Lighting Up the Future: Our Time with NYT and Netflix at Production Park

At Surge, we’ve always felt that if you’ve learned the ropes, the best thing you can do is show someone else how it’s done. So, when the National Youth Theatre asked us to get involved with their IGNITE Your Creativity program (produced in partnership with Netflix), we didn’t think twice.

Our very own Damian Palli headed down to the impressive Production Park in Wakefield for a couple days of hands-on filmmaking, and honestly? We might have had as much fun as the young filmmakers did.

Getting Technical (Without the Boredom)

The goal was simple: help these young creatives understand what actually happens on a professional set.
We weren’t just talking at them from a stage; we were right there in the thick of it, breaking down the fundamentals of lighting and shooting a scene.

Film is about more than just hitting 'record.'
It’s about how light hits a face or how a camera angle changes the whole "vibe" of a story. We wanted to give the students the confidence to grab a lamp or a camera and know exactly how to bring their vision to life.

Bringing in the Pros

We also decided to involve long time collaborators Pole Lighting, Matt and Michael from Pole, lent their expertise to the mix. Having their professional insight and being able to discuss the relationship between a DOP and Gaffer was fantastic! It was a total game-changer, giving the students a look at how lighting rigs work in the real world of high-end production.

There’s something special about seeing a student realize they can control the mood of a whole room just by tweaking one light. That 'aha!' moment is exactly why we love being involved in programs like IGNITE

The Big Picture

Walking around Production Park, it was impossible not to feel inspired. Between the Netflix partnership and the raw energy of the NYT crew, the atmosphere was electric.

We were truly honored to play a small part in these students' journeys. If the talent we saw in on the program is any indication of where the UK film industry is headed, we’re all in very good hands.