I was born and raised in Northern California, where my passion for storytelling was nurtured with many visits to my local library and countless hours of drawing. I attended Harvard University, where I majored in Folklore and Mythology and began making animated films. I was also an avid member of the Radcliffe Choral Society and drew cartoons for the notoriously offensive Harvard Lampoon.
After Harvard I attended the National Film and Television School in England, having heard of its impressive and award-winning Animation Department. In my first year, I won a First Light Award for my film, "Witch," and my graduation film, "Miss Todd" has now won a Student Academy Award in the Foreign Film Category. It is a film that comes straight from the heart. I am truly grateful to have worked with the many talented members of the "Miss Todd" crew, affectionately known as Team Todd. I am currently developing a feature-length version of the script with writer Frances Poletti, and developing another short film and another feature project.
While at the National Film and Television School I met my husband, Robin Whenary, who is a cinematographer.
kristinayee.com
After Harvard I attended the National Film and Television School in England, having heard of its impressive and award-winning Animation Department. In my first year, I won a First Light Award for my film, "Witch," and my graduation film, "Miss Todd" has now won a Student Academy Award in the Foreign Film Category. It is a film that comes straight from the heart. I am truly grateful to have worked with the many talented members of the "Miss Todd" crew, affectionately known as Team Todd. I am currently developing a feature-length version of the script with writer Frances Poletti, and developing another short film and another feature project.
While at the National Film and Television School I met my husband, Robin Whenary, who is a cinematographer.
kristinayee.com
Frances has just completed her masters in screenwriting at the National Film and Television School in which she collaborated with a range of filmmakers from around the world working in live action, animation and documentary. Before graduation she was commissioned to write psychological horror LONDON SYNDROME for BAFTA nominated director Afarin Eghbal and BIFA nominated producer Len Rowles. In April Salon Pictures commissioned sci-fi dramedy MEET ME IN TEN YEARS. A mid-20s New Yorker wins a government lottery to spend 30 minutes with a version of herself - from ten years in the future. Short film WOODLAND, which she wrote and directed, was recently shown at the BFI graduation screening and is lined up for a festival run this year. Short play BUS 141 FROM MANSFIELD was staged at the Soho Theatre in 2012 and again in March 2013. A full-length version is in development. Feature script AUTOBAHN is a comedic road movie with heart about a gang of kids from the Midlands who run away to Germany in search of a missing father.
Frances’ NFTS graduation films, live action CHARLIE SAYS and musical stop-motion animation MISS TODD will have their premiers at Edinburgh and Annecy festivals respectively. MISS TODD will be making its Asian debut at Seoul International Animation Festival in Seoul, Korea. The film has won a Student Academy Award in the Foreign Film category.
Frances is represented by Tanya Tillett at Knight Hall Agency:
tanya@knighthallagency.com
Full CV Here
Frances’ NFTS graduation films, live action CHARLIE SAYS and musical stop-motion animation MISS TODD will have their premiers at Edinburgh and Annecy festivals respectively. MISS TODD will be making its Asian debut at Seoul International Animation Festival in Seoul, Korea. The film has won a Student Academy Award in the Foreign Film category.
Frances is represented by Tanya Tillett at Knight Hall Agency:
tanya@knighthallagency.com
Full CV Here
Before attending the Producing MA and the National Film and Television School Suzanne worked predominantly in theatre and radio and has a Masters in Ancient and Medieval History from the University of Edinburgh. She spent a year studying in Vancouver, during which time it was impossible to cross the street without encountering a blockbuster movie set. When the crew of ‘WOLVERINE’ started parking tanks on the campus lawn, she knew she had to turn her love of production from the stage to celluloid.
Suzanne has produced three films while at the NFTS, working with BAFTA nominee Gabriel Gauchet on supernatural thriller ‘Z1’ and most recently on AMPAS Student Academy Award winning ‘MISS TODD’. ‘MISS TODD’ is Suzanne’s first foray into stop motion animation and the second musical she has produced.
Working on ‘MISS TODD’ has been an adventure and a delight from start to finish and the affectionately monikered ‘Team Todd’ continuingly inspire Suzanne as ‘MISS TODD’ makes its debut at Annecy International Animation Festival before flying to Seoul International Cartoon and Animation festival.
Suzanne currently lives in London and is in development on a feature and a TV Pilot.
www.mad-hats.co.uk
Suzanne has produced three films while at the NFTS, working with BAFTA nominee Gabriel Gauchet on supernatural thriller ‘Z1’ and most recently on AMPAS Student Academy Award winning ‘MISS TODD’. ‘MISS TODD’ is Suzanne’s first foray into stop motion animation and the second musical she has produced.
