From Byker Grove to Geordie Shore, casting agent Camilla Fox has worked on some of the biggest shows in the North East.
The 56-year-old from Jesmond runs Fox Casting Agency, which scouts fresh talent from across the region to star in films, TV and music videos. Camilla's job also sees her take on the role of location manager to find directors and production companies some of the best places to shoot in the North East.
Ant & Dec, Sam Fender and Denise Welch are just some of the household names she's helped during her 30-year career - but it wasn't what she planned.
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"Fox Casting just grew by accident really, through working in film and TV and people asking me for parts, rather than me thinking, 'this is what I want to do!'", Camilla said.
"I started out in film and TV after university. I worked on Byker Grove when Ant and Dec were on. I worked for many years as a location manager and then worked on films where they needed extras.
"I did a documentary film called 'One Night In Turin' that was filmed up here. They needed extras and they had contacted another agency but then the producer said 'Camilla you know everybody!'"
After spending 11 years on Byker Grove as a runner assistant and then location manager, Camilla started her own agency in 2001. Described as "one-half locations and one-half casting," Camilla works with production companies to suggest actors for roles.
"Production companies will come to me and need actor suggestions," she said.
"I have people on my books and I offer them suggestions. They then book who they want depending on the particular film or dramas such as Vera, or a commercial."
Recent projects include working with Sam Fender on his 'Seventeen Going Under' music video and Denise Welch on a Dave show called 'Dead Canny'. But despite their fame, Camilla says she "doesn't have time to be starstruck."
"Sam Fender's production company came to me and they wanted people for his 'Seventeen Going Under' music video," she said.
"I cast all the models and extras that were in that. Sam is lovely.
"That was shot at six locations across two days. We filmed up at the beach at Druridge Bay.
"The video is looking back on his youth so he wanted to portray when he was 17 and 18. He wanted people to represent youth in the North East, so they asked me to book different people. I suggested people and then the director chose the faces they want."
Camilla, who has also worked with director Ken Loach, continued: "Casting calls are niche. [Sam's video] was young people but you might have another job and it's for curvy people, or senior people or they might want a full age range or they might want twins.
"I've done a film Sarah Lancashire called The Paradise and they needed a baby but children can't be on set for very long. So if you have got twins then you can have longer with the children because if the babies look the same you can take one baby out and put another one in!"
Camilla has also been a chaperone for the cast of Geordie Shore during Covid where she made sure they isolated before going into the house. But while she praised those starring in the show, she said that some reality programmes have led to people thinking it's an easy way to break into the industry.
"I think people think that shows like Geordie Shore are an easy way to get into it but there is a lot of casting that goes on behind their doors," she said.
"It's nice to support people often following their dreams, but they have to realise there is work involved as well. I think some people get [that] and some people don't.
"I think there are a lot of reality programs that people think they [can go on] and be famous for doing nothing and that is so rare.
"I have worked on Geordie Shore and they are all lovely people. But overall you have to put some work in and do a lot of auditions and self-tapes.
"There is a lot of work that actors have to do to get into the business."
Her advice for those wanting to break into acting? It's as simple as showing an interest.
"You do get some people who say they want to act and when you ask them what they've done they say, 'nothing I just want to be famous!'" Camilla said.
"I think if you want to act then you have to show that you are interested by being part of a drama group or doing a course."
She added: "Often people start as extras to get used to it and build up their confidence. They get asked for a small speaking role and it builds from there."
Looking back over her career, Camillia said directors and producers love the North East for being able to offer a huge variety of locations close together. However, she remembered one location brief that was particularly challenging.
"One of the trickiest locations I had to find was a harbour that was south-facing for the sun for a Gala Bingo advert," she said.
"There is one at Beadnell but I didn't know that at the time!"
She continued: "There has always been a film and TV industry up here. [Producers] say that they love it because it is so easy to get around and that the North East has so much so close. You can be in the city and then up to Alnwick Castle in an hour but in London, you've only gone three blocks in an hour!
"Directors and producers get fresh talent and new faces from up here. They also get people who are not so jaded and are more enthusiastic about it."
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