Sound design collective Factory Studios has promoted Jack Hallett and Mark Hills to the role of Creative Director and James Utting takes on the position of Senior Sound Designer.
Hallett and Hills will be spearheading the growth and development of the Studio’s audio team, following a yearlong refurb and upgrade project at Factory Studios, which now houses six Dolby Atmos capable sound suites.
With a recent win for Sound Design at the British Arrows, Hallett’s role as a Creative Director will see him focus on the development of up-and-coming talent within Factory.
Hallett says: “This renowned studio, filled with an incredible team of talented individuals, has always been close to my heart. I’m excited to lead innovative projects and to mentor and support our emerging talent as we continue to push creative boundaries together.”
With Factory’s recent move into new media and immersive formats, Mark Hill’s role as Creative Director will also allow him to focus on developing the Studio’s technical excellence in these new audio spaces. Hills’ award-winning work coupled with his commitment to mixing techniques and future technical advances make him well-placed to lead the team.
Hills says: “I joined the team almost eight years ago, and in that time – I have been fortunate enough to be part of a series of huge upgrades and improved workflows within the studio environment. Cloud-based collaboration has enabled near real-time project sharing across the team, our newly upgraded studios have never looked or sounded better, and the addition of Dolby Atmos to our suites has given us a new world of exciting opportunities to create fully immersive soundscapes. Coupled with advancements in AI technology, our focus is on using these new tools to supercharge our creativity and push boundaries to continue creating excellent work.’
Hallett and Hills will be working closely with Factory Studios ECD Jon Clarke.
Clarke says: “Jack and Mark are the perfect Creative Directors to help push the team forward for the next chapter of Factory Studios. Following our recent refurb and studio upgrades, we can now offer clients improved workflows and flexibility across all formats in each of our creatively focused audio suites. Jack and Mark have been integral to developing this ‘future thinking’ ethos to our work to keep Factory at the cutting edge of audio post-production.”
James Utting who is being promoted to Senior Sound Designer has worked on BBC’s Paris 2024 Olympics campaign, Apple’s Lost Voice and EE’s Battle Stations.
Utting says: “I’ve been fortunate to have an incredible career at Factory Studios, where creativity is nurtured, and staff are genuinely supported. Working here has given me the opportunity to collaborate with some of the most talented creative teams in the industry on projects for world-renowned brands. As a Senior Sound Designer, I contribute both creatively and technically, which is deeply fulfilling. Beyond sound design, I’ve been leading the development of our Dolby Atmos workflows, leveraging our recent studio upgrades to ensure we offer clients a full range of cutting-edge immersive formats.”
Jon Clarke adds: “James is a pure homegrown Factory talent and a real inspiration to the younger members of our team. James’ rise through the ranks from runner to Senior Sound Designer shows what’s possible with hard work and commitment. His work just gets better and better, and I can’t wait to hear what he creates in his new role.”
Pippa Considine
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