Working on ‘MISS TODD’ has been an adventure and a delight from start to finish and the affectionately monikered ‘Team Todd’ continuingly inspire Suzanne as ‘MISS TODD’ makes its debut at Annecy International Animation Festival before flying to Seoul International Cartoon and Animation festival.
Suzanne currently lives in London and is in development on a feature and a TV Pilot.
www.mad-hats.co.uk
Nick learnt his craft whilst photographing the surroundings of his hometown Torquay. Nick's uniquely intimate style and sensitive eye have gone on to find great success in both the UK and abroad. From scenes of peaceful realization to ones of panic and violence, Nick puts precedence on characters and the world they inhabit. Having performed various roles on the camera team and worked in or observed other departments I've learnt technical knowledge combined with self-discipline. After a few years as a camera assistant, I was awarded a Kodak Scholarship, which enabled me to study at the National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield.
In 2012, my work on two short films went onto receive great success. The first, 'Mass of Men', won the Pardino d’Oro award for Best International Short Film at the 65th Locarno Film Festival and also the Panavision award and FREAK Independent Film Agency award at the 60th San Sebastián Film Festival. The second, 'Morning', was officially seleceted for the 56th London Film Festival and Galway Film Fleadh and was was also the Cork Nominee for the European Film Award. The festival judges described it as: “A devastatingly nuanced drama, which mixes a power struggle alongside grief and ambition, with two superb lead performances, shot in a minimalist and realistic style.”
For me, filmmaking is a very collaborative but also personal experience. I absorb stories from my living andworking environment, which means everyday life becomes my biggest inspiration. I find the real world to be unbelievable, life can seem unnatural despite being concreted in reality. Storytelling is about context - time and place are extremely important when highlighting the circumstances in which an event occurs. The camera allows you to show this and it is a real pleasure to then use these elements (nature/weather/construction) to create atmosphere and drama in my work.
nickcooke.info
In 2012, my work on two short films went onto receive great success. The first, 'Mass of Men', won the Pardino d’Oro award for Best International Short Film at the 65th Locarno Film Festival and also the Panavision award and FREAK Independent Film Agency award at the 60th San Sebastián Film Festival. The second, 'Morning', was officially seleceted for the 56th London Film Festival and Galway Film Fleadh and was was also the Cork Nominee for the European Film Award. The festival judges described it as: “A devastatingly nuanced drama, which mixes a power struggle alongside grief and ambition, with two superb lead performances, shot in a minimalist and realistic style.”
For me, filmmaking is a very collaborative but also personal experience. I absorb stories from my living andworking environment, which means everyday life becomes my biggest inspiration. I find the real world to be unbelievable, life can seem unnatural despite being concreted in reality. Storytelling is about context - time and place are extremely important when highlighting the circumstances in which an event occurs. The camera allows you to show this and it is a real pleasure to then use these elements (nature/weather/construction) to create atmosphere and drama in my work.
nickcooke.info
Isona designed her first film in 2006, whilst studying film and Media in Barcelona. After working on a number of award winning short films and music videos she secured a job at Paco Poch Cinema, working as a production designer, art director, set decorator or buyer on commercials, shorts and feature films.
Isona has a really “hands on” approach to design as well as an understanding of narrative and character influenced by her previous four year theatre studies. Such an acting background made her approach the design process with great attention to detail.
In 2010, she joined the MA Production Design course at the National Film and Television School to take her technical skills further. During her time at NFTS, Isona learned how to draft by hand, developed her visualisation techniques and further improved her model making and CAD skills. She designed and built sets for live action and animation, such as Morning (Official competition at the LFF), the film Z1 and the stop motion animation Miss Todd, as well as working on extra curricular projects designing book trailers for Random House and working as an assistant set decorator on feature films.
Work experience in the feature film One Chance and in the latest Bond film Skyfall, have given her an insight and opportunity to work in bigger art departments.
Isona is currently working for Disney, in the new live action version of Cinderella, designed by Dante Ferretti at Pinewood Studios.
www.isonarigau.com
Isona has a really “hands on” approach to design as well as an understanding of narrative and character influenced by her previous four year theatre studies. Such an acting background made her approach the design process with great attention to detail.
In 2010, she joined the MA Production Design course at the National Film and Television School to take her technical skills further. During her time at NFTS, Isona learned how to draft by hand, developed her visualisation techniques and further improved her model making and CAD skills. She designed and built sets for live action and animation, such as Morning (Official competition at the LFF), the film Z1 and the stop motion animation Miss Todd, as well as working on extra curricular projects designing book trailers for Random House and working as an assistant set decorator on feature films.
Work experience in the feature film One Chance and in the latest Bond film Skyfall, have given her an insight and opportunity to work in bigger art departments.
