Real SFX LTD

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Real SFX LTD

UK based award winning SFX company for the TV & Film industry. Credits include Doctor Who, Sherloc

ience in the industry will ensure that it is delivered safely, on budget and as realistic as possible using all of the latest techniques and equipment available. All projects are over seen by Danny Hargreaves whose fresh and exciting approach has earned him respect as one of the most enthusiastic, dynamic supervisors in the industry. His experience spans over 15 years and his reputation for consistently providing cutting edge special effects along with his integrity and attention to detail has built him an impressive client portfolio.

24/12/2025

Behind today’s Christmas Eve countdown door, something truly epic…The War between the Land and the Sea ⛰️🌊

Check out our exclusive BTS of our crew creating one of the iconic sequences, filmed at Cardiff Museum - where an iconic calm, familiar space was transformed into chaos as UNIT scrambles to contain an unstoppable threat breaking into the heart of the city.

All 5 episodes have now dropped, so if you’re not fully caught up yet, you can stream them now on

Filmed across Wales and beyond, dramatic coastlines meet grounded, real-world locations as familiar faces from return and the Whoniverse expands with soaring stakes.

Visually bold, powerful and epic in scale - we loved creating the chaos and bringing these moments to life as part of this incredible story ✨

22/12/2025

Today’s Christmas countdown is from the end of year celebration. 💥

It was bloody lovely to get so many of our brilliant crew together in one place to celebrate another epic year (especially as they’re normally on set all over the country!).

Lots of new faces mixed in with the old, and a proper reminder of what an awesome team we have. Everyone has worked so hard this year, showing real dedication and loyalty, and we couldn’t have achieved it without you guys.

And we had our 2025 awards, presented by , which was a bit of fun recognising the hard work and quirks of our awesome team 🏆

A massive thanks to .restaurant for absolutely smashing it with the food.

21/12/2025

Today’s 2025 Christmas countdown is spotlighting Hedda, the bold reimagining of Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler, starring Tessa Thompson, which was released in October and is streaming on .

Much of the film unfolds during a large party at an English manor, where the bonfire becomes a key visual and emotional focal point - shaping the mood and tension of the story. From bonfires and flames to fireworks and gunshots, our crew loved being part of this incredible production and creating the Real SFX magic that brings the psychological thriller to life.

Swipe to see some of behind the scenes of the action happening, and just some of the boxes of fireworks we used to light up the manor for a truly spectacular display.

Another epic 2025 release we are proud to have worked on 🔥✨

20/12/2025

As we count down to Christmas, and following the release of our 2025 showreel, we’re sharing a series of exclusive behind the scenes moments from some of our biggest releases this year.

And we’re kicking things off with the epic Last Breath.

Filmed in Malta and starring Woody Harrelson and Finn Cole, Last Breath is a gripping race against time set deep beneath the ocean’s surface. To bring the intensity and unpredictability of the sea to life, and the team designed and built a bespoke gimbal, recreating the movement of the ocean and the diving bell with absolute precision.

Dive into our BTS to see how we made it happen, and you can watch Last Breath on (it’s a must watch!)

17/12/2025

Up we go… sustainably on set!

Our latest green bit of kit, the Niftylift HR17N, out on set doing what it does best… lifting the team while keeping our footprint low.

Proof that staying green isn’t just a ground-level effort - we’re raising the bar (and the platform) wherever we can ♻️⬆️

OnSetLife RealSFX LiftedResponsibly

30/11/2025

PUSHING TO THE FINISH! 🖤💥

What a day. What an incredible challenge.
24 hours. 100 bikes. £1 million.

Thank you to all the team who have jumped on a bike to support us…… and from plus so many amazing people giving absolutely everything for .charity. An organisation that is genuinely saving lives at a time when our industry, and so many within it, have had a brutal year.

We’ve been sharing pictures, videos, sweat, tears, and now we are down to the final TWO HOURS.

Every donation matters, and this is where you can help - every 23 minutes, .charity prevents a su***de. Your donation will genuinely help and make a difference to someone struggling right now.

You can donate here:
https://bigmoose.enthuse.com/pf/carmela-carrubba

And you can watch the final hours live:
https://bigmoosecharity.co/project-1-million-livestream/

Let’s dig deep (we definitely are 🚲). Let’s show what this industry is made of, please help us finish strong. Diolch.

28/11/2025

Last night’s screening of the first two episodes of The War Between the Land and the Sea was incredible.

Hearing the panel talk through the creative process really highlighted just how much talent and vision went into this show.

It was an absolute pleasure to work on a production that looks this strong on screen - visually outstanding, ambitious, and full of the ‘chaotic realism’ (to quote who was the Floor Supervisor working on it) that was asked for.

