Profile: I’ve worked across a broad range of animation, live action, interactive and VFX projects since 2008. Whilst I have deep technical knowledge of a wide array of software and equipment, my key skill is for how I utilise the resources I have at any given time to ensure the completion and success of a production. I’ve worked with major brands including Bugatti, Cadbury, Starbucks, and Meta.

Work and Experience

Freelance Filmmaker & Animator, September 2025-present. 

• Winner of "Best Music Video" at Worcest Internation Film Festival for "Hold On" by Benjamin Peters. A 3D animated music video created over a period of 3 months in late 2025. It has been very well received at both festivals and on YouTube.

• Continuing previous work with brands, non-profits and musicians as a filmmaker and animator.

• Editing and motion design my most in-demand skills set for brands and films.

• Producing and directing for direct-clients, especially on music video projects.

• Multidisciplinary approach to producing 2D, 3D and stop-motion animations as well as motion design.

• Developed a 3D pipeline for animation and cinematic clients using Unreal Engine and metahumans including the use of photogrammetry and motion capture.

• Animating for my own 2D and 3D IP.

• Development and grant applications experience for new IP.

• Developing, producing, filming and editing documentary content for several currently unreleased projects.

  
  

Motion Designer & Filmmaker, TeacherActive, November 2022-September 2025. 

• Designed and built a studio with lighting and acoustic treatment.

• Produced and animated high spec videos for their AGMs and other campaigns

• Lead members of my team during a 6 month gap between senior leadership in 2024.

• Created interactive roadmaps for the sales team using Rive.

• Trained team members on advanced After Effects methods and Rive.

• Created a systematised library of motion graphics for regular content.

• Helped their CPD YouTube channel reach 1 million views by my final week.

Co-Founder, Treasurer & Trustee Help Close By (voluntary), March 2020 - present.

• Founded charity and organised and recruited it’s board and volunteers

• Designed the UI & UX for app used across Birmingham to coordinate poverty relief

• Wrote bids for and secured successive grants and donations.

• Coordinated up 100 volunteers at our 2024 volunteering peak across complex projects in a way that fits our spare time.

• Created a hybrid approach using data science, technology and community action.

Freelance Filmmaker & Animator, May 2015 – November 2022  Split betweening directing and producing for my own clients and working for other production companies:

• Producing short documentaries for The National Museum of Computing, including a successful fundraiser for “The Bombe”  and interviews with the “Wrens” of Bletchley Park.

• Directed and lit countless music video projects, many making use of animation, VFX and motion.

• Edited onsite on Davis Cup Semi Finals 2015 in Belgium.

• Direct client projects for Right Move in 2016-2017, camera work and motion design.

• A two year retainer for Outrun Films (2017-2019) working for automotive director Al Clark, carrying out VFX, motion design, editing and drone work for Bugatti, JLR, McLaren and others.

• Motion design projects for Snappin’ Turtle Productions 2018-2022, clients included Cadbury and Starbucks. Award-winning campaign with animations for the World War One centenary, featured in national press. Introduced Lottie animation to Starbucks.

• TD, Animator & Producer (January to May 2021) - For Baby’s Sake Animations via Snappin’ Turtle Productions. Organised a  team of artists and animators in order to produce a series of over 100 animated films, Lottie animations  and deliverables in just 4 months, based on my pipeline.

• Maternity cover producer for Animade in September 2023. Projects for Meta and Ecosia.

Editor, JML Group, London, September 2013 – May 2015: 

• Developed advanced skills in motion design 

• Directed commercials that were seen on TV and other platforms

Freelance filmmaker, May 2008- September 2013: 

• Produced, lit and directed music videos under “Clockwork Amoeba Ltd”

• Screen South development and training for my screen play until their budget cuts in 2010

• DP on corporates and an indie feature film in 2009-2010.

• Unreleased music documentary based in Liverpool 2011. Band broke up before it could be finished.

• Routinely filmed interviews and live concerts for a format I developed for a music journalistics YouTube channel.

• Contracting at Penkat Studio July 2011 – September 2013, hired for my abilities as a producer and director. Responsible for studio key holding during longer productions and the operation of their Red One MX, at the time one of best cinema cameras around.

• Edited dailies on horror feature “Doom Room”, finishing a cut only a few days after it wrapped.

• Storyboarded and edited commercials for Hoover, including the film that won their contract

Director/Writer/Editor, The Shrine, January 2006 - September 2006. I filmed my first feature length film between university terms in 2006. I was 19 years old and would have been one of the youngest feature film directors in the UK at the time. The project taught me a lot about what could be done with little to no budget and just asking the right people for help and support. Many years later this outlook would help me found a charity as well as making me resourceful and more impactful when I had an actual budget.

Qualifications & Training

First Aid for the workplace, British Red Cross, 2024.

UAPQ-s and PfCO, Whispercam Training, November 2017. Qualified drone pilot.

Advanced After Effects Certification, Soho Editors, 3rd-4th March 2014.

Hollywood Camera Techniques, London Metropolitan, 20th-21st January 2012 - Led by Per Holmes.

Film Radio and Television Studies (B.A), Canterbury Christ Church University,  September 2005 - May 2008. Modules on stop-motion animation, cinematography, producing and screenwriting. I wrote and produced my first feature film “The Shrine” between 1st and 2nd years.

References available on request.  Please note my legal married name is Catterall-Mason since 2020 but I am generally credited as Duncan Catterall.