Meet the Team
Meet the Somerset Film Team
Deb Richardson, Creative Director
Deb has a background in theatre. She trained in archive film management with Huntley Archives and has worked on a number of archive projects, particularly 9.5mm.
She is a member of Women in Film and Television and Shooting People.
Daniel Birch, Creative Technologist
Daniel is an established music composer and sound artist and relishes unpacking and utilising new technology.
Daniel initially connected with Somerset Film back in 2016 and their support and guidance over the years has played a huge role in his development as a creative practitioner.
Pati Wieczorek, Cafe Assistant
Phil Shepherd, Ambassador
Community Engagement & Company Secretary
Phil was born in Minehead, and trained at Dartington Hall and Bournemouth Film School.
He has worked as an independent film and TV producer, including directing children’s programmes at the BBC and co-producing/directing documentaries for HTV.
Laura Bull, Domestic Support
Laura is from Cali in Colombia and is a qualified Beauty Therapy and Holistic Therapy Practitioner. She joined us in 2009, as our cleaner and has worked with us ever since including sometimes helping to run our café. Laura says that “The Engine Room is like a second home for me, I love the culture and have met lots of lovely people here over the years.”
Kevin Redpath, Producer
Kevin studied film at Salisbury College of Art and gained experience with the BBC at Bristol and Birmingham where he worked on News, Current Affairs, Sport, Drama and Nature Documentaries.
He created his own production business in the 1990s and produced films from an holistic approach to cancer to the impact of climate change on the Somerset coastline. He has campaigned for the retention of public libraries in Somerset and Glastonbury’s banks. A Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts, and he’s been a Trustee at Somerset Film.
Dan Gale, Technical Manager
An established local filmmaker, Dan has worked with the organisation since The Engine Room opened in 2003. He is patient, enjoys a challenge and is detail orientated. Before becoming a freelancer Dan was previously employed as a media technician at Bridgwater College.
Laura, Assistant Producer
After graduating from Kingston University, Laura first worked for Somerset Film as Studio and Design Assistant back in 2010, going on to hone her skills in graphic design and marketing and to gain wider experience in the care and education sectors. Laura returns to the company to take up the role of Assistant Producer. As well as her keen interest in film and digital media, Laura is passionate about the environment and animal welfare.
Joanna Sikora, Cafe Manager
Jonna is an artist with a passion for watercolours, fascinated by botany and caring for plants, and a passion for nature & healthy lifestyle. Joanna enjoys working on various craft projects and has a few years of experience in handcrafts and organising charity events.
Meet our Board of Trustees
Pauline Burr, Chair
Somerset born and bred, Pauline has worked mainly in exhibition design, arts administration and regeneration. She took early retirement in 2018 and now enjoy having the time to pursue my own creative endeavours.
Sue Isherwood, Trustee
Sue Isherwood is a freelance cultural consultant/facilitator and Director of the National Leisure and Culture Forum’s Leading Learning Programme, working with senior managers of culture and leisure services across local government.
She was Chair of the National Association of Local Government Arts Officers (which became Arts Development UK) between 2002 and 2007 and before eleven years in local government divided her career between arts and education, working for such bodies as the British Film Institute, The Arts Council, The Royal Photographic Society, the Open University, Bristol University School of Education and Exeter College of Art and Design. She was a trustee of Voluntary Arts for ten years and is currently on their England advisory group. She is also Chair of Arts and Health South West, Vice Chair of Womankind, Bristol and a board member of SW Forum, Western Community Leisure, Somerset Film and Somerset Trust for Arts and Recreation (STAR).
She has toiled in the cracks and fissures of the cultural funding and education worlds and is still an inveterate optimist who believes in the power of art and the brilliance of people.
James Godman, Trustee
James is an Aerospace Executive and RAeS Fellow, CEO and Creator of Climate Film Festival CIC and creative startup SME, Chair of RAFA branch, ex Councillor and Somerset Ambassador.
As well as being a creative innovator, business mentor and filmmaker who has a broad experience within the public and private sector.
