Whether it’s through the tough times or the best of times, who you surround yourself with for the ride is so important and can entirely change the journey itself. I won’t lie, we’ve met some right corkers along the way, now happily in the rearview mirror - but we’ve also met some of the best people, who over time, have blurred quite seamlessly into the friend sector. Yes, yes, unadvisable, but who cares. Life is too short not to have as many friends as possible!
So this is the first of many blog posts to come, focusing on bloody great people. And this one is all about Paul Hillier; Director of Media, Film and TV at Tysers. Now, when you think of insurance, it conjures up visions of stuffy suits behind a minefield of impenetrable call centre options, but Paul Hillier, is anything but. From his coveted Soho lunch club to his passion for cold water swimming, Paul is a whole new version of an insurance broker.
It is true however, that his 19 years of experience, in-depth knowledge of insurance and meticulous risk management skills, are invaluable assets to screen productions of any scale. Paul, whilst in his reputable position at Tysers, has insured some of the most successful film and TV series to come out of the UK, several of which have littered the awards seasons for years. In addition to his official role as ‘Insurance Broker’ - Paul also take great pleasure and pride in supporting and connecting screen professionals. From first time short film makers to Executive Producers on the UK’s largest films and TV series, he is like Cilla Black on a Friday night, strategically connecting us all!
I first met Paul when we premiered our first short film “Sylvia” at BAFTA, and Paul attended through a mutual friend. He has been a pillar of support and encouragement throughout the course of our filmmaking journey, from insuring our second short film “Maximus” to listening to our future plans and growing slate. We meet up whenever possible and chat shop, but mostly recommend great films, great people and where to eat next!
When Covid hit in 2020, Paul was already a well connected name within the industry; perfectly bridging the gap between the intricacies of insurance and his light hearted ease at connecting people. But as productions came to a grinding halt, Paul took it upon himself to educate and update his growing list of newsletter contacts, on how to navigate the testing times, work within the parameters of Covid and financially protect productions - it was no easy feat! I for one, was on the receiving end of his regular updates and he became a trusted source of guidance in an ever changing landscape to many.
Now out of the other side of that wonderful blip in time, Paul has reignited the monthly lunch club, plucking 11 names out of a hat from his 650+ contacts book, to meet up, eat great food at a small independent Soho restaurant and discuss all manner of screen production. I think without intention, it has become quite the sought-after invitation to receive! As a fairly new producer to the world of film, I was rather awe struck by the other 10 people I sat around the table with on my turn to join. Trying to play it cool, my facade soon faded as I realised Paul’s joy in bringing people together from all areas of the industry, was entirely shared by those I dined with. His love of connecting people certainly rubs off on those who partake, and the whole event was filled with laughter, swapping advice and of course some brilliant sharing of stories. Of course, it is within Pauls’ interest to support and encourage new productions, but he invests in his clients in such a sincere and open way, whether they be past, current, future or just have a glimmer of hope in making a film. His true love of the industry is so very apparent.
I met up with Paul to chat through a few questions for this interview, but as always, we ended up devouring delicious food and discussing the industry, friends, film projects and his bizarre love of jumping in the North Sea (even in January! Most peculiar). But - we did get down to it eventually and here are his thoughts on a few areas of his work within the film industry.
For those that are new to the industry or taking those first steps into producing a screen project, it may not be obvious when to approach the topic of insurance, so I asked Paul from his point of view, when is the best time to reach out? Is it ever too early to chat about what you are planning and how to navigate the risk management?
Paul: We love to hear from people as early as possible. Literally from the earliest development of an idea, through to pre-prep and financing. Every step of the process throws up its own challenges and we may have ideas or input on how to navigate certain elements. From where you plan to film, with whom, on what format and when, we can breakdown each element which could then go towards some of your final decisions and plans. The earlier we can start chatting, the sooner we can establish risks and work through those at an early stage, as well as suggesting people and contacts that may be able to help.
