Film crew hire/Brighton/Set builders
Hire set builders in Brighton. Set builders make the walls, rooms and pieces of a set, paint them and take them down at wrap.
People book set builders in Brighton for offices at New England House, conferences at the Brighton Centre and shoots on the seafront. They build to the art director’s drawings in a workshop or a studio, paint the set and strike it at wrap. Our set builder day rate starts at £341 per builder, and each builder gets all of it.
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- 2 hrs for our team to read your brief, in working hours
- £10m employers’ liability on every crew member we book
- 2,800+ freelance crew on our books, across the UK
Photos: Ali Mkumbwa, Ryno Marais, Callum Hill and Maciek Wróblewski
The role
What set builders do on your shoot
Set builders make the parts of the set the location can’t give you. That might be walls with windows in the right place, a shop counter, a stage, or a room that comes apart so the camera can get in. Carpenters build it, scenic painters age and finish it, and the same team takes it down and clears the space.
A set build runs in four stages. The art director designs it, the builders make it, the dressers fill it, and everyone helps clear it at the strike.
We book set builders who live in Brighton or Hove first. If nobody local is free, or the build needs more people, we bring crew down from London. We add the travel to the quote before anything is booked. A small build can go up in a studio in Brighton. For a big build, we use studios near London. On location, the Sussex Film Office handles council land, and private owners handle their own sites. We can book one carpenter for a day or a construction crew for a fortnight.
- The builders work to drawings. They agree the sizes, finishes and camera positions with the art director first.
- The set comes apart for the camera. Wild walls and flying pieces move, so the camera and the lights can get in.
- The set is finished for the camera. The paint, ageing and textures hold up at 4K.
- The team clear everything at wrap. They strike the set, clear the studio or location and take the waste away.
What’s included
What the day rate covers
Per builder, per day
- An 11-hour day per builder, including an hour for lunch
- Building to the art director’s drawings
- Painting and finishing
- Wild walls and flying pieces where needed
- A standby carpenter on the shoot day, if booked
- The strike, and the space cleared
On top, each on its own line
- Our 10% booking fee and 2% insurance, on the whole quote
- Materials, at cost
- Workshop space, transport and waste disposal
- A cherry picker or a crane, and any permit it needs, at cost
- The studio, and any repaint it charges for
- Travel from London or outside Brighton, and mileage and parking where the day needs them, at cost
Read how our rates work and the two ways to book in crew rates in Brighton.
Two ways to book
Crew hire or full production
The price depends on who is the producer of record. That’s the company responsible for the shoot. You can book builders for your own shoot, or ask us to run the whole production.
Crew hire
You run the shoot.
10% + 2% booking fee and insurance on everything we book for you, including crew, kit and travel.
We do
- Find, book and brief the crew, and pay them
- Book kit, travel and hotels too, if you want them
- Send the full price before anything is booked
- One person to call all day
- Employers’ liability for the crew we book, and insurance on kit we hire in
You do
- Run the shoot, or your producer does
- The plan, the schedule and the call sheet
- The location, its permission and its public liability
- You’re the producer of record, so the production is your responsibility
The 2% covers employers’ liability for every crew member we book and the kit we hire in for you. It doesn’t cover anything else on the shoot. A large kit rental may need extra insurance, which goes on the quote as its own line.
Full production
We’re the producer of record.
15% + 5% production fee, plus insurance and contingency, on the whole production budget. We quote it as a production.
We do
- Our producer plans it with you and runs the day
- Locations, permits, kit, studio, travel and hotels, booked and paid in our name
- Insurance for the whole shoot, public liability included, plus the risk assessment and the call sheet
- One contract and one invoice, so overseas teams need no UK company
You do
- The creative calls
- Signing off the plan and the budget
The 5% pays for our production insurance across the whole shoot, including £10m public liability, and the contingency.
If your own producer or director will run the day, book crew hire. If you want us to run the production, ask for a full production quote.
On the day
An example build with set builders
The builders make a kitchen set for an advert in a workshop, then put it up in a hired studio in Brighton. The days are an example. The schedule sets the real ones.
- Week 1 Drawings You agree the art director’s plans. They show the room, the window, the walls that come out for the camera, and what fits in the van and through the studio doors.
- Day 1 Workshop The builders make the flats and units in the workshop, build the window frame to size and number everything for the load-in.
- Day 2 Load in A tail-lift van brings the pieces to the studio. Brighton has no emission charge for vans. The builders stand the pieces up, brace them and fix them in place.
- Day 3 Paint The scenic painter puts on the base coats, then ages the kitchen so it looks lived in.
- Day 4 Dress The dressers fill the set. The builders hang the doors and fix anything the camera picks up.
- Shoot Standby A standby carpenter stays on set to pull a wall, fix a hinge or make a quick change.
- Strike Clear The team take everything down and out, recycle what they can, and hand the studio back the way it wants it.
We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with Brighton and Hove City Council.
