Creative director for advertising and entertainment. Elliot is 1000% creative! Why do younger people not like advertising as a creative career? People are paying to avoid adverts, and using ad blockers. People are watching telly in a different way now - no longer are people sitting at the same time to watch the same scheduled show. Elliot loved the Benetton adverts when he was younger, and how it played with culture and broke the mould. Oliver Toscani was the creative director and photographer behind these adverts. Elliot was inspired by music and art, raving, parties, putting on events, making flyers, learning graphic design by mistake. Creativity in advertising is solving problems for brands. Experimenting with photocopiers. Elliot’s friend wanted to be a photographer and his focus on career inspired him - he tagged along. How rave taught Elliot sequencing, design, sampling, video etc. with a new wave of software and culture. Elliot is helping the next generation of creatives with the Platform program he established, and through the SCA Creative Mastery course he has co-authored. Making creative jobs available to more people than it traditionally had been. The importance of paid placements and reaching the right people for placements. The SCA Creative Mastery is a creative course run mostly on virtual reality headsets to make it available to all people, geography and travel are no longer a barrier to people to learn. Big up Marc Lewis from SCA who runs the course and Meta who provide the headsets. Using the Apprenticeship Levy to fund it. People learn in a different way in virtual environments than real life, it has been proven to be better for being locked in and not distracted. Do you have to move or work in a city to accelerate your creative career? Winning advertising awards. Cannes Lion chat. Ads that get made and get made well are like sperm fertilising an egg - they are the lucky ones out of thousands of ideas. Building a house is like building an idea. Making adverts is a lifetime of hope - always believing you’ll make something remarkable - and always putting the love into every project. Chatting about Jaguar’s new advert and the impact and reactions. Vying for people’s attention is harder than ever. Ads getting shouty! Brands need to have a sure sense of what their personality is - then execute against that - loads of small ideas with the same body language. In advertising you have to become an expert in random things to understand your clients’ products. Be around interesting people and interesting things will happen! Elliot’s first ad job was at D&Ad logging award entries, and by osmosis he saw the world’s best creative work. Being at D&Ad exposed Elliot to the award juries, and showed them his portfolio, which they gave brutal opinions about. The considerations in managing a creative department. Pull people up and bring people with you. Modern creatives need to be commercial savvy now. Obsess about your client’s problem as much as your solution. Also, Nick LOVES Liquid Death - send us water!

SCA Creative Mastery
Havas Platform

Are You Creative? recorded by Nick at City Sound
Edited by

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Recorded in Chelmsford, Essex, UK

Professional opera singer. Donna’s origins story, she was spotted as a talented singer by a teacher who took her to a French chateau to perform Mozart arias - this was of course acceptable in the late 1980s. Opera has music, drama, costume, and the power of an orchestra - opera is massive! In opera the singers also act, there’s a lot to be good at. Donna’s first professional opera gig was at the Royal Opera House. Donna has been performing modern opera works, like The Little Prince performing as a mad robot calculator character. Donna has performed opera in China in Chinese. Nick did a best man speech in Japan - find out how! Donna’s very fancy gig at Glyndebourne - she has to get a fancy dress. Playing another robot! Are there any youth operas? Can any music instrument match the range and texture of a human voice - of course not! Fach is a funny opera word to describe the type of voice you have. Where do opera singers rehearse? At home, not giving it the full beans. Donna has done a lot of crazy performances - as a catfish, robots, and bile. How do you become bile? Where do opera singers find their jobs? Is there a LinkedIn for opera? Most opera singers are soprano, bass and tenors are more rare. How do you look after your voice? No caffeine, shouting or screaming and plenty of steaming. Donna and her children communicate through the house in opera when they want to get each other’s attention. Do you need to go on vocal rest before a performance? Donna Lennard is the Beyonce of Chelmsford. Opera has a lot of stereotypes about being old fashioned and diva behaviour. Donna sung opera for Chelmsford Museum to celebrate the birth of radio. Protein’s Little Prince featuring Donna is running for the third year in London and Ipswich - Nick highly recommends. How would you start your opera journey? Get singer lessons. Explore your repertoire. Take it easy. Your voice will reach its peak at 30 years old. Talking about Pavarotti being a legend! Traditional opera is in Italian, German, Czech, French - so learning the words can be hard. Opera should be about telling stories. Is there an Essex opera? All about diphthongs and the Essex accent and glottal stops. We need more venues for opera in Essex. Donna sings us out - and it’s MEGA! ALSO Nick reveals that the toaster was invented in Toaster City - Chelmsford. Big up Colonel Crompton!

