UCL Connect: An evening with Rick Senat

Image: Rick Senat in conversation with Temenuga Trifonova

On 16th October 2024, Dr. Temenuga Trifonova, Associate Professor of Creative Arts and Humanities from the UCL School for the Creative & Cultural Industries (SCCI), welcomed current and former UCL students at the new UCL East campus in Stratford, for an evening with Rick Senat event as part of “UCL Connect” series.   

Rick Senat is a UCL alumnus and 50-year film industry veteran. A former Senior Business Affairs Executive for Warner Bros, he has worked with many prominent filmmakers and is associated with several important films including the Harry Potter franchise, Greystoke, Batman and Superman. He has advised productions such as Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban, Batman Begins, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride and other well-known movies. He has also served as vice chair of the British Film Institute, is a visiting professor at Lincoln University and for several years was a director of the legendary British Film Company Hammer Productions. 

Temenuga opened the event with a conversation about Rick's time studying Law at UCL, and how he got into the film industry. Rick explained that he joined a variety of student societies during his time at UCL, then moved to the US after graduation, where he worked as an assistant to a British film director and became a Producer on two films before returning to the UK where he found it difficult to pursue a career as a filmmaker. He reached out to former classmates from his law course at UCL, all of whom advised against pursuing a career in law - however, and against their advice, he completed his legal training as a solicitor and secured a role at Warner Bros. as a Business Affairs Executive. 

During his remarkable 25-year career at Warner Bros, he combined his passion for film with his legal and business expertise. His experience working in Hollywood and the knowledge he gained of the American film industry proved invaluable; he described this by saying that he “speaks American.” The legal aspects are hugely important in the film industry – for instance, a large volume of contracts must be issued due to the number of cast members involved on set each day. Filmmaking is a capital-intensive and risky business, so thorough preparation is essential. Rick has successfully built excellent relationships with filmmakers, travelled around the world, resolved issues, supervised significant matters for films, and managed risks.  
 
Rick further reflected on the film industry’s evolution during his time at Warner Bros. The legal team expanded from 2 lawyers to 22 to cover competition law, copyright, legal matters associated with merchandise, TV, distribution, and insurance. He told attendees that while film directors are important, they are only one part of the equation – there are many other roles, and filmmaking is a collective effort. 

After his departure from Warner Bros, he continued to contribute to the film industry. Recent productions as Executive Producer include “A casual Vacancy” for the BBC and HBO. “Fantastic Beasts and where to find them” and “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindlewald” for Warner Bros. “Blithe Spirit” for Sky and “The Midwich Cuckoos” for Sky in 2022. Leaving Warner Bros also gave him the opportunity to manage his own schedule and the freedom to choose his projects and timing. In addition to attending various board meetings, he opened a film museum and was one of the owners of several Harry Potter shops. 

During his conversation with Temenuga, Rick highlighted the importance of institutional support for developing new talent in the UK film industry, mentioning the efforts and schemes of the major institutions such as BFI, Film Council, and BAFTA. When asked about the skills and qualities needed to succeed in the highly competitive film industry, Rick explained that you must be talented, reliable, disciplined, and “don’t be late!”. Being punctual is particularly important, as any delay in the filming process can be extremely costly. 

Throughout the event, Rick’s passion for film, his exceptional business acumen, strong work ethic, and commitment to lifelong learning shone through. Participants from diverse backgrounds, including creative and legal fields, had the opportunity to ask him questions, such as about the impact of AI on the film industry, during the Q&A session and the reception following the event. 

The event was jointly organised by the OVPA Alumni Relations team and the School for the Creative & Cultural Industries.