Labs Life: Meet Catrin Griffiths

Can you explain your job to me like I’m a 5 year old?

I am a storyteller! I am a Film Producer and Editor. When I Produce films I make sure that everything you need to create a film is organised – this includes writing scripts and storyboards so we know what to film on the day to hiring all the crew and equipment that will be used on the day of filming. Then I edit all the footage that we filmed – I cut it up into tiny little pieces and stick it all back together to make an interesting story!

What did you do before you came to Sutherland?

My first job out of University was working at a production company that specialised in creating Fashion and Beauty content. I was thrown right into the deep end and had some amazing experiences working with some really well known brands and celebrities! But after a few years I wanted to get my teeth into something a bit more substantial so decided to go it alone and became a freelance filmmaker. This is where I really got to flex my filmmaking muscles and worked on a variety of projects for all kinds of brands, companies and initiatives. I made commercials, music videos, documentaries and worked on my first feature film! (which recently premiered!) This is also where I first found my passion for creating Research Films. A few friends and I gathered (two researchers and two filmmakers) to form a collective and create research films for clients around the world. With this I was able to travel to Kenya, Germany, the USA… and Yorkshire!

If I went back in time and asked the ten year old version of you, what would they say that they wanted to be when they grew up?

I was always such an adventurous child growing up! I grew up on a small farm in North Wales;  when I look back now it was an incredible childhood running around acres of land… but I always wanted to move to the city! I think the amount of people and things going on was such a contrast to what I was used to I was amazed by it and wanted to be a part of it! So I think if you had asked me as a child I wouldn’t have minded what it was as long as I was in the thick of it surrounded by bright lights!

What is the unique talent that you bring to Sutherland?

My unique talent is my filmmaking skills. I use my skills to produce films that bring clients greater understanding of evolving consumer behaviors.

What do you do for fun?

My passions outside of work are food, travel and fun! I loooove to travel and try to explore new countries and cultures as much as is humanly possible. I’ve had some amazing experiences traveling the world from ninja training in Japan to swimming with sharks in Belize, being in nature is what makes me most happy.

The thing that goes hand in hand with traveling is food! I have been inspired not only by different cultures but by what my friends and family cook too. I love tasting new dishes and getting excited by new recipes and ingredients. I am always asking people, researching or buying cook books to get my next good recipe fix!

What inspires you?

People inspire me! I am so inspired by kindness, charity, friendship and the human spirit! People can put so much of themselves to help others, to connect or drive themselves and those around them to do better. To see people striving to give and do better for the world really pushes me to do my best too!

This has inspired me to be a filmmaker and makes me want to keep telling stories.

How do you see the UX industry changing in the next few years?

From a film production point of view – AI is already having a massive effect on how films are being created and is increasingly being used to create films. There are already apps that can create scripts and storyboards through AI, AI voiceover artists and presenters, image generating AI apps and much more!

With AI, films can now be created using algorithms. This means that the entire process of film production has the potential to be automated. Of course AI (for now!) does not have what film makers have in terms of imagination, creativity and practicality so they can’t be a replacement for humans but we will need to consider how we work alongside AI in the future and use it to our benefit!

Sounds a bit like the robots are coming!

Do you have any pets?

YES! I have a cat called Boop. He was a stray kitten that was wandering the streets near our home before we took him in as our own. He chose well and now lives the life of a pampered kitty!

Thanks to Catrin! To meet more of our team follow us on social, or sign up for our mailing list below.