The New Director in Town...
Mike Forshaw is the latest director to jump on board the Nowadays Express (choo choo)!
Born and raised in Liverpool, Mike has travelled the world creating short-form content for the likes of DHL, Google, Huawei, and Nokia. He’s probably most proud of the films he directed in this award-winning series for the National Trust. (Maybe less so about the propaganda he made for the Japanese Government - a story for another time…).
Mike’s talents don’t just lie in advertising - he has been selected to take part in Berlinale Talents, Torino Film Lab, and BFI NETWORK x BAFTA Crew, while his short films have screened at festivals around the world including Sundance, London Film Festival, Palm Springs, and Melbourne – check out Vimeo Staff Pick ‘Saturday’ below.
Mike was also recently commissioned by the British Film Institute to write and direct his debut feature film – a modern day romance set in London’s homelessness community – so watch this space.
Although dismayed by the volume of Harry Potter discourse on his first day (shock confession – Mike has never seen Hogwarts's finest... WTactualF??!) he is very happy to be joining the team.
He even went so far as to admit,“I've been looking for the chance to work on commercial projects with more substance. With clients that aren't just trying to sell something but are genuinely trying to make the world a nicer place… While I’ve no idea what a Dobby is, I hope I can add the burgeoning list of award-winning films already under the Nowadays banner.”
Sadly, his working-class mother isn’t so keen – she is still waiting for him to get a “real job”.
Welcome, Sandy!
Fresh on the block is our newest director - Sandy Matta!
Sandy joins Nowadays bringing with her quite a varied creative journey. Over the span of 6 years, she worked her way from a book cover designer to an advertising art director and now all the way to a director. But the journey isn’t too bizarre for her, since film is the one thing she’s always been drawn to.
Agency - RD Content
Sandy’s been able to flex her skills by creating some content for clients of all kinds. Whether it was for corporate names like EY or Allen & Overy, fun animated trailers for Angry Birds, or even snagging a D&AD award for a print campaign with Audible (now that’s what we call range) it’s clear to see that there’s not much she won’t try out!
In her spare time, you can find her dabbling in other endeavours like making collages, taking one of her film cameras out for a spin or developing her own projects.
So after all that, we asked her, “what’s next?”, and to that she says: “I’ve always loved character-led, emotional stories, ones that really tap into the human experience, like so many films I love. People think advertising is soulless and deceptive. I beg to disagree, at least some of the time, I think there’s space in adland for real stories to be told, ones that leave a profound, lasting impression. If there’s anything I’d love to do, it's to create a piece of work that has someone sit back, and really think about what they just watched.”
Great answer! Welcome aboard Sandy.
Ask Away Thursday is Back!
A few years ago, we launched Ask Away Thursday, an event at the Nowadays office for anyone at the outset of their production career who wanted to ask us anything. Unfortunately, big and unavoidable global events happened and we had to put it on a small hiatus. But now we are back & running them every three months! Find out below when the next one will be.
So, why are we doing this?
Well there’s a few reasons but the main things are a) we’ve been there b) we could have done with some help and c) we’re getting more and more people asking us how they can make progress in the industry.
15 years ago, when Nowadays was in it’s adolescence, we rattled around London, shooting the odd promo here and there with little to zero idea of how to set up a production company and no idea who we could ask without being a right bother. The people we did get to ask questions are still heroes to us.
Today, with the industry being more popular/crowded than ever, we know the competition for jobs is fierce and the routes to success are less and less straightforward. We’d like to do what we can to help start the filmmakers of the future off on the right foot.
What are we offering?
We want to open our doors for a couple of hours to whoever, to share our experience and opinions. If you’re trying to start out in the industry and you have a question, we’ll try and answer it as honestly and helpfully as we can. If you want us to look at your CV, we will. If you’ve got a showreel to watch, we’ll take a look and let you know what we think. If you’ve got ambitions to start your own company, we’ll tell you not to bother (jokes).
At each Ask Away Thursday we’re going to try and have at least three of us around to talk to. Could be one of our producers, an editor, a director, or one of the founders of the company. And with any luck, there’ll be more than one of you, so you can have a natter amongst yourselves and compare battle scars. There might even be a cold beer or two if you’re lucky.
