What OrcaLab does

ORCA: Lab is a privately held creative ecosystem founded in 2023 by Edwin Thomas, a former actor (The Happy Prince, 2018; Sundance, Berlinale, Screen International Star of Tomorrow) and certified Feldenkrais practitioner. The company operates three interconnected arms — ORCA: Stories (film and television production and research), ORCA: Health (somatic and movement-based services), and ORCA: Education (communication and pedagogical programmes) — and is built around Thomas's thesis that traditional film production structures (e.g., 16-hour set days) are unsustainable and that film, health, and education can be unified under a single creative methodology.

The product portfolio spans a film and TV slate (Dancing Tree with Big Indie Pictures; ODD; Touro Negro and Contos de Mulundus with Jabuti Filmes; short film Moon), the ORCA: SEED global development programme for emerging filmmakers offering approximately $40k per cohort (50% cash, 50% creative/legal support), the Deep Dive Roundtables research initiative engaging over 100 on-set professionals across 20 sessions, Feldenkrais-based health services including Smart Rehab for elite athletes and the Ladybones programme for women over 40, and the Exploracy / Exploracy PRO school-based communication programme delivered across 20 London state-school pilots between 2023 and 2025. Underlying technology combines Feldenkrais somatic methods, theatrical performance training, and a collaboratively developed pedagogy co-designed with head teachers, movement specialists, and conflict-resolution experts.

Revenue is generated through professional services (one-to-one health sessions, school-based workshops, teacher training), one-time film licensing and production partnerships, and externally funded development programmes. Distribution relies on direct school partnerships, festival circuits (with a Cannes 2026 presence), and co-production agreements. The company operates from London with team presence in the USA (New York) and Brazil (Rio de Janeiro), employs a core team of fewer than 10 individuals supported by approximately 15 wider contributors and advisors, and has received only pre-seed investment from individual backers (Eva Fischer). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.

Name

OrcaLab

Legal name

ORCA: Lab

Website

https://orca-lab.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ORCA: Lab is a creative ecosystem operating across film production, somatic health services, and education programmes, with operations in the UK, US, and Brazil, serving emerging filmmakers, schools, and health practitioners through integrated methodologies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Creative Production Services

akta.pro primary industry

Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Telemedicine Platforms (HLALAGAO)

Keywords

• Independent film production
• Feldenkrais movement therapy
• Communication education programmes
• Filmmaker development funding
• Creative production services

Headquarters

HQ city

Ramat Gan

HQ country

Israel

HQ region

Middle East

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Film and Television Production: Production of feature films, television, and short-form content across UK, US, and Brazil. Revenue generated through development, production, and distribution of creative content. Films in development include Dancing Tree, ODD, Touro Negro, Contos de Mulundus, and Moon.
2. Educational Programmes: School-based communication programmes (Exploracy, Exploracy PRO) and teacher training workshops led by professional actors. POLAR: LAB workshops teaching dialogue skills to future generations.
3. Health and Rehabilitation Services: One-to-one Feldenkrais Functional Integration sessions, Smart Rehab services for elite athletes, group workshops for health professionals, and Ladybones exercise programme for women over 40.
4. ORCA: SEED Programme: Global development programme for emerging filmmakers providing $40k of support (50% cash, 50% creative/legal support) plus intensive creative lab. Funded through external partnerships and likely serves as talent pipeline for production slate.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ORCA: Lab is an international creative ecosystem operating three interconnected arms: ORCA: Stories (film, television, and short-form production across the UK, US, and Brazil including the ORCA: SEED development programme and Deep Dive Roundtables research); ORCA: Health (Feldenkrais-based one-to-one sessions, Smart Rehab for elite athletes, Ladybones exercise programme, and Feet! foot health programme); and ORCA: Education (Exploracy and Exploracy PRO communication programmes, POLAR: LAB dialogue workshops, and The Takeover educational talk show).

