WENDY LAYBOURN FBKS
My interest in production began, like most people involved in the industry, with a fascination for that 'land of magic' which is film. Growing up the North-East of England there was very little prospect of a career in the business but, coming from a time and place where everyone played a musical instrument of some kind and to varying degrees of proficiency, I put my energies into becoming a fairly respectable guitar player and spent much of my youth playing in Northern clubs.
By pure chance, I met a couple of people who had just started a small production company, so moving to London and helping them evenings and weekends was my introduction to the film industry.
This morphed into a company which dealt with the global distribution of new and used film, television and sound equipment with offices in London, Los Angeles and Moscow.
I was an integral part of the team which introduced off-line editing into Europe and, because of this, in 1972 I was invited to become a member of BAFTA.
I am a Fellow of the BKSTS and was a member of their Council for several years, subsequently employed as Executive Director from 2003 until 2007 when the Society 'downsized' and changed its name to IMIS – International Moving Image Society.
I am a member of the Visual Effects Society (VES) and the British Society of Cinematographers (BSC) and was involved with the Children’s Film Unit until its closure.
In 2009 - 2011 I published Network Nine News, a quarterly magazine aimed at young film makers, dealing with the skills and crafts involved in film production. I also have a series of e-booklets on Amazon, 'Do You Have What it Takes to Survive in Film Production?' with each booklet focusing on a particular film department. I have co-written two books, The Art of Illusion: Production Design for Film & Television and The Art of Film. I was also the Editor of Raindance magazine from 2021 until 2024.
Wendy handles JAMES' Film Industry Portfolio and In September 2025 was confirmed a Director of JAMES.
This morphed into a company which dealt with the global distribution of new and used film, television and sound equipment with offices in London, Los Angeles and Moscow.
I was an integral part of the team which introduced off-line editing into Europe and, because of this, in 1972 I was invited to become a member of BAFTA.
I am a Fellow of the BKSTS and was a member of their Council for several years, subsequently employed as Executive Director from 2003 until 2007 when the Society 'downsized' and changed its name to IMIS – International Moving Image Society.
I am a member of the Visual Effects Society (VES) and the British Society of Cinematographers (BSC) and was involved with the Children’s Film Unit until its closure.
In 2009 - 2011 I published Network Nine News, a quarterly magazine aimed at young film makers, dealing with the skills and crafts involved in film production. I also have a series of e-booklets on Amazon, 'Do You Have What it Takes to Survive in Film Production?' with each booklet focusing on a particular film department. I have co-written two books, The Art of Illusion: Production Design for Film & Television and The Art of Film. I was also the Editor of Raindance magazine from 2021 until 2024.
Wendy handles JAMES' Film Industry Portfolio and In September 2025 was confirmed a Director of JAMES.