Lisa Walters, Trustee
With 30 years of experience in the TV industry, I’ve progressed through the production management ranks from Production Secretary to Head of Production, building expertise across a range of genres, including music and arts, observational documentaries, and natural history. I have a comprehensive understanding of the entire production process—from development to greenlight, through to production, post and delivery. My experience also includes co-productions, tax credits, and third-party funding. I’m passionate about fostering a collaborative working environment and take pride in maintaining strong communication and leadership skills.
Outside of work, I’m an avid music enthusiast, playing the flute and recently learning the piano. I enjoy trail running, have just started karate, and have a deep love for animals. When it’s time to unwind, I can often be found absorbed in a great book.
Richard Crowe, Trustee
Richard Crowe is a displaced Essex boy who started writing for the stage when he was 17. He had a mini hit with Cock and Bull Story (Lyric, Hammersmith) that has played on every continent since 1985. He also wrote and performed in his one man show, Over the Wall Picking Apples.
His role as a creative producer, he led on a diverse range of projects, including the development of the European Garden Heritage Network; production of Natural Partners, promoting the value of artists working in the environment, and five years (2007-12) as London 2012 Creative Programmer for the South West.
Over lockdown Richard developed his own digital practice, presenting a programme of online theatre nights; a series of podcasts on the future of theatre post-COVID, and producing a film, In Search of Cinderella, honouring Somerset’s pantomime tradition at a time when live panto could not be performed.
Richard is proud to have worked with youth theatres, aspiring writers and actors in community settings; to have danced with The Eggs, a dance troupe for those with mental health problems, and to have performed as a solo artist and as part of a community theatre company in the Wells Theatre Festival. He is currently working on a variety of new projects with artists across the South West.
Rob Franklin (GBCT), Trustee
Rob, is a BAFTA award winning underwater Director of Photography working across a broad range of genres from documentaries to feature films.
His career started with the enthusiasm and help of a film workshop, similar to Somerset Film. Now 30 years on, he feels privileged to be part of the Somerset Film Board of Trustees, and able to help support the Somerset Film team.
Dylan Martlew, Trustee
Kate Pearce (ARPS), Deputy Chair
Kate Pearce, has a background in finance, photography and journalism. She has always had a keen interest in photography and is member of the Sedgemoor Camera Club and is an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society. She has entered Sedgemoor Camera Club competitions, and had photos accepted for the Royal Photographic Society National Print Exhibition on several occasions.
Kate initially connected with Somerset Film back in 2014 for the launch of ‘Capture Burnham’ history project where she met Phil Shepherd, Somerset Film Founder and Ambassador, and Deb Richardson, Somerset Film Creative Director.
Craig Luck , Trustee
Craig began in the winter of 1988. After growing up and initially pursuing a career in aviation, he later u-turned and steadied himself onto his other passion in life: film. An education, several jobs, phone calls, meetings and friendships later he started working as a technician on movie sets. It was during this time that he began writing his first screenplay, a feature film based on a short story he had written some years before... “FINCH”.
Presently, Craig is now based in Somerset with his wife and two kids and is writing several new screenplays — all whilst enjoying his flying lessons.
Grace Morgan, Trustee
Grace is a short film Writer/Director who started making her own films after taking part in the BFI Film Academy 2021 with Somerset Film. Credits include On My Level (2022) and She Will Play On (2025). As well as writing and directing, she also enjoys Script Supervising on different projects.
Grace balances her passion for film with a full-time job as a civil servant.
Sophie Brown, Trustee
With a background in film studies, Sophie combines a love of storytelling with a deep commitment to making a difference. As the writer and executive producer of the independent film Spectrum, they brought their creative vision to life through collaboration and innovation. In addition to their work in the arts, Sophie has over five years of experience in fundraising, specialising in legacy giving. They have contributed to impactful programs at renowned charities such as the National Trust, the Zoological Society of London and Kew Gardens, helping to secure vital support for conservation and heritage initiatives.