Types
Types of construction crew we book
The team grows with the build. Card rates are per person, per 11-hour day.
Carpenter Builds the set Card £341–512
A carpenter builds flats, platforms, units and pieces in the workshop and puts them up in the studio.
Good for any set build, such as a single wall or a whole room.
Master carpenter Runs the build Quoted on the brief
A master carpenter runs the carpenters, solves the tricky pieces and signs off what’s safe.
Good for builds that take more than a couple of days.
Scenic painter Paint, ageing and finishes Quoted on the brief
A scenic painter paints and ages the set. Wood, plaster, metal and dirt all look real on camera.
Good when the set has to look old, used or expensive.
Standby carpenter On set on the day From £341 a day
A standby carpenter stays with the set during the shoot to move walls, fix things and make changes.
Book one for any shoot with a built set.
Props, models and effects Specialist workshops Quoted on the brief
A specialist workshop makes models, miniatures, moulded props and physical effects such as fire, smoke and weather.
Good when the set needs something no carpenter would make.
Construction manager Big builds Quoted on the brief
A construction manager plans and runs the construction department, the budget and the workshop on large builds.
Good for drama and big adverts, where the build needs its own department.
What it’s for
What people book set builders for in Brighton
Adverts and fashion on the seafront
Builders put up a kitchen, a shop or a living room in a studio, or a set piece on the beach or Hove Lawns. The Sussex Film Office handles the beach, and the pier’s owner handles the pier.
Conferences at the Brighton Centre
Stages, sets and backdrops at the Brighton Centre are built for the cameras as well as the room.
Founder and customer films
Offices at New England House and round the station, where many of the city’s tech and games companies work. With the owner’s permission, builders can add a false wall or a backdrop for an interview set.
University and research films
Films at the University of Sussex at Falmer and the University of Brighton sometimes need a backdrop or a set piece that shows the research on camera.
The Downs and the coast
Brand films at Devil’s Dyke, Ditchling Beacon and Seven Sisters sometimes need a platform or a set piece. The builders make it light enough to carry in and weigh it down against the wind.
Recent work
How we crew a build in Brighton
How we crew it · Brighton
Building in a studio in Brighton, or near London
Capture Factory Studios has four studios in central Brighton, five minutes’ walk from Brighton station, with parking on site. Studio 4 is 1,330 sq ft with a 13-metre L-shaped infinity cove, and Studio 7b has natural light or blackout. They suit small builds, product sets and interview sets. For a big build, we use studios near London. Before a build is drawn, we ask the studio for its load-in times, door sizes and floor rules, and whether anything needs a repaint after. Anything it charges goes on the quote as its own line. More on film studios in Brighton. We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with Capture Factory Studios.
How we crew it · Brighton
Building on location in Brighton
On location, permission sets the schedule. The Sussex Film Office handles filming on council land in Brighton and Hove, including streets, the beach and parks. It doesn’t publish its fees, so we ask it for a price and add the permit to the quote. Private owners, such as Brighton Palace Pier, the Royal Pavilion and Brighton Marina, handle their own sites. A road closure can take up to 12 weeks. Sets are built to the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. The owner hears about the build first, and everything comes out at wrap, with the place put back as it was. We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with the Sussex Film Office and Brighton and Hove City Council.
Before you book
Things to know
Planning
- A build needs drawings and a schedule. Tell us the shoot date, and we work back from it.
- We agree the studio’s load-in times, and the van’s height and weight, before the build starts.
- Materials, workshop space and waste disposal go on the quote at cost, each on its own line.
Building on location
- On private property, such as the pier or the Royal Pavilion, the owner’s consent comes first.
- Filming on council land in Brighton and Hove, including streets, the beach and parks, goes through the Sussex Film Office. It prices each application, and the permit goes on the quote as its own line.
- A road closure can take up to 12 weeks, and a suspended parking bay needs 7 working days’ notice. Brighton’s low emission zone only covers buses, so there’s no charge for a builders’ van. We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with the Sussex Film Office and Brighton and Hove City Council.
Paying and changes
- You pay nothing until you confirm the builders.
- We take 50% by card when you book and 50% when you receive the final rushes.
- The quote shows every line, including the day rate, booking fee, kit and travel.
- Cancellation terms are on every quote.
What our insurance covers
- Our insurance covers employers’ liability for the builders we book, up to £10m.
- Kit we hire in for you is insured. A large kit rental may need extra insurance, as its own line on the quote.
- On a crew hire, it doesn’t cover anything else. Public liability, the location and your own kit stay with you, and your venue will want to see your certificate. When we’re the producer of record, our policy covers the shoot.
- Private venues usually ask to see it. The Royal Pavilion, for example, asks for at least £10m public liability. We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with Brighton and Hove Museums.
