Ahead of the trend

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For eight years now, Citizen Films has been operating entirely outside of the traditional ad agency model with great success. Working directly with an enviable list of clients, we deliver high-end, beautifully-crafted storytelling that misses out the middle man.

While direct to brand is a new trend production companies are looking to get on board, for us, it’s simply the way we’ve always operated. Throughout the years, we’ve gone from strength to strength, as our full end-to-end service from idea generation through to delivery has proven to be a winning proposition with brands.

Set up by ex-BBC broadcast journalist Gretchen Shoring in 2009, our client base has grown organically, seeing us create TV commercials, brand films, factual TV, photography, animation, copy, and design.

Having spent 12 years at the BBC as a TV Series Producer and Director, Gretchen set up Citizen with the aim of bringing strong storytelling know-how and super sharp production expertise together with the ability to deliver good looking, creative and innovative films to brands.

“Citizen’s story is unusual,” comments Managing Director, Gretchen. “Right from the outset, we have spearheaded an exciting approach to production that operates entirely outside the traditional ad agency model. Holding the trust of brands like Epson, Sprint, Mothercare, the FT and Direct Line, today our portfolio demonstrates real return on investment.”

Bringing her keen eye for detail to the operation is one of Citizen’s lead producers, Nishi Bolakee. Also formerly a producer at the BBC, Nishi brings a strong background in docu-dramas, as well as VFX clout from her days working at the National History Museum, to Citizen. Our high-end CGI capabilities allow us to bring to life even the most technically ambitious ideas with a sleek finish.

“When Citizen Films started many years ago, the expectation for a company of this size was to work with agencies,” explains Nishi, “but Gretchen stuck to her guns and was out to redefine what content was. That’s what has kept it fresh. Having that direct and personal relationship with the client means that you end up having more frank and interesting conversations, which in turn, leads to more interesting work.”