Alan Jones

Self-shooting Director

Alan is a highly skilled self-shooting producer/director and editor, with a variety of broadcast and corporate credits.  After graduating from Stirling University, he went to work for BBC Scotland, working on programmes including Munro: Mountain Man, The Cinema Show and Primetime.  Alan then moved into TV development with BBC Scotland’s Children’s TV.

As a freelancer, he shot and directed a number of short films, gathering a series of award nominations in the process.  Alan joined Speakeasy in 2013 and has used his wide variety of skills as a camera operator, director and editor on many different projects.

Alan works across the board for Speakeasy clients including Scottish Enterprise, Aberdeen University, Lloyds Banking Group and the Scottish Government.

Climbing the Black Cuillin on Skye on a cloudless day in May. There are definitely worse ways to earn a living!

“That was good…can we try one more take?”

Breakfast, preferably involving strong coffee.

Alex Insch

Editor

A multi-skilled member of Speakeasy’s team, Alex is a highly experienced video editor who is also a talented camera operator.

After graduating from the University of Portsmouth with a BA in Film and English Literature, he moved to Scotland to join Speakeasy in 2008.

Alex works across Speakeasy’s client portfolio and recently undertook a sound recording training course to further develop his skills.

Out of the office, he enjoys cycling and indulging his connoisseur taste in film and music.

Filming helicopters for our Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance video

Bike maintenance and Scrabble

Ryan Gosling, obviously

Cassi Scott

Production Manager

Endlessly chipper and adept at spinning multiple plates – without breaking a sweat – Cassi’s unofficial job title is ‘Head of Happiness’

After graduating in film and media from Stirling University, she provided filming and logistics support for Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education before joining Mirage Television as a production assistant and then production co-ordinator.

As Speakeasy’s Production Manager, Cassi heads up our crewing, logistics and budgeting team – who routinely find themselves managing the minutiae of multiple shoots and events simultaneously.

Straight-talking, focused and efficient, Cassi oversees projects across the UK for clients including Lloyds Banking Group, Scottish Enterprise, SSE and NHS Scotland

Answering questions before people ask them

Countdown numbers round

If you can dream it, you can do it.

Chris Bridges

Senior Content Producer

Chris is arguably our chief screen aficionado, with a prolific knowledge of film and TV genres, scripts and techniques and a flair for successfully sampling these in his work.

A self-confessed James Bond anorak, he definitely has the Midas touch.

After graduating in film and media from Stirling University, Chris freelanced extensively as a producer, director and editor before joining Speakeasy in 2010. His work has taken him across the globe and collected award and festival credits including Edinburgh International Film Festival and the International Visual Communication Association (IVCA) awards.

Chris has produced hundreds of films for clients including Lloyds Banking Group, Wolseley, Diageo, the Scottish Government, Scottish Natural Heritage, The Care Inspectorate, Scottish Ambulance Service and the Scottish Prison Service.

Thanks for this. I’ve got a few changes.

Most girls just paddle around, you swim like a man (Thunderball, 1965).

Jeremy Hewitt

Creative Director

A chronic over-thinker (he pens an entertaining blog on this topic) with a seemingly unlimited capacity for innovation, Jeremy has overall control of Speakeasy’s creative output, both in Scotland and London.

He is a First Class Honours graduate in English Literature and Language (MA) and has 23 years’ experience as a writer and producer. Jeremy has devised and pitched hundreds of film and event concepts for clients including Travis Perkins, Newton Investment Management, Lloyds Banking Group and the Scottish Government.

He has won countless awards for his work from the Event & Visual Communication Association (EVCOM), the Institute of Internal Communicators and New York Festival Film and TV Awards.

Jeremy is also a guest lecturer on media courses at Perth College and sits on the Subject Advisory Committee for Film and Media at the University of Stirling.

9am on 3rd October, 2004 when I walked into Speakeasy, and every moment since.

The life cycle of the jellyfish and effect of bananas on the ripening of fruit (courtesy of kids’ school projects).