What we aren’t offering is jobs. And we’re not going to commission you to make your next passion-project. We’re not even offering work experience. We’ve got an intern scheme that we’d love people to sign up for but that’s a separate thing you can apply for here if you’re up for it.
Why should you listen to us?
Great question. One thing's for sure, whatever we say shouldn’t be taken as gospel. We’ve muddled our own way to where we are but we’re not sitting here thinking our way of doing things is for everyone. We can’t tell you the one way forward because chances are there are a few thousand and, clichéd as it sounds, that’s your call to make. In fact, every person in our company has got to where they are via completely different routes - some traditional, some not, some meticulously planned, some entirely haphazard.
We’re not even saying we’re the perfect model of a production company (what is that in this day and age anyway?) but we do get paid to make films for real clients and we do employ people to do it and we’ve got better at doing that every single day since we set out.
When’s the next one?
The next one is going to be on 30th May 2024. It will be at our place and probably go on for a couple of hours between 7pm and 9pm. You can follow the link here to register your interest, tickets will go live on the 16th May 2024!
See you soon!
Team Nowadays
Enter the dragon - Peter Jones joins Nowadays
We’re ending the year with a new beginning, and welcoming our newest Nowadays director: Peter Jones. And no, we didn’t just pick the first Peter we found on Google, we promise.
Before joining us Peter spent 11 years working in the advertising industry in the UK after studying film in his homeland of South Africa. He started out as a runner at Hogarth before working his way up quickly into editing and moving over to Grey London. He’s been freelancing for the last 4 years, working at places such as Saatchi & Saatchi, Prodigious, Ogilvy, Nexus Studios and Media Arts Lab.
Whilst editing was his day job he’s always had one or two eyes on directing - managing to win back-to-back ADCAN awards including the Grand Prix, which sent him out to LA. He was also nominated for the prestigious Shots New Director of the year, as well as a 1.4 Awards nomination. These are some brilliant achievements for someone directing off of their own back.
We stopped Peter for a chat on the red carpet (actually the bit of floor between the kitchen and our break out room) and he had this to say:
“I can’t wait to get stuck into directing full time - it’s been a goal of mine for a long time. I’m buzzing that Nowadays have put their trust in me and the opportunity to work with such a strong team and create great films is what drives me.”
We don’t know why he said that, we’d asked what he’s having for lunch.
3 is (still) the Magic Number
Charlie, Sophie and Kelvin, striking a pose outside our secret lair’s front door.
It’s said that good things come in threes*, and whilst we may be biased we couldn't agree more. As such, we’re absolutely chuffed to announce three fantastic new additions to the Good Ship Angry!
Please put your hands together (or gesture a big hello using semaphore if you’re here for the nautical references) and welcome aboard the terrific trinity that is Junior Producer Charlie Maxwell, Editor Sophie Farrell and Production Manager Kelvin Fred-Horsfall!
Charlie comes to us off the back of an extended stay in British Columbia (no, we weren’t jealous either) where she was working remotely as a Multimedia Producer and sometimes Editor - for educational bodies including Northwestern University and a little place called Harvard. Before her time in the mountains she studied film at Goldsmiths right here in London. From there, she set out cutting her teeth in the camera department, shooting with clients such as Selfridges, Universal Music, and the BBC, and was even mentored by Robbie Ryan, no less (again, still not jealous).
“After spending two years living and working in Canada, I’m really excited to be back in the UK, especially London. In the past my roles have always been along the lines of a ‘small cog in a big machine’; only being involved in a small part of a much larger whole but with 3AM I get to see projects all the way through, from creative through to delivery. Everyone here is super-talented, everyone’s happy to wear a few different work hats and I’m looking forward to learning as much as I can about short form content!”
Charlie Maxwell
Next up we have Sophie who, coincidentally, studied the same film course as Charlie at Goldsmiths, albeit a little later down the line. Graduating in 2019 she didn’t hang around and began running for production stalwarts BLINK and later award-winning feature filmmakers Archer’s Mark. It wasn’t long before the editing bug bit her though, and she started freelancing for the likes of Somesuch, Excel Films and Olyvon. Outside of filmmaking she’s an ardent music fan and is part of a vinyl-focused DJ collective in South East London.
