A decade of support for NFTS scholars: Kieran Nolan Jones

Since it’s inception in 2013 Sargent-Disc’s scholarships have supported 25 graduates of the National Film and Television School (NFTS). We’re taking a look back at the alumni of the Production Management Diploma Programme to share their experiences and learn how the scholarship impacted their journey.

Entering the film industry is often a dream nurtured by passion, and for many, the path is not always a straight line. For Kieran Nolan Jones, a producer in the world of branded content and commercials, the journey from university to the prestigious National Film and Television School was shaped by determination, challenges, and the invaluable support of the Sargent-Disc scholarship.

After spending two years working in university administrations and events management after graduating from university, Kieran decided to pursue a career in the film industry. The decision to attend the NFTS came after a long-standing dream and a goal to immerse himself in the world of film production. The unique approach of the NFTS Production Management Diploma course, discovered on the school’s website, caught his attention.

The appeal of production management, which involves working closely with every department to understand their needs and workflows, resonated with Kieran’s desire to gain a comprehensive understanding of the industry. With a background in event organisation, he saw a transferable skill set that would seamlessly integrate into the world of production management.

Accepting the course place at NFTS was not without challenges. Personal circumstances, including a family emergency and financial constraints, presented potential hurdles. However, the Sargent-Disc scholarship emerged as a beacon of support. This financial assistance not only eased the burden but also allowed him to focus more time on studies and take on extra-curricular production work, enhancing practical skills and industry experience.

The NFTS Production Management Diploma course proved to be a transformative experience. Beyond its unprecedented curriculum focusing on practical learning, the course instilled a deep sense of confidence. Kieran learned to navigate and overcome challenges inherent in production, a skill set that would prove invaluable in the real-world scenarios of film and television production. The scholarship also opened doors to valuable industry connections and resources. The confidence gained during the NFTS Production Management Diploma course, coupled with Sargent-Disc’s standing in the industry, provided a solid foundation for his budding career.

Having successfully completed the course at the NFTS, Kieran embarked on a dynamic career as a freelance producer in branded content and commercials. Working with renowned brands such as Stella McCartney, EA Sports, Universal Music, and DoorDash.

Additionally, Kieran is the found and lead producer of Hellmouth Pictures, a production company specializing in horror and fantasy. The company, in its three years of existence, has produced short films funded by prestigious organisations like the BFI and BBC and produced and episode of Disney and Hulu’s ’Bite Sized Horror’. Notably, Hellmouth Pictures is currently in production on two feature-length horror documentaries.

Kieran’s journey from university to the NFTS, supported by the Sargent-Disc scholarship, showcases the transformative power of education and financial assistance in shaping successful careers in the film industry. The commitment to lifelong learning, coupled with the confidence gained at the NFTS, has propelled him into a thriving career, leaving an indelible mark in the world of film production.

Nominations announced for the RTS Programme Awards 2024, in partnership with Cast & Crew

The nominations have this week been announced for the RTS Programme Awards 2024, which is this year headline sponsored for the first time by Cast & Crew, the leading global provider of software and payroll services for the entertainment industry and parent company of Sargent-Disc.


Shortlisted nominees across all 30 categories were revealed by presenter Gaby Roslin on Thursday 7th March 2024, via a broadcast on the RTS website and YouTube channel.


Watch again here.


The BBC leads the charge this year with 51 nominations, in particular dominating with its drama output. Four nominations apiece have gone to hard-hitting true crime story The Sixth Commandment and comedy thriller series Black Ops, and the PSB has also scored three nominations in the Limited Series category for Best Interests, Boiling Point and The Sixth Commandment.


The BBC also owns all three nominations for the Breakthrough Award: Ashley Thomas (Great Expectations), Hamza Yassin (Hamza: Strictly Birds of Prey) and Lucy Edwards (Japan – The Way I See It – The Travel Show).


