Craft, Creativity and Collaboration with Charlotte Whittall

With an impressive career spanning both agency and client-side, Creative Outpost’s new executive producer, Charlotte Whittall, has delivered a diverse range of creative projects, from commercials and branded content to high-end VFX and animation. Her ability to bring ambitious ideas to life makes her a perfect fit for Creative Outpost as the company continues to grow.

A journey through creativity

Charlotte’s career in the industry began with a degree in graphic design, combined with various work placements that cemented her passion for creativity. “I always knew I wanted to do something creative,” she says. “After university, I became a Runner and was lucky to land my first ‘proper’ job as a Production Assistant to one of the best Heads of Production in the industry.”

Her journey took her agency-side, working at some of London’s top advertising agencies, as well as in-house with major brands. Eventually, she transitioned into post-production, where she specialised in VFX, design, and animation. “I’ve always had a passion for animation, so working in post allowed me to dive deeper into that world. I’ve been fortunate enough to shoot in multiple locations overseas and collaborate with some incredible talent over the years.”

Charlotte was already familiar with Creative Outpost from her agency days. “Having worked with them before, I know how brilliant they are. When Danny Etherington, managing director, asked me to pop in for a chat, I was absolutely delighted. What appeals to me most is that it’s an independent studio where the owners are artists themselves - the creative work and the people come first.”

Making an impact through standout work

Charlotte has worked on many memorable campaigns, but a few stand out as career highlights. “One of my proudest projects is CoppaFeel! ‘Grab Life By The Boobs’. Charity jobs always have budget constraints, I pulled in a lot of favours to make it happen. Everyone featured in the campaign was a breast cancer survivor or an advocate of the charity and it was important to us that we worked with an all-female crew wherever possible. The campaign was a huge success and made a real difference.”

Another highlight was Walkers MAX KFC ‘It Makes Sense’, which involved a ground breaking approach to filming. “The whole commercial was shot on a drone - except for the product shots - which at the time, to my knowledge, hadn’t been done before. It was a large-scale production involving a night shoot and closing down streets in London during the height of the pandemic. There were challenges, including last-minute casting and location changes, but the team were fantastic and the end result was great.”

The vision for Creative Outpost

Agility is key to staying ahead in the ever evolving post-production landscape. “We’re nimble - we’re not a massive machine with reams of red tape, which means we can move at pace. By developing talent, embracing new technology, and forming strategic partnerships, we can continue to push creative boundaries. Plus, our all-under-one-roof approach, with VFX, CG, grading, motion design, offline editing, sound design and music composition, streamlines the whole production process.”

What drives creativity?

Outside of work, Charlotte finds inspiration in travel, nature, and storytelling. “Exploring different cultures gives me a fresh perspective. Living near the coast, I find being by the water clears my mind and sparks creativity. I love film, photography, animation, music, literature, and architecture - I read a lot of crime thrillers and listen to history podcasts. Not many people know this, but I love to write and draw.”

Building strong creative partnerships

Charlotte sees collaboration as the key to bringing projects to life. “Having worked agency-side, I already have great relationships with creatives, clients, directors, and producers and I’m excited to build new relationships. There are so many different ways in which to bring a script to life, especially in VFX, where anything is possible. Understanding client needs, creative collaboration, clear communication and consistently delivering high-quality work are what make strong partnerships last.”

Looking to the future

Together we want to raise Creative Outpost’s profile. “We’re a boutique studio and we have an incredibly talented team, with fantastic facilities in Soho/Noho. We want agencies, production companies and brands to know that we’re here to help and are raring to go!”

Check out Creative Outpost's latest work here.