Managing Director Pretzel Group

Pj Bickford

PJ has over eight years experience dealing with premier brands specifically their marketing and communications. Since founding Pretzel Films PJ has become a Multiple IVCA Gold winning Director and producer, acting as a fundamental part of Pretzel's success. He works along side senior clients building and developing relationships based on trust, creativity and delivery.

Managing Director Pretzel Group

Pete Shuttleworth

Pete graduated with a 1st Class BA (Hons) in Fine Art/Textiles and from this went on to carve a career spanning over ten years as a producer in corporate video communications and advertising, which includes five years as a senior producer at Ridley Scott Associates. Pete founded Pretzel Films a long side Pj, and is the other essential element of Pretzel's success. Pete's skill and experience has earned him Multiple IVCA Gold awards for directing and producing.

Partner Pretzel Group

Matt Fretwell

Matt has over six years experience of development of FCP, online techniques, and post-production. He is an Award winning editor and Director (IVCA Gold), with a wide range of directing experience in terms of TV advertising, corporate and broadcast programming. His finger is on the pulse of technology and he is forever forwarding and enhancing Pretzel's delivery platforms to client.

Production Co-Ordinator

Amos Usiskin

Amos has over five years experience working in production, research and client liaison in the TV and film industry. His work includes several MOD projects, such as video, event and print over the last two years. Amos has also liaised and interviewed the Tri- Service Personnel for research and project contribution.

Office Manager

Mark Pettitt

Originally from Plymouth, Mark graduated from the Guildford School of Acting in 1994, and for the last 15 years has enjoyed a professional career as an entertainer which has included performing in London's West-End, cruise ships, TV and film. As well as touring worldwide, Mark has also worked as a freelance teacher & choreographer both in the UK and Canada.

After returning to the UK last year, he has enjoyed a change of pace while managing all things 'office based' at Pretzel Films, and is currently working on creating his own casting company.

Production Manager

Flic Craddock

Having endured 8 months in an African hut, gained an MA in Ancient History and spent just over a year in digital marketing agency Work Club's strategy department, Flic comes fully prepared for life as Pretzel's newest Production Assistant. Or at least she thinks she does...

Producer

Michael Isabell

After a stint as a journalist in the US Navy during Operation Desert Storm, Michael Isabell studied Art at San Francisco State University, with a photography emphasis. As a Photographer's Assistant he worked with a number of photographers and photojournalists, including Max Vadukul, Tim Street-Porter, Jeff Zaruba and Mark Downey.

Since 2001, Michael has been producing, directing, shooting and editing documentary and narrative films and corporate videos for clients such as Yohji Yamamoto, Express, Leo Schacter Diamonds, MTV, ESPN, The Fine Living Channel, Garnier, Forbes.com, The Nation, German Vanity Fair, Italian Vogue, L'Equipe and others. He served for several years as the Director of Photography for NYCTV's Emmy award winning show Cool In Your Code, and has been a frequent collaborator with renowned artists such as fashion designer Stephen Sprouse, photographer Max Vadukul and conceptual artist Mary Ellen Carroll.

Production Manager

Tom Ford

Tom graduated with a 1st Class BA (Hons) English Literature and since then has gained over five years experience working in the TV and film industry. In particular Tom produced an accomplished IVCA Gold award winning film "Rachel" 2009, shot in Uganda. Also he has also worked on several recent video projects for Network Rail including the recent Westcoast Mainline Documentary.

Head of Production - South West

Charlie has over twenty years of producing TV commercials, corporate films, music videos and mobile content. He has worked internationally for clients in Asia and the US. For 13 years he was MD of PMC Pictures, a production company specialising in overseas clients such as Toyota, Coca Cola, FedEx, Square Enix and Sanyo Electronics. As a freelance producer he has completed highly successful corporate films for a wide variety of clients from Staples to Aston Villa FC to a charity job for Living Paintings, a charity for blind and partially sighted people. With this wealth of experience he can offer the best solutions to any client's demands. Competent budgeting, efficient scheduling and punctual delivery are his building blocks for all projects however big or small. He lives in Wiltshire with his wife, two sons and their whippet.

