Wildflame Appoints New Creative Director

Jun 22, 2021

Wildflame Productions has appointed Llinos Griffin-Williams as its first Creative Director.  The appointment is part of the company’s plans for both international growth and the development of its creative team to secure ambitious future UK factual commissioning from the Nations.

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In her new role, Griffin-Williams will lead the company’s push to expand Wildflame’s engagement with SVODs and broadcasters worldwide. A Bafta-winning Series Producer, Griffin-Williams joined Wildflame in 2018 as Executive Producer, Factual & International Co-Productions to spearhead the company’s move into international content development and exec produce a slate of factual content for both domestic and international broadcasters.  Her appointment as Creative Director follows a raft of international commissions for the company.

Paul Islwyn Thomas, CEO, Wildflame Productions, says: “In a relatively short space of time, Llinos has helped us transform our relationships with SVODs and global platforms.  Her work has already resulted in high-profile projects for Discovery+, Smithsonian Channel and Science Channel.  She’s not only forged new relationships, but has led those productions, expertly navigating the editorial and technical challenges which high-profile co-productions inevitably bring.”

“Wildflame has the opportunity to really accelerate our growth in this area. We know that we have the right approach, the right ‘can do’ attitude to make ambitious international co-commissions work and, just as importantly, have the right production management and business affairs infrastructure in place. That, coupled with Llinos’ determination and creative flair, puts us in an extremely strong – and very exciting – position.”

Wildflame’s most recent international co-productions include Yellowstone Supervolcano: American Doomsday, the company’s first commission for Discovery+, which will be broadcast on 24 June. A co-production with Channel 5 in the UK, international sales outside of the UK, US and English-speaking Canada are being handled by Flame Distribution.  Secrets of the Celtic Grave, Wildflame’s first commission for Smithsonian Channel, was broadcast on 13 June.  A co-production with S4C in the UK, Flame Distribution is handling global distribution outside of the US, UK and Eire.

Llinos Griffin-Williams says: “Stand-out factual programming is in huge demand on both sides of the Atlantic. Wildflame’s outstanding factual expertise, coupled with its position as one of the UK’s leading Nations’ indies, means it’s perfectly placed to make the most of all the global market offers.  I’m thrilled to have this new role.  Overseeing the expansion of the company’s work with international partners is an incredibly exciting proposition.”

A History graduate, Griffin-Williams worked for the BBC before becoming a Researcher and Assistant Producer for various indies.  She joined Green Bay Media in 2016, where she became Head of Content. She co-runs the industry networking groups Push Auto and Women in TV, and is also Vice Chair of RTS Cymru Wales. She takes up her new role on 1 July.

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Wildflame Productions has appointed Llinos Griffin-Williams as its first Creative Director.  The appointment is part of the company’s plans for both international growth and the development of its creative team to secure ambitious future UK factual commissioning from the Nations.

In her new role, Griffin-Williams will lead the company’s push to expand Wildflame’s engagement with SVODs and broadcasters worldwide. A Bafta-winning Series Producer, Griffin-Williams joined Wildflame in 2018 as Executive Producer, Factual & International Co-Productions to spearhead the company’s move into international content development and exec produce a slate of factual content for both domestic and international broadcasters.  Her appointment as Creative Director follows a raft of international commissions for the company.

Paul Islwyn Thomas, CEO, Wildflame Productions, says: “In a relatively short space of time, Llinos has helped us transform our relationships with SVODs and global platforms.  Her work has already resulted in high-profile projects for Discovery+, Smithsonian Channel and Science Channel.  She’s not only forged new relationships, but has led those productions, expertly navigating the editorial and technical challenges which high-profile co-productions inevitably bring.”

“Wildflame has the opportunity to really accelerate our growth in this area. We know that we have the right approach, the right ‘can do’ attitude to make ambitious international co-commissions work and, just as importantly, have the right production management and business affairs infrastructure in place. That, coupled with Llinos’ determination and creative flair, puts us in an extremely strong – and very exciting – position.”