Probably Samuel L Jackson – he’ll do anything.

Jim Leishman

Self-shooting Director

Jim studied Technology at Strathclyde University before taking a Post Graduate Diploma in Electronic Imaging at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art. Jim is a Director and Lighting Cameraman and Director of Photography who has worked extensively in television, feature film, advertisings and documentary.

A rare blend of creativity and practical production skills, Jim brings technical ability and visual flair the Speakeasy team. Personable, popular and professional, Jim has worked all over the world for clients including Topshop, Dewars, BBC Television, LWT and Channel 4.

Jim films and directs regularly for all of our public and private sector clients.

The friendships I’ve made over the years

My new camera

Physics

Jonathan Young

Managing Director

With a background in sales and marketing and more than 25 years in industry, Jonathan brings an unrivalled level of commercial acumen to Speakeasy.

Since joining the business in 2005, he has led the acquisition of two production companies in London and Edinburgh. He has also driven the transformation of Speakeasy into a full service events and film company, including exhibition design and build.

His cool head, charm and unflappable professionalism have seen him compared to George Clooney (only by Jonathan himself…) He’s also an expert tea maker (we’ll need to take his word for this) and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of almost everything Speakeasy has ever done, which admittedly comes in handy.

Jonathan has orchestrated hundreds of live events across the UK and internationally for clients including BAE Systems, Newton Investment Management and the Glasgow2104 Organising Committee.

Working with great people on fantastic projects for brilliant clients. Oh, and getting to play around with all the tech…

Making the tea – but everyone beats me to it!

Bagpipe playing.

Laura Mures

Designer / Motion Graphics Artist

Born in Leon, Spain, Laura is our most multilingual team member and is fluent in Spanish, English and Italian.

After a media degree from the University of Burgos, she continued her academic career in Madrid, graduating with a MA in digital post-production.

Laura joined Speakeasy in 2014 after working for production companies in Italy, Spain and the UK.

Fluent in After Effects, Premiere Pro, Photoshop, illustrator, In-design, Cinema 4D and Final Cut, Laura is responsible for Speakeasy’s motion graphics and animation output. Did we mention she is an excellent photographer and artist too?

My graphics tablet

Drawing on sticky notes

Travelling!

Maggie Pentcheva

Production Assistant

Maggie spent her formative years in Bulgaria, Bristol and the Isle of Man, before studying History and International Relations at the University of Dundee.

Having played an active role in Dundee’s Student TV channel, she made her move into the film and video industry after graduation, working as a freelance Producer, Director and Editor for Celtic TV and for Edinburgh production company Plum Films.

Whilst at Plum, she caught the ‘production management bug’ and recently chose to bring her knowledge of the production process, logistical skills and good humour (very important in production management!) to Speakeasy – we’re very happy to have her and her many talents.

Drawing

A good challenge or a tight deadline

“A day may come when the courage of men fails…but it is not THIS day.” Lord of the Rings: Return of the King – Aragorn (2003)

Melissa Williams

Content Producer

Melissa graduated in English Literature and Language from the University of Oxford before freelancing for Working Title, BBC Films, ITV Studios and Asylum Features on a range of productions including ‘Lewis’ ‘Happy toys’ and ‘A place we go to hide’.

A devoted Harry Potter fan, she has almost completed the brand’s ‘holy trinity’ of visiting the Cursed Child play in London’s West End; the making of Harry Potter at Warner Bros’ Leavesden Studios in Watford and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Florida.

Since joining Speakeasy in 2012, Melissa has written and produced hundreds of films for video and events clients including Bank of Scotland, Scottish Development International, Scottish Natural Heritage and the NHS.

Sighting an adder whilst filming on peatlands for Scottish Natural Heritage (not your everyday working experience!)

Seeing the first film I produced projected on to a huge screen in front of thousands of people (Commonwealth Games Baton Relay film).

The West Wing – the greatest TV ever made. I can quote at length!

