For film crews

4 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

4 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

2 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

2 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

8 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

4 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

4 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

4 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

Twenty practical set etiquette rules for a first day on a film or TV shoot, covering phones, silence, food, props, safety and being useful.

3 min read

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.

8 min read

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.

Calculator · free, no sign-up

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.

Calculator · free, no sign-up

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.

Interactive · free, no sign-up

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.

Calculator · free, no sign-up

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.

Calculator · free, no sign-up

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.

Calculator · free, no sign-up

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.

Interactive · free, no sign-up

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.

Calculator · free, no sign-up

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.

Calculator · free, no sign-up

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.

Calculator · free, no sign-up

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.

Explainer film

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.

Explainer film

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

5 min read

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.

4 min read

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.

2 min read

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.

5 min read

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.

5 min read

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.

4 min read

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.

5 min read

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.

2 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

5 min read

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.

4 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

5 min read

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.

2 min read

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.

6 min read

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.

6 min read

How to record usable dialogue on a small shoot: boom position, lavalier placement, levels, monitoring and the room tone your editor will ask for.

6 min read

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.

Excel or Google Sheets · free preview

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.

Word or Google Docs · free preview

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.

Word or Google Docs · free preview

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.

Excel or Google Sheets · free preview

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.

Excel or Google Sheets · free preview

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.

Excel or Google Sheets · free preview

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.

PDF, 2 pages · free preview

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.

PDF, 2 pages · free preview

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.

PDF, 2 pages · free preview

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.

PDF, 2 pages · free preview

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.

PDF, 2 pages · free preview

A checklist for tracking markers and clean plates in visual effects, with the camera and lens records that stop a composite falling apart.

Explainer film

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.

2 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

2 min read

How to use the free Whole Picture Toolkit from The Film and TV Charity to plan crew wellbeing on a production, stage by stage.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

5 min read

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.

4 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

6 min read

What BAFTA albert certification involves, what Channel 4 asks of producers, and the studio and supplier data to collect before you shoot.

6 min read

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.

7 min read

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.

6 min read

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.

8 min read

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.

6 min read

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.

6 min read

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.

6 min read

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.

6 min read

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.

7 min read

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.

6 min read

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.

6 min read

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.

7 min read

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.

Word or Google Docs · free preview

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.

Excel or Google Sheets · free preview

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.

Word or Google Docs · free preview

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.

Excel or Google Sheets · free preview

A music cue sheet template for short films and programmes, with each field explained, a worked example and the mistakes that delay music reporting.

Word or Google Docs · free preview

What to put in talent, location, property and minor releases for UK shoots, with the UK GDPR consent points and the child licence check.

Word or Google Docs · free preview

A risk assessment template for studio and location shoots: hazards, who could be harmed, controls, ratings and actions, with the legal duty behind it.

Interactive · free, no sign-up

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.

Explainer film

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.

2 min read

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.

4 min read

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.

6 min read

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.

4 min read

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.

6 min read

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.

Word or Google Docs · free preview

A two-column AV script template for films and corporate videos, with picture and sound cues, timings and the mistakes that cost an edit.

Excel or Google Sheets · free preview

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.

Word or Google Docs · free preview

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.

Excel or Google Sheets · free preview

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.

Word or Google Docs · free preview

A crew deal memo template for UK productions, with the terms to cover, the employment status check to make first and a worked example.

Excel or Google Sheets · free preview

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.

Word or Google Docs · free preview

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.

Excel or Google Sheets · free preview

A UK production budget top sheet: how to total each department, show VAT and contingency, and check the total against the detailed budget.

Excel or Google Sheets · free preview

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.

Excel or Google Sheets · free preview

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.

Excel or Google Sheets · free preview

A line-by-line UK short film budget layout with the 10% contingency, access and delivery lines, and the figures funders look for first.

Excel or Google Sheets · free preview

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.

Excel or Google Sheets · free preview

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.

PDF, 10 pages · free preview

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.

PDF, 3 pages · free preview

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.

PDF, 2 pages · free preview

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.

Calculator · free, no sign-up

Which aspect ratio suits YouTube, TikTok, Reels, Facebook and LinkedIn, and how to keep faces and captions clear of platform overlays.

Interactive · free, no sign-up

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.

3 min read

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.

2 min read

What Netflix asks productions to plan, submit and check, and which parts a small shoot can borrow without the full production manual.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

7 min read

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.

6 min read

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.

6 min read

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.

Word or Google Docs · free preview

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.

Excel or Google Sheets · free preview

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.

Zip of files · free preview

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.

PDF, 2 pages · free preview

A one-page list of the delivery checks for broadcast and online video, covering frame rate, size, loudness, peaks, bitrate, audio and test patterns.

PDF, 2 pages · free preview

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.

PDF, 2 pages · free preview

Current upload limits and recommended settings for TikTok, Reels, YouTube and LinkedIn video, with the checks to run before you export.

Interactive · free, no sign-up

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.

2 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

2 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

6 min read

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.

6 min read

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.

6 min read

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.

6 min read

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.

Word or Google Docs · free preview

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.

PDF, 2 pages · free preview

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.

Glossary

Plain definitions of the AI terms that come up in briefs, quotes and production meetings, with the questions to ask when each one matters.

Glossary

Plain definitions of art department terms used on UK film and video shoots, from set dressing and flats to hero props, recces and continuity.

Glossary

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.

Glossary

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.

Glossary

Thirty lighting terms explained in plain English for presenters, producers and crew, from barn doors and bounce to T-stop, lux and tungsten.

Glossary

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.

Glossary

Twenty-nine sound terms explained in plain English for presenters, producers and crew, from boom and room tone to LTC, plosives and sync.

Free download

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.

Free download

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.

Free download

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.

3 min read

Commercial, corporate and advertising photography are different jobs, with different briefs and usage terms. How to tell which you need and brief it.

4 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

5 min read

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.

2 min read

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.

PDF, 2 pages · free preview

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.

PDF, 2 pages · free preview

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.

Calculator · free, no sign-up

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.

5 min read

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.

4 min read

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.

2 min read

How NDI, SDI and HDMI move video, what HD-SDI and NDI bandwidth figures mean, and which connection suits which live job.

7 min read

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.

Excel or Google Sheets · free preview

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.

Excel or Google Sheets · free preview

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.

4 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

3 min read

A working studio's checklist for planning a shoot: pre-production decisions, kit lists, schedules, and the three things that blow studio days.

4 min read

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.

4 min read

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.

4 min read

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.

3 min read

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.

2 min read

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.

Calculator · free, no sign-up

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.