Worldwide Production Support
Locations and Production Logistics
Realistic bear characters, experienced actors, and practical production support for projects across the United States, the UK, Europe, Canada, and international locations.
Based in Toluca Lake, California, with a UK service hub in Watford, London. Available for productions worldwide.
Realistic Bears Built to Travel
TV Bears International provides realistic bear costumes, animal doubles, and practical creature services for productions across the UK, Europe, the United States, Canada, and international locations.
Our bears are designed to travel. That is a big part of what makes the service practical.
Whether your production is filming on a Los Angeles studio lot, a London stage, a Manchester television project, or an exterior location somewhere less straightforward, we can bring the animal character, actor, and required on-set support directly to your production.
From the first inquiry, we look at the practical details that matter: where you are filming, what the bear needs to do, how long the character is required, what access is available, and what support will be needed on the day.
Get the bear there safely. Keep the process clear. Help your production get the shot.
Bases of Operation
TV Bears International works from both sides of the Atlantic, with operational support in Los Angeles and the UK. These locations give us strong starting points, but they do not limit where we work.
Toluca Lake, California
Our primary base in Toluca Lake places us close to the San Fernando Valley and many production areas used for film, television, commercials, and branded content. It offers practical access to Burbank, Studio City, Universal City, Hollywood, Culver City, Santa Clarita, and the wider Los Angeles production zone.
This can be especially helpful for commercials, pickup shots, studio work, controlled event work, and branded content. We can assess short-notice requests in Los Angeles when the bear and team are available and there is enough time to prepare for the action required.
A standard booking includes the bear, an experienced actor, and our dedicated on-set coordinator. We also help plan costume handling and travel with your production team.
Watford, United Kingdom
Our UK service hub in Watford gives us a practical position for productions filming in and around London, while keeping Manchester and other UK production areas within reach.
We can support screen work, commercials, factual television, animal reenactment scenes, red carpet appearances, and brand activations without building the entire booking around one fixed city.
For London, Manchester, and northern filming hubs, we can discuss studio access, parking, private changing space, call times, accommodations when needed, and the best way to move the bear and support team into position. We can also assess short-notice requests in London and the wider UK, subject to availability and preparation time.
If your production is somewhere else, tell us where. We will help determine what is practical.
Support in Local Film Hubs
Many productions already have strong local teams in place, and we are happy to work with them. TV Bears International can often support projects in major production hubs by bringing the specialist animal character and working alongside your existing production crew, agency team, or local coordinator.
That approach can help keep things efficient when your production already has trusted people handling transport, access, locations, accommodations, or general logistics. Your local team can manage those arrangements while our dedicated on-set coordinator remains with the bear as asset guardian. Where additional local support is needed, we can discuss options based on the location and scale of the project.
The important part is that the bear does not arrive as an unknown problem for your team to solve. We arrive with the character, the people who understand it, and a clear sense of what it needs to work safely and believably.
Designed to Travel as Practical Production Assets
Some of our bears can travel as checked luggage when the character and airline requirements permit. We confirm the transport plan for the specific bear and route before booking, including any extra baggage, ground travel, or border arrangements that may be needed.
Not every bear travels in the same way. Some characters are larger, heavier, or more complex, and certain projects may require freight, additional support, or more preparation time. We will discuss the practical arrangements before confirming the booking.
Once contracts, deposits, and travel arrangements are in place, we can coordinate the movement of the bear, actor, and required support directly with your production team.
What We Need From Your Production
A realistic bear can be incredibly effective on camera, but the working conditions matter.
Location and Timing
Before confirming a booking, we usually need to understand the location, call time, action required, duration, parking or unloading access, and whether the bear will work indoors, outdoors, or across multiple areas.
Private Changing Space
A private, dedicated changing room is essential. Restrooms, public corridors, and open holding areas are not suitable for changing or resetting the character.
Actor Welfare
Please provide a suitable power outlet for the blower and internal systems, drinking water, access to cooling, safe movement routes, and suitable breaks. We also need enough time to prepare the bear before it appears on camera or in front of guests.