Channel 4 received a total of 17 nominations, with popular comedy drama Big Boys recognised across Comedy Drama, Comedy Performance – Male (Jon Pointing) and Writer – Comedy (Jack Rooke).


Meanwhile, Disney+ has scored its first RTS Programme Award nominations with superhero comedy Extraordinary featured in both the Scripted Comedy and Comedy Performance – Female (Máiréad Tyers) categories.


The Leading Actor – Female category sees Jodie Whittaker and Tamara Lawrance nominated for Time (BBC), alongside Sarah Lancashire for Happy Valley (BBC). In the Leading Actor – Male category, Kane Robinson is nominated for Top Boy (Netflix), Gary Oldman for Slow Horses (Apple TV+) and Timothy Spall for The Sixth Commandment (BBC).


Laurence Sargent, Co-Head International at Cast & Crew and Sargent-Disc Director says: “After eight years as an RTS Major Patron, Sargent-Disc is extremely proud that 2024 marks the new chapter of headline sponsorship from our parent company Cast & Crew, a global business with established links to companies across the UK industry who are producing world-class content. We congratulate all the 2024 nominees and look forward to celebrating their excellence on the night.


Kenton Allen, Chair of the RTS Programme Awards, said: “2023 was an outstanding year for UK creativity, and the nominations we have announced today highlight the breadth of genre-defining, exceptional programming that British audiences have enjoyed over the last 12 months. Despite the unpredictable times our industry currently faces, we at the RTS welcome the opportunity to come together as a creative community and celebrate the hard work and incredible talent, on and off camera, that makes sensational shows for audiences here and on the global stage.


The RTS Programme Awards in partnership with Cast & Crew will take place on Tuesday 26th March at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel in London, hosted by comedian Tom Allen.


View the full list of nominations here.

2024 NFTS Graduation – celebrating the achievements of up and coming filmmakers

The annual National Film and Television School (NFTS) Graduation ceremony, sponsored by BBC Studios, took place on Friday 23rd March at the Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square. The celebration not only recognises and celebrates the successes of the graduating students, but also offers them the chance to forge connections for their future careers with screen industry members.  

Emma Wilford, Sales and Marketing Manager at Sargent-Disc, attended the ceremony as a proud sponsor of three NFTS students (two Production Management Diploma students and one Production Accounting student [John Sargent Scholarship]). These serve as a key element of Sargent-Disc’s work to recognise the efforts of the NFTS and its students in achieving excellence.

Sargent-Disc Award winners

Each year at the ceremony, a number of students are chosen by key NFTS industry partners Sargent-Disc, Avid, Christie, IOSH and Panalux to recognise outstanding levels of achievement.  

The 2024 Sargent-Disc Awards went to two Production Management Diploma graduates. Helena Hunt and Carl Mason received a Final Draft software licence as well as £500 each.

Helena production managed a large and very diverse set of projects ranging from a Documentary shot in America, to Animation projects and a Children’s TV musical extravaganza. She also took on a demanding Fiction project called Resort, filmed in Spain and which required weeks of budget preparation with the Producer and meetings with crew members.

Carl showed a high level of commitment to production management throughout the course, working on over eight graduation films across a wide range of genres from animation to international documentaries filmed in Australia, California and across the USA, as well as a challenging period fiction film shot on location. Carl stepped up to every challenge with conviction and courage to ensure his teams had the resources and support needed to make the best possible films safely, on budget and on schedule.

Dr. Laurence Sargent commented, “The students graduating from the NFTS today are the future of our industry. Their hard work, skill and creativity are critical to its ongoing success. Sargent-Disc is proud to support this year’s Production Managers with awards in addition to providing an annual scholarship for two Production Management students. We wish them every success as they embark on their careers.” 

Left to Right: Carl Mason, Emma Wilford and Helena Hunt
Photo Credit: National Film and Television School

NFTS Honorary Fellowship

In recognition of the exceptional contribution they have made to the film industry, Production Design legends Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer were awarded the impressive Honorary Fellowship. Not only have the pair been nominated for a total of seven Oscars, most recently for their work on Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, they were also celebrated for their efforts to nurture emerging filmmakers.

