MikhaelaAshleigh

My production career started the second I left school. I jumped straight in as a PA in Cape Town and built my path from the ground up, starting with local campaigns and international service productions before relocating to London in 2022 to work in-house for a busy branded department.

Having mastered everything from high-budget commercial shoots to nimble digital pieces, I went freelance at the end of 2024 and now split my time seasonally between the UK and South Africa.

Looking back, it makes sense; it's actually all I've ever wanted to do. When I was seven years old, watching Friends (objectively the best show ever), I turned to my mom and told her I wanted to work in film. Naturally, I didn't know what "production" actually meant back then, but nearly a decade into producing TVCs, promos, stills, and video, I wouldn't trade it for anything.

For me, the magic is in making the ideas happen. I love the puzzle of it: the budgeting, the scheduling, managing crew, and keeping directors, agencies, and clients aligned on the same vision. It's not always easy, but it's almost always fun.