Peter Smith

Editor

Peter knows Final Cut Pro X like the back of his hand and is also unexpectedly good at Boolean algebra simplifications (using the standard set of equivalences).

After a Philosophy degree and postgrad diploma in IT from the University of Glasgow, he worked in IT in Germany, learning the language along the way. Returning to Scotland, Peter began freelancing as a cameraman and editor, gathering a host of corporate and music industry clients.

When Speakeasy acquired Edinburgh-based corporate video specialist Republic Productions in 2008, Peter was the company’s senior editor – so we’re v pleased he joined our fold!

He now manages our post-production facility in Edinburgh, as well as troubleshooting routine tech and IT problems.

The camaraderie.

Compute axis-aligned bounding box collision detection for a game I'm making. In real-time, of course.

I once learned enough Norwegian in a month to be able to read a simple novel, solely by listening to Norwegian radio. (It was many years ago, I was unemployed and had a lot of time on my hands. I have forgotten almost all of it. But I still have the book I read).

Sean Kelly

Producer

After BA Honours degree in marketing and management at the University of Strathclyde, Sean joined Royal Bank of Scotland as a communications graduate, before falling into the bank’s film team as an Assistant Producer.

He discovered film was his passion and within four years was the youngest person ever to become manager of the RBS bank-wide film team. Sean worked on hundreds of internal and externally-facing films as a Producer, Director and Writer.

After a spell as a freelance creative, Sean joined Speakeasy as a Producer in 2018.

He has worked with brands including NatWest, British American Tobacco, Coutts, Facebook, The Princes Trust, The University of Dundee, Education Scotland and Sport Relief.

Fence (swords – not plywood!)

The intensely unflappable good nature of its colleagues

James Bond Films

Shona Johnstone

Finance Director

Our longest serving team member, Shona has been with Speakeasy since the business was founded in 1993, earning her the sobriquet ‘The Godmother’ (only joking Shona!)

She has seen many changes over the years – including the arrival of the internet, LED lights, QR codes – and the demise of fax machines and Betamax tapes – and has grown with the company to become its Finance Director, Company Director and Company Secretary.

Hard-working and tirelessly dogged, Shona oversees personnel and office management functions as well as day-to-day financial duties. Her key responsibilities include financial control and planning; providing advice and guidance on financial strategy; overseeing all accounting systems – and preparing budgets and financial reports, including monthly management accounts.

We’re not going back to Florida next year. (Fast forward two months) We’re booked for Florida next year…!!

Multitasking

Reece Witherspoon

Stuart Simpson

Senior Editor

Modest and unassuming, Stuart has a planet-sized brain and is basically the office expert on Everything. His technical prowess and infinite wisdom have helped us out of more than a few IT scrapes over the years (seriously Stu – thanks!). And his ability to remain calm and rational in the face of hysteria is simply masterful.

Stuart has a BA in Film and Media from Stirling University and since joining Speakeasy in 2003, has helped develop our edit facilities into one of the best post-production departments in the UK.

Stuart’s technical ability and vast knowledge of Final Cut and Creative Cloud have been developed whilst working on thousands of client programmes ranging from drama to documentary.

Fixing anything that's broken

Migrate a 4GB fibre network to 10GB Ethernet

I can field-strip and rebuild a 2 stroke engine

Victoria Masterson

Content Producer

A news junkie and former hack, Vicky is also an avid recycler and informal member of the Punctuation Police.

After graduating from the University of Edinburgh with an MA (Hons) in English Literature, she freelanced for BBC Radio Scotland before embarking on a 20-year career in print and broadcast journalism.

Specialising in business, Vicky was formerly deputy business editor of The Herald and Scottish business editor of The Sunday Times. She was also part of the launch team at L!ve TV, the former Mirror Group cable channel. Vicky started freelancing for Speakeasy in 2014 and joined the business full-time in 2016. Vicky’s Speakeasy clients include VisitScotland, the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration, NHS Education for Scotland and the Scottish Government.

Green Team Champion

Just do it

Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly, of course