Host Dan Allen chats with Sue Quinn, acclaimed Locations Manager whose work includes the Harry Potter films, Fantastic Beasts, The Love Actually, and numerous major film and television productions. Sue has helped transform real-world places into some of the most iconic locations in modern cinema.

But WHAT exactly does a Locations Manager do?

How do you find locations that feel magical, cinematic, and authentic—while still working in the real world?

What goes into securing, managing, and protecting locations on huge productions like Harry Potter?

And what are the unexpected challenges of filming in castles, historic buildings, and public spaces?

From spellbinding sets to logistical nightmares, Sue takes us behind the scenes of one of the most vital roles in filmmaking—where creativity meets coordination, and every location tells a story.

Hosts Dan Allen and Ellen Thomas chat with Annie Sulzberger, the Head of Research on Netflix’s award-winning series The Crown. Annie has spent years digging through archives, uncovering complex histories, and shaping the factual backbone behind one of television’s most ambitious and beloved dramas.

But WHAT exactly does a researcher do on a major series?

How do you balance historical accuracy with cinematic storytelling?

Where do you even begin when you’re responsible for verifying decades of royal history?

And what are the challenges of portraying real people, some still alive, on an international stage?

From sourcing rare documents to advising actors, writers and directors, Annie takes us behind the scenes of The Crown to reveal how history becomes drama, and how careful research can elevate a story to something truly iconic.

It’s time for a festive showdown! Dan Allen takes the host’s chair for a special Christmas & 2025 Movie Quiz, putting film knowledge to the test as Ellen Thomas, Ruby, and Lewis go head-to-head. From 2025 releases to festive film trivia, surprises, and wild guesses, anything can happen.

Who really knows their movies?

Who’s bluffing their way through the answers?

And who will be crowned Movie Quiz Champion of 2025?

Grab a mince pie, play along at home, and see if you can beat the panel in this end-of-year movie quiz spectacular.

🎄🍿🎬

Hosts Dan Allen and Ellen Thomas chat with Teddy Blanks, acclaimed title designer and co-founder of CHIPS, the New York-based design studio behind striking title designs for films and series such as Nosferatu

From concepts to final frames, Teddy takes us inside the creative process of building visual identities that stay with audiences long after the credits roll.

But WHAT exactly goes into making great TITLES ?

How do typography, pacing, and sound design shape a viewer’s first emotional connection to a film or show?

What’s it like collaborating with directors like Greta Gerwig and Robert Eggers?

And how can emerging filmmakers use design to elevate their own storytelling?

Hosts Dan Allen and Ellen Thomas chat with acclaimed documentary filmmaker Yemi Bamiro, fresh off the back of his BFI LFF screening of his latest film, Black is Beautiful: The Kwame Brathwaite Story. His work includes One Man and His Shoes and Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World. Yemi’s documentaries blend striking visuals with cultural insight, exploring how media, identity, and power shape our world.

But WHAT exactly goes into making a great DOCUMENTARY?

How do you earn trust, find access, and tell real stories that connect with audiences?

What does it take to break into the industry today—and how can young filmmakers find their voice in an ever-changing media landscape?

Yemi shares his creative process, his challenges, and his advice for the next generation of storytellers.

Hosts Dan Allen and Ellen Thomas chat with Grace Dickinson, a professional animal trainer and handler who works with exotic animals for film and television. From big cats to crocodiles and rats, Grace has brought some of the screen’s most unforgettable creatures to life, safely, ethically, and with a deep respect for the animals she works with. She has worked for and alongside one of Europe’s most highly esteemed providers of trained wild animals for media since 2002 and continued to work freelance in this industry from 2013 as both an animal wrangler, stunt double/extra and animal coordinator and trainer specialising in reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates and rodents as well as supporting other reputable names in the industry.

But WHAT exactly goes into training animals for film?

How do productions balance storytelling, safety, and animal welfare on set?

What’s it like to direct a tiger, a cockroach… or even a snake?

And what are the behind-the-scenes challenges and magical moments that come with working alongside Hollywood’s wildest co-stars?

https://www.reptilesetc.co.uk/

Hosts Dan Allen and Ellen Thomas chat with Steven Bernstein, acclaimed cinematographer, director, and writer, whose work includes the Oscar-winning Monster, Like Water for Chocolate, White Chicks, Scary Movie, SWAT and more. Steven has built a career not only behind the camera but also as a teacher and author, helping filmmakers understand the deep connection between image and story.

But WHAT exactly does cinematography bring to a story?

How do visuals shape the emotional core of a story?

How can you let go of what's not important when writing?

And what can new filmmakers learn about the craft of storytelling, whether through words… or through light and lens?

You can find Steven on https://www.instagram.com/stevenbernsteindirectorwriter/

Hosts Dan Allen and Ellen Thomas chat with cinematographer Vince Knight, whose striking visuals have shaped everything from genre films to glossy TV and music videos. Vince’s recent work includes the viral horror phenomenon Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey and its twisted sequel Blood and Honey 2.

But WHAT exactly does a CINEMATOGRAPHER do?

How do they translate a director’s vision into powerful, visual storytelling?

What are the secrets behind great lighting—and why does it matter so much?

And how do you keep your creative edge when moving between formats, genres, and budgets?

PLUS—we dive into what it takes to RUN a FILM FESTIVAL, as Vince also founded and directs the Motor Film Awards, the world’s leading awards show celebrating automotive content in film and media.