UK Film Crew For Hire
Shooting in the UK can unlock incredible creative opportunities for international agencies, but navigating local industry regulations, crew sourcing, and logistics requires an experienced partner.
Lambda Films is a London-based production company, allowing us to take advantage of the wealth of production talent in one of the world’s foremost creative hubs. With our experience, we bridge the gap, acting as your standing production crew and local fixers, ready to deliver exceptional content without the usual headaches.
Whether you need a full UK film crew, top-tier equipment, or access to unique locations, our experienced team helps bring your vision to life, on time, on budget, and to the highest industry standards.
Lambda Films: Your UK Production Partner
As a leading UK production company, we at Lambda, combine deep industry knowledge with a flexible Plug & Play approach. Our agile core team can seamlessly integrate with your agency’s existing creative, offering tailored crew solutions that scale to match any production size.
We’ve worked with international agencies and global brands to deliver branded content, commercials, and high-end broadcast productions across London and the UK. Our experience, coupled with an extensive network of over 500 professional crew members, ensures every shoot runs smoothly, no matter the size or complexity.
Understanding UK Production Rates, Regulations & Standards
The UK film & production industry operates under strict regulations designed to ensure fairness, safety, and quality across productions. If you’re new to working with British talent, here’s a quick guide to key considerations:
Industry Bodies
Bectu (Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union) represents crew members across the creative industries, negotiating fair rates, working conditions, and overtime. Many UK freelancers are Bectu members, and productions are expected to follow their rate cards and working hour agreements.
The APA (Advertising Producers Association) sets commercial production rates and working conditions.
PACT oversees broadcast and TV-related productions.
Working Hours & Breaks
Standard Day: 10-hour shoot (plus 1-hour lunch).
Overtime: Typically 1.5x the hourly rate.
Turnaround Times: A minimum of 11 hours between shoot days is required.
Insurance
Public Liability: Required for all commercial shoots.
Employers’ Liability: Mandatory for crew.
Buyouts & Usage
For actors, presenters, and some crew roles, buyouts are negotiated based on media usage, duration, and region.
This information is a nice to have. Our team navigates these industry standards for you, ensuring compliance and transparency from pre-production to delivery. However, being familiar with the nuances of UK production will help communication between all parties.
UK Film Crew
From agile documentary crews to full-scale commercial productions, we provide access to the UK’s finest film and video professionals. Below is a breakdown of the most sought-after roles, and their APA rates. For corporate productions, rates are a little more negotiable.
DIRECTOR
APA Rates: £630 – £897 p/d
The Director oversees the creative vision of the production, directing talent and crew to bring the script and concept to life on screen.
PRODUCER
APA Rates: £470 – £585 p/d
The Producer manages the production from start to finish, overseeing budgets, schedules, and logistics while ensuring the project aligns with the creative vision and client expectations.
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
APA Rates: £228 – £270 p/d
Production Assistants provide essential support across departments, handling administrative tasks, coordinating crew, and ensuring smooth day-to-day operations on set.
CAMERA OPERATOR
APA Rates: £494 – £612 p/d
The Camera Operator is responsible for operating the camera, executing the Director of Photography’s vision by capturing high-quality footage that aligns with the creative direction.
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY (DoP)
APA Rates: £873 – £1,457 p/d
The DoP leads the camera and lighting teams, crafting the visual look of the production by selecting lenses, lighting setups, and shot compositions.
KEY GRIP
APA Rates: £431 – £536 p/d
Key Grips manage and set up camera rigging, dolly tracks, and cranes, ensuring the camera is positioned and moved safely and effectively during filming.
GAFFER
APA Rates: £546 p/d
The Gaffer is the head of the electrical department, responsible for the design and execution of the lighting plan to achieve the desired mood and look.
SOUND MIXER
APA Rates: £494 – £546 p/d
The Sound Recordist captures high-quality audio on set, ensuring dialogue, ambient sound, and effects are recorded cleanly and clearly.
STEADICAM OPERATORS
APA Rates: £800 – £1,200 p/d
Steadicam Operators manage stabilised camera shots, allowing for smooth, fluid movements during complex tracking or handheld sequences.
STUDIO & SET DESIGNER
APA Rates: £629 – £819 p/d
Studio and Set Designers create and build sets that match the production’s aesthetic, designing environments that enhance storytelling.
HAIR & MAKE-UP ARTISTS
APA Rates: £318 – £504 p/d
Hair and Make-up Artists prepare and maintain the appearance of actors on camera, ensuring continuity and achieving the desired look for characters.
RUNNERS
APA Rates: £150 – £200 p/d
Runners perform general duties on set, supporting crew by delivering messages, handling refreshments, and assisting with equipment or logistics.
VFX ARTIST
APA Rates: £587 – £765 p/d
VFX Artists design and implement visual effects, enhancing scenes with digital elements that cannot be captured during filming.
