LOW BUDGET FEATURE PRODUCTION LAB
with Neon Duck Productions
Photo courtesy of Bill Tomas / Neon Duck
10:00am – 5:00pm
Thu 26 & Fri 27 Feb 2026
RG Studios, 25 Bank St,
Ashford TN23 1DG
A free two-day practical workshop for filmmakers ready to tackle the realities of making a feature film on a limited budget.
Led by Neon Duck Productions – the production company founded by filmmakers Bill Thomas and Lucy Sanders – this intensive Lab focuses on the creative decisions, production strategies and industry literacy needed to take a low-budget feature from concept through to distribution.
Through hands-on exercises, real case studies and production-tested workflows, the Lab gives you a practical toolkit for developing a viable, fundable and achievable feature project without the resources of a large studio.
With their most recent micro-budget feature having just secured a distribution deal with a sales agent, Neon Duck Productions bring up-to-date, real-world perspectives on taking an independent film to market.
Places on this lab are limited – sign-up now!
What you’ll learn
Day 1: Building a Low-Budget Strategy
– Choosing the right story and shaping it for low-budget execution
– Budgeting, funding routes and risk-aware planning
– Developing with audiences, markets and distribution in mind
– Case study analysis of recent micro-budget features
Day 2: From Plan to Production
– Script breakdowns, scheduling, and resource-efficient production workflows
– Contracts, deliverables and preparing a feature for distribution
– How low-budget films are structured, shot and sold
– Practical production-planning exercises and scene breakdowns
About Neon Duck Productions
Bill Thomas
Bill Thomas is an internationally working Producer/Director whose credits span feature films, documentary-drama, factual television and branded content. He has directed several features and more than 200 broadcast episodes for major channels and platforms including Amazon, the BBC, National Geographic, Discovery and Channel 5.
Originally from the North East of Scotland, Bill began his career in film and TV art departments, working as a Prop and Model Maker on large-scale productions including Star Wars, Harry Potter, V for Vendetta, Bridgerton, James Bond and The Dark Knight Rises. He later moved into Art Director roles for BBC Arts, Brook Lapping, October Films, Darlow Smithson, Wall to Wall and Pioneer. This craft-based, design-driven grounding informs his distinctive approach to resourceful, high-quality filmmaking.
Bill is co-founder of Neon Duck Productions Ltd, through which he continues to produce and direct ambitious drama and factual work with a focus on making high-quality projects achievable on limited budgets.
Lucy Sanders
Lucy Sanders is a highly experienced production specialist with a strong background across drama and factual. Former Head of Drama Productions at Arrow International Media, she has overseen multi-location shoots, managed budgets and schedules at scale, and coordinated delivery pipelines for a wide range of broadcast and streaming projects.
As co-founder of Neon Duck Productions Ltd, Lucy brings deep practical expertise in production management, logistics, workflow design and the realities of getting a film made – and delivered – efficiently and professionally.
