Month: December 2023

Jules joined Riot in September and has embedded himself into the team with his infectious enthusiasm and passion for the work that we do. A recent Film & English graduate, Jules is the first to take up Riot’s new six-month internship programme. We’ve been impressed by his brilliant social media management and people skills, and we can’t wait to see his PR career take off.

Want to get to know him a bit better? We’ve asked him to share a bit about some of his passions and the things he is most looking forward to about working at Riot.

What are you most excited about when it comes to joining Riot?

I’m really excited to be working with like-minded people who share the same passion for arts, culture and entertainment. It’s amazing to be surrounded by such a skilled and talented team, learning as much as I can from them and being able to use what they’ve taught me to support a wide range of clients in the arts.

With no limitations in place, who would be your dream client?

My dream client would be Studio Ghibli. Watching Ghibli films as a kid was what drew me into film; I even wrote my dissertation on anime and Ghibli movies. I would love to work on Miyazaki’s next film in any capacity. I still haven’t gotten around to seeing the live theatre productions of My Neighbour Totoro and Spirited Away, but I would love to help others discover these amazing worlds and characters.

What was the first book that you fell in love with?

The first book that I really fell in love with was Stephen King’s The Shining. I was thrilled reading and watching horror films that I knew I shouldn’t have been watching as a kid. I used to read Goosebumps and Darren Shan books, but I never really felt scared until I read The Shining. I became addicted to reading books that evoked that sort of visceral feeling, not necessarily just fear, but also wonder and amazement etc. I still enjoy reading King and horror books today.

What are some of your other passions?

I love lifting weights and kickboxing. I grew up watching so many action and martial arts films, but I never worked up the courage to take lessons. It was only when I got into university that I decided to join the kickboxing society and became obsessed with the sport and working out. I’m constantly trying to test the full limits of my body and push myself to go further. I haven’t been able to practise as frequently lately, so I hope I can still touch my toes.

Ruby joined us in October and has already taken settled in and done some amazing work with influencers for the Royal Institution and supporting the Nero Book Awards team to roll out social media content. Ruby’s background in comms is within the charity and education sector, but her passion has always been arts and culture. Alongside her previous role, Ruby provided freelance publicity and social media support to her local literary festival in Kent. She brings with her a brilliant set of skills alongside a deep passion for arts, culture and entertainment, and we’re so pleased to have her on the team. 

Want to get to know her a bit better? We’ve asked her to share a bit about some of her passions and the things she is most looking forward to about working at Riot.

What are you most excited about when it comes to joining Riot?

I’m really excited to be working in the arts and culture space, which has been my goal for a few years now. Riot has such a wide range of great clients so I feel really lucky to be involved. The work itself is creative and I never get bored!

With no limitations in place, who would be your dream client?

My dream client would be the National Theatre. Since moving to London, I’ve got really into going to the theatre and the NT offers £10 tickets if you’re aged 25 and under, which I’ve been making good use of. My favourite show this year has been The Effect, it was completely engrossing and I felt emotionally drained at the end of the show – in a good way! 

My all-time favourite author is Haruki Murakami so he would be another dream client. He’s already got a huge readership but I’d love to introduce his work to even more people. 

What was the first book that you fell in love with?

Speaking of Murakami, Kafka on the Shore was probably the first book I fell in love with as an adult. I remember being so absorbed in its surreal world that I skipped a night out on my post-A-Levels girls’ holiday to stay in and read. When my friends got back at 4am, I was still awake and on the final chapter!

As a child, I read a lot of different books but I do remember writing fan mail to Francesca Child who wrote the Horrid Henry series. I’ve always loved naughty characters like Horrid Henry and Dennis the Menace.

What are some of your other passions?

I’ve really been into yoga for the past few years. I have dyspraxia and struggle with sport but yoga has improved my coordination and strength so much. I thought I hated all exercise because I couldn’t catch a ball and was always the last one picked for the team in PE, but it turns out I just hadn’t found my niche yet!

 

Sofia joined the team this autumn, and has brought with her a myriad of skills and a wealth of experience from her previous roles at publishing house HarperCollins and PR agency Midas. Having been nominated for two PPC awards in addition to working on a range of exciting projects, we’re so excited to have Sofia as part of the Riot team. 

Want to get to know her a bit better? We’ve asked her to share a bit about some of her passions and the things she is most looking forward to about working at Riot.

What are you most excited about when it comes to joining Riot?

I am really excited to be working across a variety of different clients in the arts and culture space and expanding my PR knowledge. Everyone in this team is incredibly creative and passionate and I can’t wait to soak up all of their knowledge and expertise.

With no limitations in place, who would be your dream client?

As a huge fan of Bollywood, I’d love to work with some of the biggest production companies in India to help promote their films to UK audiences. There is a growing market for foreign cinema in Western countries and I’d love to help introduce new viewers to the films and actors I’ve grown up on. I am particularly a massive fan of the legend himself, Shah Rukh Khan, so working alongside his company would be an absolute dream come true and a massive honour.

What was the first book that you fell in love with?

 I’ve been an avid reader my entire life, so it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what the first book was that I loved, but one of the earliest memories of reading I have is a book called Cloud Busting by Malorie Blackman. I picked this book up at a Scholastic Book Fair when I was young, knowing absolutely nothing about it but I was completely blown away. It is a story told entirely in verse about the friendship between two young boys and I thought it was so beautiful. I still have my very tattered copy from that book fair which is now signed and personalised by Malorie so it’s a prized possession!

What are some of your other passions?

Alongside reading, I am also a huge musical theatre fan. There is nothing I love more than spending a Saturday evening in the theatre watching a musical. My absolute favourites are Six, Legally Blonde, In The Heights and, of course, Hamilton. Outside of the cultural space, I’ve recently been learning to swim for the first time. I’ve become passionate about the power of swimming as well as the importance of learning something new as an adult. Throwing myself into swimming classes has really changed my mental health for the better.