James Ward

Since relocating back to the UK last in 2021 I have successfully started my own business Popular Media Ltd, working on a freelance basis for a number of businesses based in the UK, France and the United Arab Emirates. I specialise in video editing and motion graphics and am proficient in the use of Adobe Creative Cloud applications such as Premier Pro and After Effects. My portfolio of clients currently includes:

• Jellysmack (Creator Programme) based in Paris

• Pixel Artworks (Dubai Office)

• Dubai Airports

• Customer Experience Group (Dubai Office)

After completing my university education in the UK I moved back to Dubai and secured a position in the fast-paced Comms department of Emirates Airline working in their in-house content creation studio, supporting the retail, travel and hospitality businesses of Emirates Airline and Group. As a team we won awards for taking visual storytelling to new heights for the brand, regularly reaching an audience of millions on Emirates’ social channels and customer-facing sites – not just in the UAE but globally – earning the respect of our industry peers, customers and competitors.

My role during the five years included:

• Editing of both new and re-purposed footage tailored to consumer audiences, designed to stimulate sales - from highlighting new onboard products and services video of new measures to restore confidence in flyers post Covid-19

• Managing the whole process from pitching ideas to the executive team, interpreting briefs through overseeing capture of footage to on time delivery of the actual edit

• Production of videos for all Emirates’ external and internal communications, from their social channels including Facebook, Linked In, YouTube to Emirates’ customer website and bespoke edits for distribution with news releases by the PR team to worldwide media

• Used to working independently in the office; off-site at major industry events; on location in Dubai airport or even at 30,000 ft on an actual operating aircraft.

• Simultaneous handling of multiple projects to meet deadlines; out-of-hours working, regularly commended for my dedication and tenacity

• Managing external agencies and freelancers to ensure work conformed to Emirates’ strict standards and brand guidelines and within budget

• Logging and managing the library of video footage, assets, royalty-free music

• Demonstrating strong interpersonal skills whether working with colleagues, management, and talent including actors, pilots and crew and even Arsenal football players

• Responsible for mentoring two junior team members