Attracting an international production to Finland is a strategic win – but making it a success requires a series of smaller, often invisible victories built on collaboration, foresight, and trust.
Especially when international actors, producers, and other above-the-line creatives arrive in a country where they’ve never filmed before, uncertainty is inevitable. Schedules are tight, the culture unfamiliar, and expectations high. The overall atmosphere of the production is shaped by whether these guests can arrive without stress – ideally even with a sense of excitement – settle in calmly, and feel safe and understood throughout their time in Finland.
To support the smooth execution of the production, it helps if someone is responsible for making sure that everything related to the international guests’ stay runs without issues. That way, the production service company and every crew member can focus on their own job as effectively as possible. In other words: the things that don’t clearly belong to anyone else should still belong to someone.
This is where a relatively new role comes in, one that has emerged in recent years to meet the needs of international productions: the Above-the-Line Liaison – or, in some cases, the Cast Liaison.
Globally, similar roles may carry titles like VIP Concierge or Hospitality Supervisor. These titles, however, risk creating the wrong impression – as if the job were simply to fulfill every request at any cost. In reality, hiring an Above-the-Line Liaison can be one of the most cost-effective decisions a production makes. Through foresight, coordination, and trust-building, the role can help avoid delays, prevent misunderstandings, and improve the guest experience in ways that directly affect the smoothness of the production – and ultimately, Finland’s global image.
Being a liaison is not a cast assistant role in the traditional sense. It’s about managing the bigger picture, working with high-level professionals, and building trust in high-pressure situations.
Not part of the Production or AD Departments – but essential to both.
The Above-the-Line Liaison is not automatically part of the production department – nor the AD department. It operates alongside both, creating the conditions that allow everyone else to do their jobs. When this supportive role is handled well, its impact can be nearly invisible. But when it’s missing, everyone feels it.
Negative experiences among above-the-line guests can quickly ripple through the entire production, increasing pressure on every department, generating extra work, and ultimately raising costs.
A job well done typically shows in the guests’ overall experience – in how smooth and enjoyable their time working in Finland has been. It’s not about pampering, sleigh rides, or expensive dinners. It’s about communication that works and logistics that run without friction. A successful visit doesn’t just support the production – it leaves a lasting impression that may determine whether a guest returns to Finland, or recommends it to their colleagues.
A machine powered by collaboration
While the Above-the-Line Liaison carries direct and personal responsibility, success is never achieved alone. It relies on close, confidential collaboration across multiple departments.
During pre-production, the Liaison works closely with the production team – particularly the housing and travel coordinator – to ensure accommodation arrangements are both practical and high-quality. When it comes to housing, success depends on the ability to ask the right questions early, notice subtle cues, and understand unspoken expectations. It’s also essential to provide guests and their representatives with clear, comprehensive, and well-crafted materials about all aspects of their stay. Thoughtfully assembled pre-arrival packages – especially regarding accommodation – help guests and their representatives prepare mentally and practically, offering a sense of clarity and reassurance.
While collaboration with the production team is close and important from the very beginning, communication and cooperation with the Assistant Directors’ department – particularly the 2nd AD and the Base Unit 3rd AD – become especially significant during the shoot. The Liaison does not participate in scheduling, but smooth communication helps both parties succeed in their roles. The AD team’s work in managing schedules and cast-related shoot day logistics plays a major role in how smoothly the visit runs overall. And since the Above-the-Line Liaison is not present on every shoot day, success depends on steady information flow and mutual understanding. This collaboration also allows both sides to offer flexible support to each other when challenges arise.
During the shooting period, another key area of cooperation is open, low-threshold communication with the costume, makeup, and transportation departments. Understanding how each day begins and ends allows for quick response when needed. These crew members are often the first to interact with cast members each day, and their ability to create a sense of safety, read the room, and adapt accordingly is invaluable.
One of the final key partnerships – both in pre-production and during the shoot – is with the catering department. Just like accommodation, food plays a crucial role in the overall experience and in how the country is perceived. High-quality meals that are delivered on time, meet expectations, and accommodate individual preferences are almost always part of a positive guest experience. But when this element falls short, it often leaves a lasting negative impression.
Overall, the role of the Above-the-Line Liaison is to ensure that all these moving parts come together as a cohesive and well-functioning whole – where each element supports the others, and, ultimately, everything is connected.
Leadership behind the scenes
The Liaison role calls for quiet leadership – being present and available without being intrusive. It’s about situational awareness, staying in the background, and influencing without pressure. Foresight matters more than reaction, and subtle, informal negotiations can make the difference between a smooth shoot and one that runs off track. Intercultural sensitivity is essential – the ability to navigate different working styles and communication cultures, and to read both what is said and what is left unsaid.
It’s often the invisible work that shapes how Finland is perceived as a filming destination – and whether people want to return. A successful Above-the-Line Liaison role strengthens not only the internal dynamics of a production, but also the broader image of Finland. It can increase interest in future investments, lower barriers to co-productions, and make Finnish expertise visible in ways that go beyond technical or financial metrics.
When everything works, it feels easy – don’t be fooled
A smooth experience often goes unnoticed. Guests feel at ease, the production stays on schedule, the days flow. But behind every seemingly effortless shoot lies a tremendous amount of work, planning, communication, and emotional intelligence from every department.
That’s why the Above-the-Line Liaison shouldn’t be a nice-to-have addition late in the process – but a planned line item in the production budget from the start, and a standard part of international production. At its best, it saves both time and money – and can turn a one-off project into a long-term relationship with the client company and its international guests, leaving a lasting, positive impression of Finland both as a country and as a filming destination.
