business development

Marketing and the Lost Concept

While we have been a little quiet over the last few days it has not stopped the work thanks in part to Facebook and Whatsapp we were able to continue meetings and even showcase some of our past work in line with our creative director and founder JamesC. The crux of much of this has been discussing marketing strategies. Many people are unaware of the pages and sites involved in our marketing just for the Lost Concept and our core team and we are now in a place where we feel that the sites and pages (in most cases) are sufficiently “liked” enough that we are collating all the backlog of work into a folio of work and with certain magazines offering open submissions of single images (we are going for exclusive but this is not a requirement for many digital magazines) and once the lockdowns are sufficiently lifted we do have plans to do a full marketing campaign with more work built around the Lost Boys and Lost Girls concept as outlined in the Lost Project blog.

Marketing is something we are really keen on and we do work with our partners in Nepal (the Nepal Film Production team), on campaigns and this will be revised again at the end of this month in line with changes to the market as it stands.

One of the main reasons we are looking at this now is we have time, the blogs are keeping us busy along with various other elements but like many in the creative fields, we really are keen to get back to our real work. The focus of our upcoming campaigns will start with the two lost sites and then the actual artists who are working on the creative side such as actor Raj Srivastava and of course JamesC.

TV Production and Development

As you can well imagine, we are really keen to get back on set and start working properly again, much the same as our partners in Nepal. The Lost Creatives team is working quietly on marketing, planning and with their usual dark minds in motion, we started looking at the horror/thriller script options we have open to us with a view to the future. Taking everything into consideration we are going to be focused on TV projects and have 2 already earmarked with a 3rd being discussed and developed. We want to have a set of projects that can be set up as long term with options for multiple series follow ons and continued creative development.

In the short term, we have been watching the indie magazine world and have decided on a total of 4 photoshoots planned as part of a wider project to be done as soon as we can. With 2 male and 2 female concepts in place and more being discussed collectively by the remote team. *Naturally, we are following current guidelines and our meetings are done over the phone or via Whatsapp/FB messenger to ease the strain on those who are not in the country or cannot risk attending meetings.

Our Creative Director JamesC, is happy to hold for the moment and has agreed that he will begin stock checking so we can order in new materials that are needed for the work planned, blush is going to be a big part of our upcoming beauty shoots.

Stay tuned for further updates and news from The Lost Creative Team.

Salon Studios Edinburgh

With the world of business changing dramatically for people in the beauty sector, it is gratifying to know that there are options out there and with the Salon Studios Edinburgh offering a boutique and multi-discipline space, if you’re going back into the business or entering the field of beauty this has become a much more viable, cost-efficient option.

Space can be designed to suit your needs and tailored around your brand giving it a more personal touch which in the world of renting a chair or working for someone else’s salon is not always an option the Salon Studios has become known for its flexible and custom experience. Ideally suited to the needs of beauty therapists, hairdressers, barbers, nail technicians or anyone in the beauty sector who wants to have a solid base for their customers as well as themselves.

*Bridal studios and hair/makeup artists will be able to control their space much more effectively and create flexible hours to suit themselves and their clients for trials or on the day prep.

The dynamic of the Salon Studios is built around development, not just a space to work there is support for all facets of your business and development from payment control and accounting too booking. Studios are priced based on location and amenities.  Joining up is incentivized with one week for free to move in and get up and running in your new space.  After that it's a fixed cost every week - budgeting couldn’t be easier. For one rate, they include:

  • Water costs.

  • Electricity costs.

  • PPL Music Licence.

  • Health & Safety Assessment.

  • Fire management program.

  • Rubbish Collection.

  • Fast Wi-Fi.

  • Public area cleaning.

  • CCTV security.

  • Individual Salon access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Founded by Roz Colhart who discovered the concept of “the salon suite” in the USA, from this she has taken her near 30 years in the hospitality industry and created a business model for salon Studios: a hub for creative talent that is both business-minded and nurturing, this is a space to grow, develop and build your beauty business safe in the knowledge that you are part of a community of like-minded artisans.

Currently based in Edinburgh, there are plans for a second location in Scotland and talks across the UK to open more Salon Studio locations which in the current climate of change makes this a hugely welcome concept that will change the face of salon life and offer a new level of business security and freshen up the industry.

To learn more about the Salon Studio concept see:

Salon Studio Website.

Salon Studio Instagram.

Salon Studio Facebook.

Nepal Film Production and The Future of Cinema

In a rapidly changing cinematic and TV landscape Nepal Film Productions team is working on new developments in the world market to help augment and support film and TV creators at this time and will continue to do so. Budgets and other constraints are going to be first and foremost in peoples mind and the Nepal team are working around this to ensure that production companies get the best service at the most competitive price without compromising on the quality of the work.