Consultant

Production Assistant

Grace graduated from the University of Westminster in May 2009 with a 2.1 BA (HONS) degree in Television Production. In College she completed work experience with Talkback Thames and after university did work experience with Envy post Production. From this she went onto to do an internship with Pretzel Films where, after 6 months, she joined the team as a Production Assistant.

Giles Ripley

Since graduating in 2008, Giles has exhibited under Kay Saatchi, in New Contemporaries at the Liverpool Biennial, internationally under Richard Patterson, and has been tipped as one of the "Ten Emerging Artists To Watch" in The Times. Giles is currently promoting his first short film having secured UK Film Council and Film London grant earlier in the year, while also preparing for his first commissioned solo exhibition, set for February 2010. He and his work also recently appeared on School Of Saatchi, a BBC2 series in which he was selected to present in the last 12 in a pool of over 3000 competing artists by the likes of Charles Saatchi, Matthew Collings and Tracey Emin.

Jake Dypka

Jake has in total three years experience working as a professional director and editor. Whilst at Pretzel Films Jake has directed a broad range of training and communications films for Network Rail including a film made in Polmont the Young Offenders Institute near Glasgow, all the while developing his unique direction and approach. In addition Jake went on to direct the TA100 film and shoot with the TA Personnel in the UK and in Afghanistan. In addition Jake shot in the Swiss Alps and in the Middle East (Dubai, Saudi Arabia) for clients.

Jesse Parker

Jesse Parker

Not only do we love Jesse for his hair, but his skills in the art of post production mean he's a valued member of the Pretzel team. With a prized background in feature films and serial drama, Jesse now manages Pretzel's post-production department; editing our in-house creations and overseeing deliverables.

When he gets the chance he also has a habit of making guest appearances, his most recent stint being on student tv. We don't think he has his own fan base, but give it some time...

Anne Alvergue

Anne Alvergue is a documentary filmmaker and editor. Her short films have screened at film festivals worldwide and her work has been broadcast on PBS, The Learning Channel, Lifetime, MTV, VH-1, ESPN and A & E. She received a B.A. in Political Economies from U.C. Berkeley and a M.A. from Stanford University's Graduate Program in Documentary Film.

Before going into film, Anne worked as a freelance writer for various art periodicals and teen books. After graduate school, Anne worked for the Sundance Institute teaching documentary workshops to teens. Since 2001, Anne has worked in New York as both a Producer and Editor on a number of documentary films for cable and public television, including Michael Apted's 'Married in America'.

James Lawes

James has been with Pretzel for four years working as a professional director and editor. Since joining Pretzel James has developed his own signature style and direction going on to create award-winning films, which have won consistently, every year at both the IVCA's and the New Your Film Festival. In addition to his recent 'Give up for good' advertisement campaign and UK Food's "Rude Boy Food" series, James directed the inaugural film for the Armed Forces Memorial, which was shown at the formal opening attended by the Queen and 5000 guests and used by broadcasters such as BBC and Sky.

Jamie Maule-Ffinch

Jamie graduated from the International Film School of Wales in 2007. Since then he has spent his time being a shooting researcher for TV and trying to get his foot wedged firmly in the advertising/corporate door, which now - thanks to Pretzel - has happened! In his spare time Jamie often writes and shoots comedies. His new short is currently doing the rounds on the festival circuit and he has also been awarded a small budget by Film London to shoot his next film which should be finished mid 2010.

Development Producer

Hayley Sercombe

Hayley joined us in March this year and brings over 7 years business development experience. Having worked in both post-production and production, Hayley is your first point of contact for new business and further info on the Pretzel group.

Finance Guru

Paul Tookey

The financial brains behind the Pretzel brand. He usually says no, but sometimes, very rarely...usually from a beach in the Bahamas, he say yes...

Finance Director

Darius Mahbouby

Darius has more than ten years combined experience in media production and accounting; six years in production, from music promos to TV; four years in an accounting practice, from textile companies to restaurants. This has given an understanding of both the production and accounting processes and this experience is reinforced with a BA (HONS) in Film Production from the Scottish film school (Napier University) and the previously acquired AAT certificate.