Meet Your Makers: The Producer Mentality with Sammy Bonham

Sammy Bonham has been in the industry for six years, most recently working his way up to producer at NM Productions. He’s worked with many brands such as Apple, Jo Malone, Disney, Pepsi, Uber Eats and more. He loves a challenge, and a chat. 

LBB> What first attracted you to production - and has it been an industry you’ve always worked on or did you come to it from another area? 

Sammy> Whilst I was growing up, my mum was a documentary producer. She used to send us items and postcards from all over the world on her travels and tell us stories about all the amazing experiences she had. I used to find it fascinating that someone's job could lead them on such an adventure, so I wanted to follow on a similar path. 

As I got into my teens, skateboarding took over my life. I began creating my own videos and photos through that. That was the driving force that made me want to study film production at university and find any way into any type of production I could while studying in London. 

LBB> What was your first role in the production world and how did this experience influence how you think about production and how you grew your career? 

Sammy> For my first ever role in a production, I worked one day as a runner on the film Miss You Already, featuring Drew Barrymore. I’m from a small town up north in Yorkshire, and there was talk of a large crew filming on the moor side one evening. I went up with a friend and he egged me on to go ask if they needed a hand. Luckily I spoke to a production manager and she kindly asked me to come back the next day to help. It was freezing cold and a lot of work, which I was most definitely unprepared for… But people were very appreciative. I felt recognised for putting in a shift. That was enough of an incentive for me to want to keep pursuing production. 

LBB> How did you learn to be a producer? 

Sammy> I was fortunate enough to work with people who took the time to show me the do’s and don’ts, and who worked to very high standards themselves. I spent a lot of time as a freelancer, and that really helped me gain perspective into all the different kinds of people and productions I may encounter further down the line. 

LBB> Looking back to the beginning of your career, can you tell us about a production you were involved in where you really had to dig deep and that really helped you to grow as a producer? 

Sammy> There is one production from when I was much more junior which sticks in my mind. The shoot started at 7am on a Thursday and I didn’t finish up until 29 hours later… well into the Friday afternoon. At the time, it was really tough but it was also impossible not to learn from that experience. 

LBB> A good producer should be able to produce for any medium, from film to events to digital experience. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why/why not? 

Sammy> I would agree for the most part. To me, being a producer is a mentality, it’s about having a positive can-do approach to almost any situation which arises. You can’t see an obstacle and back away from it simply because it doesn’t fit the status quo. Our industry is ever developing with new technologies like Virtual Production so, if you want to be long-lasting, you need to be adaptable and not back away from a challenge when it arises. 

LBB> What’s your favourite thing about production and why? 

Sammy> My favourite thing about production is the people we are fortunate enough to meet and work with, the access we are granted to locations / different parts of the world, and the fact that no two days are the same. Wait, that’s three things… 

LBB> How has production changed since you started your career? 

Sammy> The most obvious change was the pandemic, which of course wasn’t just restricted to production, but felt very visible in our industry. Being on-set became a completely different experience. One minute everybody was hugging each other, the next we were all being tested daily and having to distance ourselves, even the snacks were all individually wrapped and on some sets had to be handed to you by a designated person. Things definitely feel much more normal again, but there are some lingering aspects. 

LBB> And what has stayed the same? 

Sammy> The people, it takes a certain type of person to work in our industry and that will never change. Whilst everyone is different in their own way, there does seem to be a common denominator amongst most… hard to describe. 

LBB> What do you think is the key to being an effective producer - and is it something that’s innate or something that can be learned? 

Sammy> It’s a mix of both. If you have the willingness to learn and understand how things could be done better, you will of course succeed. But there are moments where you will be tested for your resilience and I would say that a lot to do with being a good producer is your mindset. 

LBB> Which production project from across your career are you most proud of and why? 

Sammy> I’m proud of every job, but a TVC we once shot for Kroger Health in LA comes to mind as one that sticks out. It was my first time shooting there. We had so many moving parts, a large crew, very little time and we were working with a very well-known NFL player. It was, at the time, a very new experience but one that I feel really propelled me and I’ve since built on. 

LBB> And in terms of recent work, which projects have you found to be particularly exciting or have presented particularly interesting production challenges? 

Sammy> We recently worked on a project for Disney at Disney World Orlando which you could say made for an interesting experience. The whole shoot we were up against the clock, working under the very strict parameters of the park and making sure we didn’t interrupt families on their holidays. I caught myself calling out that we needed to move quicker - “we only have five minutes left with Minnie Mouse!” That was a slightly surreal moment. 

LBB> Producers always have the best stories. What’s the hairiest / most insane situation you’ve found yourself in and how did you work your way out of it? 

Sammy> We once found ourselves stuck on a boat surrounded by thick fog and a broken navigation board when heading out to capture underwater shots. I say that so casually, but it was quite a sketchy moment. Luckily a bit of intuition, and a lot of fog horns, from the team led us back to shore. It was one of those moments you’d laugh about but at the time some peoples faces told a very different story. 

LBB> What are your personal ambitions or aspirations as a producer? 

Sammy> Simply to continue on the trajectory I am. I want to work with more interesting and exciting people, face more challenges and work on projects that I feel passionate about. 

LBB> As a producer your brain must have a neverending "to do" list. How do you switch off? What do you do to relax? 

Sammy> Relax? 

LBB> Producers are problem solvers. What personally fuels your curiosity and drive? 

Sammy> The drive comes from the sense of accomplishment when a project, particularly the more challenging ones, comes together and everyone is happy. That feeling of wrapping up a successful job after months of grind is unbeatable. 

LBB> What advice would you give to people who are interested in becoming a producer? 

Sammy> Be ready to make sacrifices but, in turn, be ready for some unforgettable experiences along the way. 

LBB> From your experience what are the ingredients for a successful production? 

Sammy> A solid, reliable team is the main ingredient for me. People that you can be in the trenches with but also have a laugh with. You need to know you can count on the people around you when the going gets tough. 

LBB> What’s the key to a successful production-client relationship? 

Sammy> Communication.