Nepal is a historically beautiful country at the heart of Asia with cultural heritage to be rivaled and documented, however, it is the cinematic potential that is truly appealing and offers filmmakers and TV companies a host of new avenues and potential that is out of this world. With some of the most iconic locations on the planet such as Kathmandu city and of course the Hymilain mountain range, it can and does tailor itself to the needs of a wide range of film projects without losing any sense of its own identity and it is this that the team from Nepal Film Production are there to support, offering a bridge between worlds.

From a purely financial sense, Nepal as a film hub offers a cost-effective location and of course a talent pool of highly skilled actors, models, camera crew and more that can be hired locally reducing the overall need to bring staff in to shoot, a winner when working to a smaller budget or looking to split between another continent and still having the beauty of a natural location in your film/TV project. Multicultural and still traditional there is something special about Nepal as a location that cannot be found elsewhere to a point where crews from Hollywood to Bollywood understand that this is the place to be for stunning visuals and the best creative teams.

Something that is exclusive to the Nepal Film Production company is the deal with HOD TV (Horror and Thriller exclusive online distribution) that offers yet more reason to work with them. *More details on this option can be discussed with the team and it does mean that Nepal has the more to offer than just surface looks, the country is set to become the home of horror and thriller in South Asia.

Overall, Nepal as a location has so much to offer film/TV and Nepal Film Production understands this and offers a one-stop-shop service.

To learn more about the region or to talk to the team about filming see:

Nepal Film Production Website.

Digital Versus Print Editorials and Tears

As the economic and social climate changes the digital magazine market is going to be where we find our fix of fashion and beauty news for the ease and convenience of access through our mobiles and other devices which for makeup artists, photographers and creative staff (designers, stylists and so on) will change to some degree how we all work and require multi-tasking. For the lost team, that is not a big hassle as we already work small and aim high with the work we are doing, the goals in place and will be back to work as soon as possible tackling the list of magazines we have decided to shoot for.

Focusing your mind on goals is key to finding a path and putting your business into a new arena. With editorial for the lost team, it is a secondary consideration to our real goals of TV production but we do have a clear sense of the value of a tear sheet or cover with a good magazine that can be promoted which is why we focus on digital over print.

The big advantage of digital is overall social media reach, an image and a link to a website that can be shared and has more value (to us) because it becomes simpler to promote and has exponential reach with either paid postings on Facebook or Instagram or if you have a good audience and SEO through your website (ideally you have all three in place).

We have of course mapped out a plan of action and thankfully there are one-stop-shop sites that offer a creative outlet that is managed: you can find the submission terms, costs, and image requirements in one place with the option to handle multiple submissions. A major plus and reduces the amount of time you have to spend on research.

*See our previous blog on Luminar Photo Editing for a good option for editing images on a budget.

Our creative director JamesC makeup is itching to get started again and has a book full of concepts and ideas ready to roll and we are happy to see he is keeping busy not just with the blogs but also with his creative work.

A more focused plan and set of goals are being worked with our overseas contacts (primarily South Asia) for casting and of course production which we will talk about in another blog very soon.

Montarem Mens Grooming

In the world of male grooming, the landscape has changed dramatically with more and more people taking the care of their appearance, working in environments that require HD video calling and of course the current landscape of news presenting and on-camera appearances which is why brands like Montarem are important and offer a solution for the modern man.

The world has and still is in a state of fluctuation and more and more people are working from home, video calling and the media industry is working in the background to find new scripts and concepts for the day we can all start filming again and it will see a rise in the need for products tailored to men and offering options that will work across mediums from a laptop call to the screens of our TV’s. This is where Montarem will come into play offering a good option for solo workers, actors and more to create a more polished look when required.

While Montarem was started as a personal solution and will continue in this way, it is easy to see where the crossover to other areas of life are, simplifying the day to day and giving confidence back to the general populous, they have opened the door to the commercial, fashion and of course media world with their easy to use products that are solution-based.

“TV presenters take note if a makeup artist is unavailable for your show/newscast then Montarem will be able to help with their BB cream and concealer offering a way to ensure you are camera ready.” JamesC professional makeup artist.

To learn more about the range see:

Montarem Website (sign up for the newsletter).

Montarem Facebook.

Montarem Instagram.

Delilahs New Fluid Foundation

In the realm of professional makeup, things are changing rapidly. We are seeing a completely new landscape opening up and with a sense of serendipity, delilah makeup has launched the new Alibi Liquid Foundation, a long-wearing, sweatproof and waterproof full coverage foundation that is going to set the pro-market in the UK on its head when it comes to areas such as bridal, fashion and digital media such as film and TV. Over the next few months, we will see a change in how we work and the savvy of the clientele in the makeup fields and services like bridal and fashion makeup along with work in TV and film will start up again which in turn will mean that products, as well as skills, will be viewed with a careful eye and it is the new delilah foundation that will shine through in the top end of the services.

