John Jencks 

CHAIR - John has been working in the film industry for over 15 years as a writer, director and executive producer. His short film ‘Go Away, Please!’ (2009) won the Shooting People prize at London Short Film Festival. Popular credits include ‘The Hippopotamus’ (2017) – based on Stephen Fry’s novel and ‘The Crow’ reboot (2022). In 2019, John produced The Uncertain Kingdom an anthology of 21 short films about the UK.

John is executor of two grant-making Trusts which support a range of charities. He maintains a close personal relationship with Reprieve, Just for Kids Law, Raising Films and was made an ambassador for Maggie’s Centres in 2020.  

In 2022 John is returning to directing with a slate of shorts and features.  

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Jay Taylor

CEOJay began his filmmaking career in the sound department before moving into production, starting as a runner, at companies including Blink and Glasshouse. Jay then seized the opportunity to work at 19 Entertainment spin-off, Popworld, which saw him shift into music television and online entertainment. It was here that he worked with some huge talent, including Justin Timberlake and Beyoncé. Following this, Jay felt the pull back to film and drama television and was fortunate enough to land a job in-house at Working Title in 2005. This led Jay back to on-set production, a place where he feels at very much at home, and he began collaborating with his friend, the director, John Jencks. They then co-founded The Electric Shadow Company in 2008 and have worked closely together ever since. Notable credits include Bafta-nominated ‘Boiling Point’ (2021), MJ Bassett’s ‘Rogue’ (2020), Bafta-nominated feature documentary ‘McQueen’ (2018)Carol Morley’s ‘Out of Blue’ (2018), among others.

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Isabel freer

HEAD OF DEVELOPMENT - Isabel is responsible for overseeing the development of all Film, TV and documentary projects. Isabel began her career as an assistant at Working Title Films, after which she worked for the director Kevin Macdonald. Isabel then moved to Los Angeles and worked as a production and development executive on several films including Kenneth Lonergan’s Manchester by the Sea and George Nolfi’s The Adjustment Bureau. On her return to the UK she co-produced Nick Hamm’s The Journey and worked as a freelance development producer. She also co-produced stage and television versions of Howard Zinn’s The People Speak, in Ireland, the UK and the States. Most recently Isabel produced and commissioned The Uncertain Kingdom anthology project and remains a producer for the ongoing feature film development fund.

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Sarah laita

DEVELOPMENT PRODUCER - Sarah joined ESC in 2015, and is now the company’s Development Producer. Sarah works closely with Isabel on the development of ESC's film and TV projects, whilst also developing and managing the company's documentary slate. She is a NFTS graduate, having completed the Script Development Diploma in 2021. In 2019 Sarah wrote, produced and directed ‘BecoME’, a short experimental horror which was officially selected for the London Lift-Off Film Festival 2019, and the London Experimental Film Festival 2020. Other credits include Daniel Radcliffe starring ‘Guns Akimbo’ (2019), MJ Bassett’s ‘Rogue’ (2020) and ‘Honest Thief’ starring Liam Neeson (2020)

Sarah is as passionate about filmmaking as she is about biltong - if you’re looking for a fix, check her desk drawer.

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kwesi dickson

HEAD OF PRODUCTION FINANCE - Kwesi is at the helm of production finance for Electric Shadow Company to which he brings twenty years of experience across a mind-boggling array of UK and international shows. Structural ingenuity and anti-imperialist Marxism inform all of his professional work. Number crunching is his professional superpower, sword fighting and flower arrangement are his skills.

When he isn’t doing that he’s cooking with his family or his other true love, JS Bach.

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bianca alexander

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT - Bianca serves as the Production Assistant at ESC. She fast-tracked her experience in the film industry in 2016 by co-producing a range of projects, from commercials to short films in Trinidad and Tobago. Bianca holds a BA in Filmmaking with first class honours from London Film Academy and has been credited on over 12 short films currently in the festival circuit, and most notably MJ Bassett’s feature, ‘Endangered Species’ (2020).

Bianca understands the need for telling authentic, culturally diverse stories and lends this unique perspective to the ESC team.

When not the cinema, she enjoys surfing and is a PADI certified diver - which is of course why she moved to sunny London.

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marcie maclellan

PRODUCER - Marcie MacLellan is a producer and writer, currently working with ESC on the development of two feature films and further supports in the creative development of their wider slate of projects. As founder of Frank & Lively, Marcie was nominated as Best Producer by the National Film Awards (2018) and Best Debut Producer by the British Independent Film Awards (2018). Marcie developed and produced the BAFTA-nominated feature film, APOSTASY. This acclaimed film earned a further 21 international nominations, taking home five, including the 2018 Screen Awards Best British Film of the Year and the 2018 Best Screenplay by the Writer’s Guild of Great Britain.

In 2017, for her work challenging gender stereotypes in the media, Marcie was named ‘One to Watch’ on Campaign Magazine’s Future Female List.

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