Monday 16 February 2015

Film news (UK): New UK film production studio to be created; 7DM Studios to support independent filmmakers

Film professionals with 350 years combined experience are to start a new UK collective film studio.

London-based 7DM Studios, the brainchild of filmmakers Nicholas David Lean and James Fisher, will integrate everything from script development to international sales, as well as opening its doors to filmmakers at earlier stages of their career.

“Everyone knows someone who’s trying to break into the film industry. We want to provide a vertically-integrated and commercially-focused source of support.” said CEO Nicholas David Lean.

Based out of Soho, London and facilitated by London’s ‘Big Five’ of Pinewood, Shepperton, Elstree, Twickenham, and 3Mills, who will provide the physical infrastructure, the company will focus on fusing low-budget projects (those under £2m) with creative talent, finance, and key resources across all disciplines in the filmmaking process, thus providing vital opportunities for under-served filmmakers to fully realise and complete their films.

CCO James Fisher added: “7DM Studios can provide either a complete management solution to productions, or very role-specific third-party support – both of which many emerging producers and filmmakers urgently require – whatever they need, 7DM Studios can provide it.”

Running alongside those services will be a slate of films which 7DM Studios will produce in-house, two of which will go into immediate production in 2015. These include Comedy-Horror “SHED OF THE DEAD”, directed by Drew Cullingham, who is Head of Development at 7DM Studios.
Other key members of the team include: James Farmer (Branding), Mike Higgins (Production), Chris Backhouse (Finance), Philip Rymer (Legal Affairs), Kirsty Bell (Accounts), Robin TJ Kershaw (Marketing), and Paul Eyres (Sales & Distribution).

7DM Studios is pre-qualified for S/EIS.