Calling the Shots Films Limited

What Calling the Shots Films Limited does

Calling the Shots Films Limited is a Bristol-based, independent film and television production company founded in 2000 by Jeremy Routledge. The company produces distinctive live-action and animated content across drama, comedy, documentary and animated series formats for the UK's principal public broadcasters, including Channel 4, BBC (across BBC One, Two, Three, Four and BBC Arts), and ITV Studios, with distribution via linear broadcast and BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds. Its production catalogue includes more than 160 commissions, with recent slate titles TMWYB (Channel 4, 2025), Words First (BBC Four, 2023), Animated Thinking (BBC Arts, 2021) and Backbone (BBC Two, 2021).

The company operates a parallel talent development division, CTS Skills, which runs residential film and animation training programmes including BFI Film Academy Art Department and Stop Frame camps in partnership with the British Film Institute, Aardman Animations, UWE Bristol, boomsatsuma and Bottle Yard Studios. These programmes have produced Random Acts (72 short films for Channel 4, with Little Dot Films and Arts Council England) and New Creatives (over 90 films, radio programmes and interactive projects for BBC Arts with Arts Council England), functioning as a pipeline of emerging writers, animators and directors.

Revenue is generated on a project-based, one-time licence commission model from a small set of repeat UK public broadcaster clients, supplemented by programme delivery fees and partnership funding from Arts Council England, BFI and the Department for Education via the National Lottery. The company is a private limited company with 1-10 employees, founder-led, and operates as a single office headquartered at 133 Cumberland Road, Bristol.

Name

Calling the Shots Films Limited

Legal name

Calling The Shots Films Ltd

Website

https://callingtheshots.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Calling the Shots Films Limited is a Bristol-based independent production company producing live-action and animated drama, comedy and documentary for UK public broadcasters (BBC, Channel 4, ITV) and running BFI-funded residential talent development programmes for emerging filmmakers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Television and Film Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (512110), Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)

akta.pro primary industry

Scripted TV Series Production (Live-Action) (MPADABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Media Arts & Performance (Film, Stagecraft, Lighting, Sound) (EDAMAAAJ), Casting & Talent Services (Casting, Background, Talent Holding) (MPADAFAI)

Keywords

• Broadcast film production
• Television content production
• Talent development programmes
• Screen production services
• Skills training programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Broadcast Commissions: Receives commissions from major UK broadcasters (Channel 4, BBC, ITV, BBC Arts) to produce original content including drama, comedy, documentary and animated series. Revenue is project-based per commission.
2. Arts Council England Funding: Partnership funding from Arts Council England for talent development initiatives and creative content production.
3. BFI Film Academy Programmes: Operates BFI Film Academy residential camps and skills programmes in partnership with the British Film Institute, Department for Education and National Lottery funding.
4. Partner Programme Delivery: Produces content and manages talent development programmes in partnership with organisations such as BBC Arts, Arts Council England, and BFI, receiving programme delivery fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Calling the Shots Films produces scripted live-action and animated film and television content for UK broadcasters, and delivers structured skills and talent development programmes for emerging screen industry creatives. Production work is commissioned by BBC, Channel 4 and ITV, while skills programmes are delivered in partnership with the BFI, BBC Arts, Channel 4 Random Acts and Arts Council England.

