Did you know you always wanted to take on a creative role? What first piqued your interest about this kind of role?
Content creation has always been a hobby of mine before I even considered a career in the industry. I decided to take on a course in creative media. This is where I got my first taste of working in the industry, and I haven’t looked back since. Who doesn’t want to turn their hobby into their full time job?
When it comes to creativity as a skill, how much do you think is a natural part of personality, how much can be taught and learned?
This is a hard one. I believe a creative person, specifically a videographer should be able to look at a location or initial brief and create a scene/ story, and have an understanding of how to execute the idea in terms of framing, lighting movement etc. However, I understand that there are certain techniques that can be taught to make a person ‘more creative’, for example, I could teach anyone the basics of camera movements, what shots work and what doesn’t etc. So, in short, yes you can teach someone the rules but a person with a naturally creative mind will know how to break the rules and still create something amazing.
What has been your favourite campaign/most rewarding campaign to have worked on?
I’ve been with Ardmore for a year now and I’ve been involved in some very exciting projects. A standout job for me would be the recent Department of Infrastructure campaign (those horrible car crash ads that everyone can’t watch on tv). Being a part of this production was eye opening for me, from initial brief to seeing the final product. This was one of the biggest productions I’ve been involved in, there was a person or team for everything. There was even a whole team for weakening the cars before impact. Watching a team of this size work together and execute a project of this scale so effortlessly was incredible. In my head, it should have been a logistical nightmare. I learnt a lot from this one.
What has been the most challenging campaign you have worked on?
The most challenging campaign that I’ve worked on was for one of our clients GR8 Fires. The concept was simple, one continuous close up shot moving back to reveal different family members asleep on the sofa enjoying the heat from their new fireplace. This was my first time working as a cinematographer for a television ad, so that was a challenge in itself. Luckily, I had an amazing team around me which massively helped in removing a lot of the stress I had going into the shoot. Another challenging process was the set build. We were shooting in one of the showrooms which was basically a room full of fireplaces, it didn’t look at all like the ‘cosy living room’ we were going for. We managed to black out the whole room and get a great art department team in who did an amazing job of transforming the set into a living room. I think my answer shows the importance of a strong team.
What are the most challenging aspects of this role and how do you work through these?
Taking on this role was a challenge in itself for me. When it comes to content creation, I came from a fashion heavy background. I was working in London creating predominantly for social media, my work was very laid back and I was able to complete jobs at my own pace. I knew that coming into an agency like Ardmore that this would change. Strict deadlines for projects that cost clients a lot of money. Ardmore is an award-winning agency, and our clients expect nothing less, so the pressure is on.
What are the most useful resources you’ve found that have helped you through your career journey?
The people around me for sure. The creative industry should be a collaborative space where we can come together and learn from each other. I’m lucky enough to be working with a great bunch of creatives from different backgrounds, skill sets and unique perspectives every day. In the year that I’ve been with Ardmore I’ve learnt so much from the people around me.
What is your favourite thing about Ardmore?
Same as above, the people! Everyone has been so welcoming here, and I actually enjoy coming in every day to see the team. The social side of Ardmore is great, plenty of nights out, lunches at the Dirty Duck what more could you want? We’re just a big group of mates who create amazing work every day. Having a strong personal relationship with my colleagues makes stressful situations a lot easier to deal with. If anyone has any issues or concerns, there’s always someone on hand who is more than happy to help.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I always hate these sort of questions, I never like to put time frames on progression goals. I hope to continue to grow within the industry, develop my skills, and surprise myself with how far I’ve come in the next few years. Right now, I’m really enjoying the pre-production side of things. Breaking down a client’s initial brief and developing a strong creative concept, so in the next five years I would like to see a lot more of my ideas come to life. There would be no better feeling than having an idea come to me in the middle of the night or even in the shower one morning, then a couple months later see that same thought, in 4K when I turn on the TV.
