![](//www.4rfv.com/images/no_image.jpg)
By TVBEurope Staff
Published: March 18, 2024 Updated: March 19, 2024
Nick Franco tells TVBEurope how he went from being a master plasterer and refurbishing the ornate plasterwork at Claridge's Hotel to founder and CEO of production and post company, 1185 Films. Talk us through an average day in your role Every single day is different. I could be cutting a film one day, grading it [ ]
target=_blank title=Share on LinkedIn class=share-linkedin>
Nick Franco tells TVBEurope how he went from being a master plasterer and refurbishing the ornate plasterwork at Claridge's Hotel to founder and CEO of production and post company, 1185 Films.
Talk us through an average day in your role Every single day is different. I could be cutting a film one day, grading it the next, budgeting the next film, writing scripts, editing, creating a new infrastructure and designing computers, building a new facility another day I get to do everything. How many people can say that?
How did you get started in the media industry? I left school with no qualifications. I wanted a camera but my father gave me a hawk and trowel and I became a master plasterer. At 15, I priced my first job at £40,000. I became a quantitative surveyor and by the age of 23 I had 16 people working for me and did the platforms on London's Baker Street Underground station platforms 1,2,3 and 4 (they are still there). At the age of 26, I had 50 people working for me. I managed the refurbishment of the ornate plasterwork at Claridge's Hotel. I've been fortunate that I have always managed to get prestigious contracts.
During my time in construction, I did a theoretical film course at Cambridge and a History of Art course in my spare time. My love of art came first (influenced by my brother, who graduated from Glasgow School of Arts), and then a love of film. During that period around 1996 I was subby bashed' meaning I lost (was ripped off for) £500,000, through non-payment via building companies and some of them went bankrupt.
At that point my friends who were actors asked me to be financial director of their production company, The Guild of Thieves Ltd, which was something I've always wanted to do. They had a feature script that wasn't very good so I worked on a short film script in one night and Panavision gave me £100,000's worth of film equipment to make my first film and it got into the Taormina Film Festival in Italy, called Split. I've never looked back. On setting up my own company, at first I couldn't think of a name for it but I shot the film in aspect ratio of 1.85 :1 - hence the name of my company was born, 1185 Films. This was in 2003. I learned on the job. A bag of cement became a film camera. When you produce, it's all about numbers and vision and running a business had taught me a great deal.
What training did you have before entering the industry? I've always been very technical. Because I was so young in construction, people would often try and blame me for stuff. There's a lot of bullies in construction therefore I had to know the science. To this day, I'm all about the science behind everything and knowing why things work, for example, why pixels appear on the screen, how camera chips work. All that kind of thing I picked up on. Having come out of school with no qualifications my biggest coup was filming Stephen Hawking in 2014 about the origin of the universe. I'm still immensely proud of that moment, thanks to Philip Halper who allowed me the opportunity.
I had no training. I was self-taught but that doesn't mean you're not trained. My peers in the industry taught me, so you learn from them. You can learn things parrot fashion or you can do things and learn them for real. I learned from doing, and that's probably the best way of learning. It contextualises stuff very well. You learn from those mistakes, and those mistakes can be harsh. I wish I'd had the opportunity to go to university to do this, but there are plenty of people who go to university who have no idea how to make a film. They might have it all in theory, but the practicality of making a film just doesn't work. Having said that, I would always recommend someone goes to university. My life hasn't been like that and I think I would have been a lot further in my career if I had gone to university but I've had two or three different careers and I don't regret one moment. Education has a place but education it isn't the answer to everything. I've had a lot of people come through from the National Film & TV School. Some of them are amazing but it's not the be-all and end-all. At the end of the day, it comes down to the individual and how they can adapt to what they've been taught into something of use. Just because I haven't been through that process doesn't mean I dismiss it. I do believe there should be more apprenticeships in conjunction with university and education, across the industry.
Why do you enjoy working in the industry? I am the luckiest person on the planet but I have to work very hard at it. I'll pick up a broom and sweep the floor. I'll clean the toilet. I won't ask anyone to do anything I won't do. I loved my career in building because I built something and you could see it. My work exists, beyond me. Film is another way of building and I enjoy building, creating.
