James Day

Are you going to The Children's Media Conference in Sheffield this week? Don't miss the session I have exec produced, Collaboration for Change, on Wednesday 10th July in Cinema 1, 12.40-1.40pm. Please do bring your lunch! The latest on inclusive casting and production, with practical tips on how to bring about change. Produced by Jo G. and featuring all these brilliant contributors: Hanah Draper, Fern Lulham, Karen Newell, Laura Winson (nee Johnson) as well as young actor Sonny Shaw, moderated by model Devon J, one of the stars of Channel 4's New Model Agency. https://lnkd.in/e8NGgEdV This deep dive into the current landscape of inclusive casting and production will consider who has been doing it well and how they achieve that. It will explore how technology is being used to promote inclusion, both in front of and behind the camera. In the spirit of “Inclusivity Now”, practical hints and tips will help you to tell authentic stories that resonate – and if disability is not on your radar, then neither is diversity, and you risk being left behind.

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🧠 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱: 𝗡𝗼𝗻-𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱! After a decade of building our little video production company here in Cardiff 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 (and working with clients like Amazon, Twitter and Virgin Media O2) we're setting our sights on growing a powerhouse of content production and becoming a top-10 production company in the UK, so we're looking to strengthen our board to help nudge us in the right direction and keep us on our toes. What you'll bring to the (board) table: 🎖️ Extensive experience in the creative industry 🎖️ Previously helped grow a business from £1–2 mill rev and beyond 🎖️ A passion for the media and video production landscape 🎖️ Expertise in finance, operations or marketing 🎖️ Strategic insight and a network to help drive our growth In return, we'll pay you for your time, or we could talk equity—whatever's a win-win for everyone involved. If helping to supercharge a passionate young(ish 🤔) creative business sounds right up your alley, let's chat! And if you know someone that would be just the ticket, I'd super appreciate an introduction 👌 (to clarify—and likely disappoint—we don't in fact have a grand mahogany-laden board room, but we all need goals to strive for, right?) #videoproduction #growth #strategy #finance #agencyops

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Something I'm particularly proud of at Bobbin Productions is having a zero bad vibes policy when it comes to hiring. The world is full of talented creatives. So we only choose the proper lovely ones. Why? Because nothing gets better results for our clients than having a room full of positive can-doers, loving their work. I've encountered some bad eggs in my time. A few of them have even slipped through my net and onto our sets. But they've never been asked back. I even have a google sheet called "the sh*tlist" of rotters who we won't work with. There are two names on it. Do we need a spreadsheet? Obviously not. But it was the closest thing I could think of to an inoculation. In a world where technical skill and creative ability is abundant, the things I find myself hiring for are: Curiosity. Temperament. Problem-solving. Dependability. Kindness. What do you look for in a teammate?

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Burgage plots are the main residential buildings in Manor Lords, and upgrading them is essential for unlocking new features, generating regional wealth, and progressing through the game. Each burgage plot has three tiers, and upgrading them will not only increase your income but also contribute to reaching the next settlement level. #ManorLords #ManorLordsGuides

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I am really looking forward to expanding my skills in the crazy world of marketing

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'Sorry, that's going to be a bit beyond our budget - is there any chance for some wiggle room?' People working in video production will have heard that phrase a thousand times over, but knowing when to bring your price down, if at all, can be a really challenging prospect 😵‍💫 I think we're all guilty of accepting a job somewhere along the line at a lower rate than we're happy with, whether it's because we've really wanted to do that gig or perhaps it's been a quiet month and we need to get something over the line to pay the bills. Sometimes it can be worth doing if you're working with a great client who genuinely is on a budget and could prove to be a great contact, but on the flip side there can be times when the client more than likely can afford your original quote, they just want it cheaper. Or perhaps you're being sub-contracted by an agency who's looking after the end client and they want to make as much margin on your rate as possible e.g. if you're quoting £500 for a day shoot, that agency is more than likely billing the client for £800. I've definitely done jobs cheaper than I should have in the past and that's something I'm really trying to eradicate now. I'm happy to go against my own rules to some degree if I really like the people I'll be working with or if it's for a good cause, but I think it's important to not routinely take on projects with clients who just want the cheapest rate because then you're setting a trend where they'll expect that in the future. Not to mention if they do ever recommend you then the referred prospect will probably be expecting the same price their mate got it for and you'll be stuck in a rut where you won't be able to charge what you feel is right 🤷‍♂️ Obviously this is so much easier said than done when times are tough and you just need to get money in the bank, but if you've got a strong portfolio and track record of producing successful work then you should rarely be accepting lower than what you're quoting for.

