The Production Team

All aspects of the Summerton Mill project - the original concept, character development and model-making, script-writing, animating, lighting, filming, sound design and music, have been created in-house.

Pete Bryden (Producer/Director) is a creative entrepreneur. With a background in the music industry as a songwriter and performer, Pete is also a published writer and cartoonist, and holds a number of company directorships. Following his involvement in several film and television projects, Pete became intrigued with the possibility of creating a children’s stop-frame animation based around his secluded Oxfordshire watermill, and the magic of this setting became the inspiration for Summerton Mill. As scriptwriter, set designer and builder, co-Director and composer, Pete's creativity is embedded in all aspects of the project.

Ed Cookson (Producer/Director) has been making music and films since a young age. After studying Human Sciences at Oxford he entered the computer games industry for 5 years where he honed his audio, visual and production skills making award-winning games, picking up a BAFTA nomination along the way. Having left the mainstream industry to explore his own audio-visual projects, Ed teamed up with Pete Bryden to create Summerton Mill. His versatile directorial, creative and technical skills play a key part in all stages of production, from concept through to post production.

Judy Owen (Producer) became involved in the production of Summerton Mill at the conceptual stage. Acting as a sounding board and mentor, she helped to take Summerton Mill from concept through to the production of the pilot episode.

James Cleland (Animator for Series 1 and Director of Animation for Series 2) joined the Summerton Mill team as Assistant Animator just before shooting started on Series 1 in 2004, and he was soon promoted to Fully Fledged Animator. He graduated from The Arts Institute at Bournemouth in 2004, finishing with a BA (Hons) in Film and Animation. In addition to his outstanding animation skills, James is a skilled illustrator and model-maker. James returned to Summerton Mill in 2007 as Director of Animation for Series 2.
email: jdccleland@hotmail.com

Dan Stirrup (Lead Animator for Series 2) joined the production team for Series 2.

James, Dan Abi and Hannah were all involved in making props for Series 2, and Dan was also involved in some of the After Effects work

Silas Hawkins provided all the voices and animal sounds for Summerton Mill, Series 1.

An exceptionally versatile character actor/voiceover artist, Silas has provided over 70 character voices for a variety of different projects, mostly animations, but also radio plays, computer games and pre-recorded phone messages. He is the son of Peter Hawkins, creator of the voices of the original Bill and Ben the Flowerpot Men, Captain Pugwash, the Daleks, the Woodentops and many other classics from the Golden Age of children's TV.

email: silashawkins@aol.com Web: www.silashawkins.com

As with all film projects, various people helped in various ways. We'd like to thank everyone who has given us time and encouragement:

During the production of the pilot episode, Mr and Mrs Neighbour undertook most of the mini-dressmaking and provided enthusiastic support. Helen Sturdy (now Bryden!) beavered away as production assistant and assistant dressmaker, also providing food and entertainment during the pilot shoot. Trevor from Johnsons of Deddington was also a great help. I true low-budget film and TV production spirit, Silas Hawkins provided his time to record the voices and narration on a purely speculative basis.

During the first and second series, Elaine Mason kindly acted as our early years advisor, helping to ensure that the scripts and images would be understood by little ones. Lilian and Jackie from the Colin Sanders Innovation Centre in Banbury fell over backwards to help us in whatever ways they could, and a big thank you goes to Rosie Sanders for support and encouragement.