£341 a day
APA/Bectu card: £341–512 a day, carpenter to master carpenter.
| Per builder, 11 hours | £341 |
| Booking fee, 10% | £34.10 |
| Insurance, 2% | £6.82 |
| One builder, one day, before materials | £381.92 + VAT |
The 2% covers employers’ liability for the builders we book and the kit we hire in. What it covers
You won’t pay anything until you confirm the build.
- 50% by card at booking, 50% on the final rushes
- Our team reads every brief within 2 working hours
- Every line on the quote before anything is booked
Or call us on 07412 543822.
Reviews
What clients say about our crews
These reviews come from our Google Business Profile.
Book set builders in Brighton.
Tell us what needs building, where, and when it has to be ready. Our team reads every brief within 2 working hours. Or call us on 07412 543822.
Check availability
The whole crew
Every crew role we book in Brighton
Send one brief and we send one quote, with every role on its own line. These are our day rates in Brighton, and each crew member gets their full rate:
Production 06
- Director From £500
- Producer From £450
- Production manager £504–627
- 2nd AD £355–448
- Production assistant £400
- Runner £245
Camera 07
- DOP From £850
- Camera operator £529–656
- Focus puller £461–575
- Clapper loader £355–448
- Steadicam operator From £950
- Gimbal operator £529–656
- Drone operator From £750
Data and playback 02
- DIT £527
- Video playback £334–518
Sound 01
- Sound recordist £550
Hair, make-up and costume 02
- Hair and make-up £398
- Costume £519–694
Art department 02
- Art director £675–878
- Set builders This page £341–512
Post-production 01
- Editor From £350
See how our rates work in crew rates in Brighton, or start from one of our crew set-ups in Brighton.
Production support
Everything around the crew
A build needs a studio, materials, a van and sometimes permission from the Sussex Film Office. Each goes on the quote as its own line, or you can sort them yourself.
01
Kit rental
Where to hire camera, lighting and sound kit for a Brighton shoot, and when the crew bring their own.
02
Locations and permits
The Sussex Film Office, private places such as the pier, filming on the beach and the drone rules.
03
Studios and set builds
Studios in Brighton for interviews and product shots, and where to go for a bigger set build.
04
Props and wardrobe
Where props and costume come from, and the stylists and hair and make-up artists we book.
Questions
Questions about hiring set builders in Brighton
How much does a set build cost in Brighton?
It depends on the build. Each builder is priced per day, at £341–512 on the APA/Bectu card from carpenter to master carpenter, and we pay that rate in full. Materials, workshop space and waste disposal are at cost. Our 10% booking fee and 2% insurance go on top. A simple wall can be a day for two builders. A room set can be a week for a team. Our rates are the same in Brighton as anywhere else we book crew, and anything the Sussex Film Office charges goes on the quote at cost.
What does the insurance on a crew booking cover?
It covers two things. The first is employers’ liability for every crew member we book, up to £10m. The second is the kit we hire in for you. That’s what the 2% pays for. A large kit rental may need extra insurance, which goes on the quote as its own line. On a crew hire, you’re the producer of record, so public liability, the location, your own kit and anything you book yourself stay with you. If you want us to be the producer of record, we quote it as a full production, and our insurance covers the whole shoot.
Do I need an art director as well?
Yes, for anything more than a simple piece. The art director designs and draws it, and the builders build it.
Where can we build a set in Brighton?
A small build can go up in a studio in Brighton. Capture Factory Studios has four studios in central Brighton, five minutes’ walk from the station, with parking on site. Studio 4 is 1,330 sq ft with a 13-metre L-shaped infinity cove. For a big build, we use studios near London. Ask the studio about load-in and its floor before the build is drawn. See film studios in Brighton. Check with Capture Factory Studios for the latest.
Can you build on a Brighton street or the beach?
With permission, yes. The Sussex Film Office handles filming on council land in Brighton and Hove, including streets, the beach and parks, and it prices each application. Private owners, such as Brighton Palace Pier and the Royal Pavilion, handle their own sites. A road closure can take up to 12 weeks. Pieces fix without damage and come out cleanly at wrap. Check with the Sussex Film Office and Brighton and Hove City Council for the latest.
Can the build use fire, smoke or other effects?
Yes, with a specialist. An effects supervisor runs any fire, smoke or weather effect, with a risk assessment and a method statement. Agree it with the location first. On council land, put it in your application to the Sussex Film Office.
How far ahead should I book a set build?
Our team reads every brief within 2 working hours, and the build sets the rest. A small build needs about a week between the drawings and the shoot, and a room set needs two or three. On location, add the notice the permits need. A suspended parking bay needs 7 working days, and a road closure can take up to 12 weeks. Check with Brighton and Hove City Council for the latest.
Are your set builders from Brighton?
We book builders and scenic painters who live in Brighton or Hove first. For a bigger build, a specialist or a date when the local crews are booked, we book builders from London, about an hour away by train. We add the travel to the quote before anything is booked. Our own base is London, at 124 City Road, and we have bases in Manchester, Bristol and Cornwall.