Isona is currently working for Disney, in the new live action version of Cinderella, designed by Dante Ferretti at Pinewood Studios.
www.isonarigau.com
Born and raised in Italy and educated in arts, humanities and languages, I left home in 2007 to obtain a BA in Digital Film and Video in London where I wrote, directed and edited several short films.
After an editorial internship at The Family in Milan, I decided editing was the area of filmmaking where I could fulfill my passion for narrative structure and bring my attention to detail and sense of rhythm and musicality into play.
That's when I joined the National Film & Television School to obtain my MA in Film Editing. During the two years I have had the pleasure to work at high professional standards on a varied array of projects that I feel have transformed me into a confident editor and a reference figure in the post production department. I have established many enduring working relationships and have developed my storytelling instincts into a solid and professional editing approach, applicable to a wide range of film genres. During this time I have also developed a particular interest in Animation and thoroughly enjoyed discovering the special and unique role of the editor in the production of animated films. This also became the topic of my MA dissertation. In addition to film, I also gained experience in the field of advertising, cutting an advert for Ford and writing and directing an advert for Kopparberg Cider.
Having graduated from the NFTS, I am now based in London working as a professional film editor on fiction, documentary and animation films.
michelechiappa.com
After an editorial internship at The Family in Milan, I decided editing was the area of filmmaking where I could fulfill my passion for narrative structure and bring my attention to detail and sense of rhythm and musicality into play.
That's when I joined the National Film & Television School to obtain my MA in Film Editing. During the two years I have had the pleasure to work at high professional standards on a varied array of projects that I feel have transformed me into a confident editor and a reference figure in the post production department. I have established many enduring working relationships and have developed my storytelling instincts into a solid and professional editing approach, applicable to a wide range of film genres. During this time I have also developed a particular interest in Animation and thoroughly enjoyed discovering the special and unique role of the editor in the production of animated films. This also became the topic of my MA dissertation. In addition to film, I also gained experience in the field of advertising, cutting an advert for Ford and writing and directing an advert for Kopparberg Cider.
Having graduated from the NFTS, I am now based in London working as a professional film editor on fiction, documentary and animation films.
michelechiappa.com
Ever since learning the classical violin age 5, Matt has enjoyed a broad range of musical experiences as a multi-instrumentalist performing, composing and producing. He plays instruments including violin, guitars, keyboards, percussion, flute, clarinet, cello and zither in ensembles ranging from symphony orchestras to solo performances, psychedelic rock to gentle folk, Bollywood string quartets to improvised electronica, from Glastonbury main stages to numerous live BBC sessions.
Matt's multi-instrumentalism and broad experience enable him to create organic and earthy scores often capturing richly nuanced improvisations and live instrumental textures.
He's worked as a producer for Ninja Tunes records collaborating with Vashti Bunyan, Fink and Jono McCleery, as assistant to film composer Patrick Doyle and holds an MA in Film composition from the National Film and Television School. He has composed a number of commissions for companies including the BBC, Discovery Channel and Disney and in the last two years alone has scored over 30 short films with recent screenings at the House of Commons and film festivals including Berlin, Angers, Locarno and San Sebastien.
matthewjameskelly.co.uk
Matt's multi-instrumentalism and broad experience enable him to create organic and earthy scores often capturing richly nuanced improvisations and live instrumental textures.
He's worked as a producer for Ninja Tunes records collaborating with Vashti Bunyan, Fink and Jono McCleery, as assistant to film composer Patrick Doyle and holds an MA in Film composition from the National Film and Television School. He has composed a number of commissions for companies including the BBC, Discovery Channel and Disney and in the last two years alone has scored over 30 short films with recent screenings at the House of Commons and film festivals including Berlin, Angers, Locarno and San Sebastien.
matthewjameskelly.co.uk
I started my sound career in music production and have mixed tracks released on EMI, Domino and Mercury Records.
Over the years I have increasingly moved into sound work relating to the moving image and trained in location sound at BBC Woodnorton in 2008. Realising I could marry my long term interest in cinema and all things sound and music eventually led me into the world of post production. In 2009 I went free-lance as a sound editor and designer.
In 2011, I was granted a place on the Sound Design for Film and Television course at the National Film and Television school, one of only 8 successful applicants a year. The NFTS is one of the best education institutions in the world for sound post production, where students frequently take home the Golden Reel. I have now graduated and have re-embarked on my freelance career.
Films i have worked on recently have won and been nominated for several awards including, London Best of Borough Award 2012, Best Short Irish Film and Television Awards 2013, a nomination for a European Academy Award and my graduation animation at the NFTS has won a Student Academy Award in the foreign film category . 'Sodiq' a documentary about street life in the capital has also just been screened at the House of Commons recognised for bringing special insight into youth crime. Other exciting projects are screening around the world in major festivals.
