Phil Medway: A Few Of My Favourite Things

With a mind for logistics and a heart for storytelling, Phil Medway’s Favourite Things reveal the principles that keep him grounded in even the most demanding production environments.

Having led complex shoots for the likes of Disney, Lego, Sky and Asos, the Gusto Film producer knows that success often hinges on mindset as much as method - and his chosen items speak to just that:

"I’ve had a lot of different roles throughout my journey in the wonderfully weird world of production," he explains.

"In my workspace, I’ve kept several precious keepsakes gathered along the way, each one reminding me of a significant moment in my life and the lessons I’ve learned."

The Reel

There’s a 16mm reel tucked away in my home office that holds a short doc that I shot at uni - a film about a curious character we interviewed about his life as a gunsmith and his love of big game hunting in Africa.

What makes this special to me isn’t really the subject matter, but the process of getting it to the point of being in the can. 

I look back on my uni days with fondness, remembering the excitement, drive, and naivety of those times. We thought we knew it all, often failing at the fundamentals, yet we were always determined to pick ourselves up and carry on. 

Shooting on 16mm was a big deal to us; we felt so professional but constantly aware of the limited amount of feet of film we had.

On that particular day, the person handling the light meter miscalculated the exposure, underexposing the film by a full three stops. We were mortified, feeling as though all our efforts had gone to waste. Fortunately, Soho Images (RIP) worked their magic and managed to pull it back into something just about usable.

While this could have been a disaster, that mistake has since become a constant reminder: in production, errors are inevitable, but every misstep is an opportunity to learn and grow. 

It’s a nod to my early days of learning and a testament to the resilience needed to keep moving forward, no matter what.

The Tee

Another item close to my heart is my North Face t-shirt. 

I was given it during a shoot for the brand - a live stream from the summit of a mountain in Italy. 

This was by far the most ambitious shoot I had done at that point in my career. 

The kit was hauled up in a net by helicopter. We had a small team setting up six cameras and a drone to live stream for three hours to a website, YouTube and OOH sites across London. 

It was truly a feat of planning... and very little sleep was had the night before the big day.

Standing at the top, with breathtaking views and a palpable sense of achievement, I realized that with enough confidence and determination, you can pull off even the most daunting of challenges.

This t-shirt isn’t just a piece of clothing; it’s a wearable memento of that moment when the impossible seemed within reach. 

Every time I put it on, I’m reminded that with the right mindset, the summit is always attainable.

The Emergency Lollypop

Perhaps the most unexpected of my treasured items is my “emergency lollypop.” 

This may sound a bit odd, but it has a real significance to me. 

There was a time when work and life felt overwhelmingly stressful. 

One day, I discovered a lollypop in my coat pocket. 

I can’t recall exactly where it came from, though I have a sneaking suspicion my partner hid it there when I wasn’t looking.

Whenever he asked how I was holding up, I’d give a wry smile and reply, “I still have my emergency lollypop.” 

It became an inside joke, a reminder that even in the toughest times, it’s important to hold on to those small bits of comfort and humour. 

On my birthday, he presented it to me framed, behind a ‘break in case of emergency’ glass, a constant beacon of hope and a reminder that sometimes, it’s the little things that help us weather the storm.

These three items are far more to me than mementos. 

The overexposed 16mm reel reminds me that mistakes are simply stepping stones. 

The North Face t-shirt inspires me to aim high.

The emergency lollypop is a sweet reminder that hope and humour can see you through.