Disauthority, a post-production company launched by three friends in a grandmother's shed in Wallington, has grown into a driving force behind Croydon's ambition to become a UK film hub. The company now employs 12 staff across a custom-built facility in Croydon and a smaller office in Farringdon, and recently worked on a film selected for the Cannes Film Festival.
Why Croydon? Low costs and room to grow
Norwegian-born Marcus Hundsnes, co-founder of Disauthority, says choosing Croydon was a straightforward decision. "One of the main angles we can sell post-production to the industry is that we don't pass on the Soho rates," he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS). "It is almost an inside joke that if you go to any of the big shots in the Soho sphere, most of your fee is going straight to the council because of business rates."
Starting with friends Zain Haris and Raiyan Chinoy in his grandmother's shed, Disauthority secured office space in Central Croydon with a start-up grant. While the company recently opened a colour-grading suite in Farringdon for client meetings, Marcus says the "business end" remains in Croydon at Metropolitan House on North End.
From Cannes to Croydon: a film industry success story
Disauthority worked on Ray Panthaki's drama In Starland, selected for the Great 8 showcase at Cannes, highlighting new UK feature films from first-time and emerging filmmakers. Marcus notes, "Being in Croydon is one of the reasons we were able to grow really quickly." He uses his own construction skills to reconfigure office space without Central London planning restrictions, and builds computers in-house to cut costs. Equipment bought at auction from failed companies includes a cinema-grade projector that would have cost £65,000 new but was purchased for £10,000.
This thrifty approach is vital given industry challenges: Marcus says 20 companies have gone bankrupt in the last 18 months, compounded by the Hollywood writers' strike and COVID. "Cheap operating costs and rent in Croydon allow Disauthority to stay afloat while others sink," he said.
Staff benefits and local talent
Marcus says Croydon offers staff a better quality of life. "One member of staff traded an hour-long commute into London for a 15-minute walk into the office in Croydon." Colourist and co-founder Zain Haris lives in East Croydon minutes from the office, and told the LDRS that working outside Central London made breaking into the industry more achievable. He added, "Since we have been here we have met a lot of creatives I wouldn't have known existed here."
CRO-llywood: Croydon Council's film industry push
Earlier this month, Croydon Council announced the 'CRO-llywood' working group to bring together film industry leaders, educators, and creative businesses. Mayor Jason Perry declared, "We have the locations, the talent, the transport connections and the creative energy." The group, which includes Marcus, aims to create a "full pipeline" of roles from filmmakers to visual effects artists.
Croydon already has a strong film heritage, including being the birthplace of Lawrence of Arabia director David Lean, and has hosted productions like Taylor Swift's 'Opalite' music video filmed at the Whitgift Centre. Marcus said, "The reason why anyone is talking about film in Croydon now is because, of all people, Taylor Swift decided to shoot a music video at the shopping centre."
However, he believes more is needed. "Productions are coming into the borough and using it as a location, but location isn't a strong enough reason for films to continue to come here." He wants a tax incentive on eligible post-production spend in Croydon, saying, "From the moment that exists, we will see an incredible amount of companies down here."
Marcus added that the film industry is like a herd of sheep: "If no one takes that risk, then nothing is going to happen."
