate ranges and how the region's studios compare. By a studio owner.
- GuideBuilding a rain rig inside a barn
3 min read · Camera, light and sound
How we built a rain rig on the cove in August 2025, a timber-framed tank lined in black, and why every rain job at the barn is quoted as its own build.
- GuideHeritage venues for filmed corporate events
3 min read · Film and stream events
Why heritage venues with built-in filming infrastructure are growing for corporate off-sites, and how to choose one within two hours of London for an away-day you can film and reuse.
- GuideHow much does media training cost in the UK?
7 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
What UK media training actually costs in 2026: day rates, per-head group pricing, half-day sessions and what drives the difference. Real numbers, plainly stated.
- GuideHow much does studio hire cost?
4 min read · Commission a video
Real UK studio hire prices, from £25/hour to £395 a day. What's included, what costs extra, and the full rate card. A working studio near Chichester.
- GuideHow to plan a studio shoot
3 min read · Commission a video
A working studio's checklist for planning a shoot: pre-production decisions, kit lists, schedules, and the three things that blow studio days.
- GuideInfinity cove vs green screen
5 min read · Camera, light and sound
Infinity cove, green screen or a paper backdrop? The practical difference in cost, lighting, width and post, and which your shoot needs. From a working studio near Chichester.
- GuideLighting a car in a studio
4 min read · Camera, light and sound
How to light a car on an infinity cove: paint is a mirror, so you light what it reflects. Big soft sources, controlled gradients, the black-box night look, and how the 8-bar grid and 42 dimmer channels at Granary Digital do it.
- GuidePlanning the first six episodes of a business podcast
5 min read · Make a podcast
A practical plan for a business podcast's first season: one listener, one format, six titles, a reusable running order and recording days instead of evenings.
- GuideSouth of England studio map
2 min read · Commission a video
A capability guide to film and photo studios across West Sussex, Hampshire and Surrey. Find a cove, green screen, rain rig or podcast studio near you.
- GuideStudio hire rate card
4 min read · Commission a video
Granary Digital rates: infinity cove £295/half day, green screen from £40/hr, crew from £350/day. All +VAT. Studio near Chichester, West Sussex.
- GuideThe finished-hour maths for audiobooks
4 min read · Commission a video
The arithmetic of audiobook recording: about 9,000 words to a finished hour, two to three studio hours per finished hour for narration, editing and proof-listening on top, and ACX delivery specs. From Granary Digital's studio near Chichester.
- GuideWhat does a gaffer do?
8 min read · Crew roles and careers
A gaffer runs the lighting department on set. What the job involves, how it differs from a spark, best boy and DoP, and what a gaffer costs in the UK.
- GuideWhat fits on a 5.3 by 7.1 metre cove
4 min read · Commission a video
What a 5.3m x 7.1m infinity cove actually holds: a Land Rover Defender, an eight-person battle scene, a panel of six, full-length fashion groups. Real examples with focal lengths, from Granary Digital near Chichester.
- GuideWhat is in a produced episode
4 min read · Make a podcast
What a produced video podcast episode at Granary Digital includes: up to 90 minutes recording, three 4K cameras, an engineer and a producer, audio and video edit, thirty short-form cuts, files in five working days, £395+VAT.
- GuideWhat to wear for a professional headshot
5 min read · Photography and headshots
Plain colours, a good fit and two tops for two looks. What to wear for a business or LinkedIn headshot on a white, grey or dark background.
- GuideWhy our studio has no windows, and why that is the point
4 min read · Commission a video
The barn at Adsdean has no windows, skylights or roof lights. James Jones on why every bit of light coming off a lamp is what makes the studio work.
- ToolSun path and sun position planner for UK location shoots
Calculator · free, no sign-up · Camera, light and sound
A sun path planner shows where the sun sits on a UK location and date, so you can plan camera direction and timing before you book the site.
- GuideThe less healthy food ad rules, nine months in: what the rulings mean for your next shoot
4 min read · Rules, rights and safety
Nine months into the less healthy food ad rules, the ASA's rulings show what makes a product identifiable. How to plan a food shoot around them.
- GuideAI tools we use this quarter
2 min read · AI in production
The categories of AI tool Granary Digital uses in its studio work, what each one is used for, and where a person checks the output before it goes out.
- GlossaryArt department glossary
Glossary · Glossaries and test files
Plain definitions of art department terms used on UK film and video shoots, from set dressing and flats to hero props, recces and continuity.
- TemplateCasting breakdown template
Word or Google Docs · free preview · Plan and run a shoot
A casting breakdown template for UK productions: what each role needs, how to set dates and pay, and the mistakes that bring in the wrong actors.
- TemplateCredits order worksheet (UK)
Word or Google Docs · free preview · Edit, deliver and publish
A UK credits order worksheet: set the order of opening, closing and end credits, check every name, and get sign-off before the picture locks.
