Love of Your Life arrives on Prime Video this Tuesday — directed by Rachel Morrison and produced by Ryan Gosling, starring Margaret Qualley, Aaron Pierre and Gabriel Basso. As Line Producer, how does it feel to see it reach audiences — and what drew you to the project?
It was such a lovely project to work on, so I’m really pleased it’s now out in the world for everyone to enjoy. There were a few reasons I was keen to get on board. Variety in my work is important to me, and this was an opportunity to work with Amazon MGM Studios for the first time, as well as with Producer Sue Baden Powell. Add to that a poignant, emotive story and the chance to work in Lisbon, and I was all in!
Can you tell us how you first got started in the industry, and what path led you to becoming a UPM & Line Producer?
After watching countless “making of” featurettes on DVDs as a teenager, I knew I wanted to work in film production and help bring those epic stories to life. As it seemed that all dreams start in Hollywood, I secured an internship at Silver Pictures on the Warner Bros. lot in Los Angeles. That experience opened my eyes to how the industry works, particularly from a US studio perspective.
When I returned to the UK, I joined the industry as a Skillset (now ScreenSkills) Production Runner and have worked my way up through all the production department roles to where I am today.
Your earliest credits include Kingsman, Avengers: Age of Ultron and Detective Pikachu — some of the biggest studio productions of the last decade. What did those early years in the production office teach you — and is there one that stands out as genuinely formative?
I’ve been fortunate to work on such a diverse mix of projects throughout my career, but working onAvengers: Age of Ultronin both the UK and Seoul was particularly formative. It really opened my eyes to the sheer scale of the operation behind these big action superhero films.
Seeing all those moving parts come together across incredible locations, with some pretty wild stunts, through the hard work and dedication of the cast and crew, was epic. It really cemented that I wanted to be part of creating that kind of movie magic.
One of the things I love most about our industry is that no two projects are ever quite the same. You’re constantly learning, meeting new people and adapting to different ways of working, often in completely different parts of the world. That variety is something I still really value today.
You’ve worked through every grade — from Production Assistant all the way to UPM/ Line Producer. Was that a deliberate climb, or did it evolve more organically? And what did each step teach you?
I always knew I wanted to work in the Production department and ultimately work my way up to Producer. I’ve always believed that each step along the way is important. Understanding the different roles, what each person brings to the team and the challenges they face gives you a much stronger foundation as you progress. Production is a department where the unexpected is inevitable, and having experience behind you is invaluable when you need to find quick, effective solutions.
I was fortunate early in my career to work with producer Sam Breckman on several projects. As I was ready to take the next step, he gave me those opportunities, and with his guidance and trust I progressed from coordinator through to UPM. That experience also taught me how important it is to work with the right people. We can’t do this job alone, nor would we want to. A great team makes a production more efficient, but it also makes the experience far more enjoyable. Our jobs can be demanding so it’s important to have fun along the way too.
On several of your projects you joined later to assist or take over a role. How is going into a production part way through a different challenge and what have these experiences taught you?
It's about understanding what's already working, identifying where you can make a difference and earning the team's trust, all while the production keeps moving. It's a tricky balance, but I do love a challenge! Ultimately, it's rewarding to find your feet, build those relationships and help keep the production moving forward.
Love of Your Life marks a step up to Line Producer — a role with considerably more responsibility. What has that transition felt like from the inside?
OnLove of Your Life, I initially joined as UPM and transitioned into the Line Producer role as the needs of the production evolved, under the guidance of producer Sue Baden-Powell. Stepping up is about demonstrating that you're capable and willing to take on more responsibility, but also about having the right people around you who trust you and support your development.
One of the biggest transitions as you move into more senior roles is learning to delegate and trust the people around you to do their jobs. You must resist the temptation to get involved in every detail and instead focus on the bigger picture, making sure the team has what it needs to do its job well. It's a shift from being directly involved in everything to giving others the space to excel, and one of the most rewarding parts is seeing the people around you thrive.
On a lighter note — from Detective Pikachu to True Detective, from His Dark Materials to Love of Your Life, what is your absolute non-negotiable on a long shoot day?
Laughter… and a good cup of coffee.
Finally, what advice would you give to a Production Coordinator or Supervisor looking to progress towards becoming a Line Producer, and what has kept you passionate about this work?
Keep absorbing and learning as much as you possibly can. Particularly within the Production department, you're in a position to observe how more senior roles operate and how crucial decisions are made. Pay attention to what those around you are doing, how their responsibilities differ from your own, and when an opportunity arises to get involved and learn something new, say yes!
We continue to learn with every project because no two productions are ever the same, which is one of the things that keeps the job so interesting.
One of the reasons I love what I do is that feeling of standing on set on Day 1, looking around and seeing how all the pieces of the puzzle have come together through the team's hard work, dedication and preparation. There's something really special about seeing everyone's efforts come to life and knowing you've all played a part in making it happen.