I live in London England.
tomlgsound.com
Over the years I have increasingly moved into sound work relating to the moving image and trained in location sound at BBC Woodnorton in 2008. Realising I could marry my long term interest in cinema and all things sound and music eventually led me into the world of post production. In 2009 I went free-lance as a sound editor and designer.
In 2011, I was granted a place on the Sound Design for Film and Television course at the National Film and Television school, one of only 8 successful applicants a year. The NFTS is one of the best education institutions in the world for sound post production, where students frequently take home the Golden Reel. I have now graduated and have re-embarked on my freelance career.
Films i have worked on recently have won and been nominated for several awards including, London Best of Borough Award 2012, Best Short Irish Film and Television Awards 2013, a nomination for a European Academy Award and my graduation animation at the NFTS has won a Student Academy Award in the foreign film category . 'Sodiq' a documentary about street life in the capital has also just been screened at the House of Commons recognised for bringing special insight into youth crime. Other exciting projects are screening around the world in major festivals.
I live in London England.
tomlgsound.com
After graduating from Royal Holloway with a BA degree in Politics and working within the marketing sector, Kam realised that she wanted to pursue a more creative role within television and film. An MA degree in Digital Post-Production at the National Film and Television School provided a perfect opportunity to train her artistic eye and expand her technical knowledge. Over the last year she has worked on various films as a compositor (vfx artist), online editor and colourist. She would like to work in London or abroad as a junior compositor.
kambains.com
kambains.com
I studied multimedia at college and then university and had many choices as to what direction I wanted to go in when I finished. I've always hugely loved film and the special effects within them so the choice was easy and the NFTS was the best place to further my career and I could not have gone better! During my time on the VFX/SFX course, I got married and now have a beautiful 1 yr old girl! It was difficult to juggle the two, but I loved every minute of it.
I'm from a Theatre background, having produced two operas whilst studying Music at the University of Birmingham. After interning with Birmingham Opera Company and OperaUpClose and spending a month in Norway producing radio documentaries with their national broadcaster NRK, I started the Production Management Diploma at the NFTS. I production managed a range of projects whilst at the school, including two documentaries and several multicamera studio shows.
It was such a pleasure production managing Miss Todd, and it was clear from the start that it would become something very special. It's really the only possible outcome when you get such a talented group of people working together with a compelling story to tell.
Having every shot planned out from the start (more or less!) really appealed to me, having worked on observational documentaries where the stories develop over the shooting period and you're never entirely sure what you're going to get. It was always lovely to leave the stress of the office to come and see how Miss Todd was progressing - but my favourite moment was helping to make clouds!
I am currently working as a production co-ordinator on the BBC Proms TV broadcasts, continuing the musical theme.
It was such a pleasure production managing Miss Todd, and it was clear from the start that it would become something very special. It's really the only possible outcome when you get such a talented group of people working together with a compelling story to tell.
Having every shot planned out from the start (more or less!) really appealed to me, having worked on observational documentaries where the stories develop over the shooting period and you're never entirely sure what you're going to get. It was always lovely to leave the stress of the office to come and see how Miss Todd was progressing - but my favourite moment was helping to make clouds!
I am currently working as a production co-ordinator on the BBC Proms TV broadcasts, continuing the musical theme.
I was born and raised in London and have always had an interest in arts, crafts and design. This love of creativity eventually led to a BA (Hons) in Theatre: Design for Performance from Wimbledon College of Art, University of the Arts London. Here, I developed my set, costume and character design skills and explored my fascination with animation further, creating a short stop motion animation film as my final major project.
Being part of the dedicated and cheerful Team Todd was a great experience and a lot of fun. The various technical challenges and problem solving that came with both the Art and Animation Departments allowed me to draw upon my existing skills and also gave me the opportunity to learn new skills. I particularly enjoyed making the models of the Duck Plane; the clouds; the grass; and the bedroom and university windows, out of basic raw materials. My favourite part of the puppet fabrication was learning how to change the expressions of the characters, on Photoshop, for the lip sync shots. Working on the film and witnessing it slowly come together, shot by shot, was a wonderful feeling…and finally watching it on the big screen was even better!
I am currently based in London and working in the Art Department for another short stop motion animation film.
pallavidave.com
Being part of the dedicated and cheerful Team Todd was a great experience and a lot of fun. The various technical challenges and problem solving that came with both the Art and Animation Departments allowed me to draw upon my existing skills and also gave me the opportunity to learn new skills. I particularly enjoyed making the models of the Duck Plane; the clouds; the grass; and the bedroom and university windows, out of basic raw materials. My favourite part of the puppet fabrication was learning how to change the expressions of the characters, on Photoshop, for the lip sync shots. Working on the film and witnessing it slowly come together, shot by shot, was a wonderful feeling…and finally watching it on the big screen was even better!
I am currently based in London and working in the Art Department for another short stop motion animation film.
pallavidave.com