On joining Team Angry she had this to say: “I’ve been freelancing for sometime, and whilst that comes with its own perks, I’ve really missed the camaraderie, team-spirit and drive that you get from working closely with the same team, all focused on the same projects. 3angrymen really appealed because they’re clearly a lovely bunch of people and I’m sure it’s no accident that as a result they create really lovely work!”
Sophie Farrell
Last - but by no means least - along the gangplank and through the hatch is Kelvin, our new Production Manager. Another London local, Kelvin hails from Tottenham and (much to Thom’s chagrin) will happily bend your ear to laud his beloved Spur’s recent performances. Away from the pitch Kelvin’s background is a rich tapestry - having worked across global branded campaigns for the likes of Plan International, Mediacom and Wired, and before joining us at Angry Towers Kelvin threw himself into the world of TV drama courtesy of Fully Focused Productions.
“When I first came across 3angrymen, the thing that stood out to me the most was how much their content aligned with my ethos: striving for excellence whilst maintaining a moral compass. Getting to chat to everyone it really became clear to me how this was true not just for the work they put out but for the team themselves. They’re really set on creating the best work they can and I’m really looking forward to being part of something that has that kind of drive behind it!”
Kelvin Fred-Horsfall
Welcome to the team one and all! All three have got stuck straight into some fantastic new projects we’ve had come down the pipeline, and we can’t wait to spend the rest of the summer cooking up some new work with them!
*Lions on a shirt, Amigos, Hanson brothers, the list is long and illustrious
Onwards, Upwards and Jedwards
Our new in-house Director, Phoebe Brooks
and our new Producer, Jenny Garrett
Is there anything better than getting a new teammate to play with? Of course there is - getting two new teammates to play with!
World, it’s time to outstretch your arms in anticipation, remember we don’t do hugging just yet, offer up one of those awkward elbow hellos and welcome the two newest recruits to Team Angry: Phoebe Brooks and Jenny Garrett.
First in the door is Phoebe, our new in-house Director. Having followed and admired her work for a while now (even using it as references a few times), we’re champing at the bit to see what she conjures up for us.
We love the way Phoebe always finds a way to imbue her work with maximum surprise and delight. She's directed commercials and branded content for a range of global brands, from Clifford Chance to Tinder - winning multiple awards, including four Cannes Dolphins at the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards. She previously worked as an in-house director at RD Content, and since then has directed a string of music videos for upcoming artists Xadi and Nina Cobham.
Check out this - one of Phoebe’s award-winners we’ve been sharing around the office in the past year (Credit - RD Content):
And for something completely different, check out this super stylish, cup-of-tea toting music vid (warning - does feature naughty words):
As a first task, we forced Phoebe to say something nice about joining forces with the Angryclan and after several no comments she acquiesced: "I'm beyond excited at the prospect of joining the brilliant team at 3angrymen. I've been following them for a few years, and I think their output is pretty unique - an attention to quality and focus on making powerful work regardless of budget. I couldn't ask for a better opportunity to tell stories that make a real difference. And the people seem okay too!"
But we all know directors ain’t gonna get to tell those beautiful stories without a kick-ass producer bigging and backing them up. Enter stage left, Jenny Garrett, who we have zero doubt will be playing the part of the aforementioned kick-ass producer.
Before joining us Jenny has been busy producing work for charities and brands like Fairtrade, The British Council, ghd, Qatar Airways and La Mer. And prior to storming the commercial world, Jenny worked in music and kids TV for CBBC, Channel 4 and the BBC - where she honed her very serious production skills… and the ability to tell Jedward apart.
Overheard in an East London pub after her first day with us, Jenny had this to say: “I’m buzzing to have joined. I was drawn to 3angrymen, not only because of their reputation for being a bunch of enormously talented storytellers, but also for their dedication to doing some good while making beautiful films. Anyone I speak to about 3am are full of praise for the whole team, and I’m really looking forward to getting started.”
Here’s a lovely piece of animation work that Jenny produced for Fairtrade last year (Credit - Maia Films):
Well then, that’s that - two new brilliant filmmakers to get to know - what more could you possibly want? England to win the Euros? C’mon, we’re not miracle workers, get out of here.