Shooting People to close it's doors
Farewell Shooting People — A Personal Goodbye to a Film Community That Changed My Life
TL;DR: After 25 years of supporting independent filmmakers, Shooting People is shutting down this August. Once a vital online hub for UK creatives to find crew, share work, and connect, its closure marks the end of an era. The industry’s shift toward social media and free networking platforms made its subscription model harder to sustain. CenterFrame reflects on its legacy and what it means for the future of filmmaker communities.
It’s with a heavy heart that I learned Shooting People is closing its doors at the end of October after 27 incredible years.
For me, this isn’t just another platform shutting down. It’s the end of a creative era that deeply shaped my own journey as a filmmaker. I first joined SP over two decades ago, armed with ambition and very little else. It was through Shooting People that I found some of my earliest collaborators, people I still work with today. That’s the kind of community SP built: not just jobs or gigs, but real, long-lasting creative relationships.
From the very beginning, SP stood for something rare and powerful in the industry. As Cath wrote in her announcement:
“We shared one core belief: that filmmakers helping each other and exchanging ideas and support is how indie films get made.”
And that belief worked. It led to bold films, real opportunities, and most importantly, solidarity.
“What’s always defined SP is the solidarity within this community. The shared belief that we’re all stronger together and can learn from each other.”
That spirit of generosity, collaboration, and community is exactly what made Shooting People such a vital lifeline for so many of us over the years.
To Cath, and the brilliant teams who kept the wheels turning: thank you. You leave behind a legacy that will ripple through the indie film world for decades to come.
As a fellow film community, we at CenterFrame will do our best to honour that legacy — to keep the spirit of SP alive and continue building spaces where filmmakers can connect, support one another, and bring great stories to life.
Rest in power, SP. You’ve more than earned it.
BERNARD PUCHER
Filmmaker | CenterFrame Team
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