EAST COAST PICTURES
Manchester, London and hybrid from the Beach
We create NEW FORMATS for Screen
and Award Winning LIVE EVENTS
Our TV Story
East Coast Pictures create new formats for TV, streaming and online and revamp existing Series. We pitch direct to Network Commissioners with Co-Pro partners as well as working within teams of established Indies.
We originate new ideas, unlock that last tricky format point, create pitches, film sizzles and work for, and with, production partners, brands and agents to (our favourite part) bring an idea to life on screen.
East Coast Pictures launched 2010 on the east coast of England in Grimsby (our home town, famous for its fish.) ECP was set up with the aim of bridging the gap between new, emerging talent and mainstream media industry...and it worked!
Today, we're a hybrid team working across the UK including London and our new base in Manchester.
In 2016, we took a game-changing step into Live events.... read on
Julia Thompson MIPM
Creative Director, Founder
Starting as a Runner to Director of Entertainment for SONY Pictures Television UK and Development Exec for Simon Cowell's SYCO for over 8 years, Julia has helped create and produce formats including Britain's Got Talent, Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, The Greatest Dancer, Nanny 911 and in 2023 new projects for BBC, ITV and Five.
Alongside TV, Julia has created live events winning National Festival and National Outdoor Event Awards in place-making. and works with sponsors, brands, local authorities and funders including Arts Council and Heritage Lottery.
Jane Cullen
Senior Producer
Jane is an RTS Award Winning documentary Producer/Director with a passion for archive and pop culture. The First Ladies of Hip-Hop (BBC, Oct 23) A History of the Hacienda, I Love the 70s/80s/90s, Viva La Diva and Senior Broadcast Journalist on BBC's long running series, Inside Out. Jane has also been a Lecturer in Media Studies and Mass Communications at colleges and York St John University..
Leasha Waddingham
Producer, Shooting PD
BBC Three's The Rap Game, Daisybeck's The Yorkshire Vet and Rare's Ice Airport, Leasha has been a part of Factual and Fact Ent productions and development for major independents.
Alongside her TV career, Leasha is founder of Women's Camera Collective in Manchester supporting women in the industry to share experience and gain hands on training with kit and a Lecturer at Gary Neville's UA 92.
Andy Harris
Gallery Director, Shooting PD
Gallery Director of ITV's, LOVE ISLAND and about to join I'M A CELEBRITY GET ME OUT OF HERE (Oct 23) Shooting PD of Geordie Shore along with Judge Rinder's Crime Stories, Help We Bought a Village, Four in a Bed' and £100k Drop among others, Andy has worked across major independents including Lime Pictures, Lifted, and True North. Often on a plane for the next shoot, Andy is at the frontline of filming and production for mainstream networks.
Dan Clarke
Photographer
Dan's career began in the studios of Rankin and on shoots with David Bailey. Founder of the ground-breaking photography project
Grimbarians
Dan is an experienced portrait and event photographer, with a portfolio of clients including actors, artists and personalities in TV, film, sport and fashion as well as Grimsby Mariners Football, MyEnergi and more
Abbie Dewhurst
Broadcaster, Presenter
BBC presenter Abbie Dewhurst has presented on BBC Radio One and is a regular on BBC Look North across all regions. With a passion for motorsports and the environment, Abbie is active on social media and a key creative for TV and online content. Abbie is represented by Cloud 9 Management
Aida
A.I. Assistant in Training
Some of the biggest TV formats in the world came from teams with northern roots and global reach, Got Talent, Takeaway, drama hits too.
As the TV industry undergoes dramatic change, we're embracing AI as an amazing tool, a spark, a helping hand, at the same time, keeping it real - if she would only make a decent cuppa!
EVENTS and Festivals
Place-making events that
audiences, funders and sponsors love.
....Our Event Story
Alongside TV, ECP is a Member of the Institute of Place Management, the professional body supporting those committed to developing, managing and making places better. With ten years experience leading a private sector led partnership with the local authority, Julia has been actively involved creating new economic strategies supporting the visitor economy, tourism, hospitality, retail and service sector (VESR) and a graduate of Staffordshire University and Arts Council's 'Co-Creative Leadership and Placemaking.'
We've helped write and support successful funding bids, including Coastal Communities Fund £3.2 million, Heritage Lottery £250,000 and a wide range of smaller community initiatives.
And we've brought those projects to life through partnerships, collaboration with public and private sector and 'grit!' From award winning events such as Festival of the Sky and heritage project Grim Falfest as well as charity fundraising events, Award ceremonies, community workshops and activities.
Bringing an audience together, especially families and community, is at the heart of what we do, pure storytelling with the potential for global reach - our adventure continues.
Portfolio: Grim Falfest
** WINNER NATIONAL OUTDOOR EVENT AWARD, 2023 **
Viking Festival, Grim Falfest was created to put the Grim - the town's Viking founder - back into Grimsby.
The event caught the imagination attracting families and visitors and boosting the local economy, celebrating the town's viking heritage and continuing links with Scandinavia through trade and industry. Over 22,300 visitors came to the inaugural event in 2022 which returned in 2023
Working on behalf of VESR CIC, in partnership with Heritage Lincolnshire and event managers, Grim Falfest became the highlight event in a 12 month project of workshops, guest speakers and activities for the community and schools.
Portfolio: Festival of the SKY
Created as part of a wider £3.2 million project of regeneration, public art and events supported by Coastal Communities Fund, Festival of the SKY was created with place-making at its heart.
Working with the amazing team at From the Fields, the local authority, along with professional and volunteer arts and culture providers, this 3 day event took place around the seaside resort of Cleethorpes. The inaugural event
won two UK NATIONAL FESTIVAL AWARDS, Best New Festival
and Best Non-Music Festival...a first for the area.
WHAT WE DO
Funding to Delivery
We can help with all or part of your project
What a great idea!
CREATING A PROJECT
Creating a project that appeals to a target audience, particularly communities that don't usually engage with arts or heritage, can be challenging, especially when funders, the local authority and business community need to be onboard too.
We've created projects that have captured the imagination of new audiences and delivered for funders and sponsors too.
Build the Budget
FUNDING and SUPPORT
Competition is fierce for funding, and packing a punch in your bid writing can make all the difference, whether its for arts, culture, heritage, sport, regeneration or community, from one-off projects to projects lasting 12 months or more.
We've helped write successful bids for social enterprises and charities, and helped secure funding from several thousand to over £3 million.
Bringing your 'story' to life DELIVERY
From creative content that engages your audience, to logistics, marketing and evaluation - turning an idea into a successful event can be a huge undertaking ....like the Swan gliding along the water, it's feet paddling below!
We're lucky to have worked with some of the UK's leading event and PR specialists able to deliver your event safely and successfully.
Get in Touch
We're a hybrid team,
often docked in Manchester and London
contact@eastcoastpictures.co.uk
Crew
We're looking to grow our crew of Shooting and Editing PD's, AP's and Researchers. Would be great to hear from you.
TV Submissions Policy
Have an idea for a new TV series? If you're not part of an existing television production company and based in the UK, our Development team are open to consider new ideas and proposals. Please be aware there are many ideas with shared themes and format points. Submitting your proposal does not guarantee it is unique and we may already have something similar in development.
