Production

This is the historic core of the APA, commercials production companies. All our services are to the benefit of these members. They can all be found here.

Animation

Animation Group members receive the same information and services as our commercials production companies. In addition, the animators meet and address issues specific to their sector. They include copyright issues. Animation companies retain rights in the material they produce under the standard production contract.

Although our animation members grant rights in the commercial (the agency can show the commercial or a clip in any media similarly to a live-action commercial), they still retain the rights in the animation they have produced (subject to the conditions set out in that contract).

Thus, any use of the animation (e.g. in press ads, point of sale or merchandising etc) is subject to the agency and production company agreeing a fee for such use. UK commercials animation encompasses stop frame, CGI, model and plasticine.

The APA promotes the expertise of this group (as it does all our others), an example of which was the Animation showcase within Adweek Europe 2018. Thousands of event-goers witnessed the superb artistry within our member’s work. 

Our animators can be searched here.

VFX

The APA Visual Effects Group represents the interests of its members – VFX companies working in commercials, all listed here.

Like the other specialist groups in the APA, its members benefit from all membership services and updates across the whole commercials production landscape.

The VFX Group, in addition, addresses issues relating to VFX:

  • It has integrated education as to what VFX companies do into the APA’s annual Masterclass.
  • It promotes the expertise of its members, through, for example, presentations in the London Design Festival and within the APA Show as well as overseas.
  • It addresses issues such as digital playout, quality control and sound levels.
  • It discusses issues raised by the VFX companies with advertising agencies, through the APA.
  • It provides networking opportunities, for VFX companies and their customers and potential customers.
  • It is working on standard terms and conditions for VFX in commercials.

Editors

The APA Editors Group is made up of editing companies working in commercials.

Like the other specialist groups in the APA, its members benefit from all membership services and commercials production updates.

The Editor’s Group (searchable here), in addition, address issues relating to editing in commercials:

  • It has integrated education as to what commercials editing do into the APA Masterclass.
  • It promotes the expertise of its members through the APA Show.
  • It addresses editing issues, such as definitions of cuts and payment terms and is working toward standard terms and conditions for editing in commercials.
  • It is an advocate of editors interests and concerns to advertising agencies, through the IPA.
  • It provides networking opportunities and greater integration into commercials production as a whole.

Sound Design

The APA Sound Design (or Audio Post) Group launched on 1st February 2005, open to all companies who produce sound for commercials and receive the benefits of bespoke audio-post group meetings & correspondence. In summary:

  • Integration into and networking with the commercials production sector – with the APA commercials production companies, VFX and editing companies and with advertising agencies.
  • Informed and updated with commercials production trends through our emails, website and meetings.
  • Participate in the promotion of sound design companies, through the communication of a better understanding of what sound design companies do. That process started some time back with the solid inclusion of a presentation on sound design for commercials in the APA Masterclass. The APA Sound Design Group will work on other methods of educating production companies and agencies about how sound design companies work and the value of their services.
  • The opportunity for audio-post staff to participate in training, through attending the Masterclass, which runs every year. This gives your staff the opportunity to gain a greater understanding of all aspects of commercials production, and to network with the agency and production company staff also on the course.
  • Promotion of APA Sound Design Group members in the UK and overseas through the APA Show, always including clear credits of APA Sound Design Group members.
  • Provide a forum for issues and opportunities for sound design companies in commercials and in the other areas of production the APA is educating its members about, such as viral advertising and in-store TV.

The group will identify further aims of sound design companies and the APA will work with its members to achieve those aims. All our Sound Design members can be found here.

Music Production

The APA Music Production Group launched on 1st February 2005. Membership is open to companies who produce music for commercials and obtain the benefits of bespoke audio-post group meetings & correspondence. They include:

  • Integration into and networking with the commercials production sector – with the APA commercials production companies, VFX and editing companies and with advertising agencies.
  • To be kept informed and up to date with what is happening in commercials production through our emails, website and meetings.
  • To participate in the promotion of music production companies, through the communication of a better understanding of what music production companies do. That process started some time back with the solid inclusion of a presentation on music for commercials in the APA Masterclass. The APA Music Production Group will work on other methods of educating production companies and agencies about how music production companies work and the value of their services.
  • The opportunity for your staff to participate in training, through attending the annual APA Masterclass. This gives music members’ staff the opportunity to gain a greater understanding of all aspects of commercials production and network with the agency and production company staff also on the course.
  • Promotion of APA Music Production Group members in the UK and overseas through the APA Show.
  • To provide a forum for issues and opportunities for music production companies in commercials and in the other areas of production the APA is educating its members about, such as viral advertising and in-store TV.

The group will identify further aims of music production companies and the APA will work with its members (all listed here) to achieve those aims.

Immersive

The APA Immersive Group was formed in December 2012 to ensure that Immersive production companies are represented and their interests furthered. Production companies creating projects with a large software element are eligible for membership.

We promote and showcase our Immersive member’s capabilities in the UK and overseas through various networking and business opportunities such as the Creative Tech Demo Day, The IDEAS awards– featured in our annual Future of Advertising Event. The APA continues to create contractual frameworks and processes that allow the industry to thrive- our standard interactive production contract- a document published and approved by the APA, on behalf of production companies, and the IPA, on behalf of agencies, achieves that. 

Our immersive members are to be found here.

Stills 

The APA Stills Group was formed in May 2019 to ensure that stills production companies are represented and their interests furthered, as a space to support our commercial film production companies to offer stills as a major element of their production. It is a space for both our film and stills production companies to discuss the challenges of offering stills deliverables alongside or instead of moving image.

You can find this group here.