When Alison Thomas enrolled in IB Film Studies at South Island School (SIS), she walked into the classroom without any formal background in the subject. Yet, her raw creative instincts immediately caught the attention of her teachers.
“Alison was a natural,” recalls her former SIS film teacher, Mr. Iain Williamson. “We were immediately aware that she was a special talent. She has an eye for aesthetics, is an outstanding editor, and even composed her own music for her IB Films!”
That early spark ignited a thriving international career. Today, Alison is an accomplished filmmaker, director, and the founder of production company Scene 852 (CN852), operating out of Hong Kong and London. Her impressive portfolio spans commercials, documentaries, narrative series, branded content, and podcasts across Hong Kong, London, and Singapore—producing content for major global brands including Adidas, Warner Bros. Discovery, Samsung Galaxy, Spartan, Clockenflap, and West Ham United Football Club.
Discovering the Magic of Film at SIS
Alison’s passion for visual storytelling began long before senior school. “Since I was 11 years old, I was always fascinated by art, music, drama, cameras, and making videos,” she says. “I realized later in my teenage years that filmmaking was actually a combination of all the things I loved in one.”
Studying IB Film at South Island School from 2009 to 2011 gave her the platform to transform that passion into a proper craft. Under Mr. Williamson’s guidance, she gained hands-on experience across every stage of production—from scriptwriting, storyboarding, and directing actors to experimenting with professional cameras, lighting, and editing software, alongside analyzing film history and iconic directors.
“I had the best time studying film studies at South Island School,” Alison reflects. “To this day, I have always valued those first moments of getting into filmmaking because that is where the magic really first happens. It’s this new creative energy where you get to collaborate with other people. For me, nothing beats the first time falling in love with filmmaking.”
From University to International Production
After graduating from SIS in 2011, Alison pursued her passion at university, earning a degree in film from Bournemouth University. Stepping into the professional industry required resilience and grit, but her versatility across directing, producing, shooting, and post-production allowed her to establish her own production outfit, Scene 852.
Though building an international media company came with its share of challenges, Alison describes the path as an immensely rewarding journey.
“I feel like you get to learn so many things about the world due to what you have to film as subjects,” she explains. “You get to experience other people's lives and stories through making films about them. It feels like you get to live a thousand lives through this career. I'm really always so grateful to be a filmmaker.”
Entering the Hall of Fame
Each year, the South Island School Film and Media Department selects two standout alumni to enter its Hall of Fame. This year, the honour went to Alison Thomas.
"You get to live a thousand lives as a filmmaker."
Returning to inspire the next generation at the 2026 SIS Film and Media Awards, Alison offered heartfelt encouragement to current students aiming to break into creative industries:
