Meet The Team
Paul Gallagher – Managing and Sales Director:
Paul’s background is in Marketing, Sales and Leisure
Paul began his career working and training in catering; ran restaurants and bars in Europe. Returned to Manchester and bought Bertie’s Bar, a successful bar/café in the city.
• Ran the national design and sales for Vogel, a German kitchen company.
• Trained in Pinpoint Facilitation
• Set up Gallagher Communications, a marketing and sales consultancy
• Ran marketing and promotions for health and leisure clubs resulting in eventually owning four establishments in the North; Getaway – in Manchester , Blackpool ,Nottingham, and Matrix in Stoke on Trent
• Ran the marketing and consultancy for Paton Brown, a print and mailing company working alongside their clients to improve their response rates. Set up specialist areas in promotion for a garden centres, health clubs, estate agencies, b2b mail shots.
• Developed the ‘postal vote solution’ for local councils and was involved in developing the first pilot for Trafford council which then rolled out to local authorities all over UK.
• Ran consultancy for two local TV stations owned by Milestone PLC – SixTV based in Oxford and Southampton. Role was working alongside their clients to improve returns from their advertising. Developed cross-media platforms to join up their advertising campaigns
• Created ‘Safety in a Box’ especially for new and expanding businesses. It is a complete pack including instructional videos that explain in a simple, direct way everything you need to do to comply with the UK Health and Safety laws without them becoming a burden to your business. This includes one-to-one support and onsite advisory visit if appropriate.
• Set up Ed Creates, a mobile film and video school, aimed at helping young people develop their creativity and learning in the core curriculum subjects in a more interactive and inspiring way.
• In response to the massive advance and development of the internet, Paul moved more into online promotion, learning and devising online marketing techniques. Paul now specialises in helping clients to develop and implement cross media campaigns to maximise their exposure and response rates and create business growth.
Maggie Gallagher – Production Director:
Maggie’s background is in Retail and Leisure. Maggie is a trained Media Coach and has presented a wide range of filmed programmes and videos. Maggie has created her own brand, Metherapy, a range of aromatherapy products and established the MeCafe within the Media Lounge that serves delicious cakes, specially home-blended tea and ground coffee – all of which make our client meetings even more welcoming and enjoyable!
Maggie began her career at John Lewis Partnership Retail Training School
She went on to work for Next Merchandising on new product launches
Was Store Manager for Western Jean Company and Office Manager, Greece
Ran Paul’s chain of Health Clubs and was solely responsible for Cardio Cafe
Is trained in Media Coaching and Pinpoint Facilitation
Presented TV programmes for TNTV
Presented TV Programmes for Six TV and ran Media Training courses for them
Director of Gallagher Productions, produces and presents Corporate Videos, Training Films
Currently studying Clinical Aromatherapy part time at Ithma in London
Maggie’s passion is to view things in a holistic way, looking at clients businesses from all points of view and finding ways to communicate clients business services in an interesting and effective way.
Jon Collar – Creative Director
Jon’s background encompasses all aspects of Design, Film and Technology. Jon oversees the creative presentation of all The Media Lounge projects. Jon believes that simple, contemporary, straightforward design over showmanship is the best way to communicate and increase the response rate of your business and services
Jon graduated from Birmingham City University with a BSC (Hons) degree in Multimedia Technology (2:1)
Was the Commercial Producer and Studio Manager for SIX TV for three years, his work included:
• As the Commercial Producer – filming and editing adverts for local businesses to be aired on SIX TV
• Cameraman, Vision Mixer and Director for live, daily, hour-long magazine show ‘6 Life’
• Director, Producer and Location Cameraman for twice daily live news bulletin programme
• Channel branding and idents
• Artwork design for Passion FM’s bus campaign and other promotional material
• Competition branding for Passion FM
Set up Gallagher Productions with Paul and Maggie and since 2005 has been responsible for:
• Corporate video production and liaison for over 60 clients (Coca Cola, Britvic, Capital Shopping Centres, Tier 1)
• Web design and build for over 45 clients (Mort Shuman, Just Ask, Dot Allison, Me Therapy)
• Design and build for EdCreates websites
• Logo and promotional print design for EdCreates
• Filming, Directing and Editing over 50 educational videos for EdCreates/EDTV (Education Bradford, Serco, Education Business Partnership, National Enterprise Network, Catch 22)
• Mentoring and teaching filming and editing skills to employees and work experience
• Running and facilitating editing and filming workshops in Primary and Secondary schools
Jamie Watson – Film and Documentary
Jamie has been passionate about film and visual media since owning his first camera as a teenager. Jamie is a skilled cameraman, editor, director and documentary producer. Jamie’s background in online TV and sales is a great asset in assisting us with online marketing ideas. Jamie also runs our Young Persons Film School and makes client advertorial films and virals. Jamie is also a keen sportsman and coach and creates great team spirit within our Film School and teaches and encourages all our students to work together thus teaching them invaluable team building and skills and confidence as well as mentoring and teaching film script writing, film and editing skills.