Honorary Fellowship recipients Katie Spencer and Sarah Greenwood
Photo Credit: National Film and Television School

For more information about the NFTS, click here.

Sargent-Disc celebrates International Men’s Day

This November, Sargent-Disc celebrated International Men’s Day, an occasion celebrating the positive value men bring to the world, their families and communities. Positive role models and awareness of men’s well-being is highlighted with the theme for 2023 being “ZERO MALE SUICIDE”. Together we can stop male suicide.

To mark the occasion, the team held a table tennis competition at the office over several days with the ‘best-of-three’ full games played (each game the first to reach a score of 21 points) to be the winner.

Winners

  • 1st place: Logan – won the first game 21-12 and the third game 21-8.
  • 2nd place: Scott – won the second game 21-17.
  • Runners-up: Paul & Deborah.
Left to right: Scott and Logan

Alongside the competition, there was some information displayed in the communal areas around the theme and celebrated male figures such as Winston Churchill, David Beckham and the creator of penicillin, Alexander Flemming. An array of doughnuts were also put out for the team to enjoy!

Supporting production accountants since 1986

At Sargent-Disc we understand the production process and the pressure on production accountants to deliver accurate results, on time, every time. For over 35 years, Sargent-Disc has been proud to support their efforts as they work hard to bring us the best in global film and television. 

Today, as part of Cast & Crew, we deliver a full range of integrated production payroll and accounting solutions including CrewStart, Digital Purchase Order and PSL+ to productions at the forefront of the entertainment industry. These solutions save time when breaking out timecards, sending and approving contracts, onboarding cast and crew, approving expenditure, and cost reporting efficiently and securely.

Alongside this we are committed to investing in and supporting the film and television community at home and abroad. We are a member of the Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television (PACT), a major patron of the Royal Television Society (RTS), a business partner of the Production Guild of Great Britain (PGGB), and work with them to inform and educate their members.

This year also marks the 10th year of Sargent-Disc being a proud sponsor of two Production Management Diploma at the National Film and Television School (NFTS).  The John Sargent Scholarship was also setup to support production accounting new entrants. Working with the film school is just one of the ways we strive to support emerging filmmakers.

Looking to the future, together with Cast & Crew, we value the importance of continuing to develop our offering and believe that technologies will increasingly allow us to make intelligent solutions that can take even more of the stress out of production accounting.

Contact the team to discuss how our solutions can streamline your production workflows.

Cast & Crew named new headline sponsor of RTS Programme Awards

Cast & Crew, the international provider of software and tech-driven services to the entertainment production industry, has been named the new headline sponsor of the RTS Programme Awards.


The company has signed a three-year deal with the Royal Television Society to become lead sponsor for the annual event in 2024, 2025 and 2026, as part of its increased support for the UK television sector.


Sargent-Disc, a Cast & Crew company, has been a Major Patron of the Royal Television Society for eight years now,” says Dr Laurence Sargent, Co-Head International at Cast & Crew and Sargent-Disc Director.


During that time, we’ve provided long-term support for the Society’s important work, including its excellent awards ceremonies and other important events connected to its new industry entrants schemes, including RTS Futures and RTS Bursary Scholarships.


We are delighted to now be able to significantly elevate our relationship with the RTS by confirming Cast & Crew as the new headline sponsor of the RTS Programme Awards.


This annual ceremony is one of the most prestigious awards events in the UK television industry. It has maintained consistent respect within the British production community throughout its long heritage. For almost 50 years, it has recognised the best in television talent, starting out with just seven categories in 1975 and growing to encompass 30 categories today.


As a global company with established business links across the UK television industry, Cast & Crew is extremely proud to be the new headline sponsor of the RTS Programme Awards for the coming three years. We’re particularly excited that this period will include the Awards’ half-centenary milestone in 2025. We look forward to this new chapter of Cast & Crew supporting the celebration of UK television industry talent.