I've met and worked with some amazing people. Some are like brothers writer/ director Paul Duane, Eugene O'Connor (DoP of Father Ted, director of Killinaskully) and Chris Cowey (Top of the Pops), Ray Burdis. Some are also legends like Stephen Hawking, Bob Geldof and Zak Starkey. They all have their moments, they are all human good people are good people.
What piece of advice would you offer someone looking to explore a r
More from TVB Europe
26/07/2024
It provides multi-voltage output (14.4V, 28V, and 48V) through two XLR4 outputs and one XLR3, offering power to cameras, monitors, and lighting equipment
By Je...
26/07/2024
The lawsuit submitted by investor Scott Baker claims the deal would cost Paramount shareholders $1.65 billion
By Jenny Priestley
Published: July 26, 2024
...
25/07/2024
TVBEurope's sits down with Sotiris Salamouris, chief technology officer at OBS and Intel's EMEA chief technology officer, Jean-Laurent Philippe, to hear...
25/07/2024
John Schur, president, solutions group at Telos Alliance, explains why sound is just as important as video when covering a major sporting event
By Contributor ...
25/07/2024
From VR headsets to volumetric video, the Video Labs team at InterDigital give us some insight into how we might watch (and produce) the Games of the future
By...
25/07/2024
Writing exclusively for TVBEurope, Digital TV Group CTO Alex Buchan details a 5G Broadcast demo by TDF in the run-up to the Games
By Contributor
Published: J...
25/07/2024
TVBEurope catches up with WBD Sports Scott Young to hear how the broadcaster is ...
25/07/2024
Matthew Williams-Neale, VP of marketing, Appear, explains how broadcasters efforts are ensuring the excitement of live sports can be enjoyed sustainably, settin...
25/07/2024
How ITV Content Services brought classic films, including Carry on Henry and That Riviera Touch, back to the screen in glorious HD
By Contributor
Published: ...
24/07/2024
All award entrants will get a placard at the show for display, with winners receiving a further placard to display their success
By TVBEurope Staff
Published...
23/07/2024
Ahead of this years FilmLight Colour Awards, jury member Jax Harney, founder and...
23/07/2024
The BBC said it is running a number of Gen AI innovation pilots that will identify where there is real audience and operational value to be gained
By Jenny Pri...
22/07/2024
The 53,600 square ft facility features five sound stages and expands Amazons UK presence
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: July 22, 2024
The 53,600 square ft...
22/07/2024
Listing Canal in London reflects the company's international dimension, particularly as part of the ongoing combination with Multichoice, said Vivendi
By ...
22/07/2024
Danna Mann, director of marketing for TAG Video Systems, tells TVBEurope how innovation makes the media a thrilling career
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: Jul...
19/07/2024
Rick Young, SVP head of global products at LTN, explains the importance of innovation in driving audience growth strategies
By Contributor
Published: July 17...
19/07/2024
According to court documents, of the 8,196 assets that had loans outstanding against them when Arena collapsed, only 66 existed
By Jenny Priestley
Publishe...
18/07/2024
The company has not begun any specific transaction and has yet to bring in bankers that would initiate any such deal
By Jenny Priestley
Published: July 18, 2...
17/07/2024
The IBC Conference will last an extra day in 2024, running from 13th-15th Septem...
16/07/2024
Blackmagic-based workflows aim to enable The Look to provide colour, conform and finishing services for clients such as Netflix and Sky
By Matthew Corrigan
P...
16/07/2024
TVBEurope speaks to UKTV's creative director Scott Russell about the visual ...
16/07/2024
In its Global Entertainment and Media Outlook 2024-2028, PWC analysts suggest that by 2028, advertising will contribute almost 28 per cent of all the money that...
15/07/2024
2024 is a big year for newsrooms with a record number of elections taking place around the world, Ross Video details three strategies used by major broadcast ne...