• Assistant Producer on Feature Film Black Coffee shot on location in London and ‘We give you’ directed by Marcus ako
• Team photographer, media correspondent, PR and documentary maker for British Sports British Snow sculpting Team for US Tour
• TV Producer for Internet Channel – East Midlands TV – worked in all aspects of TV and video production, news stories, editing and creating adverts, travel programmes and headed up a team to cover England vs Samoa rugby match
• In-house Director and Cameraman for the EBuyer website. Worked under extreme pressure with limited resources and created successful high quality videos for the website
• Has led and produced several of our Young People’s projects across the country, often working with young people from challenging backgrounds and no previous experience in film making. Projects include the Take One Project in Covent Garden, London, twelve health-related films in Bradford and working with the Djanogly City Academy in Nottingham to create a series of videos with their students
TECHNICAL SKILLS:
• Adept at using a ‘Sony Z1’ and ‘Canon XL1/2’ or equivalent. Also studio cameras, including crane/jib cameras to a high standard.
• Editing programme ‘Adobe Premiere’, Final Cut Pro, Photoshop and After Effects.
• Good lighting skills with lighting kits in studio and on location
Sophie Brooks Gallagher
Sophie is our youngest team member, she is at college studying Theatre Studies, Psychology and Photography and is already a veteran Video presenter and performer. Sophie works alongside Jamie producing, directing and organising our Young Film School. Sophie also presents some of our clients videos and documentaries and works on our Social Networks and Sales for Metherapy
Sophie was drawn to acting and performing when she was four years old and this together with her passion for photography and also working behind the scenes in film and video, has made her a perfect team member and coach for our Young Persons Film School. Sophie is confident and aspirational and has a natural way of communicating, enthusing and inspiring the children and young people who take part in making films and documentaries
• LAMDA Grade 4 in Acting, Grade 4 modern (IDST),
• Grade 5 Ballet (RAD)
• Company Member RAMA Young Actors, Nottingham
ACTING EXPERIENCE:
• Violet in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” monologue (2007)
• Crachit Child in “A Christmas Carol” (Dec 2007)
• Daisy in “Daisy pulls it off” monologue (2008)
• Chloe in “My Friend” (July 2008)
• Tracy in “MAC” (July 2009)
• Tulip in “Eclipse” monologue (October 2009)
• Teenage girl in “Too Late” monologue (October 2009)
• Dolores in “Be My Baby” (Dec 2009)
• Beth in “Scarborough” (July 2010)
PRESENTING EXPERIENCE:
• EDTV video (2007)
• EdCreates video (2008)
• Documentary about schools in South Africa (July 2009)
• Presenting and interviewing at The Coca Cola Challenge (2010)
• Introducing “Take One Challenge” (2010)
• Introducing and Voiceover for The Land Based Diploma (2010)
PERFORMANCE SKILLS:
• Singing (mezzo-soprano) Ballet and Modern Dance, Voiceover,
• Teleprompting and Interviewing