We’re delighted to welcome Cast & Crew on board as the new headline sponsor for the RTS Programme Awards in 2024, 2025 and 2026,” says Theresa Wise, CEO of the Royal Television Society.


Their support will enable us to continue to deliver our prestigious awards ceremony and dinner each year, ensuring that we continue to do justice to the outstanding work of future nominees and winners being recognised. We thank Cast & Crew for coming on board; we couldn’t do it without their support.


An educational charity promoting the art and science of television, the Royal Television Society (RTS) is the oldest television society in the world. It was originally founded in 1927 before being granted Royal status in 1966. The RTS Programme Awards span all genres of television programming, from drama to music, soaps to natural history, children’s fiction to comedy performance.


They recognise exceptional actors, presenters, writers and production teams, as well as the programmes themselves.


The awards are attended by more than 1,000 senior UK and international industry professionals each year, including leading UK broadcasters BBC, ITV and C4, international streamers like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Apple TV, major studios including NBC Universal and Sony and top production companies such as All3Media, Shine Group, Endemol UK, IMG Sports Media and Fremantle Media.


The 2023 RTS Programme Awards hosted by Tom Allen took place on 28 March. Winners included Kate Winslet, (Leading Actor – Female for I Am Ruth, Channel 4), Kit Connor (Leading Actor – Male for Heartstopper, Netflix), Sherwood (Drama Series Award, House Production for the BBC), Dodger (Children’s Drama Award, Universal International Studios for CBBC) and Brassic (Comedy Drama, Calamity Films for Sky Max).


The Royal Television Society Programme Awards 2024 in partnership with Cast & Crew will take place at Grosvenor House, London, on 26 March 2024.

2023 Royal Television Society Patrons Dinner

The RTS Patrons Dinner took place on Thursday 2 November.

As a Major Patron I’m so proud that Sargent-Disc’s support helps the RTS to undertake it’s amazing work. In addition to the presentation of the eight new RTS Fellowships, celebrating the achievements of the best talent in our industry, this evening shone the spotlight on the RTS Bursary Scheme. One hundred (1/3) of current Bursary students attended the dinner to network and meet key industry figures. They shared inspiring stories of how the Bursary has transformed their lives and career opportunities. It is fabulous to see the impact the RTS is having on the next generation of change making TV professionals” said Dr. Laurence Sargent

The RTS’s Bursary Programme aims to create more diversity within the industry by providing financial support, industry mentoring and networking opportunities to talented students from lower-income backgrounds studying an undergraduate degree or HND Level 5 or 6’. Participants have access to the network of RTS members, patrons and supporters.

Jack Thorne (Best Interests, National Treasure)
Rosemary Newell (Head of Content at ITV)

The RTS Fellowships recognise outstanding individuals who have made a sustained and exceptional contribution to the UK television industry. Seven new Fellowships were presented in person to the writers Jack Thorne (Best Interests, National Treasure), Abi Morgan (Sex Traffic, The Hour) and Jesse Armstrong (Succession, Peep Show) along with television executives Ben Frow (Controller of Channel 5), Anne Mensah (Vice President of Content at Netflix), John Ryley (former Head of Sky News) and Rosemary Newell (Head of Content at ITV). The eighth Fellowship was awarded to the writer and producer Stephen Knight CBE, who was not able to attend the dinner.

Ben Frow (Controller of Channel 5)
Abi Morgan (Sex Traffic, The Hour)

Alongside the presentations, the RTS also welcomed Kate Phillips to the Board of Trustees. Previously, Kate was Director of Entertainment at BBC and is responsible for commissioning Strictly Come Dancing, Top Gear, The Apprentice and many other popular shows.

