LONDON — Soho-based VFX studio Freefolk (https://freefolk.com) recently announced a promotion, as well as made two new hires. Cheryl Payne has been promoted from senior producer to head of commercials production. She has been with Freefolk from almost the beginning, and has worked on some of the studio’s biggest commercials, including Warburtons for Engine, Peloton for Dark Horses and Cadburys for VCCP.
Photo (L-R): Cheryl Payne, Bradley Cockesdge & Laura Rickets
Laura Rickets has joined the studio as senior producer, bringing with her over 18 years of production experience gained while working at Framestore, The Mill, Smoke & Mirrors, and McCanns. Since joining the team, Rickets has produced I’m A Celebrity idents, a set of seven CG-heavy spots for the new season of the show, and ads for both the Rugby World Cup and Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?.
Bradley Cockesdge is a new 2D artist on Freefolk’s commercials VFX team. He joins the commercials VFX department from Framestore, where he was worked on Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald. He came to Freefolk originally from Hertfordshire University, where he studied visual effects for film and television.
In related news, Freefolk’s joint MD/EP Fi Kilroe and head of color Paul Harrison have been invited to join the British Arrows Jury for next year’s awards.