Donna Lennard website
The Little Prince - Protein Dance Company

Are You Creative? recorded by Nick at City Sound
Edited by Nick Hearne
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

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Recorded in Chelmsford, Essex, UK

Creator of the independent comic series System Error. How to start creating a comic. Why does the System Error robot have such a big head? Creating a recognisable silhouette is essential for character design. Phil started drawing with biro, then pen, dip brush pens, and then creating digitally. Note: Phil has very clean hands, no ink! Digital is faster, cleaner and easier to adjust. Phil uses Procreate for black line work and Photoshop for colour. Phil LOVES Procreate and recommends investing the £13 to get it. System Error is about a robot called ITTO and why things went wrong in the world. He is a tour guide robot. He has to find people in need to fulfil his primary function. Like showing them pizza restaurants. But where are the people? How do you know when your comic is good enough to publish? Being published is a validation of quality. Why did Phil have to colour in his first comic to get it published? Why do British audiences like black and white comics? Phil’s German teachers husband was Barry Kitson, legendary artists for Judge Dredd, DC Comics and more - then he met him 30 years later at Comic Con. The comic community is very supportive towards each other. Phil went from starting comics, to published, to Comic Con in six years! The need for constant professional development, and side hustles and exploration for growth. Phil is an art teacher and needs to know about digital art to teach them best. In 2024 Phil has been concentrating on techniques for working faster and meeting his standard. How do you know when something is ‘done’? Putting cultural references in comics, like Talking Heads lyrics and scenes from Chelmsford. How does Phil find his audience for indie comics? Via social media. Growing an audience through regular posting and mostly meeting real people in real life. Real world interactions are extremely valuable for audience growth. Keeping a secret identity when you’re a teacher. Cosplay at Comic Con and hunting Tofu from Resident Evil 2. Making ITTO action figures with a genius 3D printer guy. Phil’s ex-students have gone on to photography careers and had art shown in the National Gallery - he’s a good teacher! “The creative industries are the fabric of everything that is around you” - Phil Campbell, very good teacher! Putting the spark of creativity into students’ minds. Judge Dredd WAS partially created in Colchester by Pat Mills - big up Essex. And big up Dave Trenow who taught Nick art. Tips for starting comics.

System Error Comic
Blue Fox Comics
System Error on Instagram

Are You Creative? recorded by Jaiden 'the ragga enforcer' at City Sound
Edited by Nick Hearne
Artwork by Alpaca An

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Recorded in Chelmsford, Essex, UK

AJ is the Co-Founder and CEO of Dlala Studios making video games in Witham in Essex. Dlala Studios made the Battletoads sequel in 2020 and more recently Disney Illusion Island starring Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy. Illusion Island is available on the Nintendo Switch. How did AJ start a computer games studio from his Mum’s garage in 2012? Starting as a programmer as a Game Content Developer at Jagex, then at Bossa, then winning a BAFTA, then starting Dlala Studios with Craig. Dlala have now been nominated for two BAFTAs for Illusion Island - Best British Game and Best Family Game. What are the rules for working with Mickey Mouse? There is no Mickeypedia! The ears on Epic Mickey on 3D vs 2D Mickey now. (Nick was wrong about Megadrive, that was Mickey Mouse and Castle of Illusion). New Mickey games are hand drawn animation! 2012 and the Indie Game Boom where the small game studios could release their own games. Indie games were a bit like the punk music of video games when distribution and publishing models changed. How Valve changed the industry. It can take over 3 years to make a video game, even with a studio of 43 people like Dlala, and 5 to 10 years for bigger titles like Grand Theft Auto. Working with Microsoft in their incubator. A chance encounter at a developer conference lead to creating a Windows 8 launch title, which lead to a cover article in Develop Magazine, which landed on a desk at Microsoft incubator, which lead to a paying gig just as AJ and Craig were about to run out of money. Getting out there, making an impression on people, and making connections. Pulling the best talent from all over the world to work in Witham, Essex. What does someone from California think when they move to Essex? AJ works with local education as a stakeholder at Chelmsford College, Colchester Institute, and as Cultural Ambassador for Essex. AJ didn’t excel at school or uni, but still found creative success. Nick’s game he made with his kids on Scratch ‘Mega Bum Poo’. AJ taught himself visual basic from ‘for Dummies’ books that he got from the library - pre-internet - inspired by his uncle. He made a South Park wrestling game at home - oh my god they suplexed Kenny! Getting work out quickly and get fast feedback and experience. AJ’s wrestling manager game. Finding projects to do based on your passion points. If you’ve got enough time to play games, you’ve got enough time to make them! Play testing games with user testing. Using testing feedback to refine games. AJ’s job as director making the games perfect and improving the play experience. Making marginal gains and nudges to perfect something, and caring about getting the product perfect for players. Getting reviews in the media, and the impact they can have. AJ’s philosophy is ‘negatives i can action, positives don’t help me.’ Dlala Studios have received over 40 awards and nominations for Illusion Island, including BAFTAs, Game Awards, Dice, Webbys. All awards for Essex! Working with Emmy award winning writers from Rick & Morty and Clarence for dialogue. Getting to work with incredible Disney voice talent recording dialogue that AJ has co-written for games. The importance of finding varied opinions and life experiences in employees and keeping it fresh with new voices. What does AJ do as an Essex Cultural Ambassador? And does he get Ferrero Rocher?

