Strange Face, a London-based cinematic video production studio, is currently hiring a Social Media Marketing Specialist for a project-based freelance contract. The role centers on promoting Bublik, a short film entering the festival circuit. Before applying, most candidates want to know one thing: what does this kind of work actually pay?
Understanding the Role First
This is not a standard social media job. Strange Face is looking for someone with 5 or more years of experience in social media marketing, ideally with a background in film, festivals, or arts and culture. The work involves building and running the full social strategy for Bublik across Instagram and other relevant platforms.
The specialist will shape a distinctive voice and visual identity that matches the film's tone. Bublik is described as a bilingual art-house psychodrama. That framing matters when thinking about the caliber of professional this role demands.
Tasks include planning and scheduling content, tracking performance, and coordinating directly with the director and production team. This is a self-directed, end-to-end campaign ownership role, not a support position.
The Compensation Structure: Freelance and Project-Based
Strange Face has structured this as a freelance, contract, project-based role. There is no advertised salary figure in the posting. That is common in the UK film and creative sector, particularly for short film productions with limited budgets.
Project-based contracts like this one are typically negotiated directly between the specialist and the hiring party. Payment structures in this space usually fall into one of three categories:
- A flat project fee paid in agreed installments
- A monthly retainer for the duration of the festival campaign
- A day rate negotiated based on scope
The timeline is tied to the festival circuit, which suggests a contract length of roughly three to six months, depending on submission windows and screening dates.
What Freelance Social Media Marketers Earn in London
To understand what Strange Face might pay, it helps to look at what the broader London market offers for comparable freelance roles. According to data from platforms like Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary, and Contra, here is what experienced social media marketers typically earn in the UK capital.
Day Rates
- Mid-level (3-5 years experience): £250 to £350 per day
- Senior-level (5+ years experience): £350 to £600 per day
- Specialist with niche expertise (film/arts): £400 to £700 per day
Monthly Retainer Rates
- Part-time retainer (10-15 hours/week): £1,500 to £3,000 per month
- Full retainer (full campaign ownership): £3,000 to £5,500 per month
Flat Project Fees
- Short film campaign (3-6 months): £5,000 to £15,000 total
- Festival circuit campaign with bilingual requirements: £8,000 to £18,000 total
These figures represent market benchmarks. Actual pay at Strange Face depends entirely on budget, scope, and negotiation.
How Film Industry Rates Compare to General Marketing Rates
Working in film and arts marketing often means accepting trade-offs. Creative prestige and portfolio value frequently substitute for higher pay, particularly in the independent and short film sector. This is a well-documented pattern across the UK creative industries.
A social media specialist with five years of experience working for a consumer brand might earn a full-time equivalent of £45,000 to £60,000 per year in London. That same specialist working on a festival film campaign on a freelance basis may earn significantly less, adjusted for hours. The appeal, however, is the quality of the work and the access to a niche professional network.
Arts Council England and industry bodies like PACT have repeatedly raised concerns about below-market rates in the UK film sector. Candidates with strong track records should negotiate firmly and benchmark carefully before accepting terms.
Equity and Benefits: What to Expect
For freelance, project-based roles in independent film, equity is not typically part of the package. Short film productions do not operate like startups. There are no shares, no profit-sharing agreements, and no long-term incentive plans attached to a contract like this.
Benefits are also minimal in freelance structures. You should not expect:
- Employer pension contributions
- Paid holiday or sick leave
- Private health insurance
- Equipment or software stipends
As a freelancer in the UK, you are responsible for your own tax filings, National Insurance contributions, and any professional tools you use. Some contractors factor these costs into their quoted day rate or project fee, which is standard practice.
The role does offer location flexibility. Strange Face notes the position is open to London-based candidates or fully remote workers. Remote working removes commuting costs and allows candidates outside London to apply without relocation.
Factors That Influence Your Negotiating Position
Several factors will affect how much you can realistically command for this specific role. Knowing them sharpens your negotiation.
Experience in Film and Festivals
Strange Face explicitly states that a track record in film, festivals, or arts and culture is strongly preferred. Candidates who can demonstrate past work in this niche are in a stronger position to negotiate higher rates. Generic social media experience carries less weight here.
Campaign Examples You Bring
The application asks for examples of past campaigns, with film and festival work especially welcome. A strong portfolio directly influences perceived value. More relevant examples mean stronger leverage when discussing fees.
Bilingual Capability
The film is described as bilingual. If you have experience running campaigns in multiple languages or for international festival audiences, that is a differentiating factor worth naming in your rate discussion.
Scope Clarity
Before agreeing to any figure, get clarity on the campaign timeline, expected weekly hours, number of platforms, content volume, and reporting requirements. Vague scopes lead to underpricing. Specific deliverables allow for accurate pricing.
How This Role Compares to Industry Benchmarks
Compared to in-house social media roles at London agencies or brands, this position sits in a different category altogether. In-house social media managers with five or more years of experience in London typically earn between £40,000 and £55,000 per year as full-time employees, based on data from Reed, Totaljobs, and LinkedIn Salary insights for 2024.
Freelance rates, when annualized at full-time hours, can exceed those figures. However, short project contracts mean income is not continuous. Specialists who take on festival campaign work typically balance it alongside other client retainers to maintain stable monthly income.
The Strange Face role is best suited to a freelancer who already runs a portfolio of clients and sees this as a high-quality, creatively rewarding addition. It is not structured as a primary income source for someone seeking full-time employment stability.
Should You Apply
If you have genuine experience in social media marketing for film, arts, or culture, this role offers real creative value. The subject matter is distinctive, the studio appears serious, and the festival circuit provides meaningful exposure for your professional portfolio.
Approach the conversation with a clear rate in mind, a defined scope of deliverables, and a portfolio that speaks directly to cinematic and editorial work. Candidates who treat this like a generic marketing pitch will likely struggle to stand out against those who demonstrate genuine cultural fluency.
You can view the full job listing and apply directly through RemoteOK at this link. Applications go to director Artem Fedorov and should include a short note along with campaign examples.
