Skipton-based Virpi Kettu is an award-winning director-animator and digital artist at Kettu Studios, an animation, film and immersive media production company.
Over the course of the Advance programme, Virpu has attended a finance webinar, pitching webinar, Christmas networking session, a Financing Creativity 2 day bootcamp, Music in the Games Industry webinar, a 2 day Bootcamp at Production Park & received 10 hours of mentoring with James Bedford.
We spoke to Virpi about her experience:
Tell us about Kettu Studios?
Kettu Studios is a Film and Immersive Media Production studio that collaborates with exceptional international artists. We have animated for Aardman Animations for the Wallace and Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, Creature Comforts and for The National Film Board of Canada, DreamWorks and Universal Pictures. We have created music videos across both sides of the Atlantic, for artists including RTJ, Father John Misty, Radiohead and Katy Perry. As well as lecturing, teaching and hosting workshops about animation and immersive media techniques internationally at schools, universities and festivals.
How has the support you have you received from the Advance programme impacted your business?
In general, all the offered advice workshops, mentoring and help has made me become a much calmer, more knowledgeable and assertive SME owner. Things that worried me before about owning a business have become more smaller worries as the learning curve from the offers from Advance has been great, clear and extremely helpful. Thank you very much for that.
Have you hired any new roles?
Part time per projects yes. That is very much how my business works (animation of things). I’ve hired 5x 3D animation modellers and developed a nice co working relationship with a local AR app developer company to build my App and plans for more
Have you launched any new products or services?
Yes, I launched a “Dogs’ Dales AR mobile trail app” on May 21st 2022. More info at www.dogsdales.com.
Have you applied for or received any funding or grants?
Yes, I received HAZ (English Heritage -Heritage Action Zone) funding to make the app. And most recently I got New Ideas funding from Creative UK to develop and test a new VR animation technique. Still looking for investment and hope the test will convince the market investors.
How has mentoring changed your approach to your business?
The mentoring received was essential help for my business. It helped me to look at my business offer in a new and more marketable way. With the help of my mentor I understood the things I was not doing very clear or well and why I was not progressing. I got new ideas and found out new pathways to monetisation of my projects.
What is the most valuable lesson you have learnt from your time with your mentors?
To look at my projects with the viewpoints of the people I am trying to market for, and what those viewpoints usually are for investors and funders. As a professional of creative industries that is not often emphasised on the education side of things.
View more case studies from the Advance programme here
