Meet the Team – Vanessa Werner
Vanessa Werner is Glowfrog’s Production Coordinator and has kindly answered my questions this month.
What does your role involved here at Glowfrog?
I help coordinate the team; I manage all the new projects, keep track of ongoing projects. I make sure there’s good communication between the clients and the team and that Glowfrog is running smoothly and on schedule.
How long have you been at Glowfrog?
Just over a year
Why Glowfrog?
It’s refreshing working in a smaller work environment like Glowfrog; it’s more intimate and you can voice your opinions. Each team member has their own personal qualities that they contribute to every project.
What has been your favourite job that you’ve worked on and why?
Seconds from Disaster, Darlow Smithson for National Geographic. It was one of the bigger jobs that Glowfrog recently did. It was interesting because every episode followed a different story, so in terms of the production process it was different each time. It was nice working with a big company as well, Darlow Smithson were great to work with and their experience is extensive. It was also nice to see the Glowfrog wheels in motion working on such a successful TV series and rising to the challenge of presenting top quality work which we did and which everyone is proud of.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Each project that comes through is different – I’m constantly in touch with different clients, meeting different briefs so there’s never a dull moment. It’s also nice to put in the hard work effort at the beginning of a project and see it delivered and see the final result. I feel a satisfaction and achievement in seeing a project completed.
And least?
The admin side of it can be a bit boring, but that’s just the routine, you get used to it!
How did you start out in the industry?
I did a three year degree in media at a university in Auckland which covered everything from PR, TV to advertising and politics so I was given the chance to try out everything. I did TV as my major which allowed me to really get into the production process of TV shows. After university I got my first job at post production house Digipost in Auckland and worked on TV series ‘Spartacus’ on Sky. I was the producers’ assistant so knowing what was going on all the time with the production was really good experience. It was such a great team so that was what really inspired me to get more involved in production. I came over to London to get more experience as the industry is quite small in New Zealand, I’ve been here since October 2010 and was lucky enough to get a job at Glowfrog.
What tips would you give someone wanting to get into your side of the industry?
You have to have an open mind and be willing to try everything. Accept every opportunity that comes your way because you don’t know where that will lead to. It’s not necessarily what you start out doing that you end up doing. Make as many contacts that you can. Always try and do something creative, take workshops, get out there and see shows.
If you weren’t in Arch Viz/VFX/ TV and Film what would you be doing?
I think I would be doing the same kind of management job but in music, so maybe managing a studio or help run a tour company. I’m an organised bunny so I’d have to use those skills.
What are your passions outside of Glowfrog?
Music and performing. I was recording and performing songs to teach English through singing in Hong Kong for seven years. I’ll always love singing and hopefully I’ll get the chance to do a bit more of it one day.
And quickly:
What’s your favourite film? It’s a tossup between ‘Meet Me In St Louis’ – which I grew up with and I aspired to be Judy Garland - or Forrest Gump, because it’s timeless and Tom Hanks is an amazing actor. Everyone loves it and everyone’s seen it!
Favourite area of London?
Old Street, there are so many things to do; there’s always a different event on or an exhibition. It’s good to make the mission out there from West London!
