How do you make great films and television, whether you've got a big budget behind you or are making it happen with next to nothing?

Creative Community Mixer: Big Budget, No Budget

24th November | 6pm–8pm

How do you make great films and television, whether you've got a big budget behind you or are making it happen with next to nothing?

For this month's Creative Community Mixer, we're exploring 'Big Budget, No Budget' looking at filmmaking from both ends of the scale.

From the scale and resources of major television productions to the creativity, problem-solving and resourcefulness needed to bring independent projects to life.

We're bringing together two fantastic industry professionals to share their experiences, insights and perspectives on making it happen on screen.

Meet our speakers

Ash Spall | Assistant Director & Acting Coach

Ash has spent the past five years working in television, progressing from runner to 3rd Assistant Director and building experience on some of the UK's biggest productions.

His credits include ITV's Without Sin and Midsomer Murders, Sky's Brassic, BBC's Boiling Point, Apple TV's Ted Lasso and, most recently, Netflix's Adolescence.

Ash will bring an insight into working on large-scale television productions, exploring the people, planning and processes that go into bringing ambitious productions to life.

Alongside his TV work, Ash is an acting coach and regularly delivers television workshops in schools and colleges.

Andrew David Barker | Screenwriter, Novelist & Film Director

Andrew works across independent film, feature films and literature as a screenwriter, novelist and director.

His filmmaking credits include the post-apocalyptic micro-feature A Reckoning and several award-winning short films, including Laura Living Backwards, Shining Tor, Two Old Boys and Baby on Board.

He is a co-screenwriter on forthcoming feature films How to Survive the Wild and Improper Bastards, with further projects in development for 2027.

Andrew is also the author of four novels and an Arts Council Grant recipient. Through his filmmaking and writing, he brings a perspective on developing and creating projects outside the traditional big-budget production environment.

He also writes about filmmaking and screenwriting in his Substack, Outrun the Doubt.

Find Andrew at: https://andrewdavidbarker.substack.com/ (https://andrewdavidbarker.substack.com/)

What to expect

We'll explore the differences between big-budget and independent filmmaking, the challenges and opportunities at each end of the scale, and what it really takes to get a project from an idea onto the screen.

Whether you're an established filmmaker, an emerging creative, a writer, actor, producer or simply curious about the world of film and television, come along, share ideas and meet your creative community.

Full Agenda

6:00pm - Doors Open / Drinks / Networking

6:30pm - Ash Spall

7:00pm - Andrew Barker

7:30pm - Drinks / Networking

8:00pm - Event Close

Description supplied by the event organiser.