Aidan’s is one of our newest recruits, so we only have nice things to say about him. So far he hasn’t messed up the kitchen, been repeatedly late, broken any machinery or fallen out with anyone. He came to us highly recommended, an award winning editor with a host of high profile clients describing him as perceptive, contemporary and original, calm, hugely skilled technically and extremely creative. One even said Aidan was one of the new generation of film editors - whatever that means. This all sounds great doesn’t it? No pressure then Aidan.

What is your job role? Senior Editor What’s your favourite word? Solipsistic What is your least favourite word? Chillax What turns you on? tech What turns you off? the mundane What sound or noise do you love? the sound a snowboard makes cutting through powder What sound or noise do you hate? the high pitched buzzing from the ballast in a fluorescent light What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Personal Trainer (then I'd have no excuses) What profession would you not like to participate in? Bovine Artificial Insemination When you arrive at the pearly gates what would you like God to say to you? "I particularly enjoyed the sonnets you wrote when you were 12"

Ciara's from Dublin and in a previous life worked as a Production Manager on some of the largest feature films produced in the UK in recent memory. Anyone seen West is West, An Education, Hotel Rwanda or King Arthur? Thought so. We’re pretty sure there’s nothing that we could give her that she hasn’t seen before. This background, in the toughest of production environments means two things for the Digital team she looks after at Pretzel. Firstly, if there was a spade beside Ciara's desk she wouldn't call it a shovel, a trowel, a ladel or a spoon. It'd be a spade. We love her for that and so do her clients. Secondly, if there was some digging to be done she'd be the first one to pick up that spade, rally the troupes and get to work. We love her for that too.

What is your job role? Head of Digital Production  What’s your favourite word?  Love What is your least favourite word? Hate  What turns you on? Beauty  What turns you off? Discord  What sound or noise do you love? Horses  What sound or noise do you hate? Pneumatic drills  What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Athlete   What profession would you not like to participate in? Civil Service  When you arrive at the pearly gates what would you like God to say to you? All your friends and family are looking forward to seeing you

As a client you may never meet Darius. Although, you may hear of his legend through conversations between staff. He’s like Top Gear’s The Stig. Some say he exists purely on a diet of Nando’s and Yog, that he speaks only in numbers and that his middle name is ‘Sage’. What we do know is he’s our FD. He’s the one who stays late at the end of the month to make sure we all get paid, the one that puts food on our tables and keeps a roof over our heads. And on behalf of everyone, we’d like to say Thanks!!

Dean is one of our newest recruits, snapped up straight out of college he began work with us in February 2011. Dean is the most cosmopolitan of our Directors, having lived and studied in many European countries, which has obviously influenced his taste in film, music and fashion. That’s a nice way of saying Dean dresses... interestingly. He’s a graduate in Broadcasting and already an award winner at various film festivals. He also obtained a first class distinction in his postgraduate degree (the Graphic Moving Image), this makes him officially one of the most educated Pretzelites. Dean has already worked on a range of projects for us including documentaries, promotional films, behind the scenes shorts and corporate films... and once he buys a collared shirt we’ll let him film a CEO.

What is your job role? Director What’s your favourite word? Monochrome What is your least favourite word? OMG, LOL, any other word in the English language that has been butchered by technology, shortened, and ruined. What turns you on? The weather What turns you off? The weather What sound or noise do you love? Ice melting. What sound or noise do you hate? Chalkboard What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Journalist / writer (travel or war) What profession would you not like to participate in? Conservative MP!!! When you arrive at the pearly gates what would you like God to say to you? Chess?

Giles began working as an in-house director for Pretzel almost immediately after graduating. In his first two years of professional commercial and corporate work he has already directed projects for a diverse list of clients and picked up honours at this year's IVCA awards. A graduate in Fine Art, Giles was tipped as one of the "Ten Emerging Artists To Watch" in The Times. His second short, Orrible, screened as a world premiere at the Academy Award qualifying Palm Springs International Short Fest in 2011. He recently appeared on School Of Saatchi, a BBC2 series where he made it to the last 12 of over 3000 competing artists to present to the likes of Charles Saatchi, Matthew Collings and Tracey Emin. They didn’t know what to make of him. Neither do we..