Jesse Armstrong (Succession, Peep Show)
Anne Mensah (Vice President of Content at Netflix)
John Ryley (former Head of Sky News)

Theresa Wise, CEO of the Royal Television Society said of the evening, “We came together to celebrate the eight esteemed industry leaders that we have presented with Fellowships for 2023, all of which have provided an outstanding contribution to the UK television industry. We are also delighted to welcome Kate Phillips to our Board of Trustees, and Clare Laycock as Chair of our National Events Committee with thanks to Heather Jones for her support and invaluable guidance over the past few years in that role. We also welcome Sarah McCaffrey and Stuart Ray as Chairs of the Northern Ireland and Southern Centres respectively and look forward to working with them closely.

Photo Credits: RTS/Paul Hampartsoumian

A decade of support for NFTS scholars: Ewelina Dziedzic

Over the past decade, Sargent-Disc’s annual scholarships aided 20 graduates from the National Film and Television School (NFTS). To celebrate this landmark the alumni of the Production Management Diploma Programme reflect on the scholarship’s impact.

 

Ewelina Dziedzic’s journey in the film industry exemplifies the power of determination and the opportunities that arise when one seeks support. Through her unwavering dedication and the assistance of the Sargent-Disc scholarship, Ewelina overcame financial obstacles and was able to pursue her dreams at the NFTS. Her story serves as an inspiration for aspiring filmmakers, highlighting the importance of passion, hard work, and seeking out opportunities that can shape a successful career in the dynamic world of film production.

Locaction shot from Call My Agent

Ewelina’s fascination with filmmaking began at a young age when she participated in creating a promotional film for her high school. The experience sparked her interest in production management, a role that blended her passion for logistics, organisation, art, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on people’s lives. However, coming from a small town with no connections to the film industry, Ewelina had to rely on her own determination to pave her way.

While working full-time Ewelina pursued part-time studies in production management. She juggled various film and non-film jobs, constantly building her portfolio and network. Seeking opportunities on bigger international projects, she made the bold decision to move to the capital city of Poland, Warsaw. Commuting every weekend to attend classes, she embraced the challenges that came with starting anew in a foreign city. She learnt that she needed to be her biggest supporter and motivator, because if she wouldn’t believe in herself, no one else will.

Location shot from ESKMO music video

As Ewelina approached graduation, her desire to work on larger-scale international projects grew stronger. She obtained a Master’s degree in producing in London and applied to the NFTS Production Management Diploma course. Recognizing the school’s exceptional reputation and the potential for career advancement, Ewelina was determined to overcome any hurdles that came her way.

One significant obstacle Ewelina faced was the inability to apply for a student loan to cover the tuition fees at NFTS. With limited savings and no financial support from her family, she refused to let this setback deter her dreams. Driven by her passion and determination, she explored all available scholarship opportunities. It was during this search that she discovered the Sargent-Disc scholarship. This scholarship covered half of her tuition fees, allowing her to pursue her studies at NFTS, connecting her to the industry and providing opportunities for career progression.

Location scouting at the NFTS

Ewelina describes her time at the NFTS as transformative. The course emphasised hands-on learning, with students working on various projects, ranging from commercials and short films to games and documentaries. As a production manager, Ewelina was responsible for overseeing logistics, budgeting, crew management, and problem-solving. The programme allowed her to learn from experienced professionals, gain valuable industry knowledge, and build a network of like-minded individuals.

Following her graduation from NFTS, Ewelina’s career soared. She worked as assistant production coordinator on notable productions The Serpent Queen 2 starring Samantha Morton, 2nd Unit of Boys in the Boat directed by George Clooney and also Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Ewelina was also the Travel Coordinator for The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, directed by Guy Ritchie (starring Henry Cavill, Alan Ritchson, Cary Elwes, and Eiza Gonzalez), and the Cast and Travel Coordinator on KAOS, written by Charlie Covell (starring Jeff Goldblum, Janet McTeer, and David Thewlis). Her experiences enabled her to refine her skills, expand her network, and continue to grow within the industry. More recently she has been production managing short films such as Left Over starring Chloe Pirrie and Ian Hart for BFI Network. This year Ewelina was accepted into BAFTA Connect; adding to her accolades as Production Guild of Great Britain member since 2022 and taking part in the BFI Academy last year. This involved working with young filmmakers as the Production Management tutor on two films at the NFTS. Finally, we would love to offer our congratulations to Ewelina on her NFTS graduation documentary receiving nominations for the Royal Television Awards and the Grierson Documentary Awards. 

