WARNING: As ever, this blog is written anonymously because the internet is a cruel place. I am not stupid, but I am not particularly smart either. I am not a film specialist. I am not a film producer. I am not an economist. I am not an oil specialist. I am not a political specialist. I am a swing voter and have no political loyalties. I am not qualified to give any advice at all. This is simply an attempt to join a few dots.
I include this for the same reason Jaguar feels they need to mention in their car manual, that one shouldn’t drink brake fluid. This image is not meant to demean any political or religious group. If confused about the brake fluid and about ‘Satire’, I would recommend you not handle heavy machinery ever!
Thank you for the usual complaints and compliments on our last blog, both the good and the bad.
Why your next shoot just got more expensive: fuel, inflation and the reality of UK production
There are a few quiet forces that sit underneath film production.
- Interest rates
- Inflation
- Oil
They are everywhere: studio costs, transport, energy, food, materials, financing. This is not just a UK issue. It applies across all film geography: Budapest, Mumbai, Vancouver, Los Angeles, wherever there is filming.
The Macro Position
| Stage | Effect |
| Oil rises | Costs rise |
| Costs rise | Inflation rises |
| Inflation rises | Interest rates rise |
| Interest rates rise | Borrowing rises |
| Borrowing rises | Fewer productions |
UK Fuel Prices Now
| Fuel Type | Price Range | Tax Component |
| Unleaded | ~145–155p/litre | Approx. 60–65% of pump price |
| Diesel | ~150–165p/litre | Approx. 60–65% of pump price |
What’s Driving This
- Iran region instability driving the oil costs
- Strait of Hormuz shipping risk
Impacting fuel, plastics, food, electricity, and all metals.
Flights
Flight Cost Comparison (London ↔ Los Angeles)
Pre vs Post Iran-Related Fuel Pressure
| Cabin Class | Pre-Pressure Baseline | Current Range | Approx. Increase | Notes |
| Economy | £550–£750 | £700–£950 | +25–35% | Most volatile on short booking windows |
| Premium Economy | £1,400–£1,900 | £1,800–£2,600 | +25–40% | Heavily used by mid-senior crew |
| Business Class | £3,500–£5,000 | £4,500–£7,000+ | +30–45% | Fuel surcharges absorbed into fare |
If production sends you by first class, then no one cares about your suffering!
Fuel-driven fare increases are already visible across long-haul routes, with some transatlantic prices rising over 30% in recent weeks and in some cases significantly more depending on timing and cabin class.
To our US readers – please forgive me! You can always just use British cast and crew, as a Tube ticket is much cheaper.
Where Costs Hit
| Area | Impact |
| Crew & truck movement | Direct fuel cost per mile across every shooting day |
| Generators | Diesel-powered; fuel is an ongoing operational cost |
| Catering | Food supply chain inflation plus transport of unit catering |
| Unit moves | Each relocation carries a fuel cost, often under-costed |
| Locations | Remote or dispersed locations now carry an additional cost but are often much needed creatively. |
| Accommodation | Energy costs passed through in nightly rates |
| Set builds | Plastics, metals and timber all affected by oil price |
Proximity
Closer to base = cheaper.
Distance now costs more than before.
Budget Impact
| Fuel Increase | Approx. Budget Impact |
| +5% fuel | ~+2–3% overall budget |
| +10–15% fuel | ~+4–6% overall budget |
Potential Policy Changes
Red diesel is essentially the same fuel as standard diesel, just taxed far less and dyed red to stop people using it illegally. Until 2022, a number of industries relied on it, among them construction, plant, and by extension film production. We lost access and were pushed onto fully taxed white diesel overnight. The difference is not small. Red diesel can be 40–70% cheaper, which matters when you’re running generators, unit bases, and trucks all day. For film production, that shift has likely added a quiet 2–4% to overall budgets. Some industries remain protected. Others don’t. If the British Labour Government is really committed to lowering inflation and invigorating business, give us red diesel access. Given that the UK film industry brings in billions and props up a fair amount of inward investment, it’s not completely unreasonable to ask why it’s now paying full price.
If fuel is a structural cost, and some sectors are shielded from it, the question isn’t whether film should be it’s why it isn’t.
Sensible Production Adjustments
- Cluster locations
- Fewer unit moves
- Use multi-sites more
- Stay closer to base
- Plan better
Let’s lighten this a little before my final thoughts.
A Brief Note on Iranian Cinema
This is all getting a little serious. Constraints aren’t necessarily bad for creativity. Most people will think of the US when it comes to world-leading cinema, and that is fair enough; they are the world leaders. But Iran has been producing some very good films for quite a long time now.
Directors such as Jafar Panahi have built international reputations working with very little. From last year’s acclaimed It Was Just An Accident to his films Taxi (2015), which won the Golden Bear in Berlin, and No Bears (2022), which also picked up major international recognition, are good examples.
Different scale. Different constraints. Great creative solutions.
Final Thought
Fuel sits underneath everything.
Costs will rise gradually.
Production will adjust accordingly.
Further Reading
Understanding Iran
A clear and accessible overview of Iran from ancient Persia through to the modern state. Useful for understanding the deeper context behind current geopolitical tensions.
A focused look at modern Iran and how the current political system developed. Particularly helpful for understanding how internal structure shapes external behaviour.
An examination of the long-standing relationship between Iran and the West, and how strategic misunderstandings have developed over time.
Energy, Fuel & Inflation
Global Energy & Supply Chains
U.S. Energy Information Administration: Strait of Hormuz
Film & Creative Industries
Aviation & Travel Costs