UK FIXER
APA Rates: Varies by project scope
Fixers coordinate logistics for international productions, assisting with permits, locations, and local talent to ensure smooth operations for visiting crews.
PHOTOGRAPHER
APA Rates: £600 – £1,200 p/d (varies by experience and role)
Photographers capture still images during production, either for promotional use or as part of the creative content for the project.
EDITOR
APA Rates: £450 – £624 p/d
Editors assemble and refine the footage during post-production, ensuring the narrative flows seamlessly and aligns with the director’s vision.
COLOURIST
APA Rates: £450 – £624 p/d
Colourists adjust and enhance the colour of the footage, establishing the final visual tone and style of the project.
ANIMATOR
APA Rates: £587 – £765 p/d
Animators create 2D or 3D motion graphics and animated sequences that bring additional visual elements to the production.
Full-Service Production Support
Successful productions require more than just skilled crew, they demand seamless coordination across locations, equipment, permits, and logistics.
For international agencies, managing these elements remotely can be challenging and time-consuming. The in-house producing team at Lambda provide end-to-end production support, acting as your local partner to handle everything from location scouting and studio hire to equipment rental and permit acquisition.
Whether it’s a single shoot day or a multi-location project, we ensure your production runs smoothly, on time, and to the highest professional standard.
Location Scouting & Permits
From iconic London landmarks to remote countryside locations.
Studio Hire
Access to London’s best film studios and green screen facilities.
Equipment Rental
Competitive rates on cameras (ARRI, RED, Sony), lighting, sound, and grip equipment.
Production Vehicles
Vans, transport, location trailers, and generator hire.
Fixers
Local fixers to coordinate travel, accommodation, and logistics for international teams.
Working with Lambda Films
Partnering with Lambda Films is designed to be straightforward and efficient, whether you’re based in the UK or managing a production from overseas.
From the initial enquiry to the final wrap, we simplify the process, ensuring you have the right crew, equipment, and locations to bring your vision to life without the usual stress of coordinating remotely.
Enquiry
Reach out with your project details and crew requirements.
Friendly Chat
We’ll arrange a video call with you and your team, just so we can ask pesky questions and make sure all bases are covered.
Proposal
We provide a tailored crew list, day rates, and a production outline.
Booking
Once confirmed, we handle the logistics, contracts, and equipment.
Shoot Day
Our team delivers seamless production support on-site.
Wrap & Delivery
We ensure smooth post-production handover if required.
UK PRODUCTION CASE STUDIES
We’ve worked with international agencies and brands to deliver high-end productions across the UK. Here are a few examples of how our crew and production support have helped bring ambitious projects to life.
Agency: Erra Inc
Location: San Francisco
Requirements:
Erra Inc, a creative agency from San Francisco, approached Lambda Films to support a UK-based commercial shoot. The project required a skilled, tight-knit crew to handle all aspects of production.
For the one-day shoot, we sourced and provided:
• 1x Food Stylist
• 1x Art Director
• 1x Producer
• 1x Camera Operator
• 1x Gaffer
• 1x Hair & Make-up Artist
In addition to crew, we supplied full production equipment, including an ARRI Amira, a Zeiss lens package, and comprehensive lighting gear. We also managed the procurement & delivery of the fresh food needed for the shoot, ensuring a smooth, efficient production day.
The raw footage was packaged up and provided to Erra for post-production.
Client: Nintendo
Location: Washington, USA
Requirements:
For the launch of Jurassic World Evolution on the Nintendo Switch, we were commissioned to shoot live action content for the launch trailer. The Nintendo team were in the USA, and unable to travel, so we had to provide a streaming video feed for their live review and sign-off.
For the one-day shoot, we sourced and provided:
• 1x Director
• 1x Gaffer
• 1x Director of Photography
• 1x 1st AC
• 1x Studio Location
• Props & Art Direction
This shoot was entirely supported by the core, in-house team at Lambda. However, we did have to source an external drive-in studio, a very specific 1990’s Land Rover and rain-tower capabilities.
Agency: Kubbco
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Requirements:
Kubbco had to fulfil a number of video case study requirements for their Pharmaceutical client, Novo Nordisk. Three of these case studies were based on UK patients, and so Kubbco commissioned Lambda to produce the films.
In total we produced three video case studies for Kubbco.
• 1x Director
• 1x Producer
• 1x Gaffer
• 1x Director of Photography
Again, the shoot was carried out by the in-house Lambda production team across three disparate UK locations.
What’s Next?
Producing in the UK doesn’t have to be complicated. With Lambda Films as your partner, you gain access to experienced professionals, local knowledge, and the resources needed to bring your project to life smoothly and efficiently. From sourcing the right crew to managing locations and equipment, we handle the details so you can stay focused on the creative. Our goal is to ensure every production runs like clockwork, delivering results that meet the highest standards.
If you’re planning a shoot in the UK, let’s start the conversation – we’re here to make it happen.
