Joseph Cairns


Supervising Location Manager / Location Manager

With credits including Darkest Hour, Sherwood, both Peter Rabbit films and, more recently, The History of Sound, Joseph has built a long-standing career across studio features and high-end television. Based in the North-West, he has extensive knowledge of the region but also works UK-wide and internationally. He is comfortable leading teams of any size across a range of budgets and schedules, offering detailed ground and drone-based scouting where required. Alongside film and television, he also works on selected commercial and music projects, most recently collaborating with Philip Barantini on Sam Fender’s Little Bit Closer. Joseph also runs Film Lake District, providing a full wraparound service to productions filming in the region.

THE HISTORY OF SOUND

Location Manager (UK Unit)

Sherwood - Series 2

Supervising Location Manager

Selected credits


date
production
director / production company
features:
2025
THE HISTORY OF SOUND (UK unit)
Oliver Hermanus / Film4
3 wins & 9 nominations
2024
UPGRADED
Carlson Young / Tempo Films, Amazon Prime
2023
THE CRITIC
Anand Tucker / Lionsgate
2021
PETER RABBIT 2: THE RUNAWAY
Will Gluck / Sony Pictures
2 wins & 8 nominations
2020
SUPERNOVA
Harry MacQueen / The Bureau, BBC Film
3 wins & 10 nominations
2019
LITTLE JOE (Location Scout)
Jessica Hausner / The Bureau
8 wins & 17 nominations
2018
PETER RABBIT (UK unit)
Will Gluck / Sony Pictures
4 wins & 18 nominations
2017
DARKEST HOUR
Joe Wright / Working Title Films
Won 2 Oscar Awards. Another 52 wins & 81 nominations
2014
CATCH ME DADDY
Daniel Wolfe / Film4
3 wins & 7 nominations
2014
BELIEVE
David Scheinmann / Bill and Ben Productions
2 wins & 2 nominations
television:
2026
YOU ARE HERE (Location Scout, Prep)
Lenny Abrahamson / Element Pictures
2024
SHERWOOD 2 (Supervising Location Manager)
Clio Bernard, Tom George / House Productions, BBC Productions, ITV
4 wins & 13 nominations
2022
THE RISING (Supervising Location Manager)
Ed Lily / Sky Studios
4 wins & 2 nominations
2020
SMALL AXE (additional)
Steve McQueen / BBC, Amazon Prime
Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy Award. Another 25 wins & 84 nominations
2017
THE LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN S4
Steve Bendelac / BBC Comedy
2015-17
SAFE HOUSE S1 & S2
Marc Evans / Eleventh Hour Films, ITV
2015
JONATHAN STRANGE & MR NORRELL (Location Scout)
Toby Haynes / BBC, Cuba Pictures
2010
ROAD TO CORONATION STREET (TVM)
Charles Sturridge / BBC Drama
2010
FIVE DAYS (Unit Manager)
Toby Haynes / BBC Drama
2009
RED RIDING: THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 1974 (Unit Manager & Location Scout)
Julian Jarrold, James Marsh / Revolution Films
2008
WHITE GIRL (Unit Manager)
Hettie Macdonald / Kudos TV and Film
2005-06
LIFE ON MARS S1 & S2 (Location Manager, Unit Manager & Location Scout across various episodes)
SJ Clarkson, Bharat Nalluri / Kudos TV and Film
commercials & promos:
2025
SAM FENDER: LITTLE BIT CLOSER
Philip Barantini / Universal, BlindEye Films
2025
LEEDS UNITED x ADIDAS
Will Innes Smith / Hype Empire
2025
NEW BALANCE: ALLERDALES
Francis Plummer / NB, Cebe Studio
2025
M&S: EVERYDAY FASHION AW25
Laura Galligan / LG Studio
2024
SIR KEIR STARMER x THE OVERLAP
Barnaby Spurrier / Labour Party
2024
SKY: BET 2024
Ewen Spencer / Locate Productions
2023
ADIDAS: YOU GOT THIS
Elliot Simpson / Hype Empire
2023
EUROVISION: WELCOME TO LIVERPOOL
Robin Mason / BBC