Filmbase

What Filmbase does

Filmbase is a UK-based membership platform serving freelance crew in the Art Department, Set Decoration, Props, and Prop Modelling departments of the film and TV industry. Founded in 2020 and operating as FilmBase UK Ltd from Addlestone (with a London contact address), the company addresses a structural hiring problem: productions historically staff below-the-line crew through informal word-of-mouth networks, limiting opportunity for qualified candidates without existing relationships. Filmbase's core product is a curated, IMDB-vetted crew directory of 2,500+ members, paired with an email-based Job Alerts system that matches productions seeking crew with members based on role, department, and budget-band preferences. Department-specific Hubs consolidate job alerts, Bectu-published rate cards, WhatsApp communities, supplier directories, and educational webinars (Filmbase Sessions) into a single resource layer for each discipline.

The platform is built on Wild Apricot membership infrastructure with Stripe handling payments, and integrates IMDB for credit verification of Accredited (2+ professional scripted credits) and New to Industry members. Filmbase operates a hybrid revenue model: crew pay modest annual subscription fees (£10-£40 depending on tier and department), employers access the directory and request crew for free, and corporate partners (notably Compuhire and Data Reprographics) provide sponsorship that subsidizes operations, webinars, and platform development. The company also runs a non-member webinar ticketing line at £10 per session, generating incremental revenue on top of subscriptions. There is no disclosed venture funding; ownership and operation sit with working industry professionals, and the company maintains strategic alliances with the Bectu trade union, the Film and TV Charity, and Talking Point training.

Name

Filmbase

Legal name

FilmBase UK Ltd

Website

https://filmbase.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Filmbase is a UK-based membership platform serving freelance Art Department, Set Decoration, Props, and Prop Modelling crew with a vetted directory, email job alerts, Bectu rate cards, and webinars, funded by annual subscriptions and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film & TV Crew Networking Platform

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (51211), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPADAFAA

Crew & Labor Services (Production Staff, Unions, Payroll)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Film & Video Production/Distribution/Production Services (Crew, Equipment Rental, Locations)

Keywords

• Film crew networking
• Job alert platform
• Crew directory services
• Industry membership platform
• Production crew hiring

Headquarters

HQ city

Addlestone

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Annual Membership Fees: Crew members pay annual subscription fees to access job alerts, directory listings, member resources, WhatsApp groups, and industry updates. Different tiers for New to Industry (entry-level) and Accredited (experienced with 2+ credits) members.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate Partnership Programme with companies like Compuhire and Data Reprographics who provide financial support enabling webinars, events, and site development.
3. Employer Platform Access: Free for employers to use the platform, post crew requests, and access vetted crew directories. This free service encourages adoption and drives member value.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Filmbase is a membership-based crew networking platform for the UK Film and TV industry that connects freelance crew members in Art Department, Set Decoration, and Props with production companies seeking crew. The platform operates a Job Alerts System that emails vetted members relevant opportunities based on their roles and experience level, alongside a searchable Crew Directory of 2,500+ professionals. Membership is free for employers to post crew requests and access the directory; crew members pay annual subscription fees.

Product overview

Filmbase is a membership-based crew networking platform for the UK Film and TV industry, providing a suite of interconnected services centered around job matching and professional development. The core platform consists of a Job Alerts System that emails members relevant opportunities, combined with a searchable Crew Directory of 2,500+ vetted professionals. These are organized through Department Hubs for Art Department, Set Decoration, and Props, which also provide access to Suppliers Directories, Filmbase Sessions webinars, and member WhatsApp groups. The platform operates on tiered memberships (New to Industry, Accredited, and Industry Access) that determine access levels to job alerts and directory features. All departments also have access to BECTU rate cards and industry resources. The platform is free for employers to use and integrates Stripe for membership payment processing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Job Alerts System Email-based job alert system that matches production crew needs with Filmbase members based on their profile job roles, budget band preferences, and membership level. Sends relevant job opportunities to vetted members for feature films and scripted TV drama productions.
• Crew Directory Searchable database of 2,500+ vetted crew members across Art Department, Set Decoration, and Props departments. Accredited members have a minimum of two professional Film or TV Drama credits verified through IMDB.
• Suppliers Directory Curated directory of recommended film and TV specialist suppliers for Art, Set Dec, and Props departments, including printing, graphic props, signage services, prop donations, and wrap sales.
• Filmbase Sessions (Webinars) Regular webinars and networking events covering industry topics including rates, finance for freelancers, working practices, crew welfare, and career development. Free for members; £10 per session for non-members.
• Department Hubs

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,500+ Job Alerts sent since 2020 launch
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CompuhirecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Corporate Partner for 2024/25. Compuhire provides visual effects for screens in film and TV (Star Wars, No Time to Die, Matrix Resurrections). Partnered on webinars including online yoga sessions, and supports Filmbase events and platform development.
• Data ReprographicscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Partner supporting Filmbase membership fees and platform development. Data Reprographics provides printing, graphic props, and signage services for film and TV (F1, Mickey 17, The Fantastic Four). Hosted crew networking event near Shepperton Studios.
• BectucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrade union partnership fighting for fair working conditions and professional standards. Filmbase works with Bectu on webinars, rate cards, and industry issues. Bectu's Art Department Branch formulates rate cards that Filmbase publishes. Filmbase lobbies alongside Bectu for crew safety and standardized rates.
• Film and TV CharityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on webinars and events focused on industry issues. The charity provides 24/7 support line, financial advice, mental wellbeing support including free counselling, and bullying advice service for film and TV workers.
• Talking PointcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong advocate for Filmbase for many years, regularly provides expertise for industry webinars. Training organization run by Helen Johnson (20+ years in production) that has trained hundreds of crew in Art, Set Dec, and Props departments. Filmbase highly recommends their courses.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• IMDbPro: Industry professional directory from IMDb providing crew profiles and contact details for film/TV productions globally. Comparable crew-discovery use case to Filmbase, though as part of Amazon's broader IMDb platform rather than a specialised crew network.
• Backstage: Large casting and crew platform primarily for performers but expanding into crew roles. Comparable job-marketplace mechanic, though much broader and performer-focused rather than Filmbase's behind-the-camera crew niche.
• Spotlight: UK-based performing arts directory primarily for actors, with broader industry membership. Comparable UK membership-platform model, though focused on performers rather than Art Dept/Set Dec/Props crew like Filmbase.

Direct peers

• Mandy.com: Global network connecting film and TV crew (and performers) with production jobs. Closely comparable to Filmbase's job-alert and directory model, though at much larger global scale and without Filmbase's department-specific focus.
• ProductionBase: UK-based online directory connecting freelance film, TV, and media production crew with productions. Directly comparable to Filmbase as a UK crew marketplace, though broader across departments rather than specialising in Art Dept/Set Dec/Props.
• ProductionHUB: US-headquartered production services directory covering crew, equipment, and locations across film/TV/commercials. Comparable marketplace model for crew sourcing, though broader in scope and more US-focused than Filmbase's UK niche.
• The Knowledge (The Knowledge Online): Long-running UK directory for the film and TV production industry, listing crew, services, and production companies. Directly comparable as a UK crew and production-services directory, predating Filmbase by decades.

Emerging players

• Stage 32: Online community and job board for film, TV, and theatre creatives. Comparable networking-plus-jobs model targeting industry professionals, though global and broader in scope than Filmbase's UK department-specific focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/filmbase.uk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/filmbase-uk

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Filmbase