Max Barber – Creative Director
Max is a film school trained producer-director and with over 20 years experience in broadcast factual entertainment, documentary, reality TV and independent scripted comedy & drama. Some of his attention grabbing shows include: Geordie Shore (MTV), Don’t Tell The Bride (BBC1), Make Me A Super Model (Channel 5), through to more gritty and thought provoking, authored works: Adult Lives (BBC2), Drugs Uncovered (Channel 4), Peter Tatchell: Just Who Does He Think He Is? (The Community Channel). He’s also written and directed a number of award winning films exploring LGBT & disability subject matter that have all been distributed by Peccadillo Pictures, MTV-Logo, TLA Releasing & Amazon Prime. In 2012 Max discovered a new acting talent in the form of Samantha Renke who he cast in his debut feature film, Little Devil. He continues to develop projects with her to this day.
Embarrassing trivia: Max used to work as a Michael Jackson impersonator as a teenager in the 1980’s!
Samantha Renke – Head of Talent & Social Media
Samantha was a former language teacher from Lancashire. Now based in London, she works as an actress and in disability education and training. She has been a Trustee and Spokesperson for the Brittle Bone Society since 2010 and has regular appearances as a front-woman for disability rights on Channel 4 News, BBC Radio, Channel 5’s The Right Stuff and ITV’s Loose Women. She also writes a number of regular columns for The Huffington Post & PosAbility Magazine.
Her first acting role in the film, Little Devil, gained her awards at the 2014 Los Angles Diversity Film Festival, and she has since appeared in numerous on-line campaigns, pop videos & the hugely successful Malteasers TV commercial that ran throughout 2016.
Embarrassing trivia: Sam has a childhood terror of sharks after seeing Jaws – she still has anxieties about being eaten sitting on the loo!
Gavin Hay – Business Adviser
Gavin Hay has a solid background as a British TV executive and content creator who co-founded Brighter Pictures which was bought by Endemol in 2001. Gavin has been responsible for creating and managing more than 30 original television formats, many of which have been sold globally. These include Big Brother & Flava (Channel 4), There’s Something About Miriam (FOX), Tabloid Tales with Piers Morgan (BBC1). Recently, Gavin has been a key driving force behind Cherry Cherry, a London based visual effects company.
Embarrassing trivia: Gavin religiously watches Saturday morning kids TV shows – no really!