From being someone on the receiving end of this advice, I can wholeheartedly testify that these early conversations are so helpful and insightful to help your projects move forward in the best possible way. In an ever changing industry, it can be overwhelming staying on top of industry changes and developments, as well as keeping your head down developing your slate. With people like Paul at the forefront of the industry, his guidance, advise and knowledge can keep you and your projects relevant. Paul has seen many changes over the nearly two decades he has worked in TV and film and I was interested to hear from him what developments have had a significant impact on the industry:
Paul: When I first came into the industry everyone was migrating over to digital filming, from film and videotape. The early teething issues were soon solved and now 95% of what we insure is digital media. But since then, the obvious and most monumental change has been the introduction and domination of the industry, especially high end TV, by the US streamers (Netflix, Amazon, Apple, Disney etc). It has changed the way we watch films and increased the production of on screen content considerably.
16 years ago, 'high end TV’ was a budget of £1m an hour and commissioned by the public service broadcasters. Now you can have £10m an hour and upwards! The financing of TV has become more like films of the past – you can have several players involved, essential elements, bond and with various tax credits being utilised if you are filming in multi territories.
Unfortunately, independent films are harder than ever to get funded, with budgets being squeezed. Talent are drawn to TV and have an abundance of choice, making it harder for independent films to attract top cast. With so many productions shooting simultaneously, actors can work across 2/3 projects at once and the industry is struggling to accommodate productions with the much needed crew and there is a real dearth of talent and experience out there.
Cinemas have also struggled, with the theatrical window being shortened so much and many films going straight onto streamers. Cinemas were hit drastically during Covid and the need to get audiences back through their doors is imperative.
So, a great industry to get into I hear you cry! Yes, it is tough and yes, it takes perseverance, but I don’t think anyone in or arriving in the industry expects anything different. For some mad, unknown reason, filmmakers, crews and talent all seem to be driven by passion. It certainly isn’t the money that fuels the independent filmmakers of our time, but a genuine love and desire to entertain audiences through beautiful, compelling, adventurous and brave films, TV, games and a plethora of screen projects we now have at our fingertips. It is an exciting time to be developing and experimenting with our slates, with audiences more open and accepting of something ‘new’, there is no telling what may be the next hit.
There is no doubt that funding your project is hard - from the independent projects to the huge budget films and TV series. There are no end of stories from legendary filmmakers who have still struggled to get their projects backed, even after a career many of us could only dream of, but for independent filmmakers, the stakes are high, with small teams dedicating huge amounts of unpaid time in development, closing a project can be literally life changing.
Paul is an immense, unwavering supporter of independent films and their teams. From those initial short films to debut features, his sincere desire to see people succeed is inspirational. So how does he see the future of the industry panning out? And is it all doom and gloom for us independent filmmakers, or is there light at the end of the tunnel?
Paul: Hopefully there will always be a place for indie film, which is where my heart is – I have been so proud and lucky to have insured some of our very best British directors, several who have been established for years, but others on the start of their journeys. The BFI, BBC and Film4 continue to support and develop young British film makers, indeed many of the award winning BIFA and BAFTA newcomers of the last few years have been backed by the above on short films to develop talent. We have also recently seen the brilliant BFI / Film4 Future Takes incentive roll out, offering a huge £90k to 7 projects in the UK. They have recognised the need for support for first time indie filmmakers to take that next leap between shorts and features.
Netflix, amongst other streamers are also looking at lower budget films, “UK Originals” and short films, which is great news for the independent market. As I’ve mentioned and as we all know, it is a tough industry to flourish in, making a successful first film doesn’t always mean the second will be easily financed. But if you have a good story and talented film makers involved, I believe they will always find a home and an audience.
We have been really proud to work with some brilliant (low budget) UK Films over last 15 years including Lady MacBeth, Saint Maud, Blue Jean, Aftersun, Boiling Point, God’s Own Country, Beast and Pin Cushion.
Thank you so much to Paul for sharing your thoughts and insights!
For anyone out there seeking insurance or risk management advise, or tips on cold water swimming, you can reach Paul here.
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