Film retainer

Your own film team. (by the month)

A retainer is simple: one fixed monthly fee reserves a set amount of our time every month, so there is always a crew, an editor and a creative lead on hand who already know your brand. No quotes to wait for, no re-briefing a new producer. We ran retainers for Arcadia Group for five years and Stylist Magazine for four.

How it works

Four steps, then a monthly rhythm.

01

Pick a plan

Three levels of commitment. Move between them on 30 days' notice.

02

We hold the days

Your time is reserved in our diary before the month begins.

03

You line up the briefs

We agree what is being made before the month starts.

04

We make it

Shoot, edit, grade, mix and deliver, all through your Client Portal.

The three plans

Pick your level of commitment.

Same lead creative, same kit and same standard of finish on every plan. What changes is how much of our month is yours.

Priority Access

£2,500a month

First call on our diary, plus three days of strategy and prep every month. Shoots and edits are then booked as you need them.

  • First right of refusal on our calendar
  • 3 days of creative strategy and prep a month
  • 48-hour response on urgent scheduling
  • Standby producer included

For occasional but urgent content

Talk about this plan
Where most clients start

10-Day Capacity

£8,500a month

Ten dedicated days of our time every month, used however you need across concept, prep, filming and post.

  • 10 days of dedicated production time a month
  • Spend them flexibly across prep, shoot and editUp to 2 of the 10 can be shoot days
  • Stock footage and music licensing included
  • 10% off any extra days, plus a rollover day

For a steady monthly content pipeline

Talk about this plan

Managed Output

£19,500a month

We guarantee the finished films, not the hours. Four films and four social cut-downs every month, delivered.

  • 4 finished films plus 4 social cut-downs a monthLonger films count as 2 or 3 units
  • Up to 3 shoot days a month, crew included
  • All creative development and pre-production included
  • 2 rounds of feedback on every film

For a guaranteed volume of finished work

Talk about this plan
Same lead creative on every planMove between plans on 30 days' noticeYou own the footage and the filmsAll prices exclude VAT

The essentials

The rest, in short.

Everything else is set out in full in the agreement, which you get to read before anything is signed.

What the fee covers

Jez Smith as your lead creative, the full cinema camera and sound kit, a standby producer, edit, grade and sound mix, delivery through your Client Portal and 12 months of storage.

What costs extra

Camera assistants, any kit or locations beyond the base package, and travel past 25 miles a day. All quoted and signed off by you before anything is booked.

The commitment

A 12-month minimum term, then 45 days' written notice from either side. Your fee and rates are fixed for those 12 months from signing.

How you are billed

The retainer is invoiced monthly in advance. Anything extra is invoiced at the end of the month, once it has actually happened.

Moving a shoot

More than 7 days' notice and there is no penalty. Inside that, part or all of the day is used, and committed crew or travel costs are passed on.

Unused time

One unused day rolls into the next month on 10-Day Capacity, or one unused film on Managed Output. Priority Access has nothing to roll over.

Questions

The things people ask first.

Is the crew included in the monthly fee?

Priority Access and 10-Day Capacity: no. The fee buys the lead creative's time; camera assistants are quoted separately and confirmed with you first. Managed Output: yes, the standard crew is included on your shoot days.

10-Day Capacity: can I use all ten days for filming?

No. A maximum of two of the ten can be physical shoot days. The rest go into development, prep and post, which is where most of the time on a film actually goes.

Managed Output: what counts as a film?

A standard film of 60 to 120 seconds is one unit. A 3 to 5 minute piece is two, and a 5 to 10 minute feature is three. You get four units a month and nothing is used without your approval.

Priority Access: what do the three days actually cover?

Creative strategy and prep only: concepts, planning and pre-production. Shoot and edit days sit outside the fee and are booked and quoted as you need them.

What if I need more than my plan covers?

On any plan you can book extra days at a discounted rate, or step up a tier on 30 days' notice. Either way the cost is agreed in writing before the work happens.

Who owns the footage?

On all three plans, you do, once that month's fee is paid: both the rushes and the finished films. We keep our edit project files and look after your footage for 12 months.

Do you work outside Hertfordshire and London?

Yes, anywhere in the UK and abroad, on all three plans. Your included days apply wherever the shoot is. Travel, overnights and international logistics are itemised and approved by you first.

Think a retainer might fit?

A 20 minute call is enough to work out which plan suits your volume and what a first month would look like.

Talk about a retainer Prefer a one-off project? See project pricing

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