These details protect the actor inside the suit and preserve the look of the bear. Good logistics make the character better.
Production Planning and On-Set Coordination
Our work starts before the bear arrives. If your project involves specific action, camera movement, interaction with actors, a rope gag, a close pass, a product moment, or a repeated action, we can discuss the practical approach ahead of time.
Some scenes are straightforward. Others need more planning. We can help with creative problem-solving around scale, eyelines, blocking, visibility, movement, safety, and what the bear can realistically achieve in the available space.
If the production already has boards, references, shot lists, or a scene description, send them over. We can review the practical requirements and flag anything worth discussing before the shoot day.
It is much easier to solve a problem in pre-production than when everyone is waiting on set.
Global Coverage and Non-Union Buyout Options
With a primary base in Toluca Lake and a UK service hub in Watford, TV Bears International can travel to productions across the United States, the UK, Europe, Canada, and many international locations.
For non-union productions, we can agree to a content usage buyout that allows the client to use filmed content featuring our bears for a set period or indefinitely. The buyout concerns the agreed use of that content. All bears and other proprietary assets remain exclusively owned by TV Bears International and are not for sale.
The quote and written agreement specify the permitted uses, media, territories, buyout fee, and whether the license ends on a stated date or runs indefinitely. For union projects, we discuss the applicable requirements separately.
One Booking, One Practical Creature Package
TV Bears International is not a costume rental company.
When you book one of our bears, a standard booking includes the bear, an experienced actor, and a dedicated on-set coordinator. Our coordinator accompanies the character as asset guardian and works with your production team.
By prior agreement, we may allow an experienced choreographer to act in one of our bears. Our coordinator must remain on set as asset guardian, and our handling and character rules must be respected to preserve the integrity of the character. This arrangement is subject to our approval and is not a costume rental.
For productions working across different cities, countries, or filming environments, that consistency matters.
The bear may travel. The standard should not.
Studio and Location Note
Location names and studio areas are included for geographic reference only. TV Bears International does not claim affiliation, endorsement, or partnership with any third-party studio, broadcaster, production facility, city authority, or venue unless specifically stated.
If your production is filming at a specific studio, venue, or managed location, please include those details when contacting us so we can plan access, timing, parking, changing space, and any site-specific requirements.
Client Testimonials
Our company, Dare Foods Ltd., worked with Matt and his company on an advertising campaign in the summer of 2023 for our Bear Paws brand, and I have nothing but positive things to say about the experience! Matt and his team are talented professionals who have produced incredibly lifelike bear suits. The added bonus is that Matt M. and his colleague have the capability and experience to act in the suits, which is no easy feat. Our production shoot went exactly as planned, and the creative output was business- and brand-building. We value our partnership with Matt’s team, and we look forward to doing more work together.
Scott Chapman
Category Manager, Dare Foods Ltd.
Matthew and his bear were absolute champions on a hard one-day shoot. Everything hinged on him, and we never missed a beat. The client was over the moon and happy with him and the final product. I hope I am able to bring him back for many more projects.
Michael Sapienza
Executive Producer, Lowes Foods
Matthew was collaborative, flexible, and extremely helpful on a project I worked with him on, a short film about a bear invading a neighborhood. I’m proud to say that our collaboration has created great success for the film, which has been celebrated across the world. Matt’s ability to problem-solve and troubleshoot is excellent, as is his ability to communicate with his team, who executed our project to the utmost perfection. 10/10 would recommend!
Jessica Redish
Director, Exit, Pursued by a Bear
Tell Us Where You Are Filming
Need a realistic bear in Los Angeles, London, Manchester, or somewhere farther afield? Tell us where your production is taking place and what you need the bear to do. You do not need every logistical detail worked out before contacting us. Send the location, dates, preferred bear, and scene details or event brief so we can assess what is practical. For a short-notice request, include a contact number and tell us when you need a response.
Because sometimes, you just need a bear.