JESS BARTLETT 

Based in Bristol 

Jess Bartlett is a writer/producer based in Bristol who specialised in producing during her studies at the University of Gloucestershire. One of Jess’ most recent successes materialised with lockdown short horror Stagnant created with frequent collaborator, director Ethan Evans, which just won the Arrow Video ‘Audience Award’. Jess has recently produced her second short under the New Creatives scheme commissioned by BBC Arts and Arts Council England. Her first credit under the scheme was co-writer and producer of short musical film We Got It Easy which was broadcast on BBC iPlayer. Jess has produced a variety of short films and music videos, including Wither (2019) which was nominated for a 2020 BFI Future Film Lab Award. Jess also wrote and produced the award-winning short musical Dearly Departed (2018) which has been well-received internationally.

EMMA GRAZETTE 

Based in Bath/London

Emma is a film producer and an activist through film. As a mixed-race woman who grew up in Somerset, has lived in Africa and the Deep South, she brings a broad and open-minded perspective to her work. Having worked as a producer at an Indie for the last two years (as well as winning two commissions for short docs), she is now independently developing a slate of narrative work. As a producer she is driven by a desire to elevate diverse narratives and voices and strives to further lasting diversity in the film industry, both in front of and behind the camera. She has recently been selected by the “Talent Led” scheme through the Independent Film Trust who will support a project about resistance and resilience in the New World across the next 6 months.

FRANKIE HOCKING 

Based in Plymouth 

Frankie is a film graduate from Plymouth. With experience working in banking, marketing and project coordination, he has always championed the value of storytelling. Frankie worked on several short films during his degree and has experience in many different filmmaking disciplines. He always found his heart lay with the production and development of other people’s work, leading to focus on producing. He has a strong passion for equality and diversity to be seen in film and television and is eager to be a voice for the Disabled community behind the scenes in the industry. 

GRACE NELDER  

Based in Plymouth 

With two years’ experience in short film and becoming BIFA-nominated in 2019, Grace is currently embarking on producing her 5th short. Grace’s background is in theatre, working most recently in Technical Production in London’s West End, for Cameron Mackintosh, on shows such as Les Mis, Hamilton, Phantom of the Opera and Mary Poppins. Currently in post-production for short Daughter (dir. Athena Mandis) and in pre-production for Hello Harry (dir. Alex Vlahos), Grace is super passionate and driven about film and will be looking to graduate as soon as possible from producing shorts to features! One of Grace’s most recent short films (Boiling Point, 2019, dir. Philip Barantini) was nominated for BIFA Best British Short and won Best Cinematography and Best Director at Lift Off Global Network Awards.   

ARTHUR SHEPHERD 

Based in Bath 

Arthur is an assistant director. He started working as soon as he left school, choosing not to study but instead go for a more hands–on education. He was drawn to the industry because of a fascination with storytelling. Even though he has more experience than when first he started, he’s still blown away on a regular basis by the levels of passion, skill and subtlety that collaborate and combine to transport an audience to a different world. Other interests include travel, nature, food & cooking, surf, climbing, architecture and of course… dog walking! 

JOHN STEPHENSON & MICHAEL WORTHINGTON 

Based in Bristol 

As a duo, John and Michael started a Bristol-based production company, Lobu Films, dedicated to independent fiction filmmaking. The pair of them first met through DIY Films, a filmmaking collective founded by John in 2019 to provide a hands-on approach to learning how to make films. Before meeting and working together as producers for the first two DIY Films projects, John and Michael worked on short film productions of various budgets and levels of success. Michael wrote, produced and directed short films in Canada before moving to Bristol in 2019, whilst John began and persisted with his pursuits in the UK. With the help of the Producers Lab, the duo is excited to dive into their first animated film production. 

DANIEL SVED 

Based in Exeter 

Daniel is a South West-based filmmaker and producer. He began producing last year in theatre, working with the Tobacco Factory Theatre’s ‘Get Involved Department’ to produce a sell-out showcase of work by young Bristol-based writers. During lockdown he initiated, organised and produced an online short film and animation festival of work made by young filmmakers in isolation: ‘Indoors Project’. He was most recently shortlisted for the BBC’s New Creatives and is currently producing short films by three young filmmakers for festival submission and as proof of concept shorts for later development in television and film.   

ELLA TURNER 

Based in Cornwall 

Remaining in Cornwall after university, Ella has worked as a producer, production manager and editor on several short dramas and feature films. For her own work she has been commissioned by BBC Arts and Arts Council England as part of the New Creatives scheme, and by The Hypatia Trust for a documentary film. Recently Ella co-founded the production company Studio Erma and her current roles include the UK production coordinator for a feature documentary filmed partly in the USA and production manager on a BFI short film. Whilst film and TV occupy most of her mind, Ella manages Talula Cup UK, a women’s menstrual health business based in Cornwall, and has nearly finished a children’s book.