From Monopods to Manchester: The Journey of Triangle Facilities Hub
In episode #13 of the Coolbox Podcast, Marc sits down with long-time industry friends and collaborators, Alain and Jess, co-founders of Triangle Facilities Hub. With roots in kit hire and decades of experience under their belts, they’ve carved out a much-needed new niche in the production world right in the heart of Manchester.
If you’ve ever questioned the future of filmmaking support, what real sustainability looks like, or how to evolve with a rapidly changing industry, this one’s for you.
🎬 Who Are Alain & Jess?
Alain and Jess’s journey began over a decade ago when they met working in kit hire first in London, and later in Manchester with the company Promotion, then Shift 4. Alain comes from a background in sound engineering, complete with a failed but hilarious attempt to get hired at Abbey Road (involving a CV inside a homemade cardboard mixing desk). Jess started in music TV with T4 and Popworld, eventually finding her passion in camera kit and production tech.
Together, they’ve seen the industry transform from Digibeta simplicity to the sprawling landscape of gear we see today. And in 2023, after Shift 4 went into administration, they pivoted.
Enter: Triangle Facilities Hub.
🛠️ What Is Triangle Facilities Hub?
Triangle isn’t another kit rental house, and that’s the point.
Instead, it’s a support hub for production companies and freelancers. Think of it as a behind-the-scenes powerhouse: offering consultancy, logistics, kit management, and sustainability guidance for modern productions.
It’s designed for:
- 📦 Production companies managing their own gear
- 📈 Teams scaling up but not ready to invest in in-house expertise
- 🌱 Creators looking to meet sustainability targets
- 🤝 Freelancers needing technical support or training
“The world doesn’t need another hire company,” Jess explains. “What it does need is a partner in helping productions use their equipment smarter, stay flexible, and be more sustainable.”
🌍 Sustainability in Filmmaking
One of the most engaging threads in the episode was around sustainability, not just as a buzzword, but as a practical business model.
From LED lighting to reusable polyboards and inflatable softboxes, Alain and Jess are committed to real change, not greenwashing. In fact, Triangle even includes a sustainability clause in its contracts, working only with those who are serious about reducing their environmental footprint.
“Net zero isn’t net zero unless the whole chain is doing it,” Alain notes.
One standout product from BSC Expo? A DMX-controllable electronic trace frame that allows operators to control diffusion levels in real-time, perfect for sustainability and creative flexibility.
⚙️ Cool Kit & Emerging Trends
This episode also dives deep into the latest tech that excites the Triangle team:
- Ronin 4D – A game-changer for handheld cinematic movement.
- Inflatable Lighting Modifiers – Lightweight, compact, and more uniform diffusion.
- Smoke Genie – A small but mighty atmospheric tool (with a cautionary tale involving a fire alarm).
- Godox Innovations – Modular softboxes and lighting tubes bringing more flexibility to shoots.
Even though gear has evolved rapidly, the fundamentals of filmmaking haven’t changed: frame it right, expose it well, and get your focus sharp.
💡 The Triangle Philosophy: Keep It Small, Make It Smart
Alain and Jess are intentionally keeping Triangle lean. No interest in growing a massive team or competing with major kit houses, instead, it’s about specialist support, knowledge sharing, and mentoring production teams to become more self-sufficient.
They see Triangle as a temporary ally, one that helps others grow, then steps aside to make room for what’s next.
“We’re not here to become a mega-corp,” Jess adds. “We just want to help people solve problems and then move on stronger.”
🏙️ Why Manchester?
A love letter to Manchester closes the episode, as the team praises the city’s vibrant, collaborative, and independent film scene.
Unlike London’s sprawling production industry, Manchester offers a sense of community and creativity, where freelancers support each other and production companies grow with integrity. Triangle is proud to be rooted here and passionate about helping the local ecosystem flourish.
🚀 What’s Next for Triangle?
- Continued focus on technical consultancy, production support, and sustainability.
- Selective growth, leaning on trusted freelancers, not mass hiring.
- Expanding their reach while staying agile and human.
As Alain puts it, “We love solving problems and that’s what Triangle is built for.”
If you’re a freelancer, a production company, or just someone passionate about better ways of working in film and TV, Triangle Facilities Hub is a name to know.
🎧 Want to hear the full conversation? Listen on Spotify