What is your job role? Director / editorWhat’s your favourite word? Of the ones I know – probably ‘bump’What is your least favourite word? ‘Whereby’ – morons say it to sound cleverWhat turns you on? SocksWhat turns you off? SlippersWhat sound or noise do you love? CatsWhat sound or noise do you hate? ChildrenWhat profession other than your own would you like to attempt? TrustafarianWhat profession would you not like to participate in? ServiceWhen you arrive at the pearly gates what would you like god to say to you? You complete me

Grace French isn’t French, she’s from Luton. So technically it’d be easy for her to get a flight to France, but she’s not French. Grace's passion for the industry led her to take a work experience offer at Pretzel, and within a year she had moved up the ladder to become a Production Assistant via the role of runner, très bonne, non? Her forensic attention to detail, specifically in preparing and setting up shoots makes her an invaluable cog in the production machine. Entre nous, we don’t really know what we’d do without her.

What is your job role?  Production Assistant  What’s your favourite word?  Sweet  What is your least favourite word?  Rape  What turns you on?  Humour, being comfortable  What turns you off?  Being irritated, uncomfortable edgy people What sound or noise do you love? Rain on windows  What sound or noise do you hate?  Motorbikes, quad bikes – revving  What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?  Tennis player or working at a music channel  What profession would you not like to participate in? Working in a call centre or being outdoors all day  When you arrive at the pearly gates what would you like God to say to you? Hi, how are you?

In March of 2011 Jake was awarded “Best Newcomer” for the UK film industry by the IVCA.  The judges described his work as “deeply mature film-making”, he was 26. Jake doesn’t do this for the awards. He has already filmed all over the globe in locations as varied as Singapore, Poland and Helmand Province in Afghanistan. But Jake doesn’t make films so he can travel the world. You know you have a rare talent on your hands when camera crew clamour to work with them on projects large and small. Jake is one of those rare talents, but he doesn’t make films for the acclaim. Jake makes films because he loves them. And we love Jake.

Everything is backwards with Jake. Jake has filmed in Helmand Province in Afganistan without getting a scratch but broke both his elbows on the Old Kent Road. He came off his bicycle, avoiding children who were obviously never taught the green-cross-code.

He has made commercials in Danish and shot in Singapore for Publicis. He has worked in slow motion for Whistles, live for Topshop and in stopmotion for Leo Burnett. As a producer, you always know when a director is talented. Camera crew wants to work with them on anything they do.

What is your job role? Director What’s your favourite word? Douchebag What is your least favourite word? Homework What turns you on? Flower print dresses What turns you off? Remebering my boss PJ wearing his t-shirt like a girls bra and dancing on a soldiers bed in camp Bastion Afghanistan What sound or noise do you love? The sea What sound or noise do you hate? My nephew’s toy tractor What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Writer/furniture maker/computer games/gardener/creative director/teacher/sword master What profession would you not like to participate in? Police/army When you arrive at the pearly gates what would you like God to say to you? Go on then, in you go.

On graduating from New York Film Academy in 2005, James directed a series of Cobra Beer idents for ITV that won him the top prize at the Cobra Vision Film Festival. He then shot his first professional commission aged just 24, the film was so successful it became the client's number one fundraiser, raising over £7 million. James didn’t see any of that money. Since that disappointment he has been directing professionally non-stop. He has added 11 more citations and awards internationally for his work. His enthusiasm for storytelling has been applied to over 50 TV commercials, corporate films, viral videos and even a TV food series. James is still only 28 and massively overachieving..

What is your job role? Director/EditorWhat’s your favourite word? YesWhat is your least favourite word?NoWhat turns you on? Positivity What turns you off? NegativityWhat sound or noise do you love? Rain on widowsWhat sound or noise do you hate?Crying/whining babies What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?Scuba divingWhat profession would you not like to participate in?Labourer When you arrive at the pearly gates what would you like God to say to you?You did so well the first time, go back and have another life…

Jamie will tell you he creates films that are “bold in content and whimsical in tone with a distinctive visual flare”. We’ll tell you he is an innovative filmmaker, capable of creating beautiful stories about any subject that will impress agency creatives and corporate communicators alike. He’s made some incredibly diverse films in his time at Pretzel, from documentaries in Uganda to following a free running office worker through the streets of London - he’s even filmed a piece to camera with a talking cow in a field in the middle of nowhere. Most importantly, Jamie cares deeply about the films he makes. So much so that he’s been known to write a passionate declaration of intent at the end of his treatments before we’ve even won the job. However, Jamie’s also been known to make passionate declarations about his lunch, his freedom to wear shorts in the office and the photograph he’s just taken on his phone. Don’t think you’re special, Jamie’s just a passionate guy. 

