Post house, Absolute, has made two new hires with 750mph’s Ellis McGourlay joining as Senior Sound Designer and Stitch’s Seán O’Keefe joining as new PR & Marketing Manager.
McGourlay brings with him over a decade of industry experience, having progressed through the ranks at 750mph from Runner to Sound Designer. In that time, he has been recognised for numerous industry awards, including a British Arrow Young and Emerging Talent win for his work on UN Body Right. More recently he has been nominated for both a Young Arrow and the Music and Sound Awards in recognition of his work on behalf of projects for Premier Bet and short film ‘I Love You, I Hate You’.
McGourlay will be working closely with Absolute’s Audio team of Rich Martin, Ian ‘Arge’ Hargest and Maddy Lebel, “bringing further quality to the company in what is an exciting time for the entire business.”
“Having Ellis to be our new Senior Sound Designer really was a dream appointment” says Chris Batten, Managing Director at Absolute. “His experience speaks for itself, having worked in all elements of audio production, and his recent nominations speak to how highly his work is regarded across the industry. I know he’ll be a wonderful addition to our powerhouse Sound team. We can’t wait to see what this next chapter brings for the whole company!”
17“I’m super excited to be joining the team at Absolute,” says Ellis. “I think the team and facilities we have here are excellent, it will be great to work alongside Rich and Arge and to be able to draw upon their expertise, they’ve produced some iconic pieces of work. I’m looking forward to honing my craft and creating some amazing work.”
Seán O’Keefe joins as PR & Marketing Manager. Having previously spent three years at edit house, Stitch, as Head of PR & Sales, O’Keefe has worked on projects from across the UK, US and Europe. Collaborating with global brands such as Nike, Apple and Samsung, he has also worked on creative ventures, ranging from BAFTA nominated short films to music videos for artists like Harry Styles and Stormzy.
During his time at Stitch, he was responsible for running the renowned ‘Yarns’ short film competition. A not-for-profit scheme that launches the careers of under-represented directors, his tenure saw the production of eight short films, selections at BAFTA qualifying festivals, and directors signed permanently to production companies such as Blink.
“We are thrilled to have Seán onboard” says Chris Batten, Managing Director at Absolute. “We knew he’d be a great fit for the team, but his insights into both the editorial world and emerging directors market will make him invaluable as we continue to grow our roster. What was immediately obvious was his passion for the job, and we can’t wait to see what new ideas he will bring. It’s the latest appointment in what is set to be a really exciting chapter for the whole business.”
“I’ve been an admirer of Absolute for a long time,” says Seán. “The talent they have across the board is amazing, and they’ve been known for having one of the best PR teams in the business for years now. So, when they reached out with an opportunity to join, it was a real compliment. It’s such an exciting time to join the company, and with this many fascinating projects, I can’t wait to start making my mark.”
Jon Creamer
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