Joelle Mae David
Creative Director
I was born and raised in East London; growing up in between the boroughs of Newham and Barking & Dagenham specifically. I always had a passion for storytelling, but I had no idea how to gain access to the TV and film industry or that there were even jobs for me within it.
While I was working as a production assistant, I began creating short documentaries. I saved my money and bought a DSLR camera, learned how to shoot and began documenting local people, which became a short series called Hidden Talent, which featured on BBC3. This then led to my being commissioned by BBC3 to create a short poetic documentary about how regeneration affects young people in the Gascoigne Estate in Barking called Losing My Home in The Name of Regeneration(2019).
After making several short documentaries and films, I used my experience to start Bluebird Pictures, to focus on more narrative storytelling plus deliver outreach programmes in my local community.
I released our first narrative short film; Greasy Spoon, a comedy-sci-fi about gentrification, in 2021. It was selected for BAFTA-qualifying festivals such as Aesthetica and London Short Film Festival and was nominated for the Hijack Visionary Award and the Taash Comedy in Film Award. This was the film that I felt best reflected my voice as a director, and it was the job that helped land me my agent, Independent Talent, allowing me to become a filmmaker full-time.
Since 2021, I have directed a read-through of Sarah Keyworth‘s comedy Manbeast, directed the non-TX pilot Great Brittons (written by Ava Pickett) for Channel 4, directed two episodes of Dreaming Whilst Black, become the lead director of Channel 4’s Queenie, and written a pilot for Audible.
David Avery
Executive Producer
David Avery is a British actor best known for his work in Starred Up Film4/Sigma Films, The Night Manager BBC/AMC and Bancroft ITV. Avery trained for one year at The Central School of Speech and Drama in 2008 graduating with a master in Acting for Screen.
Avery is well known for being a versatile actor working across film and television in both comedy and drama. His stand out credits like Starred Up and The Night Manager have propelled Avery’s career forward and given him international recognition.
Other notable work includes Brothers With No Game and Borderline Netflix. Both comedy series had humble beginnings and have gone to accumulate large followings. BWNG’s first series was launched independently on YouTube in 2012 and after going viral, has since been broadcast on channels like London Live and Trace TV.
With his eclectic background and experience, Avery aims to bring that same energy to Bluebird Pictures as an executive producer, after collaborating on short film Greasy Spoon earlier this year. His experience has proved his ability to recognise good work and we’re thrilled to have him join the team!
Chanel Washington
Marketing Manager
Chanel Washington is a forward-thinking and results-driven international marketer and event professional. She has held executive positions and been responsible for global portfolios for digital companies, global media companies and the financial services industry.
Chanel has solid expertise and a proven track record in brand development, social media, digital and content marketing. She also manages the planning and execution of corporate and private events, both in-person and virtually.
Chanel brings this expertise to our World Cinema Film Festival each year, ensuring a brilliant event either online or in person.
Majel David
Digital Content Coordinator
Majel grew up in the borough of Barking and Dagenham, and plays an active role within local creative organisations, supporting comms and marketing for various projects. She works primarily as a Social Media Manager, and takes an Anthropological approach to Digital Marketing. Her greatest strength is her ability to create meaningful content that focuses on storytelling, people and culture – content that resonates with people from all walks of life.
Majel has been freelancing for Bluebird Pictures since the very first World Cinema Film Festival, and is excited to join the team this year to create engaging content for our audience on social media as the company grows and produces more exciting projects.
Eleanor Phee
Executive Personal Assistant
Eleanor was raised in Hackney, where she found herself in the heart of talent, music and arts from a young age whilst constantly getting involved with the local community. Through this, she found a love of imagery and storytelling and went on to study TV, Media and Film at London Screen Academy. Alongside her studies, she worked as a career but had the desire to break into the industry and landed a role as a Production Assistant for a company called TwoFresh based in East London. During her time, she had many responsibilities, which contributed significantly to their first feature documentary, a detailed and compelling film on the Cyprus Problem called “The Divided Island”, due to be released in 2023.
With a passion for travelling and experiencing something new, she studied Broadcast Journalism in New York for two months, where she shared a different city culture and made a short documentary about the overlooked community of “Canners” who work on the busy streets of New York. Eleanor’s passion for community grew, and so did her knowledge of journalism and filmmaking. On returning to the UK, she started documenting her surroundings and is currently working on a few local productions about love and attitude across London.
Eleanor strongly believes in innovating the landscape of online content and helping others to showcase their work and break into the industry, as she knows how important it is to find that stepping stone into a line of work you feel passionate about!