The following questions were answered by Smudge Jones and James McDonald. They founded Tunafish Media in January 2010, along with their business partner Richard Brooks.
Who is Tunafish Media?
SJ: We are a Manchester-based media production company, operating out of the Sharp Project. We are probably best known for the music videos we have made for Danny Mahon, The Last Party and Daystar, but we have done a lot of corporate, commercial and events stuff as well.
JM: We have worked with Pretty Green, Harvey Nichols and Northern Restaurant and Bar amongst others.
Can you briefly explain the background of you all?
SJ: We all met at the University of Salford, where we were all studying on various Media Production courses. Me and Ric were on the same course and worked together often, Macca joined us later on.
JM: There was another guy who worked with them, but he was ill so I ended up getting drafted in.
What made you want to work together to create Tunafish Media, and where did the name Tunafish come from?
SJ: After uni, I was working on a business enterprise scheme and that gave us some decent contacts to do things ourselves.
JM: Me and Ric were working on various film sets and TV channels, but the three of us were still doing stuff on the side. We decided to just make a go of it.
SJ: Starting ourselves and trying to build something from the ground up just seemed like a more interesting option than joining a bigger a company and working our ways up individually.
JM: The name? Basically, wherever we went Ric was armed with a tuna sandwich. We’d be on a shoot and he’d be stood their eating tuna.
SJ: He was literally eating tuna all of the time, we went to the cinema and he was there eating a tuna baguette stinking the place out. He mixes up a bit now though, he has pasta one day a week.
Can you tell our readers what services are offered? Do you offer every facet of multimedia, or do you focus primarily on video content?
JM: Video content is our specialty, but we do offer a lot of social media services to certain clients as well.
SJ: I used to work in radio for years, but most of the time we get approached for video work. We’ve not really had the chance to do any radio yet.
What does Tunafish Media offer that sets it apart from other multimedia companies out there?
JM: We’re young, we’re still enthusiastic. Other companies may have lost that enthusiasm over time.
SJ: There are some great production companies out there now. Mellow9 in London is one that springs to mine. It’s a good time for TV, film and video production in England at the minute. There’s a lot of talented people out there and seeing the work they are producing only makes you want to improve and keep moving forward yourself.
You have developed a wide client base since starting only 2 years ago. What would you say has been your favourite company to work with and project to work on, and why?
JM: Each company is different and have their own merits.
SJ: Each represents a different challenge, mixes it up.
JM: Every day is different pretty much, which you can’t really say if you are working in an office. No offence to office workers.
Do you have a dream collaboration that you’d like to happen?
SJ: Eric Cantona or Owen Wilson.
JM: I’d like to do a feature film with someone like Tom Hardy or Leonardo Di Caprio, I really like them as actors.
SJ: I’d like to stand on a David Fincher set for a day and just watch him work.
JM: Mr. Motivator, Wolf From Gladiators, Mike Skinner, Jet from Gladiators, Chris Moyles, Eureka Johnson, in fact anyone from Gladiators.
SJ: What was the referee called? I want him to record my voicemail message…
What does the future hold for Tunafish Media?
JM: We’d just like to see where it goes, continue to work with exciting people and keep that buzz that we’ve got.
SJ: Keep moving forward, keep improving, see what happens.
JM: He was called John Anderson by the way
SJ: Oh yeah that’s the guy.
To learn more about the company or hire them for production work, visit the site at www.tunafishmedia.co.uk
