Announcing Our Zone Sponsors
The advertising production industry is undergoing a transformation, with a growing demand for stronger, more direct connections between brands and production companies. In response to this shift, the APA has launched Production Unplugged, a new initiative designed to foster collaboration and bridge the gap between brands and production partners.
To kick off this initiative, Production Unplugged will debut with a major event on May 1, 2025, in London. The event will bring together 400 industry leaders, marketers, and production experts for a full day of networking, knowledge-sharing, and creative collaboration, across six zones. These Zones are being sponsored by some amazing companies who are committed to the Production Unplugged initiative.
Smart Production: Sponsored by Murphy Cobb Associates (MCA)
Explore how APA members are meeting the complex marketing needs of brands in the Smart Production Zone.
Exhibitors will focus on the technologies, capabilities and processes that they are using to create efficiencies and increase effectiveness.
Sponsoring the Smart Production Zone is Murphy Cobb Associates (MCA).
Murphy Cobb Associates (MCA) is a global consultancy specializing in production investment, with a presence in over 60 markets. MCA partners with advertisers to maximize the value of their creative content spend across marketing and communications. By combining innovation, sustainability, and technology, MCA empowers clients to build efficient ecosystems, adopt industry best practices, benchmark and deliver impactful campaigns and content at scale. Through MCA, clients can expect to supercharge their creative output while achieving exceptional cost efficiency.
Here's what MCA had to say about their involvement:
"We have always been great advocates for the independent creative production community and in our unique position at MCA are happy to work with the APA and it's members to promote partnerships with our valued clients. We are really happy to be involved in this important new initiative"
Environmental Social Governance: Sponsored by AdGreen
Social pressure and legislation to be more sustainable and socially conscious means brands are now looking to their supply chain for ESG support and performance data.
In the ESG zone, discover how APA Members are delivering on brand’s ESG goals through their diverse talent, innovative processes and new technologies.
AdGreen are the sponsors for the ESG zone.
At AdGreen, our goal is to support the advertising industry to measure and reduce the environmental impact of production, providing training, a carbon calculator and resources to facilitate conversations and enable management of emissions. The event will be a great opportunity to help these new client-production partnerships understand how they can bring sustainability into their production decision making, using fantastic data insights. Jo Fenn, Global Director, Advertising Association AdGreen Ltd
Adgreen’s comment on their involvement:
‘AdGreen is proud to be a sponsor of the ESG Zone at the APA’s Production Unplugged event to support its mission to drive engagement and collaboration between brands and the UK creative production industry.’
Networking zone – Sponsored by Heads Up
The networking zone provides the brand perspective on the challenge marketers face today.
This zone’s programme features fireside chats and panels with representatives from marketing, in-house agencies, procurement, subject specialises and industry organisations; with breaks for networking in between.
Sponsoring this zone is Heads Up.
Heads Up: A Brand’s Gateway To Production Heads Up was set up in 2017 to offer flexible production solutions working directly with Brands. We offer scalable and bespoke production in all media – from moving image (TV, content and social) to stills, animation, radio and podcasts. Our combined industry experience is unique - there is no production challenge, big or small, that Heads Up hasn’t overcome. We’re known for our problem solving, our transparency and making the complex simple.
Here's what Heads Up had to say about PU:
'As a gateway to production for brands - and a pioneer in the direct to brand space – Heads Up is delighted to sponsor the Networking area of Production Unplugged. In the fast changing production landscape this is a fantastic opportunity & initiative from the APA that will showcase the best of the independent production industry to top brands from diverse categories. As we celebrate our eighth birthday, we look forward to participating on a fascinating panel on agile production, meeting lots of new people and catching up with old friends.'
Agile Partnerships: Sponsored by Get Set Hire
In the Agile Partnerships Zone, find out how APA Members are building new partnerships and unlocking mutually beneficial ways of working across the industry.
The sponsor of the Agile zone is Get Set Hire.
Get Set Hire supplies a wide range of behind-the-camera essentials, from Comms and Rain Tents to Hair & Makeup set ups, Green Room/Client Areas, and Dressing Room solutions. Whether it’s power packs or director’s chairs, everything is delivered with a focus on speed, agility and flexibility through low-carbon, eco-friendly logistics to make sure your productions run smoothly. With an agile outlook we ask at every stage ‘What’s the next best move from here?’ - with this approach we catch problems early, make smarter choices and save our clients time and money.
Here's what Get Set Hire had to say about Production Unplugged:
'At Get Set Hire, agility is at the heart of how we work — adapting quickly to the unique and changing needs of every production, no matter the size or schedule. We’re proud to sponsor this panel because we believe that flexible thinking, strong partnerships, and creative problem-solving are essential to keeping the industry moving forward. Our goal is to help crews stay efficient, creative, and green behind the scenes. An agile approach enables us to do this, we thrive on team collaboration to sync, adapt quickly and meet on set needs. We’re thrilled to be sharing our approach as part of the Agile Zone at Production Unplugged.'
Future Focus: Sponsored by Medialake
In the Future Focus Zone, exhibitors will demonstrate how innovation & technology are shaping new possibilities in production and enhancing creative and business impact.
The sponsor of this zone is Media Lake.
Check back for more info on Media Lake and their involvement
"We’re excited to sponsor the Future Focus Zone at Production Unplugged because Medialake is built for what’s next — smarter, more connected brand operations. This zone is all about the future of creative production, and we’re proud to help lead that conversation.”
— Richard Wilson, Founder, Medialake
Customer Experience: Sponsored by Silverscape
Brands are looking to surprise and delight along the entire customer journey – from awareness through to consideration, purchase intent, product performance and beyond. With the impact of e-commerce, this means more content across more channels than ever before.
In the Customer Experience Zone, discover the production possibilities across mobile, digital, short & long form videos, brand experiences, and more.
SilverScape is a specialist Virtual Production Company and Studio business with a team of expert Producers, VP Supervisors, DOPs and Directors who will work closely with you to deliver an end to solution. They have a deep understanding of the creative development process from both the commissioner/ budget holder and creative production perspective.
They recognise that for most agencies and clients Virtual Production is new and so they will guide agency producers and their clients through the entire process. They quantify the benefits in terms of cost efficiency and reduction in carbon cost.
Here is what they said about their involvement in Production Unplugged:
"SilverScape is proud to be sponsoring the Customer Eperience zone at Production Unplugged. As consumers become more and more demanding of brands we recognise the increasing importance of how brands engage and interact with customers"
A huge thank you to all of our Zone Sponsors!
