MetFilm School Brighton collaborates with Ben Wheatley on new feature, ‘Bulk’
By MetFilm School
11 June 2025
In the summer of 2024, MetFilm School Brighton played host to scenes from Bulk, the latest feature from acclaimed British director Ben Wheatley (Sightseers, Kill List, High-Rise). The shoot took place over a week at our film studio in Bevendean, with students stepping into key crew roles alongside professional industry figures.
Tim Brown, Director of Brighton’s Cinecity Film Festival, helped us make the connection between MetFilm School students, staff, and the Bulk production team.
MetFilm School students supported the project in various departments, including Production Design and Hair and Makeup, while staff members provided vital technical and logistical support.
The students and staff members involved were:
Student crew:
- Annie Shay – Production Design (Art Dept Assistant)
- Roben Stanford – Production Design (Art Dept Assistant)
- Erle Pettersen – Production Design (Art Dept Assistant)
- Maisie McKenna – Hair/Makeup
- Joel Eley – Runner/Driver
Staff support:
- Simon Mann – Art Technician
- Kiki Taylor – Art Technician
- James Honess – Production Manager
To celebrate the collaboration, MetFilm School hosted an exclusive preview screening of Bulk at Brighton’s iconic Duke of York’s cinema on Wednesday 30 April. The screening was followed by a Q&A with director Ben Wheatley and producer Andy Starke, hosted by MetFilm School Career Manager, Margo Roe.
Attendees included students, graduates, and special guests from Film4, including Head of Production Tori Parry – demonstrating the real-world connections MetFilm School continues to foster across the UK film industry.
“The event was fantastic. I loved the location and thought that Ben and Andy were very generous with their time. It felt like a real treat to see the film before its release,” said one student attendee.
“These kinds of events are one of the main reasons I chose this university,” said another.
Producer Andy Starke and director Ben Wheatley praised the collaboration:
“MetFilm School’s participation in the making of Bulk was a huge help in enabling us to realise the film as we’d hoped. Huge thanks to the staff and students for their skill, good humour, and tolerance!”
The collaboration will soon receive even more exposure as Bulk makes its World Premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival 2025, opening the Midnight Madness strand—cementing the project as a standout example of industry-integrated education.