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Thanks to NGDA, City Sound and Essex County Council for their support

Recorded in Chelmsford, Essex, UK

Art as escape and a therapeutic outlet. Kat Toronto is Miss Meatface. Garry Vanderhorne the wrestling promoter told us about her in EP1 of Are You Creative? Miss Meatface is a photographic alter-ego for Kat. She was an escape for Kat to express how she was feeling at a dark time in her life in 2015 - like an art therapy. Kat uses latex masks to remove her identity and create the anonymous character. Kinky and kitchy. 1950s typical domestic scenes, made playful and surreal with latex. Miss Meatface was born in America. Kat studied photography at art school. And went on to become a librarian. The mild-mannered librarian that became a latex superstar. Miss Meatface has a wonderfully muscular Meat Maid who serves her and cleans her house in PVC. A strong part of the aesthetic is patterns and contrast. Shooting with vintage cameras and Polaroid and getting the aesthetic. Starting out art brut, a personal project with no aim for public consumption. Then moving to Instagram. Then building a global audience. Moving to the UK and discovering the differences between US and UK art appreciation. Kat’s artistic life, making hats, being in bands, creating art. Lady Viola was Kat’s ‘Ragwater Revue’ band alter-ego - she’d escaped from the circus and wore an eye-patch. Kat’s house is full of vintage clothing, props, and cameras. Kat buys props from Brentwood’s amazing charity shops. A weakness for vintage curtains, and using them as backdrops. Making mini meat-sets for photoshoots. The anti-Barbie! Miss Meatface ugly holiday sweater announcement. Styling a fondue shoot. Aspic chat! Microwave chat! Sangita has been buying lamb chops. The Miss Meatface origin story. Learning prosthetics. How a brush with mortality fired up Kat’s creative output. Talking about art brut - what even is art brut? A new obsession with vintage ventriloquist dolls. Going out in character - like Barkley Bandon in Dalston. Creating art for your own mindfulness. Nick has been enjoying Rivals and explains Bonkbusters. We love Essex’s number one actor Danny Dyer!

And that's how you fold a napkin!

Miss Meatface
Miss Meatface Shop
Miss Meatface on Instagram
Miss Meatface on TikTok

Are You Creative? recorded by Jaiden 'the ragga enforcer' at City Sound
Edited by Nick Hearne
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

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Thanks to NGDA, City Sound and Essex County Council for their support