Product overview

ORCA: Lab is an international creative ecosystem with three core arms — ORCA: Stories (film and television production), ORCA: Health (somatic methodologies and movement-based health programmes), and ORCA: Education (learning programmes developing imagination and communication skills). The company operates as a unified creative ecosystem where these three pillars interconnect, offering products including Exploracy and Exploracy PRO for educational communication, Feldenkrais and Smart Rehab for health services, and a film slate featuring projects like ODD, Touro Negro, Contos de Mulundus, Dancing Tree, and Moon. ORCA: Seed provides global development support for emerging filmmakers, while Deep Dive Roundtables conducts research into filmmaking conditions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ORCA: Stories: Creative ecosystem focusing on film, television, and short-form content across UK, US, and Brazil, including the ORCA Seed Fund and Deep Dive Roundtables research programme.
• ORCA: Health
• ORCA: Education
• ORCA Deep : Dive
• ORCA : SEED

Products and services

• ORCA: Stories Film and television production arm creating features, television, and short-form work across the UK, US, and Brazil, including the ORCA: SEED development programme and Deep Dive Roundtables research programme, for industry partners and emerging filmmakers.
• ORCA: Health Health division developing deeper relationship with the body through movement, awareness, and embodied capability using somatic methodologies with sports science, including Feldenkrais, Smart Rehab, Ladybones, and Feet! programmes, for individuals, athletes, and health professionals.
• ORCA: Education Education division developing imagination, creativity, and movement in learning, including the Exploracy school-based communication programme and other programmes, for state schools, teachers, and learners.
• Exploracy School-based communication programme led by Guildhall-trained actors, designed with head teachers, movement specialists and conflict resolution experts to help young people communicate authentically.
• Exploracy PRO

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% of students enjoyed Exploracy workshops; 92% found workshops easy to understand; 88% found workshops fun and interesting; 88% felt comfortable sharing ideas; 80% learnt something new
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Big Indie PicturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeature film co-production partnership for Dancing Tree, an ORCA film project in development.
• Jabuti FilmescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrazilian co-production partner for Touro Negro (late-stage development) and Contos de Mulundus (development). Luis Lomenha coordinates cultural projects with young people in communities across Maranhão, Brazil.
• Curtis BrownminorOthersTalent agency representing founder Edwin Thomas.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Participant Media: Established impact-driven film and media company producing socially conscious entertainment. Comparable in mission alignment between storytelling and systemic change, but at much larger scale and broader portfolio than ORCA: Stories.
• A24: Independent film and production company known for distinctive, auteur-driven storytelling. Comparable in creative ambition and focus on unexpected, distinctive voices, but operates at substantially larger scale with full studio capabilities.
• National Theatre Learning: The National Theatre's learning department runs large-scale theatre education programmes for schools and young people across the UK. Comparable in mission of using theatrical practice to develop communication and creativity in young people, though at much larger institutional scale.

Direct peers

• Jabuti Filmes: ORCA's Brazilian co-production partner for Touro Negro and Contos de Mulundus, founded by Luis Lomenha. An Afro-Brazilian-led production company with comparable mission of expanding access for filmmakers from underrepresented communities in Brazil.
• Royal Central School of Speech and Drama: London-based conservatoire for performing arts training with comparable pedagogy combining actor skills (voice, presence, confidence, embodiment) with professional practice — closely aligned to Exploracy's theatrical communication methodology.
• Bankside Films: UK-based film acquisitions and development company where ORCA's Roundtables co-lead Sophie Green served as Head of Acquisitions and Development since 2018. Comparable in indie film development, BAFTA/Oscar-nominated slate experience, and UK-based film operations.
• Big Indie Pictures: ORCA's existing co-production partner for the Dancing Tree feature film. A UK/US independent film production company with comparable scale and creative ambition for unexpected stories from underrepresented voices.
• Impact Partners: Film financing and production company focused on social impact storytelling. Directly comparable to ORCA's mission-driven approach to filmmaking and systemic change narrative, though more established in impact financing structures.
• Feldenkrais Guild of North America: Professional organization representing Feldenkrais practitioners globally. Directly comparable to ORCA: Health's Feldenkrais Functional Integration offering and Smart Rehab services for elite athletes using the same methodology.
• Mousetrap Theatre Projects: London-based charity that brings theatre experiences to young people, particularly those who might not otherwise access them. Closely comparable to Exploracy's school-based delivery model and mission of using theatre to develop communication skills in young Londoners.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/orca_lab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about OrcaLab