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A lesson for Freelancers and rates. I was recently asked my rate for a job, a personal bug bare as often the producer has a rate in mind and wants to see if they can save by getting a team that can deliver under budget. Yes it’s annoying but to be honest, not something I can be angry about, as much as I have a job to do, so do they. I said my rate and they immediately replied with "Sounds good" and I thought damn I should have gone higher. We then jumped on a call to discuss the job. Half way through the call I found the confidence to say "I just wanted to ask, did I underrate myself for this job?" And to my surprise the producer said "yes you did, we could actually pay you more" and so I said "Please do, I'd like to retract my rate and go with the rate that means we all benefit" and with that my rate for the job went up. I was really proud of myself for not being too nervous to ask for more. Often as women and as freelancers, especially in this climate, we underrate ourselves to secure the job, any job and we end up frustrated. No one wins in that situation, but in this situation, everyone does. So this is a reminder to not be afraid to ask for more. Especially as a director, the rate can fluctuate depending on the client. And also to producers, be just like the producer I had for this particular job if you can, knowing I could have more and prioritising me over saving a few hundred pounds. It means a lot and it shows a real level of kindness. We are all just trying to make it work out here, so having each others backs goes a long way.

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I feel COMPLETELY LOST running a startup. On most days at least… Over the last month I’ve been filming a documentary and social media campaign, about Mythical Sea Creatures, together with Octopus Energy. Driving around the UK, chasing myths. So you can see why I feel lost. It’s now been almost 4 years, running my film production business full time, and we’ve truly had our ups and downs. In January this year we weren’t able to pay anyone. In February and March we worked with some of the UK’s biggest YouTubers and now in May-June this year, we’ve been working with one of the leading Energy companies in the UK. Here’s our lates video: https://lnkd.in/ecUmbXrF Still, on most days I haven’t a clue what I’m doing. There’s cameras and SD cards, accounting & finance, people management & google meets, web design & social media, tax, emails and phone calls and pitch decks… and LinkedIn. I entered the startup world, because I want to make films, and I love “doing it yourself”.  But now I spend most days thinking about Systems & Operations and organising, everything, I mean EVERYTHING! So I’m truly lost.  But I say that with optimism, because yes it’s chaos, but also, I’m learning to withstand the lack of certainty, to push through even if it doesn’t make complete sense because the learning curve is what is most valuable. I’m learning what I can do and what I can’t, what to do myself and what to delegate, when to push through your own ideas and when to listen, when to work hard, but also when to take a break. People act as if they know all the answers. I can’t give you many lessons, but I’m working hard every day, and I’m slowly making progress. Ultimately, I’m 28, I’m running a small business and I’m lost,  but I’m okay with it. #videoproduction #startup #startupuk

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Whiteboards are so underrated! Yes in the creative space we rely on cutting edge software's to actualise our visions, but sometimes a marker and a clean whiteboard is just the thingyou need to doodle out those ideas... #ronmedia #branding #videoproduction #corporate #nonprofits

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3 Reasons to Meet Me at Develop:Brighton -I'll buy your game and add it to my ridiculous backlog📜 -I've been researching food places for the last 20 years of my life in Brighton and I have lists for all tastebuds.🥘🥐🥙🥗🥞🦐🥕 - 4 beers in and I lose my northern accent and my thick brummy accent comes out.🍻 All valid reasons in my book! And if you want to discuss recruitment with a partner that doesn't over promise and underdeliver, has a fee structure that benefits the studio more than the recruiter and focuses on people hiring rather than a numbers game? We can have those conversations too. #developbrighton #videogames #gamesindustry

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Another day in the office 🎥 Getting the best for your clients means understanding their wants for the end result & formulating a process that allows you to get them there, whilst not making it exhaustive. I’ve come to realise over the past few years that the number one priority & focus is never the cameras, the audio, the scene, the technicalities or the equipment, it’s the client & their experience. It’s kind of like that old poker adage- you play the person, not the cards. So here’s a little example of what that means in real life. I’m explaining how to perform a natural yet convincing ‘dip & kiss’ shot & as you can see, by focussing on my interaction with my subjects in a relatable way I’m able to extract a great moment for them. #videography #videocreator #videographers #weddingindustry #filmmaking #clientexperience