Boys in the Boat night shoot

For more information on the Production Management for Film and Television Diploma course, visit the NFTS website.

Scotland records ‘significant growth’ in 2021

Earlier this year, our Broadcast Network article “Supporting Scottish Success” profiled the different ways that Sargent-Disc, a Cast & Crew company, has backed the growth of Scotland’s film and TV production industry, from providing specialist services to Scottish productions, to sponsoring the annual Edinburgh TV Awards.

As the UK industry readied itself for the 2023 Edinburgh TV Festival and Awards (sponsored by Cast & Crew) in August, new figures were released by Screen Scotland that confirmed the continuation of an upward trend of success for Scotland’s screen sector in 2021.

Commissioned by Screen Scotland and produced by Saffery Champness and Nordicity, ‘The Economic Value of the Screen Sector in Scotland in 2021’ report recorded significant growth in all areas of production, compared to the preceding study in 2019.

Inward investment film and HETV production spend was found to have increased by 110%, from £165.3 million in 2019 to £347.4 million in 2021. An estimated £617.4 million was spent on the production of film, TV and other audiovisual content in Scotland in 2021, a 55% increase on the £398.6 million spent in 2019. Employment in Scotland’s production sector also rose by 39% to 7,150 FTE jobs, a higher rise than the overall employment increase recorded across Scotland (5.6%).

Over 80% of the net increase in production spending between 2019 & 2021 (£218.8m) was due to the tremendous growth in inward film and HETV production. It more than doubled from £165.3m to £347.4m, as Scotland attracted the filming of several big budget films including Batgirl, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, and HETV shows like The Rig, Good Omens, and Anansi Boys.

Announcing the good news, Isabel Davis, Screen Scotland’s Executive Director said: “The growth in all forms of production in Scotland between 2019 and 2021 is a phenomenal result. It shows us that public investment via Screen Scotland in infrastructure, development, production and skills development, combined with attractive levels of production incentive are the catalyst for a successful industry.”

“We really welcome the publication of Screen Scotland’s latest study, which confirms what we’ve been hearing from our Scottish clients in recent years,” says Dr Laurence Sargent, Sargent-Disc director and co-head of international at Cast & Crew. “They have witnessed first-hand the marked uptick in titles moving into production across the Nation.

“The official figures are impressive – inward investment has doubled, overall production spend is up by more than a half, employment is up by almost 40%.

“It’s clear that new studios, facility expansions and skills investment are paving the way for a more robust Scottish industry with a thriving independent sector. We look forward to building on our existing relationships in Scotland and working with more Scottish productions in the future.”

Recent Scottish shows Sargent Disc has provided services to include Buccaneer Media’s gritty ITVX thriller Crime starring Dougray Scott adapted by Irvine Welsh, and Sky Cinema thriller Dead Shot starring Colin Morgan and Felicity Jones.

Sargent-Disc also provided payroll services on all seven series of Outlander for producer Left Bank Pictures in association with Sony Pictures Television.

According to the research, growth is in large part due to sector development since Screen Scotland was formed in 2018, including significant skills development work and the opening of new or

expanded studios. These include Edinburgh’s First Stage Studios where Prime Video’s The Rig (now filming series 2) and Anansi Boys were filmed, and the expansion of The Pyramids in West Lothian, home to Good Omens series 2 (Prime Video), released earlier this year.

If you work in Scottish production and would like to know more about Sargent-Disc’s products and services, contact us now.