With 8 shades, they are customizable and can be mixed to suit your needs, full coverage and long-wearing which on a shoot will be a must to reduce touch up times and of course for the wedding sector will help maintain the look for the day adding a level of confidence in your artistic skills.

Delilah as a British brand offers a pro-grade product with a beautiful aesthetic that will sit as well on a dressing table as it does on the makeup stations of a studio shoot and can be used as an addon or as part of a more brand-centric working kit. *The new Full Coverage Foundation brush has all the markers of a professional artist tool and fits perfectly within the lines of the range giving you an added dimension of cohesion and a sense of the linear to your brushes.

To learn more about the range or to purchase see:

delilah makeup website.

delilah makeup Instagram.

delilah makeup Facebook.

delilah makeup Twitter.

delilah makeup Youtube.

Luminar Photo Editing Software

Something that we have talked about frequently and have in hand at the moment is our editorial work since much of this is done in house, we wanted a simple, easy to use photo editing software that would make the flow of work easier for the team and we found Luminar. Designed to work independently or as a plugin with other photo editing software, the Luminar Photo Editing Software is a dream for someone like our creative director JamesC, who likes the control aspect of being able to work with a small team which in the long term may be a good thing.

Naturally, at the moment we are holding back on further work (we do have some work in the can for publication later), the time we have has been set into doing other elements of business and the process of editing images, in some cases reedits has allowed us a little flexibility and changed the dynamic of what we offer. Which is positive all around for the creative process. Based on artificial intelligence the Luminar Software is designed to smooth the flow of work and reduce time spent on editing and will change the game for many people not just for the ease of use but the cost factor. With a series of deals available at this time and the added bonus of a donation from each sale going to Corona Virus research, the Luminar packages are excellent value and have the bonus of lifetime ownership.

To learn more or to purchase the software see:

Luminar Website.

*Affiliate Link Included in this article/blog.

Bahoma Hand Sanatizer A Professional View

Many professionals know that a good hand sanitizer can make a difference when working with the public. The team at Bahoma understands this and in the current climate, in particular, have come to the table with their range taking priority at this time. It is always a good idea to carry sanitizer when working and if you are planning to go back to the salon, beauty therapy or makeup work in particular where you will be working with the public and your hands its a good idea to have this available. *The Lavender Viel is one to be noted as lavender is often used for its calming properties, in a situation where you are working closely with patients/clients you may want to consider this when purchasing for your staff or own use.

As we move forward in the profession the welfare of our clients Must be front and center of our thinking and Bahoma is offering not just the peace of mind of a hand sanitizer but a touch of perfume to add aromatically to the process.

For those who will be returning to freelance work in the bridal/media/fashion sector, hand sanitizer should be an immediate item in your kit when packing for a job even more so now and from a purely aesthetic stance, Bahoma will look good, smell good and perform giving your clientele extra peace of mind as you work.

With three sizes available:

  • 500ml (£19-99)

  • 250ml (£12-99)

  • 75ml (£4-99)

And a total of 4 scents; lavender veil, ocean spa, original, and pomelo grapefruit there is something to suit your tastes and give you a little sense of relief in troubling times.

To learn more of for quick purchases see:

Bahoma Website.

Bahoma Amazon.

The Changing Face of The Lost Business

While we are restricting our movements and only going out when we absolutely need to, we decided to look at the future and what will become of business as time goes on. It is fairly positive and we can see already changes to the market that will be making massive waves to how we view the media world.

There will key aspects of the current climate we will be maintaining such as having smaller shoots and focusing on story rather than just an image which we have talked about before but never seemed to find the time, from a photographic stance it really is interesting working out how we can do this and still have a cohesive narrative.

On a film and TV side, our favorite writers are working from home happily and have taken it under advisement that we want thrillers and horror that can and should be creatable on a smaller budget to fit with the requirements of the current market, will offer us quick turn around for shoots and of course minimal cast and crew requirements which will be a challenge in and of itself that we as a team we look forward to. The Lost Concept is something we are immensely proud of and can see the potential to take our initial idea of moving The Lost Boys and The Lost Girls as a story for stills and to turn this into a storied TV series with a dark edge built around individual stories and characters.

In the interim, we are working on designs, talking to our remote teams as best we can, naturally, we are very worried about our Indian and Nepal contacts and wish them the best at this time of full lockdown in their countries. However, everyone is in good spirits and has been positive so far.

The future is something we cannot solidly control or predict but we do know that we will continue our work for as long as we can. We will finish this by asking that our readers stay safe and well, keep positive and we will all be back to work soon and entertaining the world.