Wildflame’s most recent international co-productions include Yellowstone Supervolcano: American Doomsday, the company’s first commission for Discovery+, which will be broadcast on 24 June. A co-production with Channel 5 in the UK, international sales outside of the UK, US and English-speaking Canada are being handled by Flame Distribution.  Secrets of the Celtic Grave, Wildflame’s first commission for Smithsonian Channel, was broadcast on 13 June.  A co-production with S4C in the UK, Flame Distribution is handling global distribution outside of the US, UK and Eire.

Llinos Griffin-Williams says: “Stand-out factual programming is in huge demand on both sides of the Atlantic. Wildflame’s outstanding factual expertise, coupled with its position as one of the UK’s leading Nations’ indies, means it’s perfectly placed to make the most of all the global market offers.  I’m thrilled to have this new role.  Overseeing the expansion of the company’s work with international partners is an incredibly exciting proposition.”

A History graduate, Griffin-Williams worked for the BBC before becoming a Researcher and Assistant Producer for various indies.  She joined Green Bay Media in 2016, where she became Head of Content. She co-runs the industry networking groups Push Auto and Women in TV, and is also Vice Chair of RTS Cymru Wales. She takes up her new role on 1 July.

In the press / Yn y Wasg

Realscreen: https://realscreen.com/2021/06/22/wildflame-productions-names-llinos-griffin-williams-creative-director/

Broadcast: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/indies/wildflame-appoints-creative-director/5160754.article (Login required to read)

Television Business International: https://tbivision.com/2021/06/22/yellowstone-supervolcano-prodco-wildflame-names-creative-director/

Televisual: https://www.televisual.com/news/wildflame-ups-griffin-williams-to-creative-director/

C21: https://www.c21media.net/news/wildflame-ups-exec-to-new-creative-role/

Rapid TV News: https://www.rapidtvnews.com/2021062260702/wildflame-fuels-international-growth-with-new-creative-director.html#axzz6ybDFDNKV

 

Tomas Araya-Larrain

Tomas was born in Chile and immigrated to Wales when he was 4. He left his economic academic background to pursue more creative work in TV, where he has now worked on productions from daytime antique programmes, natural history, to crime specialist factual.  He says 'I’m a fat man stuck in a skinny man’s body and love all topics about food, as well as UK socio-cultural issues that affect us all.' 

He has joined Wildflame Productions as a Development Researcher and also dabbles in and out of productions when needed. 

Kate Fletcher

Kate Fletcher has joined Wildflame as a Development Exec as part of the Factual Fast Track Scheme. Kate started her career as a drama script editor, before moving into factual development. Working both in-house at the BBC and as a freelancer in Cardiff and Bristol, her commissions include: The Perfect Pitch (C4), Saving Britain's Pubs with Tom Kerridge (BBC), The Hairy Bikers’ Asian Adventure (BBC) and Samurai (US History).

Outside of work, Kate is also a mum of two and runs her own community choir.

Meinir Richards 

Meinir is a Series Producer who also Edit Produces and Directs in both English and Welsh.

She has over 25 years of experience in television and has worked across a range of genres which include, factual entertainment, comedy, live programmes, drama and film. She is an expert at securing exclusives with Talent, and access to high profile worldwide companies, such as NASA and Mensa. She thrives on establishing and maintaining strong relationships with talent and contributors and is known for her way of producing engaging, warm, and sensitive films, with people and story at its heart.

Prior to joining Wildflame, Meinir was Series Producer and Director on segments for BBC1’s The One Show.

 

Jacqueline Lee

Jacqueline is a self-shooting producer-director, working mainly on observational documentaries and lightly formatted factual entertainment.
She thrives on gaining access to difficult and sensitive environments and building and maintaining relationships quickly with contributors, telling compelling and interesting stories.

Jacqueline has previously produced content for BBCThree, BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and most recently S4C. Currently, she is producing and directing exciting Wildflame documentaries for S4C.

