This week’s guest is Leo Anna Thomas, (they/them) who has twenty years’ experience in the Art Department and six as Standby Art Director on projects such as SMALL AXE, TRIGONOMETRY, HIS DARK MATERIALS and BLACK MIRROR.
They are also the first wellbeing facilitator for the Film and TV industry. Having experienced bullying firsthand they stepped away from the industry in 2009 to look after their mental health. They returned in 2013 and as part of that return they began to develop the role of the wellbeing facilitator alongside 6ft from the Spotlight, where they became a full-time facilitator as of 2020.
We speak about their induction into the world of film through the medium of VHS, a full circle 28 Days Later moment, the role of the standby art director and why it’s not just standing by to become an art director, and their work on the film Pride, and then we segue into the work Leo has being doing more recently in the world of wellbeing and mental health, and how they’ve pioneered a new role in the industry that seeks to prioritise care, calm and compassion to ensure that film & TV productions can be more mentally healthy places to work.
If anything you hear in this conversation chimes with you I urge you to check out the show notes, which contain lots of links to further resources and websites about wellbeing facilitation.
TW: Please note, that today’s conversation includes mention of suicide and bullying, so listener discretion is advised.
SHOW NOTES:
Episode 021: Amy Smart
Episode 020: Alexzandra Jackson
Episode 019: Rachel Clark
Episode 018: Jen Moss
Episode 017: Ruka Johnson
Episode 016: Catherine Slater
Episode 015: Chloe Trayner
Episode 014: Harry Wootliff
Episode 013: Síle Culley
Episode 012: Jo Duncombe
Episode 011: Jude Lister
Episode 010: Loran Dunn
Episode 009: Jordan McGarry
Episode 008: Beccy Ashdown
Episode 007: Emma Duffy
Episode 006: Caragh Davison
Episode 005: Delphine Lievens
Episode 004: Maya Maffioli
Episode 003: Helen Simmons
Episode 002: Grace Barber-Plentie
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