Career
January 1, 2022
Favourite Child
Favourite Child is a film and video production company that enables me to assemble bespoke teams to deliver high production content for Brands and Organisations.
Since conception I’ve had the opportunity to work with large creative agencies and direct with brands on a range of internal and external facing comms. Clients via TCEG include: Nissan, Tempur, Lloyds Bank UK, Astra Zeneca, Anglo American. Direct clients are Kilo Solutions, and Vertex Professional Services.
December 1, 2021
Marmalade Film and Media
https://marmaladefilmandmedia.com/
As a global purpose-led creative communications agency, Marmalade’s mission was to drive meaningful, impactful change with the brands and businesses who strive to do better for people and planet.
Senior Producer
Lead Producer for global and national campaigns, working alongside the CD and HoP. Overseeing remote workflow with international crews, developing, and managing content from concept to delivery.
Brought to life EY’s Local Markets campaign. Featured EY programs championing diversity and entrepreneurship across multiple US cities. Produced, Scripted and Edit produced cinematic min-docs, social teasers, and CNBC commercials.
Worked with HSBC UK and Change Please to promote their ‘drive for change’ project, transforming London buses into mobile support centres and delivering vital services to people experiencing homelessness. Produced, directed, scripted, and edit produced partnership activation films.
2020
Independent
In 2019 I left my position as Creative Director of Film at Maverick Advertising and Design. I took an extended period of paternity leave, and continued to work with Maverick on a freelance basis.
I gained a diploma in Digital Marketing, brushed up on my Adobe Premiere skills and learnt how to build websites (of which this is one).
July 1, 2016
Maverick Advertising and Design
Maverick is an independent full-service agency with over 150 employees. Its largest client, DHL, has one of the largest employee engagement programmes in the world.
Creative Director of Film/Executive Producer
I was tasked with generating the creative and producing films for an internal campaign called ‘The Power of Brands’. A learning module designed to inform and inspire 500,000 global DPDHL employees.
I led the film creative to help promote DHL’s partnership with Susie Goodall and her attempt to circumnavigate the globe in a rerun of the notorious Golden Globes Race. A range of content from cinematic shorts to social media films engaged both internal and external audiences, winning CMA and Brand film awards.
I was subsequently promoted to Creative Director of Film where I was responsible for inspiring a culture of creativity and enhancing the film output. I helped to restructure the film department, streamlining its capabilities, clarifying job roles and responsibilities, driving agency efficiency. I continued to Exec produce, write, direct, and edit produce for clients including DHL, The Global Fund, Ann Summers, and Coca Cola.
“I have had the privilege of working with Matthew for over two years, in his role as Creative Director of Film. From the outset, his influence was like a breath of fresh air, seeing things from a different creative perspective, challenging preconceived ideas, offering effective solutions. He worked with myself and my team on social animations, motion graphics, documentaries, dramas, all of which were great quality, consistently fresh, on brief, and to message. He’s also a thoroughly nice chap!”
– Andy Myring (Director and Head of Design)
November 1, 2015
Flying Fish Sailing Academy
Having never sailed before in my life an intensive Yachtmaster course divided between the Isle of Wight and the South East Coast of Australia seemed like a curious choice for a short career break.
Although the challenge of throwing myself back into the learning deep end (And the Pacific is quite deep as it turns out) would reap its own rewards, I hadn’t expected it to be entirely useful when I returned to the UK and the world of content creation.
Turns out I could not have been more wrong! See Susie Goodall x DHL (Film page).
January 1, 2013
The Moment
The Moment is an international content company, spun out of the Twofour Group in December 2014, specialising in content strategy, production, digital experiences, and events.
Lead Senior Producer
Promoted to Lead Senior Producer, I was tasked with line managing AP’s and supporting senior producers, delivering Branded Content, and L&D for a diverse range of clients including Dupont, Kenco, Levi, BBC Learning, and Audi.
I continued to ideate, produce, and direct Branded content, employee engagement and training and development for key clients including Volkswagen, Carnival Cruises, Babcock Marine, Sony, Siemens and winning CMA’s for The Royal Mail.