Cai Glover

Cai first joined Wildflame in the development team where he created ideas and crafted taster tapes. He worked on several productions using his skills as a self-shooter and researcher including S4C's digital series 'Bwrw 'Mlan', BBC Bitesize 'History KS2', S4C's 'Dim i'w Wisgo'. He was a shooting assistant producer on the second series of S4C's 'Nyrsys'. He went on to follow his passion for editing and got his first editor credit on our documentary 'Aled Haydn Jones: You, Me and the Surrogate’.

Cai is now a freelance editor with credits including C5’s ‘Wonderful Wales with Michael Ball, C4’s ‘Perfect Pitch’ and a number of documentaries for the S4C ‘Drych’ strand including ‘Jason Mohammad: Ely, The Riots and Me’.

Lloyd Rees

Lloyd started his career working on Live Studio programmes; The One Show and This Morning before moving on to development roles at RDF and BBC Studios. Believing variety is the spice of life, Lloyd used his interest in consumer issues on a range of programmes such as The Big Con, Shop Well for Less and The Martin Lewis Money Show.

During his career he’s also worked on some of the biggest Factual Entertainment formats, including The Great British Bake Off, Dragons’ Den, First Dates and Race Across the World. Lloyd returned to Wales and joined Wildflame working on international productions and has gone on to work with us on Wonderful Wales with Michael Ball for C5 and a major new living history project for S4C about Evacuees

Adrian Grant

Adrian has worked on primetime shows including Emmy Award-winning ‘The Real Full Monty: Ladies Night’, BAFTA Award-winning ‘First Dates’ and more recently he has been Producing content for Channel 4’s True Stories.

Now a Development Producer at Wildflame, Adrian joins the team with an aim to apply his editorial knowledge and experience in developing new shows and formats for the company.

Sam Lumley

With a background predominantly in Factual Entertainment, Sam has worked as an Assistant Producer in casting, welfare, and forward-planning roles on shows across the UK’s major broadcasters.

Some of his credits include: ‘Little Mix: The Search’ (BBC), ‘The Voice’ (ITV), ‘The Only Way is Essex’ (ITV2), ‘9/11:Diwrnod Wnaeth Newid Fy Mywyd’ (S4C), ‘The Great British Bake Off’ & ‘Handmade: Britain’s Best Woodworker’ (C4), ‘Stage School’ (E4), and ‘Michael Ball’s Wonderful Wales’ (C5).

As part of our development team, and with a keen interest in History and Adventure, Sam is using his editorial experience and passion for storytelling to create, capture, and produce new ideas and stories.

Carrie Smith

Carrie is an award-winning film-maker. She is a director, series producer and edit producer with experience across a wide range of popular factual content, including observational documentaries, popular factual and digital content. She is an expert access negotiator and has successfully secured access to several police forces across the UK, as well as multiple private businesses such as hotels and veterinary practices.

Carrie filmed, produced and directed The Greatest Gift which won Best Factual Series at the Bafta (Cymru) awards. Carrie has also produced behind-the-scenes content and created high-concept digital features for drama co-pro series for the BBC, Netflix & HBO, winning an International Webby award for her work on 'The Ballad of the Peaky Blinders'. Before joining Wildflame Productions, Carrie was a Senior Producer on a brand-new primetime competition format for Channel 4.

Megan Roberts

With a background in Archaeology and Anthropology, Megan's passions lie with telling people's stories both past and present with real empathy and understanding. Having filmed in various locations all over the world, her previous work has included both award winning international productions such as The Wall and more recently delicate observational storytelling in Bois y Rhondda. 
Megan has joined the team on the international Vikings series and will be working across all Wildflame’s specialist factual programming

Manon Alice-Thomas

After graduating with a BA (Hons) from York St. John’s University Business School, Manon gained her first professional experience working in events management. She then completed an internship with Kate Borde at Cardiff based talent agency KBPM, and has recently undertaken a contract as Junior Assistant at the ‘InterTalent Group’, London, supporting the Chairman and Founder, Prof. Jonathan Shalit, OBE.  As a Television Production Coordinator for Wildflame, Manon supports the team across the slate of UK and international productions

Mike Davies

Mike has accrued over a dozen years of experience in company and programme finance.  His expertise encompasses day-to-day financial transactions, managing company-wide spending against fiscal targets, preparation of monthly management accounts and forecasting. He is also responsible for day to day scheduling and running of Wildflame’s editing facilities.

