- Peter Bryng
- 6d
- 4 min read
Updated: 3h
Another production year is coming to an end, and 2025 has been just as complex as this industry often is — extremely rewarding, intensely hectic, and at times leaving us with a slight knot in the stomach.
Because yes, we need to address the elephant in the room:
The film and TV industry is facing some significant challenges right now.
We’re seeing more and more talented colleagues leave the industry as work becomes scarce. Advertising agencies and production companies report lower activity, shrinking budgets, and bankruptcies are no longer isolated cases — they are becoming a reality. This isn’t only challenging for those of us working in the industry today; it’s a challenge for the future.
When the market turns (and it always does), we risk finding ourselves short on people. Skills disappear faster than they can be rebuilt — and we’re already noticing how difficult it has become to find experienced, talented professionals.
When Norway Says No to Productions
Behind the scenes, there are also developments worth mentioning. Several major international productions have chosen not to film in Norway, simply because we lack competitive incentive schemes — schemes that most neighboring countries already have in place.
The numbers are clear: for every Norwegian krone invested by the state in an international production, 4.75 kroner are returned to Norwegian society. That’s precisely why it’s crucial that we once again succeed in attracting major international productions to Norway.
Commercial Film in 2025: Fewer Projects, Smaller Budgets
Even though we produced fewer commercials in 2025 compared to previous years, we had the pleasure of working on a highly exciting project for Nike and Erling Haaland. For this production, we held full responsibility for the execution in Norway, including logistics, planning and staffing of the local crew, in close collaboration with an international core team from the US and the UK. Read more about the production here
Just a few years ago, we were nearly fully booked year-round with commercial productions. Today, we see a clear decline in demand, combined with significantly reduced budgets.
This inevitably affects how productions are made. As budgets and timelines tighten, it becomes harder to deliver at the quality level we set for ourselves — and simpler, faster solutions are often preferred. That’s understandable, but also challenging.
In the middle of this landscape, we’ve had to think differently.
Navigating a changing industry
So yes — the industry is changing, and we must adapt. Perhaps traditional commercial formats no longer fit as naturally into today’s social media strategies, with their constant demand for content. Perhaps highly polished, aesthetic visuals don’t always perform as well as more authentic content, shot on a mobile phone without a large lighting setup behind the scenes.
Or maybe this is simply a temporary dip, and demand for commercial film will return. Either way, these are trends we must acknowledge, understand — and adjust our course accordingly.
Back to Our Roots
Over the past two years, we’ve therefore turned our focus back to where it all began: TV production. The demand for locally produced content is strong, and broadcasters are actively looking for new concepts.
In April, we premiered Oppdrag MS Bjørvika, a series that expands the Paradise Hotel universe and places familiar personalities in entirely new situations — far from luxury and sun lounges. Here, hard work, competition, and performance are essential.
The concept is designed for multiple seasons, and we already have several plans we unfortunately can’t reveal just yet.
The images show cinematographer Lasse and sound recordist Håkon in the nightliner bus on the way to the next location, with our mascot dog Flax relaxed on one of their laps. This type of tour bus proved extremely useful for productions involving a lot of travel, functioning both as transportation and a mobile base.
And then there’s Hell Week. As I write this, I don’t think we’ve ever been more engaged in a project. The series was developed in the fall of 2024 and sold to Viaplay at record speed:
Here, 13 elite athletes are put through an extreme test: Can they complete a simulation of the Norwegian Armed Forces’ toughest selection trials?
We can’t share too many details just yet, but one thing is certain: this is the most brutal reality concept ever produced in Norway. We are currently in post-production, where an incredible crew has worked day and night to shape the series. We can’t wait to share it with audiences in the spring of 2026.
Looking Ahead
In summary, 2025 has been demanding, educational, and full of contrasts. As we move into 2026, there is much to look forward to — even as we remain realistic about the possibility that the film and TV industry in Norway may remain slow for a while longer.
We hope for improvement. A full-scale loss of talent from the industry would take years to rebuild.
Do You Have an Idea?
We receive many ideas and concepts these days — and honestly, we think that’s great. If you have something you’re passionate about and would like to develop further, you’re very welcome to get in touch.
We’re open to new projects for both national and international audiences and are happy to contribute with sparring, concept development, and budget estimates. And just to be completely clear: the idea is yours. Always. We’re here to help you realize it — not to take it from you.
Finally, thank you to everyone who continues to stand in this industry, share knowledge, support one another, and refuse to let go of the joy of creating. It’s this sense of community that gives us confidence we’ll come out stronger on the other side.
Kind regards,
Peter Bryng
CEO