Product overview

Calling the Shots Films Limited is a multi-award winning film and TV production company founded in 2000, based in Bristol. The company operates as a single unified production house offering two main service lines: broadcast film and TV production, and talent development skills programs. Their production portfolio includes live-action and animated content commissioned by major UK broadcasters (BBC, Channel 4, ITV) covering drama, comedy, and documentary formats. Key productions include TMWYB (Channel 4 comedy), Words First (BBC Four animated series), Backbone (BBC Two drama), and Animated Thinking (BBC Arts). Their skills division encompasses CTS Skills for emerging talent development, New Creatives (in partnership with BBC Arts and Arts Council England), Random Acts (Channel 4 shorts series), and BFI Film Academy Camps including Art Department and Stop Frame animation training programs delivered with Aardman Animations and UWE Bristol.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Broadcast Production Services End-to-end production of scripted live-action and animated film and television content delivered as commissioned programmes for UK broadcasters including the BBC, Channel 4 and ITV.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 160 productions created across multiple broadcast formats and platforms
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Channel 4coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor broadcast partner commissioning original content including Random Acts (72 films), comedy productions, and drama series. CTS partners with Channel 4, Little Dot Films and Arts Council England on the Random Acts programme.
• BBCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary broadcast partner commissioning drama, comedy, documentary and animated series across BBC One, Two, Three, Four and BBC Arts. Long-standing partnership producing New Creatives, Words First Animations, and multiple broadcast commissions.
• Arts Council EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational arts organisation providing funding and partnership for New Creatives programme and Words First animations. CTS produces content and talent development initiatives in partnership with Arts Council England.
• BFI (British Film Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBFI Film Academy partnership delivering residential camps for young filmmakers aged 16-19. CTS runs Art Department camps, Stop Frame camps and skills programmes as part of BFI Film Academy's national talent programme supported by Department for Education and National Lottery.
• Aardman AnimationsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOscar-winning animation studio partnership for BFI Stop Frame Camp. CTS delivers animation training in partnership with Aardman and University of the West of England's School of Animation, visiting Aardman's facilities and learning from industry professionals.
• ITV StudiosminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBroadcast partner that has commissioned CTS productions including Severn Stories for ITV.
• University of the West of England (UWE)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with UWE's School of Animation for Stop Frame Camp delivery. CTS also maintains relationships with UWE's Animation Course for camp visits and participant progression pathways.
• boomsatsumacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative studio partner providing facilities for BFI Film Academy residential camps at the Leadworks location in Bristol.
• Bottle Yard StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigh-end TV and film studio partner where CTS runs Art Department camps. Studios host productions like The Outlaws, Alex Rider and Sherlock.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hat Trick Productions: UK independent production company producing scripted comedy and drama for BBC, Channel 4 and ITV. Closely comparable mid-sized indie with similar broadcaster mix and live-action focus.
• Tiger Aspect Productions: UK indie producing drama, comedy and documentaries for BBC, Channel 4 and ITV. Closely comparable scripted-TV production model targeting the same commissioners.
• Sister Pictures: UK independent scripted production company producing premium drama and comedy for UK broadcasters and streamers. Comparable indie model focused on distinctive storytelling for major commissioners.
• Fable Pictures: UK independent drama and film producer with BBC Film and Channel 4 credits. Comparable small UK indie producing distinctive scripted content for public broadcasters.
• Baby Cow Productions: UK independent comedy producer co-founded by Steve Coogan, producing scripted comedy for BBC and Channel 4. Comparable small-indie scripted-comedy model.
• Warp Films: UK independent film and TV producer based outside London (Sheffield). Comparable regional indie producing distinctive drama and shorts for UK broadcasters.
• House Productions: UK independent film and television drama producer focused on distinctive British storytelling. Comparable small-to-mid indie serving UK broadcasters and streamers with scripted content.

Others

• Aardman Animations: Oscar-winning UK animation studio and active CTS partner on BFI Stop Frame Camp. Not a direct competitor — included because CTS delivers animation projects in partnership with Aardman and they share the Bristol animation ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• All3Media: Large UK and international television production group owning multiple scripted indie labels. Serves the same broadcasters at significantly greater scale, making it the dominant incumbent comparator.
• Banijay UK: Global production group with multiple UK scripted labels (e.g., Endemol Shine, Initial). Comparable end-market (BBC, Channel 4, ITV) but at vastly greater scale and capital base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/ctsdofilm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/calling-the-shots-films-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Calling the Shots Films Limited