Film
Our films are as diverse as the communities we work with. Ranging from micro shorts to full lengh feature films. We produce drama, documentary, event coverage, and artist collaborations including theatre visuals, poetry film, promos, dance film, and music videos
Digital
We create beautiful intimate & engaging augmented reality trails, portals & printed materials to activate films, audio and other creative content. Bring real world objects & printed materials to life. Theatre visuals and artistic collaborations, from live streaming, AR, 360 film, photography, lighting and projections.



MAKING ART TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
First Take uses film and digital art to create work that has real impact and can make a difference. Our work gives a platform to voices that often struggle to be heard . We want to unearth stories that need to be told and convey messages that people want to get across.
CREATIVE ACCESSIBILTY
We want our work and our partners work to be seen and understood by everyone. We have, and continue to develop creative ways of making work accessible to as many people as possible. It’s not just about meeting requirements for us, but building in and using access needs as an opportunity to create a better piece of work.
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY
Finding innovative systems to utilise new and emerging technologies is central to our work. Be it augmented reality (AR), 360 immersive film, virtual reality (VR), creative accessibility or interactive web narrative First Take strives to push the boundaries of what is yet to be thought possible. We want to create new ways of experiencing the world.
COLLABORATION
This is where the magic begins: coming together and working together. Working with others challenges, enthuses and inspires us. Every piece of work we create is through collaboration. It may be with one individual or an organisation or many different collaborators but it will be a unique and productive relationship that feeds creativity and makes brilliant work.

ALIXIR TURNBULL-CRANE (she/they)
Alixir is a Filmmaker, Artist and Writer who draws from her spiritualty and Pagan practice to create Ethereal, Fantasy and Sci-Fantasy art. She has worked with First Take since April 2024 as an editor and course tutor for the REEL QUEER documentary course, creating the film “Reel Queer’s Real Queers” which shows the importance of exclusively queer creative spaces such as Reel Queer and the impact this has on people’s lives and wellbeing. Alixir enjoys creating art pieces for exhibition as immersive experiences to represent spiritual awakenings and aspects of mental health such as her piece “Demons and Angels” which premiered with the West Arts Collective in 2022. She also finds importance in liberating the “Wicca” narrative by showing true representation of Witchcraft on screen.

LYNNE HARWOOD (she/her)
Lynne Harwood is a writer/director and editor that has written and directed two feature films and many short films. Her films have received official selection in Film Festivals around the world including Los Angeles, Toronto, Berlin, Chicago, London and São Paulo. Lynne has been a director of First Take since 1993. She has written for both film and television and is presently developing a TV drama series with Moonspun Films.
Lynne has worked on co-productions nationally and internationally including an 8-part documentary series broadcast throughout Europe, which was a co-production with Sydvest Films, Norway, working with Prix Italia award-winning Exec Producer.
As well as her work at First Take, Lynne writes for TV and has worked with United Productions, World of Wonder and is presently developing her own TV drama series with BAFTA nominated Moonspun Films.

JAY FARLEY (they/them)
Jay is a non-binary, queer filmmaker/digital artist who has worked on award winning shorts, documentaries and feature length films. They have shot for broadcast throughout Europe and is a director at First Take. Their work as a digital artist began as an international creative activist, fusing art and insurrection and now with creative accessibility, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), interactive web and live streaming has featured in New York, Hong Kong and Sao Paulo. They are currently developing their own practice for the first time as a Spoken Word artist whilst integrating their film and digital art skills into their practice.

PAULA SIMMS (she/her)
Paula became a Director in 2022. She has worked with First Take on a freelance basis since 1999. Paula is an award-winning actor and theatre director and brings a unique perspective to the organisation. As an actor Paula has worked in both TV and film and she also works at Liverpool John Moores University as a Senior Lecturer in Drama. As a theatre director Paula has produced award-winning work and has collaborated with many writers including Jimmy McGovern and Frank Cottrell-Boyce, with whom she worked on Derry’s City of Culture. Paula has also directed opera in Portugal and theatre in Zambia.
GET IN TOUCH
We produce bespoke projects to suit your needs.
Film or Digital Art. Any questions just ask.