I’ve been asking everyone to choose a question for my next interviewee. It was Lesley’s choice for your interview and she chose a classic: If you could only play games on one system for the rest of your life, which would it be? PC, Xbox, PlayStation or Nintendo console?

Hmm, that is a hard one. On first instinct, I would go with Nintendo. I’ve had a lot of their consoles since I was a kid, but then a lot of my friends use Xbox so I’d choose Xbox so I could keep playing with them. I like the social games. I know Nintendo has some, and it’s portable, but… yeah, Xbox. 

We have a lot of gamers at Squideo, and quite a few MCU fans. If you could fall asleep and wake up with any Marvel character’s powers who would you pick? (Marvel comics, not just MCU so we can include the X-Men). 

Oh god [thinking loudly] I guess… Quicksilver. Quicksilver, even if we’re going by the movies were he dies very quickly. But his speed seems cool, a bit like The Flash (DC comics). If I had more time, I’d analyse every single character, make lists, weigh up the pros and cons, but I guess we don’t have that much time? [No.] Then I’ll stick with Quicksilver!

Did you always know you wanted to end up in video production, graphic design or some other job within the creative industry? How did you wind up joining the Squid Squad?

Yeah, I always wanted to go into a creative job. In college, I did photography, which is what I wanted to do. Then branching out, and going into work, I found it quite difficult – it’s niche, photographers tend to work freelance. I started at Squideo as an apprentice. Originally, when the intern provider listed the job they told me it was more about social media and marketing – what you do – but in the interview, it was about video production. I don’t know how I got through it! I wasn’t prepared at all for any of the questions! Somehow I must’ve sounded like I knew what I was doing because I got the job and I’ve been here for almost four years. 

What is one of your favourite projects from your time working at Squideo?

I remember enjoying Connolly Scaffolding. It was a really fun project, with plenty of characters to animate and bold colours. There were lots of backgrounds too, to reflect all the different building site types, so we got to play around a lot with it. 

Like our clients, I don’t know much about what happens when the video passes from the pre-production stage (scriptwriting and storyboarding) to production stage. Can you give us an insight into what video production involves and what a normal day would look like for you?

Sure. We start out with the visual storyboard. That’s the document Hannah or Ben make with the visual notes alongside the script. We go scene by scene, trying to bring it to life using the notes from the client and storyboard producers. Once the storyboard is made, it goes into pre-approval, Ben, Hannah or Callum give us amends, and then once those are made it goes to the client.

The client either sends back amends or approves the visual storyboard, so then it’s time to animate it. We add in the voiceover, make the video look its best then the cycle starts again. The video goes into pre-approval, comes back with amends, and then goes to the client. And before you know it, it’s time to start a new video!

The company went fully remote in 2020. What do you like about working remotely? And is there anything you miss about working in an office?

No morning commute! Or evening commute. No commute, commutes are terrible. Originally, I wasn’t too far from Squideo so I only had a ten minute walk; but if we went back to that exact location I’d be so far away and I’m not a morning person so it’d be horrible. It’s also really nice to have my own space with no distractions. I used to put my headphones on at the office anyway, but I can really focus when I’m working from home.



I do miss the social aspect of the office. It can be a lot easier to talk person-to-person than over text messages. Definitely the social aspect. We’d watch Netflix during lunchtime – although we could never decide on a show, so I’d usually end up on my phone – or go walk somewhere for a sandwich. 

I learnt that Squideo’s old office had pet fish. Do you think having an office pet would be fun if we ever stopped being remote? Or do you think we’d never get any work done? Especially if Cody met Mango and Peach!

Depends on the pet! If it was more fish – the other fish disappeared before I joined – I think it would be okay, but if it was a dog I wouldn’t be able to concentrate. Fish aren’t really that interesting though, unlike a dog. You can interact with a dog. I just doubt you can work with one!

What’s one of your favourite things about working as a Video Producer? 

The main thing is that every day is different. My previous job was installing software onto tablets. This is a really creative job, no monotony. It’s great. 

Even though Squideo is now fully remote, we’ve been able to stay in touch as a team with our morning meetings, Slack chats and occasional meetups. The last staff outing was to a bowling alley. Where do you want to go next?

I do occasionally bring up doing an Escape Room. I do those a lot with friends, and it would be fun to see how people deal with the different puzzles. Who would freak out about being locked in, or who would really get into the game.  Hopefully they'll be a prize for winning, I have a collection.

There’s been some wild ideas of an international Squideo outing. Amsterdam, Disney World, Australia, Iceland and Japan are the current contenders. Ignoring cost, which international destination would you suggest? 

I would definitely go to Japan, even though Sarah already picked that. Other than that, I guess somewhere in South America. It’s so far away, but I think Brazil would be cool to explore. 

When Ben first suggested taking the ferry to Amsterdam, I asked Hannah who she thought would get sea sick first. Her answer was, and I quote, “I feel like one of the guys. They always set funny challenges for each other and most of the time they include hot sauce or spicy food.” Is that fair?

Yeah [laughs]. Yeah, that’s fair. Other Adam loves spicy food, half the time I’d come in and someone had given him a hot sauce challenge. Some crazy times in the office!

Finally, we had a change to the interview schedule with Squideo’s other Adam (Adam Shelton, Accounts Manager) temporarily escaping interrogation. Would you like to choose a question for him?

Adam’s almost in his own sector of the company, I never really get to talk to him. I know he’s big into motorbikes and cars so something to do that? Maybe what his dream car or motorbike would be?

Check out our next post to hear from Squideo’s Account Director, Adam Shelton.