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What producing my graduate film taught me about filmmaking
Blog page tags
- Film, media and music
From filming intense scenes in a small flat to shooting in a busy pub with a packed crew, producing our graduate film 'Martha’s Tuesday' was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my time studying filmmaking at Kingston School of Art.
It pushed me to adapt quickly, work closely with every department, and experience what film production is really like behind the scenes, all leading up to our upcoming screening at the BFI Southbank as part of the graduate showcase.
As the producer of Martha’s Tuesday, I was involved in almost every stage of the film, from organising casting and locations to supporting the crew during production. Our film explored themes of isolation, care, and familial relationships, all set within the confined space of a flat, which created both creative opportunities and logistical challenges during filming. It was hectic, as at times the rooms were being used for multiple things at once, from storage spaces to makeshift green rooms, so we were constantly moving equipment around between scenes. However, it also made the set feel incredibly collaborative, as everyone stepped in to help whenever they could.
One of the biggest things I learned during the process was just how much problem-solving happens on set. No matter how much planning goes into a production, unexpected issues always come up, whether that’s equipment problems, schedule changes, or having to adapt scenes around the location itself. A huge part of producing was making sure our team could keep moving while staying calm under pressure.
One of the most stressful moments during the shoot came when we ran into sound equipment issues right at the start of the first day. For a moment, it felt like everything was falling behind before we had even begun filming. Luckily, the crew reacted quickly, and we managed to replace the equipment fast enough to stay on schedule. Experiences like that taught me how important adaptability is in filmmaking.
The shoot itself was intense but exciting. We spent several days filming emotional scenes inside the flat before moving to a pub location for the final day of production. Because the spaces were small, everyone had to work closely together, and the atmosphere on set became really close-knit. It felt rewarding watching everything that we had planned for months finally come together on screen.
One of my favourite parts of the experience was seeing how flexible everyone became throughout the shoot. On student films, people often step outside of their roles to help wherever needed. During the pub scenes, I even stepped in as the boom operator, which gave me a completely different perspective on the production process and made me appreciate how important every role is on set.
Beyond the filming itself, one of the most exciting parts has been preparing for the future of the project. Knowing that Martha’s Tuesday will be screened at the BFI Southbank as part of our graduate screenings makes all the hard work feel incredibly worthwhile. It’s exciting to know that something we created as students will be shown in such a renowned venue.
Looking back, producing this film taught me far more than just organisation and planning. It gave me a real understanding of how collaborative filmmaking is and how much trust and communication go into bringing a project to life.
Working on my graduate film showed me how collaborative filmmaking really is. Everyone has to adapt, support each other, and solve problems together, and that’s what made the experience so rewarding.