I’ve been in this industry long enough to see the old ways stop working. The days of relying solely on line producers to pull a production together are over. For too long, production companies have defaulted to a model that, while familiar, is riddled with inefficiencies, financial blind spots, and logistical headaches. The industry has changed. It’s time to rethink how productions are managed—and that means leaning into the power of production service companies.

This isn’t an argument against line producers. A great LP is an invaluable asset. But the real magic happens when they’re working in tandem with a top-tier production service company like LS Productions – the exclusive PSN UK partner. A closer look at both demonstrates why I think production service companies are the smarter choice for the modern film and television production landscape.

At LS Productions, we’ve built an entire infrastructure designed to support shoots at any scale. From budgeting and permitting to securing locations, equipment, and crew, we have the relationships, processes, and leverage to make things happen—faster, cheaper, and with less friction. Why start from scratch on every project when you can tap into an already streamlined operation?

I remember working on Ghosted for Apple TV—one of those projects where every second counted. We were brought on board to facilitate the London element of the shoot, which included night shoots and high-intensity car chases along the River Thames against the iconic cityscape. With less than six weeks to turn the shoot around and A-list talent in play, we leaned on our extensive network and in-house team of location experts to fast-track permits, secure top-tier crew, and deliver seamless execution under tight timelines.

We leverage established supplier relationships, securing bulk pricing and preferential rates that an individual simply can’t. Plus, with clear pricing structures and scalable services, production companies avoid those nasty surprises that come with ad hoc deal-making.

When our team filmed Happy Place with Alan Cumming in the Scottish Highlands—a stunning location but not without its challenges–for CNN and Boardwalk Pictures, the travelling crew discovered their equipment had been damaged in transit. Thanks to our strong ties with a preferred Glasgow-based kit house, we were able to have emergency gear couriered to set within a few hours—at a highly competitive rate.

At LS Productions, our dedicated legal team ensures shoots remain above board from start to finish. We also hold key accreditations—like A-rated visa sponsor status—making international shoots significantly smoother. It’s the difference between getting bogged down in red tape and sailing through pre-production without a hitch.

Need to scale up fast? We have the built-in capacity to expand resources at a moment’s notice. From a small commercial to a major feature film, we flex to fit the project’s demands. A fully equipped, regionally connected team ensures efficiency, no matter the scope.

For A Kind of Spark, the Emmy-nominated series produced by 9Story in association with LS Productions for CBBC and BYUtv, we secured access to Tatton Estate, a multi-location site that covered over 90% of the shoot. It’s because we have in-house location experts constantly building relationships with properties across the four nations of the United Kingdom that we were able to find the perfect property, ensuring a seamless and efficient shoot. This streamlined production, cutting unit moves and optimising the schedule to save both time and money.

With expertise spanning the UK—including the North West of England, Wales, and Scotland—we can maximise efficiencies by identifying the best locations to match creative and budgetary needs.

Relying on one person to hold all the risk is a gamble. We distribute that risk across a structured team, backed by insurance, contingency plans, and established policies on diversity, inclusion, and sustainability—factors that are rightly non-negotiable for major studios. When something goes wrong (because let’s face it, in production, something always does), wouldn’t you rather have an entire team ready with solutions?

The difference between a smooth shoot and a chaotic one often comes down to cohesion. With a production service company, there’s no need to coordinate multiple independent contractors, no miscommunication between departments, and no battling over supplier deals. Everything is managed under one roof, ensuring every aspect of production aligns—budgeting, logistics, production, and beyond.

We’re not just a logistical powerhouse—we unlock access to regional incentives that individual LPs can’t. Want to access certain Screen Scotland funding? You need a registered Scottish production company. Need shoot permits fast? Long-standing government relationships make that happen. Want a smooth payroll system and a legal team on standby? That’s already in place. These aren’t perks; they’re game-changers.

While prepping a project for an American studio, I personally liaised with our contacts at Screen Scotland to identify opportunities to maximise funding for our clients. Through these discussions, we uncovered additional financial resources that weren’t immediately apparent, securing more support for the production and helping our client greenlight the project.

For The Laundromat, Steven Soderbergh’s film starring Meryl Streep, we facilitated key scenes in the south of England. Our regional expertise meant we could efficiently manage locations and crew while ensuring all logistical and compliance aspects were handled seamlessly. Having a team that understands the nuances of shooting outside major production hubs makes all the difference.