TV Makers

How do you lead a global production group through one of the biggest periods of change the television industry has ever faced?

In the first episode of Series 5, Ashley Golder sits down with James Burstall, CEO and Founder of Argonon, to discuss what it takes to lead a global production group, manage multiple production companies under one umbrella, and identify new opportunities in an ever-changing media landscape. From leadership and company culture to business strategy, content ownership and emerging revenue streams, James shares how he balances commercial success with a people-first approach - proving that being a decent person doesn't have to come at the expense of building a successful business.

As the leader of a group that includes Bandicoot (The Masked Singer), Windfall, BriteSpark, Like A Shot, Rose Rock, Leopard and Leopard USA, James is responsible for guiding a diverse portfolio of companies operating across television, digital content, podcasts and emerging platforms.

We discuss how production groups are adapting to changing audience behaviour, the opportunities presented by YouTube, podcasts and FAST channels, the importance of content ownership, and how producers, directors and production companies can position themselves for the future.

In This Episode:
What a CEO of a global production group actually does
Managing multiple production companies under one group
Leadership, culture and building successful teams
Why being a good leader doesn't mean being soft on business
Adapting to a changing media landscape
YouTube, podcasts and FAST channels
Content ownership and intellectual property
New funding models and revenue streams
The future of television and content creation

This Episode is Sponsored by:

RIMMS - https://www.rimms.tv
Linkline - https://linklinecrew.com

📸 Follow TV Makers on Instagram: @tvmakerspod

📧 Get in touch: podcast@tvmakers.co.uk

🎧 Enjoying the podcast? Follow or subscribe to TV Makers so new episodes automatically land in your feed. If you've enjoyed this conversation, please consider leaving a rating or review - it really helps more people discover the show.

The full TV Makers back catalogue is available wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Recorded by Ashley Golder - https://ashleygolder.tv/
Instagram @tvmakerspod
Email: Podcast@tvmakers.co.uk

Artwork by Benjamin Leon  -
Instagram: @benleondraws
Website:  www.benleondraws.com

If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to make large-scale, high-stakes television drama - this is the episode.
To close Series 4 of TV Makers, Ashley is joined by the co-creator, executive producer and lead director of Hijack, Jim Field Smith, and Director of Photography Ed Moore.

It’s a double finale! TV Makers X Hijack! 

Season 1 trapped audiences at 35,000 feet.
Season 2 moves underground - onto a Berlin U-Bahn train, in real time, for eight relentless hours.
Together, Jim and Ed unpack what it took to build one of Apple TV+’s most ambitious thrillers - from scanning real train carriages in Berlin to constructing a fully functioning hydraulic train set in the UK that could move in multiple axis while remaining completely shootable in 360 degrees.
This conversation goes far beyond “how it looked.”
They explore:
Why real-time storytelling is creatively thrilling - and structurally brutal
The hidden cost of writing something you know could be a production nightmare
Why “second screen friendly” might be the most dangerous note in modern television
How prep at scale actually creates freedom on set
And what trust between director and DP really looks like when the pressure is on
Jim explains why he avoids traditional storyboarding in favour of building fully immersive environments that allow actors - including Idris Elba - to perform inside something that feels real, rather than technical.
Ed shares how virtual production, LED environments, lens sourcing across Europe, and precise sun-path calculations helped sustain tension minute by minute across an eight-hour real-time narrative.
This is a deep dive into collaboration, ambition, and refusing to lower the creative bar - even when the logistics are daunting.
And if you want to lift the curtain further, head over to YouTube to see behind the scenes pictures and footage supplied by Jim, Ed and Apple. 

It’s a fitting finale to Series 4 for TV makers. Enjoy!

This Episode is Sponsored by:
RIMMS
The Kit House
Directed by Good

Produced, recorded and Edited by Ashley Golder
Additional camera by Will James
Recorded by Ashley Golder - https://ashleygolder.tv/
Instagram @tvmakerspod
Email: Podcast@tvmakers.co.uk

Artwork by Benjamin Leon  -
Instagram: @benleondraws
Website:  www.benleondraws.com