What is your job role? Director/Editor What’s your favourite word? Blamange. What is your least favourite word? Silence What turns you on? Your Mum What turns you off? Andy Macdowell. What sound or noise do you love? Warewolf cry ‘awoooo’ What sound or noise do you hate? Karaoke What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? A time travelling explorer who beats Columbus to America. What profession would you not like to participate in? A janitor at a porno theatre. When you arrive at the pearly gates what would you like God to say to you? He’d say nothing. Him and me aren’t speaking since I told him his beard needed a trim…

If your email breaks, or you can’t get into your computer, or the printer goes down, or you need a link to a film, or a reel put together, or... well to be honest if anything that is powered by electricity is giving you problems Jonny can most likely help you. As well as a being a gifted Editor he has an insatiable appetite for new technologies and fills an indispensable role in our post-production team. Jonny keeps the wheels of post-production turning. If he had a business card it would have to say professional post producing technological edit support system / football analyst. That’s too long for a business card, and that's okay, he doesn’t need one cause we don’t let him out.

What is your job role?  Post Production Executive What’s your favourite word? Giraffe  What is your least favourite word?  Entrepreneur What turns you on?  Red heads or blondes What turns you off? Arrogance What sound or noise do you love? Rain What sound or noise do you hate? Kids screaming What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Athlete What profession would you not like to participate in? Builder  When you arrive at the pearly gates what would you like God to say to you? Ooops

Its a well known fact that girls mature faster than boys. That might be why Lucy is our youngest director. She can multitask, she’s worked in fashion, photography, music, graphic design and interiors. Directing lets her bring all these interests together in one place. She’s sophisticated, in fact she marks early French cinema and the director Stanley Kubrick as her biggest influences. She’s cool, not a trait reserved only for girls but she has worked at Dazed and Confused in their digital department, cool enough for you? Most importantly she brings a female point of view to Pretzel’s post production suites, making surreal versions of reality that feel like a small step away from our world

What’s your favourite word? Milkshake What is your least favourite word? Innovative   What turns you on? DessertWhat turns you off? No dessert  What sound or noise do you love? Being underwater  What sound or noise do you hate? The voice of an overly assertive person  What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Fashion designer  What profession would you not like to participate in? Banking  When you arrive at the pearly gates what would you like God to say to you?  "Welcome to Scandinavia"

Creative Directors come in a number of guises; visionaries, perfectionists, strategists. Ours is... Scottish. If you need to communicate anything, anything at all Mark will deliver something that is not only creative but that is perfectly pitched to sit effortlessly alongside your wider strategy and guaranteed to deliver results. Mark’s experience is extensive and his award cabinet is overflowing. Okay, he doesn’t really have an award cabinet, but you know what we’re getting at. We wanted a Creative Director oozing with talent who could deliver films that would blow away the competition whilst still coming in on budget. That’s why we imported ours from Scotland (they’re thrifty there) and it was worth it. Even if he sometimes does need subtitles..

What is your job role? Corporate Creative Director What’s your favourite word? Bampot What is your least favourite word? Unfortunately (it’s always followed by something bad)  What turns you on? Learning something new What turns you off? Rudeness  What sound or noise do you love? A fruit machine paying out  What sound or noise do you hate? The iPhone preset ringtone  What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Managing Director :-) What profession would you not like to participate in? Anything that involves jumping out of a plane When you arrive at the pearly gates what would you like God to say to you? Double or quits?

After working on both sides of the Atlantic and gathering a host of awards for his groundbreaking direction and editing, Matt became a Partner at Pretzel Films in 2006 and Creative Development Director in 2011. He is responsible for our drive to embrace new technologies and whilst acting as trusted confidant to our Directors and Editors he makes it his mission to challenge them to try new things and improve every day. Have you ever thought you discovered something new or innovative only to have someone claim to have seen it first? Matt actually did see it first. He saw it before you got up this morning and has already emailed it round the office. He’s probably found a supplier for it and included it in a proposal to a client. Matt’s so far ahead of the curve when it comes to what’s moving and shaking in the digital world that it’s only fitting that he rides a bicycle to work. It’s the old school ying to his techno savvy yang. And it’s not a motorbike or a turbo charged bike from the future as you might expect, it’s just a regular push bike. But it’s a very nice push bike. We’d expect nothing less.

What is your job role?  Creative Development Director   What’s your favourite word?  Juxtapose  What is your least favourite word?  Can’t  What turns you on?  Shiny things and talent  What turns you off?  No Glasses  What sound or noise do you love?  Hello Daddy  What sound or noise do you hate?  The sound of someone saying can’t  What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?  Pilot  What profession would you not like to participate in?  Steward  When you arrive at the pearly gates what would you like God to say to you? You’ve been upgraded.

