Film Fixer, UK

Local production support for foreign film and content companies shooting in Britain

I'm Tim Ellis, a UK-based film fixer. When a production company from outside the UK needs to shoot here, I'm the person on the ground who makes it happen: the crew, the kit, the locations, the permissions and the local knowledge a visiting team can't bring with them.

I've fixed shoots for international productions including work for Dolce & Gabbana, The Body Shop and New Balance, partnering with overseas companies who need a reliable local operator they can hand the practical side to and trust to deliver.

Why a foreign production needs a fixer

A company from outside the UK can't easily book local crew, kit or locations directly. Suppliers won't take a booking from an overseas company they can't be sure will pay, and you can't secure most filming permits or location hires without UK insurance and a risk assessment in place. A fixer holds the local relationships, carries the booking and payment risk, and makes sure the legal and practical side is covered so your team can land and shoot.

What I handle on the ground

Local crew. Vetted UK crew, booked and paid through me, which is why they turn up and why you don't carry the supplier risk.

Equipment. Camera, lighting, grip and everything else, sourced locally and ready when you arrive.

Location scouting and securing. Finding the right places, photographing options for you to choose from, and locking in the permissions. On a recent New Balance shoot that meant scouting and photographing eight football pitches plus iconic local spots before the production chose.

Permits and permissions. Securing the filming permits and location agreements a shoot legally needs, the part that quietly stops a production before it starts if it isn't handled.

UK insurance and risk assessments. Arranging proper local insurance and writing the risk assessment that permits and most location hires require, and that many visiting productions don't produce themselves.

Catering, transport and logistics. Feeding the crew, sorting drivers who know the routes, accommodation, and security where a shoot needs it.

Cultural and language translation. The part no one else can do remotely: explaining local etiquette, smoothing differences, and translating regional dialect and slang in real time so nothing gets lost.

Where I work

Manchester and the North West based, I fix shoots across the North (Liverpool, Leeds, Lake District, North Wales, Sheffield, Newcastle) and throughout the UK.

Planning a shoot in the UK?

Tell me what you're producing, where and when, and I'll come back with a clear plan and a quote.

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FAQ

What does a film fixer do?

A film fixer is the local person a foreign production hires to make a shoot possible in a country they don't operate in: sourcing crew, kit and catering, scouting and securing locations, arranging permits, sorting insurance and risk assessments, and handling the logistics and local know-how a visiting team can't bring. The fixer is the bridge between an overseas production and everything they need on the ground.

Do I need a fixer to film in the UK as a foreign production company?

In almost all cases, yes. A foreign company can't easily hire UK crew or kit directly, because suppliers won't take a booking they can't be sure will be paid, and you can't secure most permits or location hires without UK insurance and a risk assessment. A fixer holds those relationships, takes on the risk, and covers the legal and practical side so you can shoot.

What's the difference between a fixer and a producer?

A producer owns the creative and financial vision of the production overall. A fixer is the local specialist who delivers the on-the-ground reality in a specific place: crew, kit, locations, permits, logistics and local knowledge. On an international shoot the two work hand in hand.

What areas of the UK do you cover?

I'm Manchester and North West based, with particular local depth in Liverpool, and I fix shoots across the region and the wider UK. [Edit to match your real coverage.]

How much does a film fixer cost?

It depends entirely on the shoot: crew, locations, kit, length and how much logistical lifting is involved. It's quoted per project. Get in touch with the details and I'll put together a clear breakdown.