“Matt is an amazing bridge between strategic direction and creative craft. His natural approach is to build strong, trusted relationships with clients and colleagues that enable him to get under the skin of the changes creative needs to drive. Whatever we’ve worked on, from the mundane to the audacious, Matt has always found solutions that connect with the audience in meaningful ways and deliver the changes we’ve been looking for. He’s is masterful in his craft, meaning clients are always confident of the product they’ll receive, and his colleagues that they’ll produce something they can truly be proud of.”
– Howard Gregory (Head of Strategy)
January 1, 2011
One Two Four (Would rebrand as The Moment)
One Two Four was the digital division of the Twofour Group, one of the UK’s leading broadcast TV producers and named independent production company of the year 2014.
Senior Producer
Hired as Senior Producer on the department’s flagship account with the Volkswagen group. I PD’d the monthly broadcast evolving the format from presenter led, to Live, to narrated magazine style show. Curated and created original content for VW TV the in-store retailer channel. Worked with marketing departments and the board of management to create a range of sales, training, and brand films.
Other key clients included EY, and Virgin.
November 1, 2010
Freelance (Good Dog Productions)
Senior Producer
(Now Shoot Aviation) are Europe’s largest provider of aviation sets and content for Film and TV, working with major Hollywood studios, global media providers and UK broadcasters, including Disney, Netflix, and the BBC.
Pitched and won a commission to make a series of patient information films for the British Medical Journal (BMJ) in partnership with the Guardian online.
“Can I just say ‘Wow!”? These are such good quality videos. I think the Good Dog team have done a fantastic job (not to mention us of course for choosing the right production company!). I can imagine loads of doctors wanting to recommend them to their patients, and think anyone affected by the conditions would be really pleased to watch them. They’re interesting, positive, very watchable, and knock the spots off other patient information films.”
– Anna Sayburn (Senior Editor, Best Health, BMJ Group)
November 1, 2007
Televisionary
http://www.televisionary.co.uk/
Senior Producer | Series Director
Televisionary was frequently listed in Broadcast Magazine and Televisual Magazine lists of the top 100 production companies in the UK. An award winning independent with a track record of producing business and broadcast programming.
Hired as Senior Producer Director to lead European shoot for flagship client Princess Yachts. Filmed 2 seasons of the Fat Face Night series, gaining national exposure for the brand through online and regional news outlets.
Other clients included The Met Office, CEOP and Natural England. The Grid for Learning and the National Curriculum. Continued to PD Television series for ITV/UTV/BBC, including Series Director on Richard O’Brien’s Dead Strange (10 x 30, ITV)
“A great team player with fresh, original ideas and an energetic approach to production. He’s also quite tall!”
– Jeremy Hibbard, Creative Director
October 1, 2005
Satellite Park Productions (ITV1)
Senior Producer/Company Director
Started independent production company. Won original commission and repeat series, co-productions with ITV Westcountry and West. One a reality dating show, presented by Sarah Cawood, called ‘The Love Bus’, taking a bunch of singletons on the road looking for love. And a 2-parter investigating the existence of the paranormal, called ‘Believe it or not’. Most did btw, but then it did go out extremely late at night. Created management assessment programme for Brita UK.
“The exercise we undertook with Matt allowed us, within specific boundaries, to explore our ability to do an unusual task involving creativity, discipline and role shifting which was challenging, but rewarding. We were able to quickly reestablish ourselves into a cohesive unit. I would recommend others to try the process.”
– Anthony Spruce, Marketing Director, Brita Water Filters
September 1, 2002
ITV1
Producer Director
The Features department in the South West produced 150 hours of factual/entertainment programming a year and fostered partnerships with other broadcasters and advertisers including the BBC, Discovery, and Tesco.
A grounding in broadcast television enabled me to learn from experienced craft professionals and gain a robust understanding of all production roles and departments.
Formats included: children’s tv, current affairs, lifestyle, magazine, makeover, music documentary and reality.
“Matt Balaam has been a pleasure to work with. Professional at all times, creative and dedicated not just to detail but the wider picture, as well as being a thoroughly nice human being. Always receptive to ideas, anxious to please but most of all, eager to get it right.”
– Jane Blanchard, Head of Features and Current Affairs
August 1, 1999
University of Portsmouth
BA (HONS) 2-1 Film and Video production.
Well honestly, I didn’t expect you to go this far back. We learnt the history of cinema, from classic Hollywood to German Expressionism and French New Wave. We studied short form film and documentary and a range of technical skills from camera to editing. We may have made the odd pretentious film.