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Introducing the fifth of MEET the TEAM - James Hilditch

Founder, Master, and Guru at BearJam

I’ve been hounding James for this for a while… he’s always too busy (which, to be fair, is a good sign - otherwise I probably wouldn’t be writing this, I’d be out of a job!). But at last, what you’ve all been waiting for… drum roll please...

A Day in the Life of James 

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Early Start

“It’s a shoot day - one of three half-days we’re filming for a profile episode we’re producing with NBCU and UBS. We’ve been planning and scripting for weeks, so it’s great to finally get cameras rolling and bring it all to life.

Call time is 6:30am, so I’m up and out before the kids are awake. Living in SW18 means a quick train and tube into the City, where we’re shooting in a large office. We did a recce yesterday, so the plan is locked in and clear.

On the train, I catch up on emails and review a new animation version. One of the perks of working on the move is being able to give Sarah, our animator, quick feedback so nothing gets held up.”

On Set

“I meet the crew on location and finalise the shot list. The sun is shining, which gives us beautiful light for exterior shots - suddenly, the early start feels worth it.

We move into the main interview. We had a few scripted lines ready, but the conversation flowed naturally and hit the narrative beats we needed. Those unplanned moments always bring a story to life.

Then it’s b-roll. My role is working with the DoP to make sure we capture everything we’ll need in the edit - cinematic, polished, and full of energy. We wrap just after lunch, which leaves time to head back to the office.”

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Back at the Office

“The afternoon is packed with client calls. First, I run through a script for another animation. Next, I pitch to a start-up, showcasing some AI-generated visuals. The client’s reaction? ‘You’ve absolutely nailed it. I’m feeling emotional.’Moments like that make all the prep worthwhile.

Finally, I take a new client brief to localise assets for the UK market using AI.”

After Hours

“Once I’m home, the day isn’t quite over. I’m training for a triathlon, so I jump on the bike for a 45-minute ride. Then it’s dinner and a bit of Netflix - currently, the Amanda Knox series.

Early night though - tomorrow’s another shoot.”

And that’s a quick snapshot of James’ day as a Creative Director. Of course, he does a lot more behind the scenes too… so I’ll be hounding him again for another version soon. Watch this space - more to come!

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