News

Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials has arrived on Netflix, treating audiences to a stylish, fast‑paced mystery set in 1920s England. But behind the scenes here in the West of England, something equally exciting took place: a powerful collaboration between the production team and All Set West, helping to nurture and elevate regional talent.

Filmed at The Bottle Yard Studios and across Bristol and the wider West Country with Film Office support, Seven Dials brought together a crew of around 175 people per day – an estimated 75% of whom were local to the region. This commitment to using and uplifting local talent is exactly what All Set West was designed to support.

And with Producer Joanna Crow at the helm, the partnership between her team and All Set West became a standout example of what meaningful industry collaboration can look like.

Joanna and the Seven Dials production team didn’t just host trainees, they actively embraced the All Set West ethos. They offered real opportunities across departments and created a welcoming environment for trainees who may have previously felt excluded from the screen industries.

“Seven Dials was part of the pilot for the wonderful All Set West scheme,” Joanna explained.
“It’s carefully designed and managed to give opportunities to those who aren’t always included… this scheme makes it easy to be inclusive… with genuine candidates and genuine progress for the region.”

For All Set West, this kind of engagement is transformative. When productions are willing to open their doors, trainees gain more than skills. They gain confidence, contacts and a sense of belonging.

Among the trainees welcomed onto set was Jon‑Luke Goodman, (26, Bristol) from one of All Set West’s early training cohorts. Jon‑Luke joined the Script Supervisor department, gaining hands-on experience in an area of the industry that’s notoriously hard to access without insider connections.

“Working in Film and TV felt unattainable to me before doing the All Set West Training,” Jon‑Luke shared.
“The training gave me skills and confidence, as well as contact, and now I feel really empowered to take on roles in this sector.”

Jon‑Luke’s journey is just one example of the impact this collaboration had. Several trainees visited the Seven Dials set, gained insights from crew members, and connected with industry professionals like Joanna—forming relationships that will help shape their future careers.

The West of England is a growing hub for innovative filmmaking, with facilities, scenery, and creativity that rival any major UK production centre. But sustaining that growth depends on supporting local people to build careers right here at home.

The collaboration between Seven Dials and All Set West is a model for how productions can invest in their filming communities:

When productions and training pathways work hand-in-hand, our industry becomes stronger, more open, and more representative of the communities that make it possible.

We’re proud of the work our trainees accomplished on Seven Dials, and grateful to Netflix and Joanna Crow and her team for their enthusiasm, guidance and genuine commitment to creating opportunities.

This is the kind of collaboration that fuels change. It strengthens our local workforce and helps ensure that the future of film and TV in the West of England is bright, inclusive, and filled with homegrown talent.

Want to follow the progress of our trainees or get involved with All Set West?
Stay connected with us on Instagram and LinkedIn or sign up for an All Set West account to join our growing network of Community Members and Industry Connectors helping the industry in the West of England and beyond.

Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials image courtesy of Netflix.