SANDSTORM FILMS
ABOUT US
SANDSTORM FILMS
ABOUT US
Got a question about Sandstorm Films?
We’re an independent, world class film production facility for advertising content, based in the UK. From Studios to Motion control, Alexa to Phantom, Edit to Grade and everything in between, we have it all in-house, on one site.
Back in 2000 we began creating a content production service that breaks away from the traditional advertising model. Why? The old, fragmented approach to production – via multiple stakeholders, locations and teams – simply didn’t work.
The only way to take full control of the creative journey was to bring the entire process in-house, so we built the bricks-and-mortar facilities and invested in the industry-leading equipment to do so.
Fast-forward 20 years and it’s the reason emerging brands choose Sandstorm to make their creative vision a reality, and household names trust us with their most important work.
2000
SOHO
Sandstorm started as a production company in Soho and almost 20 years later, creative and technical excellence are still part of who we are.
2007
SCIENCE MUSEUM
Moving out to Wiltshire to set up a creative hub for the Science Museum was a bold move that marked us out very early on as mould-breakers.
2009
CUSTOM BUILT HQ
In 2009 we took over an old dairy and converted it into the fully equipped film studios and post-production facilities you see today.
MEET THE SANDSTORM FILMS TEAM
Matt Wicker
Cam Smith
Tom Ward
Peter Morrell
Ed Moorhouse
Ollie Bunce
Ayo Hughes
Scot Openshaw
Frazer Hopkins
Charlie Wicker
Marie-Ann Morrell
Dann Emmons
Mark Patterson
Curtis ReadOUR STORY
OUR STORY
Jenny Chapman
Bookings & PA to MD
The production assistant who became the heart of Sandstorm Films, Jen started her career as a freelancer working as a production assistant. After a number of projects with Sandstorm Films she was convinced the company was not only the industry’s future but her own.
Jen’s tireless energy for perfection offers clients a unique level of insight when it comes to booking, scheduling and delivering their projects, all while making sure everyone has a plentiful supply of artisan coffee.
Today her hands-on and hybrid role involves being PA to MD; Tom Ward, in addition to managing projects for clients and the scheduling of the facilities.
Kitt Pope
Set Builder
The antipodean set building super star takes a pretty relaxed approach to everything, on the face of the things at least – and then ballistically turns his hand to all aspects of carpentry, decoration and art dept. Kitt has freelanced with Sandstorm for a few years and joined the team full time at the beginning of 2020.
Being a Kiwi, he particularly appreciates colleagues attempting a dodgy Aussie accent to make him feel all the more part of the team…
Ayo Hughes
Strategy Director
Ayo spent twenty years in some of the leading London creative agencies creating TV commercials and integrated campaigns.
An early adopter of digital marketing he sees branded film and content as a key element of Marketing’s future development in his role in the Sandstorm Films team as Strategy Director.
Today Ayo works directly with clients to ensure the performance optimisation of their campaigns.
Scot Openshaw
TechnoDolly Op & DOP
As his picture suggests, Scot is most at home when he’s creating stuff. From his role as a Director of Photography to his work with our TechnoDolly, to welding up new rigs and contraptions. He is one of the most dedicated and friendliest people you will ever meet on-set and he loves solving problems.
Matt Wicker
Director of Photography
Matt started his career in London, working as a photographer’s assistant, before running his own studios.
His studio merged with Sandstorm Films in 2013 to manage and produce product focused photography and film.
Time and time again, Matt not only proves himself to be one of the most knowledgeable and precise Directors of Photography in the world today but also an unrivaled expert wrangling products. There is no production issue that Matt has not had to solve before.
Tom Ward
Managing Director
The technical visionary who literally built Sandstorm Films from the ground-up and changed the way branded film and content is created.
Tom’s unparalleled technical understanding, combined with a very hands-on approach to film-making and photography brings his vision of a complete creative service to our clients and drives the Sandstorm Films’ team to deliver the most beautiful (OR PREMIUM), efficient and performance optimised content for our clients in a no-fuss way.
He is a seasoned director working on TV commercials for Toyota, Bear Grylls, and TRESemmé to name a few.
Marie-Ann ‘Maz’ Morrell
Senior Producer
Maz is the ultimate example of a modern film production hybrid and the embodiment of how Sandstorm operate.
Prior to working at Sandstorm, Maz was based in London as a producer and editor, bringing her versatile ability to orchestrate, coordinate and create everything from global TV commercials to versioning projects to Sandstorm and our clients in 2012. Since then, although mainly focused on producing she is still (in Tom’s opinion) the best story-telling editor he has ever met.
Dann Emmons
Director Of Photography
Dann is a regular Director of Photography and Cameraman at Sandstorm, he is incredibly inventive and has a great eye for composition and visual storytelling. Though we always encourage a bit of healthy competition, it is not uncommon for Dann and Matt to partner up on shooting projects where Dann’s more organic location experience teams up brilliantly with Matt’s uncompromised ability to light a product or a set.
Peter ‘Pedro’ Morrell
Director
Pedro started his career in Soho before joining our London office in 2008. Today, based at our studios in Wiltshire, he heads up our Post-production department as well as directing high-end visuals for some of the world’s leading brands including Dyson, Budweiser and Hertz.
His hybrid skill set in both production and post-production offers a unique experience for clients as they are able to work with him from concept to completion – ensuring a unified and fully realised film.
Ed Moorhouse
Senior Editor & VFX
Ed spent over a decade working in post-production departments around the UK before joining Sandstorm Films.
His creative flare spans across the entire post-production spectrum and his 2D VFX skills are superb, though he specialises in online and grading.
The high-end cinematic quality of his work is obvious in all the work he does here at Sandstorm Films.
Frazer Hopkins
VFX
Frazer is the ultimate example of a go-getter. His first experience with Sandstorm was when he was just 13 and telephoned the studio to see if he could come in and shadow our team. Three years later he joined as an apprentice and, after successfully qualifying, joined our post-production team full time.
His natural eye for detail, ability to always think of a creative solution to any problem have made him an invaluable asset to any Sandstorm Films production.
Mark Patterson
CGI
Mark has worked as a freelancer for Sandstorm for over 15 years! Yes, he really is that old. His specialist CGI skills and his knowledge of on-set production make him a great hybrid member of the team.
Cam Smith
Lighting Technician
Cam joined the Sandstorm Films crew straight from University to begin his career in film production.
Cam opitomises the energy and enthusiasm of a great production crew member, combining a fast can-do attitude with detailed and tireless execution and always comes out smiling… and with a beer in hand.
Ollie Bunce
Studio Assistant
With youthful looks and long hair that Tom can only dream of having, Ollie is a young energetic pair of hands on the stages and around the studios. Regularly working in the lighting department with Cam, he’s great fun to work with and will put his hand to anything. He joined the company by pulling a (very) short straw and having to paint the exterior of Studio 3, it took eight weeks and 500 litres of bitumen paint… and it’s still not completely finished (Jan 2020)
Charlie Wicker
TechnoDolly Operator
Charles’ first experience on set was at the tender age of 15, six years on and he has found his niche looking after our TechnoDolly system and working as our in-house camera assistant. He has grown up in the studio with an Alexa at his side and there is very little he doesn’t know about the serious ‘big boy’s toys’ we keep in the kit room at Sandstorm.
Curtis Read
Barista & Social Media
Curtis is a swiss-army ninja – the man who is likely to welcome you to the studio with one of the best coffees you can buy (although it will be free). When he’s not serving up latte art masterpieces he is likely to be making you lunch or posting our insta-stories or competitions on social media.