What we do
We build software that people actually want to use. Through deep research, careful design, and honest advice, we create systems that simplify complex operations, not add to them.
- — Through research & analysis, we understand your business problem to offer technical and software solutions so you invest in the right solution, not the obvious one.
- — We run user & event storming workshops to create a strategic plan for your online processes giving your team clarity and a roadmap.
- — We help you rapidly test your ideas through product scoping & prototyping before committing significant development budget.
- — We build & implement software from complex bespoke web applications using Laravel, Vue, Alpine and more to off-the-shelf integrations such as Shopify, Squarespace & Statamic. Software that's a joy to use and built to last.
LightFAQ
Simple, beautiful FAQ pages that your customers will actually use. Built by us, ready for you.
Our work
We build industry-leading web software for Film and TV productions to manage extras.
We also create bespoke web applications using Laravel for all industries and act as consultants for start-ups and established companies to offer innovative technical and business solutions.
Our software is used in major studio productions including
OKCrowd
OKCrowd gives production companies confidence that on-set documentation, NDAs and T&Cs will be digitally signed before extras arrive on set.
We designed, built & continue to manage OKCrowd.
(A demo login is available for the curious)
The Casting Collective is one of the UK's largest agencies that provides Supporting Artistes for film, TV, commercials, and photography. We've worked with them for many years, creating web-based systems to help them manage their business.
Paperless Payments
Tools to plan, manage and track Supporting Artistes on set.
Built specifically for Assistant Directors and Production accounts, the system revolutionises how Supporting Artistes are managed whilst on set and how their payments are calculated.
It saves so much time for everyone, and mistakes & oversights are much quicker to deal with.
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Use online or offline, in several locations and on multiple devices, and data will sync seamlessly.
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Easily apply day rate, meal, supplement, travel and/or custom payments or rates based on your project-specific rate.Whether it is the FAA, PACT, BBC, commercials, or a custom rate card.
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Have a bird's eye view of the day's status across units and by character name and time.
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Updates to Supporting Artistes allow them to view their voucher summary and query missing items.
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Find and filter artistes by unit, character, call time, travel, name and more.
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Apply voucher changes, report on or sign artistes in and out both individually or in groups.
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Generate and export detailed reports.
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Calculate voucher payments, daily and ongoing spending, and budget using your project-specific rate calculator.
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Calculate voucher payments, daily and ongoing spending, and budget using your project-specific rate calculator.
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Updates to Supporting Artistes allow them to view their voucher summary and query missing items.
It is a very easy system that has all the information there. It does the hard work for you so you can focus on other things.
The application has full life cycle approval between AD, accounts and agency, allowing each to modify, approve or send back for changes where required.
Our work saves productions, accounts, ADs and artistes countless hours and stress.
Artiste search
The UK’s Casting Book
The site lets productions register and search over 35,000 Supporting Artistes using various filters, including region, gender, age, appearance, measurements, skills and experience.
Users can create shortlists and add and remove suitable artistes based on job requirements. Shortlists can also be printed in various layouts.
Shortlists can be sent to their workmates and are viewable via a password-protected link. When the production is ready to cast or needs further help, they can send their shortlist to the Casting Collective.
Bright Machine made a complex process easy to use. We are very happy with their calm and guiding input to make this achievable.
Laura Sheppard, Director
Artiste management
Online registration, approvals process & artiste organiser
Multi-page, in-depth application that allows prospective Supporting Artistes to save and come back later if needed.
Staff can approve, reject or request changes and view and manage artiste information.
Existing artistes have an area to manage their calendar, view their earnings, update their details & photos and renew.
Al Sinclair, Editor
Job management & easy-to-configure client pages
Al creates mood films and edits commercials and idents for leading brands such as American Express, Tesco, and McDonald's.
The system we developed enables Al and his editors to manage jobs, display their work to their clients, and promptly respond to requests. Client pages are easily created, and more complex jobs can be organised into folders. Additional work can be added, reordered, or removed as necessary, and how clips and assets are viewed can be customised as required.
Bright Machine has been fantastic - turning a few sketchy ideas of ours into a clean and intuitive website. From start to end, it's been a pleasure.
Al Sinclair
More about us
We're Chris and Kelvin, a small team working from London and Cheltenham, and we thrive when working alongside people who truly care about what they're building.
For over 15 years, we've partnered with businesses of all sizes to build software that lasts.
Our guiding principles
- Your business comes first. Software should fit your needs, not the other way around.
- Stay curious. We keep learning and remain flexible in our thinking.
- Be opinionated. We don’t just say yes, we offer well-considered advice.
- Communicate clearly. No jargon or waffle.
- Built to last. Software that's a joy to use, for years to come.