Experiencing the screening with some of the cast, crew, and fans made all the hard work completely worth it.

Huge well done to , , and everyone involved.

We can’t wait to see the full 5 episodes on in December! 🔥📺💥

26/11/2025

Huge congratulations to Lost Boys & Fairies on winning the International Emmy for TV Movie/Mini-Series! 🌟

An incredible achievement for and every single member of the team behind this beautiful production.

So proud to see Welsh storytelling shine on the international stage, and especially proud knowing we had the chance to be part of something so special.

Massive love to the Welsh crew and everyone who poured their hearts into this. Diolch! ✨🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

21/11/2025

What a brilliant day at the launch yesterday! 🎬✨

We were very proud to be there, and it’s amazing to be right at the heart of the Midlands creative scene with our base there.

Huge thanks to everyone who stopped by for a chat, and to and the whole team for a standout event. Great to hear from Adrian Wootton OBE of the British Film Commission, Martin Simms, and all the speakers about the incredible momentum building across the region.

Production Central WM is really set to supercharge the sector - bringing locations, crew, logistics, permitting, build space and the supply chain together under one roof, backed by the region’s creative cluster and fast-growing studio infrastructue🍼🚀🧢

And a big shoutout to , and Rudi for holding down the stand and bringing the energy all day.

REAL energy. REAL ideas. REAL big things coming for the West Midlands. 💥

17/10/2025

We were thrilled to join the celebrations marking 10 incredible years of , a company that has transformed the Welsh film and TV industry.

Since 2015, Bad Wolf has delivered world-class productions, and we’ve had the privilege of working alongside them on iconic shows such as His Dark Materials, A Discovery of Witches, Industry, The War Between the Land and the Sea, Dope Girls, and Doctor Who. These shows - and Bad Wolf itself - have captivated audiences globally, while also creating real opportunities in Wales: generating thousands of jobs, investing millions in local suppliers, and helping build a sustainable screen sector in Wales.

What’s particularly inspiring (and something we absolutely love) is how has gone beyond just making productions. Their commitment to nurturing talent, supporting local crews, and engaging communities is remarkable. From career events and school tours to mentoring programmes and hands-on training initiatives with , they’ve created pathways for a new generation of film and TV professionals to learn, grow, and thrive right here in Wales.

Under the vision and leadership of and , two true powerhouses of the industry, Bad Wolf has consistently combined creative excellence with a genuine commitment to people and place. Their work has not only put Wales firmly on the map as a world-class hub for film and TV production, but it has also fostered an environment where local talent can flourish and the community can share in the success of the screen industry.

Here’s to 10 years of bold storytelling, collaboration, and unforgettable impact, and to many more years of creativity, inspiration, and Welsh-made magic. We truly love working with Jane, Julie, and the entire Bad Wolf team, and can’t wait to see what comes next!

16/10/2025

🎬 What an amazing day at the Careers Fair today in Birmingham.

We had such a brilliant time chatting with so many passionate people keen to kickstart their careers in Special Effects. 💥 The energy and curiosity was fantastic.

Our Birmingham dream team - our apprentice Rudi and Birmingham University students and Liv - did an awesome job talking all things , sharing their experiences and advice about breaking into the industry.

At Real SFX, we’re all about training, careers, and supporting the next generation of creative talent. Helping people discover their path in this exciting industry is something we’re genuinely passionate about.

👉 If you’d like to learn more about careers, training, or opportunities with us, drop us a DM or email [email protected]

24/09/2025

💥Can you believe this was 10 years ago when
we took the cobbles of Coronation Street live with an unforgettable car explosion, bringing drama to millions of viewers in REAL time.

From fire to floods, crashes to chaos this milestone reminds us just how far we’ve come as leaders in practical special effects. 🔥

Here’s a look back at that explosive night with BTS shots of our crew making the magic happen.

How has a decade gone this fast?! 👀

Address

R/O ATS Ipswich Road
Cardiff
CF239AQ

Website

http://www.realsfx.com/

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Our Story

We pride ourselves on being able to offer competitive and flexible quotes for all types of productions. We operate under strict codes of practice with safety paramount and are totally committed to delivering a personal, professional service with the maximum input from our team of qualified technicians. We can design and build effects for specific requirements and what ever effect desired our experience in the industry will ensure that it is delivered safely, on budget and as realistic as possible using all of the latest techniques and equipment available. All projects are over seen by Danny Hargreaves whose fresh and exciting approach has earned him respect as one of the most enthusiastic, dynamic supervisors in the industry. His experience spans over 15 years and his reputation for consistently providing cutting edge special effects along with his integrity and attention to detail has built him an impressive client portfolio.