Nicole started at Pretzel as a production runner. Working as a researcher, assisting with wardrobe and props and organising locations, Nicole has had a varied learning experience which has helped her to gain a broad knowledge of the industry. If you were to look up 'can do attitude' online you'd probably see a picture of Nicole, she’s willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done and doesn't take no for an answer. Now in the role of Production Assistant she has taken on more responsibility, dealing directly with clients and assisting on all aspects of production. It's very likely that it won't be long until Nic Nic is running the company.

What is your job role? Production Assistant What’s your favourite word? Chocolate What is your least favourite word? Chowder What turns you on? A nice smile What turns you off? Arrogance What sound or noise do you love? The sound of dog’s feet walking along on a wooden floor! What sound or noise do you hate? Crying baby What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Dance!! (Not the exotic kind.) What profession would you not like to participate in? Midwifery When you arrive at the pearly gates what would you like God to say to you? Welcome to Topshop, everything here is free.

What is your job role?  Financial Controller  What’s your favourite word?  Goal  What is your least favourite word?  Dude  What turns you on?   Birdies What turns you off?  Double Bogeys  What sound or noise do you love?  My son laughing  What sound or noise do you hate?  Fork/Knife scraping on a Plate What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?  Film Director  What profession would you not like to participate in?  Surgeon  When you arrive at the pearly gates what would you like God to say to you?  You're too early!

Pete has a 1st Class honours degree in Fine Art/Textiles. He worked with Mike Leigh on the Cannes award winning feature "Naked". He also spent 4 years making his way through RSA under Ridley Scott’s tutelage. It would be fair to say Pete doesn’t really do things by half. His talent, experience and attention to detail make him the perfect advisor for our young production team, helping them think their way through the daily challenges and squeeze every last penny out of a budget to create brilliant films. He is a key influence behind our ethos of developing young talent and a standard bearer for their consistent quality of production, working as a coach, mentor, creative and production specialist. I currently have £3.86, a mobile phone, a biro pen and a box of matches in my pocket. Pete could make a film using only these items... and it would win awards. Would you rather work with anyone else?

What is your job role? Joint MD What’s your favourite word? Daddy What is your least favourite word? Cant What turns you on? Warm Sunlight and the sound of water What turns you off? Ignorance What sound or noise do you love? my kids laughing What sound or noise do you hate? Someone being threatened What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Artist  What profession would you not like to participate in? A Proctologist  When you arrive at the pearly gates what would you like God to say to you? Everyone you've missed is here waiting for you but you will have to wait for 50 years before the kids get here

If you are an agency looking for a production company you’ve probably heard from Pippa. If not you should get in touch with her. Pippa has a wealth of experience in the fields of music and advertising. Working as a press officer for Warners Music, founding a photograpers’ agency specialising in advertising, music and fashion, and as an art buyer at HHCL and CHI & Partners. Pippa eventually joined Pretzel to work on new business and to rep our Directors, and has wonderful things to tell you about them. They’re very complementary about her too.

What is your job role? Sales Rep and New Business  What’s your favourite word? Pernickety  What is your least favourite word? Nice What turns you on? A challenge  What turns you off? Whining  What sound or noise do you love? Drums  What sound or noise do you hate? Whining  What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Reef Conservationist  What profession would you not like to participate in?  Call Centre  When you arrive at the pearly gates what would you like God to say to you? Well done

A Team GB Decathlete, who became apprentice to the biggest film director in the world. A creative powerhouse who evolved into the figure head of one of the UK’s brightest film companies. Pj’s eclectic career has taken him from drama school in London to the bright lights of Hollywood, from a creative director at a company named after a girly cocktail to creating one that shares its moniker with an iconic savoury snack. He is an entrepreneur, a bon viveur, a raconteur, a visionary, a leader of men (and women) a passionate film maker and shrewd man manager devoted to each and every member of his team. Pj is all these things and more, a chameleon of the business world, as comfortable discussing strategy with a CEO in the Woolsey as he is stalking them on Linked In. No really...he loves Linked In. Likes Facebook, but LOVES Linked In!!

What’s your favourite word? Congratulations What is your least favourite word? Can’t…  What turns you on? AK47 What turns you off? Ignorance  What sound or noise do you love? The violin  What sound or noise do you hate? Kids crying  What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Beach bum  What profession would you not like to participate in? Government  When you arrive at the pearly gates what would you like God to say to you?  Your cast and crew are over there, rehearsals start in 10.