Llinos Griffin-Williams

As a Bafta Cymru Winning Executive Producer, Llinos is our Creative Director following her many successes as Executive Producer, Factual and International Co-productions at Wildflame Productions. She leads on international content development, production and delivery of Factual Programming to Domestic and International Broadcasters and is part of the Wildflame Senior Management Board. Llinos is Vice Chair of RTS Cymru Wales and a member of Welsh Indies Council TAC. 

Leona Cowley

Leona has been with Wildflame since its inception and has a wealth of experience in a senior production management role working on regional and high-profile documentaries being filmed in various exotic and remote locations across the globe. Her extensive experience spans some 25 years working across most programme genres.

Gareth Fisher

Gareth has extensive knowledge of the business of production across all genres. He has an outstanding track-record in controlling large production teams and multi-million-pound projects. Gareth has worked with all of the main UK Broadcasters as well as forging strong relationships with International Broadcasters and Co - Production partners.

Alexia Barrett

Alexia graduated in 2020 with a BA (Hons) in Journalism Communications and Politics from Cardiff University, and is now kickstarting her career in TV Production. She started working with Wildflame as a Researcher on their Adventure Living History Series, Ultimate Viking.  Alexia achieved her first Network Researcher Credit on the Wildflame series, Michael Ball's Wonderful Wales. 

She will be working across our full range of factual output for UK and international broadcasters.

Esme Horne

The last 10 years of Esme’s career has been dedicated to understanding the production process and supporting a creative vision from development to transmission. Since joining Wildflame in 2017, Esme has worked across the Wildflame slate: reinforcing the production management team and helping to assure all projects are run smoothly and efficiently.

Connie Fisher

Connie moved into the world of television after a career as a West End leading lady playing Maria Von Trapp in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Sound of Music.

With a passion for TV and entertainment, Connie leads the development of formats & features projects for Wildflame and works closely with broadcasters creating projects for both high-profile and emerging talent across the full range of factual programming.

Celyn Williams

With a passion for history, Celyn has spent her time collecting and telling stories of extraordinary individuals from across Wales.

Her previous work includes a number of high-profile history productions including Time Team, and The Aberfan Wives Club (ITV).

For S4C, Celyn worked on the double Welsh BAFTA winning Adam Price a Streic y Glowyr and more recently, a living history series The 1900 Island (BBC).

Catrin Jones-Shawe

Catrin’s career began in children’s television where she produced content for both S4C and CBBC.

Catrin has a passion for health-based documentaries and in 2019 won a BAFTA Cymru Award for best factual series for Velindre: Hospital of Hope (ITV Wales). Her most recent series, Nyrsys (S4C) is an observational documentary format highlighting the incredible work performed by nurses across Wales.

Abbie Bolitho

With a background in current affairs and factual programmes, Abbie has been able to apply her research and organisational skills to a wide variety of projects in both English and Welsh. These include S4C's Nyrsys, Dim Byd i Wisgo and more recently Beasts - a series on the 'top 10' animals for children which is being sold internationally.

Paul Islwyn Thomas

Paul is founder and CEO of Wildflame Productions and is responsible for the creative and business management of the company. With over 35 years’ experience in the industry, Paul has built an enviable reputation as one of the leading factual Executive Producers and TV Executives working in Wales. Throughout a distinguished career Paul has delivered hundreds of hours of programming for both UK and international broadcasters. He is currently Chair of the highly acclaimed ‘It’s My Shout’ Training Scheme which offers exciting pathways into the industry for all championing diversity and social inclusion.

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