Studio Team Spotlight – Kirstie Evans

Next up in our internal studio team spotlight series - the miracle worker and utter legend that is Kirstie Evans - our Operations Manager! 

Just over four years ago, Kirstie joined Bovingdon Airfield Studios. Now feels like the perfect time to explore her journey from theatre into film and TV, her move from production to the studio side, and the immensely hard work behind four years of rapid studio development. Much has changed in terms of the studio’s size and facilities, but one thing remains constant: Kirstie is still our operational glue and lynchpin, keeping everything running smoothly across all areas and helping shape the studio’s future - with real impact and influence on how we continue to develop. 

Kirstie shares the (many!) skills needed to do her role, what it’s like working in a small-but-mighty team, her love of all things infrastructure, and the importance of keeping the bigger picture in mind. She takes us through the learning curve, making the impossible possible, remembering to breathe - and, of course, the power of a great to-do list.

Kirstie – what inspired you to work in film and TV?

I started in theatre originally, as a stage manager, and then moved into events - working my way up to Production Manager. After a few years, friends in film and TV suggested my skills would transfer well, so I secured a paid traineeship with ScreenSkills Cymru and started as a location trainee. I then stepped up to Unit Manager, then Location Co-ordinator on His Dark Materials, gaining experience across both locations and studio settings. 

As I was coming to the end of a production, a colleague told me about someone building a film studio on an airfield [MD Harvey Mash!] - and said I'd be perfect for the role. After that, everything moved quickly - I sent an email and within a week I had the job. Although I loved working on productions, I was excited about the development of Bovingdon Airfield Studios and its future and wanted to be part of that from the beginning.

What’s your role here at Bovingdon Airfield Studios?  

My main role is to take care of the day-to-day operations and logistics of running the studio, alongside managing the facilities and security teams, as well as client interaction and management. It absolutely features a bit of everything. Everything needs to be running smoothly for everyone, across the studio and all our productions, every day. 

I also work on the future improvement and infrastructure design and development of the studio, making sure it's built to meet filmmakers’ needs - alongside our MD, Harvey Mash (pictured below centre, alongside Jo Lawlor below left, Sales & Marketing Manager). 

What does a typical day look like for you? (if such a thing exists!) 

I generally start with a drive around site to check ongoing projects or works, and catch up with contractors, production teams and colleagues – particularly our Facilities Technician Jordan [Woodley]. Then it’s back to the office to check emails, paperwork, and everything else that comes in. Health and safety is also a major part of the job: checking everyone is safe while on site.

I take a moment to write lists at the end and beginning of each day to keep things organised - you have to live by the list!

What skills do you need to do the role?  

You must be organised, and communication is key across different groups of people: contractors, colleagues, clients, consultants… everybody. It requires strong people and stakeholder management across many areas: the production side, the studio side, and the local community.

Practical skills help too - and being able to drive plant! You need a solid understanding of things like temporary electrics, water and plumbing. Locations work gave me those skills, which was especially useful at the beginning when we were installing the initial infrastructure: understanding the support and services needed, and delivering them. Then, as the studio grows, it’s about the next stage too: long-term infrastructure. That’s the bigger-picture side - strong project management skills, and extensive, extremely complex build projects.

You have to be flexible and adaptable. You think you know how your day is going to work out, and then end up dealing with something totally different. You must be able to multi-task at speed, and be proactive as well as reactive. It’s fast-paced, high-volume, and requires diplomacy and resourcefulness. You need to understand the industry and the clients - what productions need - and be able to handle whatever they throw at you.  

I’m methodical in how I work. I approach things practically, prioritise what matters most, and focus on delivering to the highest quality. It helps to keep the bigger picture in mind: understanding where we need to end up and how each decision impacts the site overall - while still staying on top of immediate deadlines by continually asking, “what needs to happen next?” It’s important to understand what you can control and what you can’t.

Do productions ever ask for crazy things? 

“Can we put a hole in your stage?!” We looked at their immediate requirements and the long-term functionality of the stages, and actually ended up adding extra cable hatches across them all. It’s all about finding solutions together that benefit both the current production and our site requirements concurrently. 

But honestly, nothing seems that crazy anymore. Warfare turned our WW2 control tower into the Iraqi town of Ramadi - we had soldiers rehearsing with guns, and set up a practice firing range.

Someone always comes up with something you haven’t done before, and you have to learn how to make it work. It’s real on-the-job learning - you can’t shy away from it, and just have to embrace not knowing. And that’s okay. 

What do you love most about your job? 

The team here. We’re small, but what we’re able to do and accomplish is amazing.  

I also love seeing what a production can create, whether it’s an indie or a big blockbuster project. Working with the facilities and supporting productions to help them deliver always gives me a real sense of pride and job satisfaction. Whenever we have a production in, we’re improving and expanding our facilities, so I get additional satisfaction from seeing the studio grow and develop at the same time. What we’ve developed in the past year alone is seriously impressive.

It’s a continuous learning curve - especially around infrastructure - and I really enjoy that. I thrive on growth and feel a need to continuously develop my knowledge and skills. This role has certainly allowed me to continually do this. 

What’s been exciting and memorable so far? 

Some of the builds are phenomenal - like looking out the window and seeing some really cool sets and walking past actors in costume. There’s also that moment when you’re at home and see it on screen. 

And honestly, it’s the little infrastructure wins too: the things other people might find boring - they’re amazing to me! I love a good GRP unit and some tarmac.

What makes working here unique?  

I think being a small, independent company - who we are and what we believe in - is what makes us unique. Our MD, Harvey, is there and involved in everything, making important decisions and investing time in the studio’s end goal, and we work alongside him to help shape that direction. If it wasn’t for our size, you wouldn’t have the same involvement or impact. It becomes more than just a place to work.

We’re certainly a unique set-up. How many other studio managing directors sit on a tractor to plan the next strategic move?! There are cows as well, and you get to know about farming. We’re different, not corporate - a small but dedicated and determined gang, out to achieve something brilliant, homegrown, flexible and supportive.

For us it’s not just about the bottom line - it’s about the experience people have with us, and what we can do to help productions deliver their projects. We care about each and every production, moving mountains (sometimes literally!) to make things work. If they have an idea, we work out how to make it happen. We’re the epitome of can-do.

We’ve also got so much green space - beautiful countryside views and wildlife. You find deer roaming around the fields. There are red kites too - one’s been tagged and has been returning for years. Our Head of Security, Lloyd, has a visiting robin! On one side there’s a film and TV studio, and on the other… a sanctuary for creatures and the great outdoors, which productions and their crew really enjoy and embrace.

If you could describe working here in just 3 words - what would they be?  

Interesting, collaborative, rewarding!

What are you excited about for the future? 

Harvey is constantly driving us forward and looking at the next areas for development. Over the past few years we’ve really been able to establish ourselves as a substantial London studio and a destination for film and TV makers - so knowing we can continue to improve our facilities until we complete our Master Plan is excellent. And that’s when I’ll hand over the keys and retire!