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We're looking for feedback on a new concept we're exploring. It's a bit out there, so hang onto your hats. Would you book a digital version of a band? Here's what I mean... So let's pick one of our bands to demonstrate the point. The Big Papas are arguably the busiest band in the country. Because of this, they're unavailable for most of the enquiries that come in for them. So here's what we're exploring... ✅ We professionally video the band performing a full wedding set ✅ The songs would be recorded individually, so the client would have the option of choosing the order in which they were played. ✅ Generic welcome messages, inviting wedding couples onto the floor for the first dance, end-of-night sign-offs, etc, would all be recorded and baked into the performance. ✅ All the banter/crowd participation and callback dialogue for each song would be captured as well. ✅ A technician would arrive at the venue with a PA system, 4 K projector, and scrim/screens. ✅ He /she would essentially be a video DJ, seamlessly blending the video/tunes together and augmenting the digital Big Papas performance to your specific requirements. ✅ You'd then dance the night away and interact with a digital version of the band. ✅ The digital product would be way cheaper than the band. Somewhere in the £650-£750 price range. ✅ Essentially an option for someone who was stuck between a DJ or band, or had space / sound restrictions at the venue. ✅ The benefits would be your favourite band at a much lower price point that never gets sick, sounds AWESOME every night, never pulls out of a gig and accommodates every song request (from the setlist) Oh, and never raids the buffet! We're still fleshing out the edge cases, but at this point, we're looking for candid feedback on the general concept. Really appreciate EVERYONE chipping in here.

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You heard it right... #Entries for the #BroadcastTechInnovationAwards close today. If you've not yet entered, then what are you waiting for... get your #technical skates on and #ENTERNOW before it's too late! Find out how to enter and more information by following the link below: 🔗 👇 #BTIA2024 #TechAwards #BroadcastTech #Innovation #Tech #Technology #2024Awards #IndustryAwards

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The high's and low's of working from home ✨ With Pop Up, we travel a lot, rehearse in different parts of the UK and generally have a bit of a random schedule which include days working from home. For me personally it comes with it's own set of pros and cons! The Pros - ✨ Ditching the commute - saves money on petrol and the stress of traffic :) ✨ Being in the comforts of your own home - slippers and a blanket are my personal favourites! ✨ Getting to cook for lunch in your own kitchen and not having to prep the night before. ✨Managing to stick a wash on during a break 😆 The Cons - ✨ Lack of conversation - There are teams calls throughout the day, but sometimes you just want to ask someone what the are having for lunch 😆 ✨ Sometimes a lack of energy from not being woken up by a big drive ✨ Missing listening to the radio - strange one but nothing beats the radio on commutes! ✨ Missing the creative buzz. Overall I love the mix up of what we have at Pop Up. Watching rehearsals, auditions, on site, working in an office, working from home - every week is different and that's what keeps me so excited about the job!

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EDITING TOP TIP: In an endeavour to avoid cutting exactly on beat of music and bring a new flavour to my editing, I’m using a metronome. Set to the same tempo as the music, I turn on the metronome and watch the edit with visuals only. This is a BRILLIANT way to watch the pacing of your edit and find new ways to cut that flow well with your music track, but not on the beat, every beat, like every Instagram reel you’ve ever seen… Give it a shot and let me know how it goes!

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This week has highlighted some concerning marketing mishaps. Samsung's '6 months free Persil' promotion turned out to be both very limited in quantity and not entirely free. Also today a BBC report revealed that only 2 out of the top 45 computer games comply with regulations on 'Loot Boxes,' a form of in-game purchase with uncertain random rewards, that is in effect gambling. I want to emphasise the importance of industry self-regulation. Failure to adhere to the sensible provisions of the codes could prompt heavy handed government intervention, leading to detrimental consequences for all of us. A stark example is the complete ban on cigarette advertising due to non-compliance and failure of the social media giants to sort out inappropriate content has led to Australia banning under 16's from access to all of them ( in 2025) To my fellow marketers, I implore you to understand and respect the laws and codes and for those of you in the Games industry it is beyond time for a thorough review of how you handle in game purchases of loot box before a potential total ban come into effect. Stay informed, stay compliant, and ensure ethical practices in your marketing activities. Sources: - Samsung Promotion Ruling: [Link] - BBC Report on Loot Boxes: [Link]

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