12 JUN 2020 My name is Em Cole and I’ve been based in London for 9 years. I create still and moving images, focused on the idea that exploring different mediums can help us tell better stories. I’m really into soft aesthetics, cheekiness and a sense of the hyperreal. I’ve been generating images for about 3 years.

It’s given me more room to play and experiment. I started my career self taught from home using any kit, props, tricks and post production techniques I could do myself, which was a very creative time in my life. I just made a CGI music video where the whole team was remote, so we had to get the artist's mum to 3D scan her via Facetime and work in an ad hoc way over Whatsapp. I like an experimental approach.

It’s been beneficial to have all my commercial resources stripped away for a bit and go back to the more resourceful way of creating that I started with. It’s easy to get used to the generic way of producing commercial work and get stuck.

I’m very lucky that I live with 2 great housemates. We have coped by installing disco lights and speakers in the kitchen, so the weeks are broken up by 4am aerobics parties in our socks. The first month was definitely easier—lots of exercise, cooking, partying, being productive. As time has gone on it’s gotten more difficult. Exercise and cooking have been replaced with watching every 90s thriller movie ever made instead. My step count was 0.01 miles the other day. I definitely recommend getting outside and moving a bit more than that.

I got myself out of a toxic relationship just as the lockdown happened and the powerful feeling of enforcing personal boundaries has been inspiring. I’m grateful about how much free headspace and personal confidence I have now, allowing for new ideas and experimenting with work a bit more.

Work wise, I’m looking forward to being on set with lots of people again. Especially getting to travel and meet new people—it’s the best bit. Outside of work, I just want to go back to my favourite dumpling restaurant with my friends.

Commission me! I have a studio set up at home that isn’t really getting used; not many projects are actually going into production right now, but I want to make work and survive.