SHANNON KATE MURRAY CHATS TO FILMMAKER, NATALIE SCARSBROOK

Local filmmaker and creative entrepreneur Natalie Scarsbrook, co-founder of Blatella Films in Southend, has spent the last 15 years quietly redefining what a purpose-driven film company can look like - alongside her husband and creative partner, Ben Scarsbrook.

Known for narrative-led, documentary-style films created for councils, charities, community organisations and social causes, the duo have built a business with heart, craft and intention. Their feature documentary Our Journey to Pride, capturing Thurrock’s first-ever Pride event, has won more than 25 international awards. Their next project, Witchcraft and Stilettos, reclaims and reframes the much-misunderstood “Essex Girl” identity.

I sat down with Natalie to talk about building a creative company from a spare room during a recession, taking up space in a male-dominated industry, and rewriting what it means to be an Essex woman on screen.

Shannon: Take us back to the early days. How did Blatella Films come about?

Natalie: “We went to university together in Wales to study film, and graduated in 2010, which was right in the middle of a recession. No one was hiring. We tried for about a year, sending CVs to agencies and companies, but it felt impossible to get our foot in the door.”

Ben: “Yeah, we did some unpaid editing internships. But eventually we thought, we’ve got the skills – why not just start something ourselves?”

Natalie: “We borrowed some gear, bought a second-hand camera from another filmmaker, and set up a local film festival. It was more a passion project, but that’s how we met our first clients. We officially became a sole-trading partnership in December 2012, and that’s what we count as the start.”

Ben: “It really wasn’t a business plan. We were just trying things, getting out there, meeting people. It grew through word of mouth. Clients came back or referred us, and that built our early momentum.”

Shannon: What kind of support or advice did you have in those early days?

Natalie: “We didn’t have good careers advice at uni. No one told us how to run a film business. It was basically, ‘stay in Wales and move to Cardiff.’ We had to figure it out ourselves – how to price, how to pitch, how to find clients. That’s why we try to give our freelancers better support than we had.”

Shannon: When did you realise it had become a full-fledged business?

Natalie: “When we started turning work down. We were doing everything – filming, editing, admin – and we realised we couldn’t scale unless we brought in help. So we brought on some freelancers, which was a scary step.”

Ben: “Especially because we’re married, and this is our livelihood. If the business doesn’t work, that’s our entire safety net. But we didn’t rush it – we waited until it felt right to go limited, and we’re still really intentional about growth.”

Natalie: “We didn’t go limited until we were near the VAT threshold. We planned ahead – figured out what that meant for us practically. People think going limited fast is a marker of success. But for us, slow and sustainable has worked better.”

Shannon: Natalie, you took 51% ownership. Why was that important to you?

Natalie: “The film industry is very male-dominated. It might look 50/50 at graduate level, but after 10 years, the numbers drop sharply. I wanted to make a conscious decision to address that imbalance – even if just within our own company.”

Ben: “Yeah, and I was fully behind that. It made total sense. It wasn’t symbolic – it was structural. We both contribute equally, but Natalie is often the one behind the scenes doing the editing, producing, networking. That visibility matters.”

Shannon: Your visibility has grown a lot recently – from national features to broadcast interviews. How has that shift felt?

Natalie: “I used to avoid the camera at all costs! But with our documentary work – and now media stuff, podcasts, speaking gigs – I had to step up. I realised that being visible wasn’t about ego – it was about leadership. It’s important for other women to see that you can be creative, run a business, and take up space.”

Shannon: What makes Blatella different as a film company?

Natalie: “We’re not a marketing agency that happens to make videos. We’re filmmakers who’ve applied our skills to the business world. Every project we do – whether it’s for a council, a school, or a charity – has a narrative at its heart.”

Ben: “We believe corporate film shouldn’t be boring. We use the same techniques we’d use in a documentary: we find the story, we ask the right questions, and we care about how it’s told.”

Natalie: “Sometimes clients come to us with no idea what they need – just a vague event or campaign. We help build the story from scratch. Other times, they have a full brief and questions. We work with both. But the narrative always comes first.”

Shannon: Let’s talk about Our Journey to Pride. How did such a small commission turn into a 70-minute feature?

Ben: “It started as a small local commission – just to capture Thurrock’s first-ever Pride event. But as we followed the planning meetings and interviewed people, we realised there was a much bigger story unfolding.”

Natalie: “We didn’t set out to make a 70-minute feature. But after filming the day and cutting it together, we showed it to the organisers and they were in tears. That’s when we realised it had legs.”

Ben: “We cleaned it up, submitted it to festivals, and to our surprise, it started winning awards. I think we’re at 25 now.”

Natalie: “It gave us the confidence to say – we can do this. We can make work that matters and get it seen globally.”

Shannon: Your next project looks at “Essex Girl” identity. What inspired that?

Natalie: “I grew up in Essex, and I’ve always hated how ‘Essex Girl’ was used as a punchline. When I found out it had been officially defined in the dictionary as something negative, I was shocked. But then I saw Syd Moore’s campaign to challenge that, and it really hit me.”

Ben: “That’s when Natalie said, ‘I think this is my film.’ It’s really grown into something powerful. Every time we interview someone, they lead us to someone else.”

Natalie: “It’s about Essex women reclaiming the term, telling their stories in their own words. And that really excites me.”

Shannon: You still run the business as a duo, supported by freelancers. Why that model?

Ben: “We’ve got six freelancers we work with regularly, but it’s still just us full-time. That gives us flexibility and stability. We couldn’t justify hiring staff full-time and then worrying about keeping them busy every month.”

Natalie: “It also means we can mentor. Some of our freelancers are newer to the industry, and we try to support them – something we didn’t have when we left uni.”

Ben: “And now they’re hiring each other too! There’s a real sense of community around it.”

Shannon: What have been your biggest business lessons so far?

Natalie: “Charge properly. Know your worth. We definitely undercharged at the beginning. It took time to build confidence.”

Ben: “Delegate sooner. It’s hard when it’s your business – especially in creative industries – to trust someone else with your work. But it’s been the best thing we’ve done.”

Natalie: “Also – build slowly. People think they need to ‘make it’ in year one. We became a limited company only after 8 years. That wasn’t failure. That was patience.”

Shannon: What does success look like for you both now?

Natalie: “Having the freedom to make the work I believe in. Seeing our freelancers thrive. Being creatively fulfilled.”

Ben: “And knowing we can step back a bit one day and the business will still run. That’s why we’re investing in training others – not just for now, but for long-term sustainability.”

Ben: “Yeah, we’ve always tried to be ourselves – we don’t over-polish it. It’s more important to be authentic than perfect.”

Shannon: Finally, what advice would you give to the next generation of creative founders?

Natalie: “Don’t be afraid to take up space. You don’t have to be loud, but you do have to show up. Be visible. Share your ideas. Make mistakes and learn from them. And if you didn’t have role models – be one.”

Ben: “And find people who get it. Whether it’s a co-founder, a mentor, or a freelance community – don’t try to do it all alone. It’s easier to keep going when you know someone’s got your back.”

About the interviewer

Shannon Kate Murray is the founder & editor of High Flying Design, an online women’s business and lifestyle magazine sharing the real stories of female founders across the UK. Alongside running the magazine, she works as a Digital Brand Consultant and Squarespace Web Designer, supporting small businesses across Essex and beyond.