Meet John: The Producer Who Grew Up Above Pubs (And Somehow That's Relevant)

BearJam's resident calm-in-the-storm shares how living above three different pubs prepared him for the chaos of video production.

The Origin Story

I grew up living above pubs. Three different ones. Your front room was everyone's front room. You learned fast that reading the room wasn't optional…it was survival. Knowing when someone needs a pint versus when they need space, making people feel welcome, handling chaos without broadcasting panic.

Turns out, it's excellent training for production.

I'm John Pickard, a Producer at BearJam managing video projects across branded content, corporate, and anything in between. 

The Slightly Manic Career Path

My IMDb page looks like someone who couldn't decide what they wanted to be. Fair.

The Actor Years: 189 episodes on Hollyoaks, 17 on Mile High, Doctor Who voice work. Also worked as an assistant director—invaluable training in actually running a set rather than just standing on one looking moody.

The Pivot: By 2016, I'd gone hard into producing and directing. Made Urban Explorers for Channel 4 (Rockie nomination at BANFF). Co-created web series commissioned by Terrence Higgins Trust and Comic Relief, plus one that hit 10 million YouTube views.

Also got my MA in Screenwriting with Distinction from Goldsmiths, because apparently I enjoy being busy.

The Point: I've done most jobs on a production. Actor, AD, writer, producer, the person who fixes the van when it won't start. I understand how it all fits together, can talk to anyone without corporate waffle, and know when to step in and when to get out of the way.

How I Actually Work

Detailed schedules. Risk assessments. Contingency plans for the contingency plans. When it goes sideways—location pulls out, weather turns, your interviewee gets stuck in traffic—I've already got the backup sorted and the problem solved.

Keep Everyone Calm
My job is to be the calm person in the storm. Stressed producer = stressed crew = stressed client = everyone having a terrible day. When problems hit, I handle them quietly so you don't notice there was a crisis.

It's the same energy as diffusing a bar fight, just with less shouting and more film equipment.

Trust Your Team (But Stay Switched On)
I hire good people, then let them do their jobs. I'm not hovering over the DP's shoulder or second-guessing the sound recordist. But I'm reading the room, anticipating problems, stepping in only when actually needed.

And if there's a gap? I'm there. Coming from short films where you're simultaneously producing, hauling gear, and making tea, I learned no job is beneath you when you're making something brilliant.

What Actually Drives Me

Repeat business. When a client comes back for another project, that's the win. It means the process worked and they trust us enough to do it again.

But it's also the smaller moments. When someone opens up about their kid while we're setting up. When they admit nerves about being on camera. Those moments where people let their guard down—that's when you know you've created the right environment.

The pub thing again. Make people feel welcome, and they'll give you their best.

Let's Make Something Worth Making

I've worked across fiction, documentaries, branded content, and corporate—from soap operas to pharmaceutical explainers. 

If you need someone who combines creative vision with logistical precision, who'll fight for your idea while making sure it actually gets made, who can manage budgets and people and timelines without drama—let's talk.

I'm London-based, I know this city inside out, and I make a decent cup of tea.