15/07/2024
As Apple releases its Vision Pro in the UK, Jos Somolinos, solutions strategist & XR lead, Accedo, considers the future of spatial computing
By Contributor
...
15/07/2024
The 19,700sq ft soundstage is due to open towards the end of 2025
By Jenny Priestley
Published: July 15, 2024
The 19,700sq ft soundstage is due to open to...
15/07/2024
The latest issue of TVBEurope includes everything from Doctor Who to Baby Reindeer, The Fall Guy to Paris 2024, and a preview of IBC Show 2024
By TVBEurope Sta...
12/07/2024
The Super Milo can achieve speeds of up to 3 m/s on track and 5 m/s with combined camera movement
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: July 12, 2024
The Super M...
12/07/2024
The deal is scheduled to close mid-summer, financial details have not been revealed
By Jenny Priestley
Published: July 12, 2024
The deal is scheduled to c...
11/07/2024
Tim Moore, CEO at Vu Technologies, discusses emerging trends in the virtual production market
By Contributor
Published: July 8, 2024 Updated: July 11, 2024...
10/07/2024
Grusd brings a wealth of experience gained at companies such as Spotify, Google and HuffPost, said Nielsen
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: July 10, 2024
Gr...
09/07/2024
The partnership aims to provide better accessibility for a wider TV audience
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: July 9, 2024
The partnership aims to provide b...
09/07/2024
The Generative AI media software solutions provider said it aims to leverage the Agile Live platform as it shifts away from reliance on proprietary custom hardw...
08/07/2024
Vinayak Shrivastav, CEO, Magnifi by VideoVerse, explains how harnessing the power of data can boost creativity in broadcasting
By Contributor
Published: July...
08/07/2024
Once approved, Skydance CEO David Ellison will become CEO of the new company, currently named New Paramount
By Jenny Priestley
Published: July 8, 2024 Upda...
08/07/2024
The Wigan MP was previously PPS to former Shadow Olympics Minister, Tessa Jowell
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: July 8, 2024
The Wigan MP was previously P...
05/07/2024
The results of UK general elections are always eagerly anticipated and can make ...
05/07/2024
The upgrade enables rt1.tv to optimise its media workflows with AI-powered Avid solutions
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: July 5, 2024
The upgrade enables ...
05/07/2024
Both were re-elected with an absolute majority at the EBUs General Assembly in Cyprus
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: July 5, 2024
Both were re-elected wit...
05/07/2024
The statement follows the result of the UKs General Election
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: July 5, 2024 Updated: July 8, 2024
The statement follows the...
04/07/2024
ITNs Jenny King and Jon Roberts talk to TVBEurope about the work thats gone into...
04/07/2024
Arena Television collapsed at the end of 2021 with debts of £280 million. At the time it employed 63 members of staff principally based at its offices in Redhil...
03/07/2024
UK broadcaster Sky News tells TVBEurope about its election night coverage, which will include augmented reality, BATCAM, LED screens and more
By Jenny Priestle...
03/07/2024
Triangle Facilities Hub is based at The Sharp Project and plans to support the local area with in-house kit and education facilities
By Jenny Priestley
Publi...
03/07/2024
The two sides are said to have reached a tentative agreement with terms being sent for review to the special committee set up to evaluate offers for Paramount G...
02/07/2024
The strengthened leadership team aims to enhance EVSs ability to deliver solutions and service to its worldwide customers
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: July...
02/07/2024
The funding will accelerate DNEGs diversification strategy, said the company
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: July 2, 2024 Updated: July 3, 2024
The fundi...
01/07/2024
Simon Percy from Little Shadow talks to TVBEurope about how the animation studio used a mobile virtual production setup to create a VFX shark lab for the second...
01/07/2024
Mackenzie Jacobson, business solution manager at Imagine Communications, tells TVBEurope how she is adding to a family history in the media industry
By Matthew...
28/06/2024
The deal includes new protections around artificial intelligence, including an agreement that no employee is required to provide AI prompts in any manner that w...
28/06/2024
Natural human movement is extracted from video, removing the need for mo-cap suits
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: June 28, 2024
Natural human movement is ...