Ryan J. Smith’s ‘Kid’: Ambition, family, and filmmaking on a budget

MetFilm School London BA (Hons) Practical Filmmaking (2-Year Accelerated) graduate, now Independent filmmaker Ryan J. Smith has released his third feature, Kid – a raw, heartfelt story about ambition, family, and the pressure to hold everything together. The film follows a rising music producer on the verge of success while his sister navigates life with endometriosis, a condition affecting around one in ten women but rarely portrayed on screen.

“I know a few women who’ve dealt with endometriosis,” Ryan explains. “Talking with them shaped how I wrote the character. I didn’t want it to feel like a medical drama, just part of everyday life, with all its complications.”

Shot in the north of England for just £4,500, Kid premiered at the Manchester Film Festival, a BAFTA and BIFA qualifying event, before launching worldwide on Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, and YouTube Movies. Despite its small budget, the 80-minute feature feels lived-in and cinematic, a testament to Ryan’s resourceful approach.

Working with a crew of just two or three, Ryan handled much of the cinematography, sound, and editing himself. Real homes, streets and studios became the film’s set. “Every choice had to matter,” he says. “We wrote around what we had. The goal was to make something that feels authentic, and that people can recognise.”

“People are trying to do everything to succeed, to care for their family, and to survive,” Ryan says. “It’s exhausting, but there’s also love and drive in that struggle. That’s what Kid is really about.”

Ryan has carved out a career making ambitious, low-budget films through his production company, Skint Film Company. His first two features, Lottery and Talking to Ghosts, were made for under £7,000 and both found international streaming audiences. He calls his process the ‘Skint method’, small crews, thorough planning, and full professional outputs.

“The most liberating moment for a young filmmaker is realising no one is coming to save you,” he adds. “That’s what led me to start making films my own way.”

With Kid, Ryan continues to prove that powerful stories don’t need massive budgets, just creativity, conviction, and a willingness to make the most of what you have.

Step into your future 

If you’re ready to bring stories to life and want to graduate industry-ready in just two years, BA (Hons) Practical Filmmaking (2-Year Accelerated) offers a fast, focused route into the heart of the screen industries.

You’ll leave not just with a degree, but with a body of work, industry contacts, and the confidence to make your mark behind the camera.

Ready to join us?

To explore our London campus, come and see us at our next Open Day.

Contact our Admissions Team on 01273 096406 – or email us at admissions@metfilm.ac.uk – for any questions and to discuss your options. We can’t wait to welcome the next generation of London filmmakers!