Are you worried there’s a shift happening in TV - and you might be missing it?
Are you quietly questioning whether the traditional production company model is still sustainable?
In this episode, I sit down with Ed Taylor, Co-Founder of Honey Bee, to talk honestly about what running an indie looks like right now… and what it may need to become next.
With longer commissioning timelines, tighter broadcaster budgets, and increasing pressure on development spend, Ed shares how he’s reassessing the fundamentals of the production company model.
We discuss:
Whether the old route to scaling an indie still works
The reality of “lifestyle businesses” in TV
Why working with brands require a completely different language to broadcasters
Partnering on YouTube 
And the one mindset shift production company owners need to survive the next phase
Ed talks candidly about adaptability, automation, and what it really means to build something that can outlast the current bottleneck.
And later in the conversation, he reveals a move Honey Bee is making that reframes everything we’ve discussed about diversifying, scale, and long-term growth.
If you’re running a company…
 Thinking about starting one…
 Or simply trying to future-proof your place in the industry…
This is a conversation worth hearing.
And if you want to hear more from Ed, his Substack is here

This Episode is Sponsored by:  
RIMMS  
The Kit House  
Directed By Good    

Edited by Ben Seale 
Recorded by Ashley Golder - https://ashleygolder.tv/
Instagram @tvmakerspod
Email: Podcast@tvmakers.co.uk

Artwork by Benjamin Leon  -
Instagram: @benleondraws
Website:  www.benleondraws.com

What does access actually look like on a TV or film production and how can we do better on our own sets, for everyone’s benefits?

In this episode of TV Makers, Ashley Golder is joined by Leah Rachel, an access coordinator working across TV and film, supporting deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent cast and crew.
Leah pulls back the curtain on what access really means in practice, from the everyday decisions made in prep and on set, to the conversations productions often avoid because they’re unsure how to handle them. It’s an honest, practical look at how access works when it’s done well, and why expertise matters.

Together, they unpack:
* What an access coordinator actually does, from prep through to production
* The difference between access needs and access requirements (and why the language matters)
* How hiring an access co-ordinator may not even affect your budget!
* The questions people are often afraid to ask.
* How access benefits everyone on set, not just disabled colleagues.

If you work in TV or film and want to approach access with confidence, clarity, and care - this episode is for you.

You can find more info on the future Access Coordinator training at Screenskills: https://www.screenskills.com

Listen & Follow
If you enjoyed this episode, hit subscribe so new episodes land straight in your feed.
Follow the podcast on Instagram @tvmakerspod
Questions or guest suggestions? Email podcast@tvmakers.co.uk
Thanks again to Casarotto team:
https://www.casarotto.co.uk/access-team

This Episode is Sponsored by:
Rimms
The Kit House
Directed By Good

Edited by Ben Seale 
Recorded by Ashley Golder - https://ashleygolder.tv/
Instagram @tvmakerspod
Email: Podcast@tvmakers.co.uk

Artwork by Benjamin Leon  -
Instagram: @benleondraws
Website:  www.benleondraws.com

In this episode of TV Makers, Ashley Golder sits down with Andy Harrower, CEO of Directors UK, for an honest conversation about the real state of the TV and film industry and what’s being done behind the scenes to protect freelancers.
Andy offers a clear-eyed look at where the industry finds itself heading into 2026: a prolonged commissioning slowdown, growing insecurity for freelancers, and an erosion of the director’s role across parts of television. Together, they unpack why directors still matter, why prep and edit time are being squeezed, and how “false economies” are quietly pushing creatives to breaking point.

The conversation explores:
•Why only 12% of people in TV and film say it’s a mentally healthy place to work
•The freelance reality behind the programmes audiences love
•How power, budgets, and hiring practices really operate in today’s TV landscape
•What Directors UK is doing through lobbying, forums, and policy work to support directors and freelancers more widely
•The government’s proposed “Freelance Champion” - what it is, why it matters, and whether it will actually have teeth
•How AI, copyright, and data scraping threaten creative ownership
•Why diversity “initiatives” aren’t enough
•Where hope still exists for directors and freelancers as the industry shifts toward digital-first models

This is a serious, thoughtful episode about precarity, power, and protection - and why the fight for freelancers is one the entire industry should care about. 

Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts. 
Enjoying the series? Don't underestimate the power of the share, rate, and subscribe bit! It really helps! Whether you’re watching on YouTube or listening on your favourite podcast app, drop us a comment, or connect with us on Instagram at @tvmakerspod

Got a question or guest suggestion? Email us at podcast@tvmakers.co.uk

Thank you to our Sponsors:
RIMMS- https://www.rimms.tv 
The Kit House - https://www.kithouserental.co.uk
Directed By Good - https://www.directedbygood.com

Edited By Ben Seal
Recorded by Ashley Golder - https://ashleygolder.tv/
Instagram @tvmakerspod
Email: Podcast@tvmakers.co.uk

Artwork by Benjamin Leon  -
Instagram: @benleondraws
Website:  www.benleondraws.com