- GuideFeedback that helps: celebrate and fix
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
How to ask for presentation feedback that you can use, how to give it in a celebrate-and-fix format, and how to take it in without arguing with the room.
- GlossaryGrip glossary
Glossary · Glossaries and test files
Plain definitions of the grip terms you will hear on a set, from apple boxes and C-stands to flags, gobos, scrims and sandbags, with general safety notes.
- GuideHandling interruptions and the elephant in the room
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
How to respond to a heckle or interruption in one sentence, park off-topic questions, and name the awkward thing in the room once before moving on.
- GuideHearing the producer in your ear
4 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
Why a real interview feels different from a rehearsal: the IFB earpiece, mix-minus and a gallery voice cueing you mid-sentence. How Granary Digital's studio near Chichester reproduces it for media training.
- GuideHow the streamers write production guides
2 min read · Edit, deliver and publish
What Netflix asks productions to plan, submit and check, and which parts a small shoot can borrow without the full production manual.
- TemplateKit list and insurance schedule template
Excel or Google Sheets · free preview · Rules, rights and safety
A kit list and insurance schedule template for freelance crew: the fields to record for each item, how to total the values, and the gaps to avoid.
- GuideQ&A without losing the ending
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
Why the Q&A should come before your close, how to tell the room how questions will run, and how to keep a short ending ready when the questions overrun.
- GuideRunning a better online meeting: the 10-minute rule
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
A simple structure for video meetings. Give people something to do roughly every ten minutes, put breaks on the agenda, and name three roles before you start.
- TemplateScript supervisor's daily report template
Excel or Google Sheets · free preview · Plan and run a shoot
A script supervisor's daily report template: what to record for each scene and take, how to fill it in on the day, and the errors editors hate.
- GuideShooting stills on a video set
2 min read · Photography and headshots
How to plan stills alongside a video shoot: the time, light and permission questions to settle before the day, and the mistakes that cost takes.
- GuideSmiling voice
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
What a smiling voice is, why it changes how a recording sounds, and five steps to find it before you record, with a short practice routine.
- TemplateSponsorship pitch template and rate maths
Word or Google Docs · free preview · Make a podcast
A one-page sponsorship pitch template and the rate sum behind it. Work out a per-episode fee from your own listens, and label the ad the way the ASA asks.
- ChecklistTracking markers and plate shooting checklist
PDF, 2 pages · free preview · Camera, light and sound
A checklist for tracking markers and clean plates in visual effects, with the camera and lens records that stop a composite falling apart.
- GuideUsing the whole stage, moving with purpose
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
How to move on stage with a reason: give each point its own spot, move with purpose, stop to make the point, and rehearse the layout with the mic on.
- Guide1st AD set etiquette and calls
2 min read · Plan and run a shoot
How the 1st assistant director runs a film set, the common calls you will hear, and the floor etiquette that keeps a set quiet, safe and on time.
- GuideBeing a good audience on camera
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
How to look attentive on a video call. Keep your camera on where you can, show listening with small signals, and look at the speaker's camera.
- GuideFacial expression on camera
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
How to use your face on camera. Start from what you want the viewer to feel, exaggerate slightly, then record, watch on mute and adjust one thing at a time.
- GuideHands on camera: in frame or out, never both
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
What to do with your hands on camera. Keep them fully in frame or fully out, use them to support your voice, and stop the half-in fidget that pulls the eye.
- GuidePitch deck structure for short films
6 min read · Plan and run a shoot
A slide-by-slide structure for a short film pitch deck: what goes on each slide, a worked example, how long it should be and the mistakes that sink decks.
- TemplateProp and set dressing list template
Excel or Google Sheets · free preview · Camera, light and sound
A prop and set dressing list for film and video shoots: what to record for each item, how to fill the sheet in, and the mistakes that cost time on the day.
- GuideSet up, Transition, Pause (STP)
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
The STP habit for presentation slides. Set up each point before you click, make one calm change, then pause while the room reads the new slide.
- GuideOfcom's streaming access code: what 80% subtitles, 10% audio description and 5% signing mean for producers
3 min read · Edit, deliver and publish
Ofcom's draft code would make Netflix, ITVX and others subtitle 80%, audio describe 10% and sign 5% of their catalogues. What it means for producers.
- GuideSit or stand for camera?
2 min read · Be good on camera and on stage
How to choose between sitting and standing for a video. Set up both, record them, and keep the position that feels natural and holds steady on screen.
Nothing matches those filters. Try fewer, or ask the studio: if we know the answer we will write it up.
granary.digital · 01243 884993 · studio@granary.digital · The Old Grainstore, Adsdean, Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 9DN · Prices exclude VAT unless marked inc VAT