Recorded in Chelmsford, Essex, UK

PROFESSIONAL violinist! Making money doing the creative thing that you love. Life as a musician can be hard. It’s not a 9-5 job, and there is a lot of practicing! Streamlining practice, and finding the time to do it. Diminishing returns in practicing. Setting goals for quality practice. What is score reading? Being inspired by an older sibling learning music and attending her cello lessons. Big up Classic FM - no adverts though please! Being inspired by BBC Young Musician of the Year. Attending a Nicola Benedetti concert and getting creatively inspired as a six year old. And Jennifer Pike listening to little Elodie playing violin. Five degrees of Benedetti - a chance spotting on TV leads to getting the greatest violin mentor. Getting to play a Stradivarius. Finding the right violin for you. Rich benefactors loaning out amazing instruments - thanks for supporting the arts and recent graduates! Elodie blind tested instruments to not be influenced by age and provenance and chose a modern violin. Performing a solo violin and choir piece with the BBC Singers. Difficult bits in gigs, and not being able to enjoy the performance until afterwards. Getting jobs as a freelance violinist. Word of mouth and recommendations are essential - especially with fixers. Fixers book musicians for sessions. Freelance vs salaried positions. Playing live with Ed Sheeran at Hammersmith Apollo and for Dave at Reading. Being on the Young Musician of the Year final 2018 - actually on Elodie’s 19th birthday! Exposing kids to high quality music early on in their lives. Nick goes on about Hackney Empire and watching My Neighbour Totoro live. Finding discounted tickets for classical music in London, especially for younger people. Elodie tells us about her upcoming show at Hot Box on Nov 15th 2024 with her amazing sister Miss Satin Beige. AND we’ve all had a creative week - Nick’s been canoeing over the world’s highest aqueduct with an ex-Blue Peter presenter, Sangita’s been hanging out with Big Narstie.

Elodie's website
Elodie on Instagram

Gig details for 15th Nov 2024 at Hot Box, Chelmsford

Recorded at City Sound Chelmsford with Jaiden and Paul
Edited by Nick.
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

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Recorded in Chelmsford, Essex, UK

The Marilyn Monroe of Essex. The most chaotic episode ever. Goldy does EVEYRTHING creative! New rave. Nick’s Pot Trumps cards are now in the Chelmsford Museum recent additions cabinet. Is Chingford in Essex? Can you ever really refer to yourself as creative? Is Goldy the most glamorous person in Essex? Like a Parisian flamingo with mermaid legs - in the best way! - OFFICIAL! Editor of an aesthetics magazine, and presenter of awards and shows. Creating TikToks and doing the socials to promote shows. Spotting AI cats on the internet. Being a wrestler, a crochet-er, and a pin-up model. Getting painted with King Kong. Being invited to judge a Brazilian Booty Lift Award. Spongebob Square Bum. Jetsetting with the aesthetics industry. Working in journalism. Being a podcast producer. Goldy has done so much different stuff! Thanks ADHD! Being the Queen of thrifting. Collecting ALL the clothes, especially pink coats. Sneaker pimps. Homogenisation of fashion. Having a face for radio. Pin-up origin story. Modern people making retro clothes. Becoming a retro influencer. Doing a photoshoot as Goldylocks being chased by a big gay bear. Accidentally becoming the face of inappropriate halloween costumes. Do the baddies always have the best logos? Changing culture and canceling old fashion. Feral possum energy. Crochet disasters. Making a Debbie Harry jumper. Lucy Sparrow’s amazing felt creations. Fuzzy felt. Learning wrestling - Goldy the Pin-Up that Pins You Down. This was the most chaotic episode ever - Moo Deng energy!

Instagram - @goldyloxxroxx
TikTok - @goldyloxxroxx

Are You Creative? recorded at City Sound
Edited by Nick Hearne
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

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Send comments, questions, or suggestions for fascinating creative people in Essex give us a shout on our Instagram

Thanks to NGDA, City Sound and Essex County Council for their support

Recorded in Chelmsford, Essex, UK

Special audience questions edition from Essex Podcast Festival.

What’s the coolest stunt Andy has done? A high fall. How high? 100ft!
What’s your favourite movie you’ve done a stunt in? Grimsby was the most fun film to shoot.

What stunt did you do in Harry Potter? Andy was a student as a 30-year old man, and a Death Eater and had to go to Wand School to learn the actions.

Have you ever done a stunt so crazy it made you reconsider your career choice? Andy broke his ankle as a White Walker in the Hardhome scene in Game of Thrones - and it made it into the show.
Have you ever taken any souvenir off the set? Shoot loot! Andy has some Witcher swords.

What’s the longevity of a stunt performer’s career? The job retires you! Older actors need doubles as well, so you can perform as an athletic older person. The career journey and bringing in the next generation.

What’s your number one golden rule for stunts? KEEP EVERYONE SAFE. Make it look cool. Safety comes first.

What stunt are you most proud of? Making other actors look good. Not one in particular. Every day is so different, and the variety makes the job.

Do people ask you for spoilers on productions? YES! All the time. Andy will never tell anything to anyone (except maybe his wife!) #nospoilers

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Thanks to NGDA, City Sound and Essex County Council for their support

Recorded in Chelmsford, Essex, UK