Having missed out on formal training, a self-made man no less! Ray started his own very successful, award winning design company at the tender age of 25. Working initially for music industry clients and organisations such as the Arts and Crafts Councils, work increasingly came from major companies like Thames Television, Marks and Spencer, Diageo, Kimberly-Clark, Tesco, BT and the ubiquitous Virgin group.Ray leads our brand visually, he runs Pretzel Design LLP and is looking for a gallery to feature his work, preferably one with high net worth patrons...(well its worth an ask!)...

What is your job role? Creative Design Director What’s your favourite word? Peccadilloes What is your least favourite word? Sadly What turns you on? Landscape, still life and beauty in all its forms What turns you off? Uglyness in all its formsWhat sound or noise do you love? Meow What sound or noise do you hate? Woof What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Sculptor or stonecarverWhat profession would you not like to participate in? The Army or anything that involves bodily harm to others or myself When you arrive at the pearly gates what would you like God to say to you? Welcome home Son

Sam has over seven years of experience working in Film and Television on both sides of the Atlantic. He has been instrumental in delivering Emmy award winning shows in the US and some of the most popular programmes on British TV. It's this knowledge and expertise that he brings to Pretzel. Sam understands how important it is for a company to have their finger on the pulse of today and this shines through in his award-winning digital films, music videos and much much more. Whether the budget is large or small he always exceeded expectations. We have also never seen Sam and Russell Brand in the same room at the same time. Just saying.

What is your job role?  Production Manager  What’s your favourite word?  Nonchalant  What is your least favourite word?  Lads What turns you on?  Gigging  What turns you off?  …in front of an empty audience  What sound or noise do you love?  My cat purring  What sound or noise do you hate?  Baby crying  What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?  Rock Star  What profession would you not like to participate in? Terrorist  When you arrive at the pearly gates what would you like God to say to you? "Where have you been?"

Sean is studying Accountancy & Finance with Chinese (Mandarin) at Southampton Solent University. He graduates in July 2012.

What is your job role? Finance Assistant What’s your favourite word? Hello What is your least favourite word? Rice What turns you on? Brittany Murphy What turns you off? Brussel Sprouts What sound or noise do you love? Football Crowds What sound or noise do you hate? Rap What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Teacher What profession would you not like to participate in? A dentist! When you arrive at the pearly gates what would you like God to say to you? "How would you like to go back"

Contrary to popular belief Tom Ford is not a multi-millionaire designer and feature film director, he actually works for us as a Production Manager and has a denim shirt we’re all jealous of and a leather jacket that we’re not. He has worked in production for almost 7 years and is arguably our safest pair of hands, whether you need to film a CEO, a TV commercial or a fashion show. Coming from a TV documentary background, Tom made the move into short format filmmaking at Pretzel and hasn't looked back, using the skills he developed in the broadcast world to great effect to produce some of our best and most revered work. In fact there’s only one Tom Ford we know of who has won more awards than our Tom Ford, and they were for perfume.

What is your job role? Production Manager What’s your favourite word? Delicious  What is your least favourite word? Literally  What turns you on? Music, sunshine, shellfish! What turns you off? Tube travel What sound or noise do you love? Thunder and Lightening! What sound or noise do you hate? Nails on a blackboard What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Rock ‘Godery’ or in the real world running a restaurant  What profession would you not like to participate in? PR  When you arrive at the pearly gates what would you like God to say to you? Have you got any ID?

With over a decade of experience at the top of the industry Viktoria has produced films for every major organisation you can imagine. Her career has taken her all over the globe, working for some of the major players in the world of corporate production but she finally found her calling when she joined Pretzel in early 2010. As our head of corporate production Viktoria is a impressive blend of creative, sleuth, psychologist, project manager and that guy in Pulp Fiction who sorts out the brain-splattered mess in the car.

What is your job role?  Head of Corporate Production  What’s your favourite word?  Lunch  What is your least favourite word?  Accomodation- because I always spell it wrongly!  What turns you on?  Delicious food What turns you off?  People who look at life with the glass half empty, bad hygiene  What sound or noise do you love?  Birds singing  What sound or noise do you hate?  Car alarm  What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Fashion Buyer  What profession would you not like to participate in?  Anything that requires me to sit in a silent, beige office  When you arrive at the pearly gates what would you like God to say to you? Come and join the party