Penthouses and Sir Paul McCartney: The Story of Two (ex) Runners
“Having known the team since their Golden Square days I was extremely confident that their level of quality and professionalism would be reflected in the offering at Creative Outpost. The energy, enthusiasm and can do approach that I receive no matter the project or budget always makes me come back for more. I would trust this team on any brief and I always look forward to coming to see them.” - Michael Hanney - executive producer, Iris.
With offices in Soho and Sweden, Danny and Quentin are kept busy across two continents. Quentin heads up the Nordic operations, running the Oslo and Stockholm offices, bringing talent, solutions, remote workflows and, where appropriate, automated solutions to clients. As for London, Creative Outpost works on all aspects of audio and post-production, taking over the entire 5th floor of Film House on Wardour Street in Soho.
“I can still see the original offices,” says Danny, pointing at the old MPC building from a chair in their meeting room. “It was quite a ‘Class of ‘92’ back then - we were stocking fridges alongside some of the most respected figures in the film and TV world today. It’s really quite incredible.”
“We are always very happy with the work Creative Outpost do for us. Their attention to detail makes it seem effortless.” - Sally Miller - senior producer, Engine.
Amidst all the work, the duo have found time to indulge their jolly dynamic - often, with higher stakes than a normal prank.
“In the early ‘90s, Quentin and I were both working on a project with Sir Paul McCartney,” Danny remembers. “Quentin was the assistant on the first day, and I was the assistant on the second. The evening before, I spent ages rehearsing my introduction in front of the mirror. Yet, when the following morning came, Sir Paul shook my clammy hand and tore me down in four disappointed words: ‘Oh, where’s Q today?’. In my mind, all I could hear was Quentin’s guttural laughter at smashing my one perfect moment!”
“I’ve worked with Creative Outpost on quite a few projects in my time and it’s always a pleasure. The producers are extremely lovely and super accommodating; nothing is ever too much hassle and they're a fantastic support on each project. Most importantly though, the output is always top class and they won’t rest until everything is better than perfect.” - Stefanie Forbes - producer, Engine
“Creative Outpost are a friendly bunch. We’ve worked with them consistently on the VFX side over the last five years. Now with the addition of the Sound studios, on this occasion we used them for audio on our high profile Santander campaign launch.” - Laura Middleton - senior producer, Engine.
Dave Robinson and Tom Lane bring both character and talent to the Creative Outpost studios, with Dave’s 21 years experience leading the charge as newly appointed head of sound. "As sad as it was to see Angell Sound close its doors, having been with them for over 20 years, I feel incredibly proud to be a part of a new era for Creative Outpost. It’s an opportunity to help develop and grow the audio side of things from the beginning and is also an exciting new challenge for me personally,” Dave says.
“We’ve had to grow and change every year,” says Q. “First, it was about managing volume and capacity, now it’s about ensuring we’re getting everything we can out of the incredible services we have on offer.”
For Danny, it seems to be more about the immediate future - namely, what to eat...
“Our job is largely like running a reputable restaurant. It’s about sourcing excellent ingredients, having a talented team who know exactly how to prepare and cook them, presented in a welcoming and creative space, and providing exceptional customer service,” Danny describes. “Most critically, you need to be able to react to changing trends and tastes as that can gut a ‘restaurant’ faster than a kitchen fire - there must never be a time your restaurant is so big it can’t adapt swiftly!”
Lunch, anyone?
For more from Creative Outpost and information about their services, including their recent sound acquisition, head to their website, here.
