Adam Downey, director of post production at Sky, tells TVBEurope how seeing a harmonious team working to deliver a project is like watching a ballet
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 10, 2025 Updated: February 11, 2025
Adam Downey, director of post production at Sky, tells TVBEurope how seeing a harmonious team working to deliver a project is like watching a ballet
target=_blank title=Share on LinkedIn class=share-linkedin> Adam Downey, director of post production at Sky, tells TVBEurope how seeing a harmonious team working to deliver a project is like watching a ballet
https://www.tvbeurope.com/business/people/meet-the-director-of-post-production title=Share via Email class=share-email>
Talk us through an average day in your role I don't think there is an average day in my role, which is both a blessing and at times a challenge. I lead post production across most of Sky's content areas, such as entertainment, sport, documentaries, promos, news and some scripted, and I have a staff of over a hundred people and an equal number of freelance specialists. I have regular catch ups with my all of my team, as well as stakeholders and other support departments like finance. Aside from that, my day changes based on what is happening across our business, the wider company or the industry.
Adam Downey, director of post production at Sky My day will generally be split around three factors; where we are going (our strategy of moving forward) the wellbeing of my staff, and looking at the projects we are delivering, checking progress and risks.
Post production is a creative talent business sitting on technology and is often perceived as a single cog in the end of a long production chain. The only resolute is that the delivery date rarely changes, but as we sit at the end of that production's cycle, decisions that are made at the start can have an impact on the work we do. In the main these decisions are collaborative and well communicated, so we are prepared, but sometimes we need to react to unknowns with fast problem solving.
How did you get started in the media industry? I did film studies at university and fell in love with the process of editing. I loved seeing things come together and finding solutions to elements I hadn't considered whilst shooting, taking something from its raw form to a finished and polished (well, for a student) piece.
Before leaving university I sent out 300 CVs and heard not a sound. Luckily a film was being shot in my home town of Birmingham and I talked them in to giving me a job as a runner, before realising it was an unpaid position not a good testament for our industry back then! As an industry we have made good progress away from this model of employment, which creates huge barriers to entry, and it's something I have personally made efforts to change in the management roles I have held in my career, though there is still a long way to go.
Over a year and three projects as runner and 3rd assistant director later, I got a bite from one of the CVs I'd sent out a long while back. I left the freelance world of film and odd jobs between gigs to be a full time runner in a post house in Soho working on commercials. From there I moved through the ranks of edit assistant, junior editor to editor. I did this for a few years and while I know some love the focus and solitude, I found editing to be a lonely and isolating experience. Luckily, at that time as a business we went through a massive technical upheaval and I was able to lead the change project, which gave me the option to move into facilities management and support (at a separate company) and from there into running post production.
What training did you have before entering the industry? A part of our industry that has always frustrated me is the lack of formal training. Something I have completely changed within my role at Sky and in roles before. Apart from University (which at that time was not as linked to the industry and therefore not as applicable as I had hoped) all the training' I received was on the job training. You had to be a quick learner with an inquisitive mind to understand why you were doing something. That understanding helped when the process you'd learnt changed. Luckily, I followed in the footsteps of good and nice people who gave me their time when they could and answered my frustrating questions.
Why do you enjoy working in the industry? It is varied, challenging but there is nothing more satisfying than watching a project deliver perfectly, watching the effort and skill of people come together in harmony to deliver a piece of content. It is not the type of content for me, not the value of the piece but the way the team work. The harmony, craft and precision. It is like watching a ballet (I'm not a ballet fan but you get the analogy) as all the crafts, technical and operational crews pass the elements of a production through our supply chain to deliver a crisp product to a happy client.
What piece of advice would you offer someone looking to explore a role similar to yours? Never be afraid to ask questions and seek advice. We have all been there and have opportunities due to other people's good nature and the vast majority of us believe in paying that back. If we are busy at that moment, remind us as often as necessary, we truly don't mind.
Attention to detail not speed is the most important element in post production, so take your time and make sure what you delivered is done to your best ability.
And finally it is just a job, and you deserve to be where you are. Don't let anyone tell you different.
Europe Stories
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
14/05/2026
Vivid Broadcast was embracing remote production long before it became the industry norm. Now, with Calrec's True Control 2.0-enabled Argo M and Type R conso...
14/05/2026
Back From The Brink airs Sunday 17 May and Sunday 24 May at 6.30pm on RT One an...
13/05/2026
A definitive portrait of one of Ireland's most influential musicians
New TV documentary airs Monday 18 May on RT One and RT Player at 9.35pm
Watch the...
12/05/2026
Spotify is where fans and artists come together, turning discovery into somethin...
12/05/2026
Features patented Marco-MMC clocking technology
Black Lion Audio's latest release combines the company's expertise in clocking with their renowned p...
12/05/2026
New Track Panel, sequencer upgrades & more
Following their recent public beta release, Reason Studios have announced the full release of Reason 14. With the...
12/05/2026
Rohde & Schwarz presents its advanced solutions for power electronics testing at...
12/05/2026
aconnic AG (ISIN: DE000A0LBKW6), Munich, has developed a modified fund raising p...
12/05/2026
Customer demand for data continues to grow in the first quarter of 2026 at Magya...
12/05/2026
The latest drama underscores Sky's continued investment in regional production and Welsh creative talent.Tuesday 12 May 2026
Wales takes the spotlight in S...
11/05/2026
As Eurovision fans gear up to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the iconic song ...
11/05/2026
Pela primeira vez na hist ria, o Brasil figura entre os oito maiores mercados de...
11/05/2026
New desktop instrument focused on tactile performance
Bastl Instruments have announced the Kalimba, a new desktop instrument that combines physical modellin...
11/05/2026
Compact sampling workstation gains new features
1010music have announced the blackbox 2, a new version of their compact standalone sampler designed for DAWl...
11/05/2026
Performance-focused sequencer with microtonal control
Berlin-based KOMA Elektronik have announced Monoplex, a new 42HP Eurorack sequencer designed for hands...
11/05/2026
Boasts wireless control from mobile devices
The latest iteration of IK Multimedia's compact amp and effects modelling pedal expands on the capabilities ...
11/05/2026
Spans traditional orchestral and experimental sounds
Sonora Cinematic have recently released the third instalment in their Transfigured Orchestra series, de...
11/05/2026
Our exhibition coverage
Watch all our SUPERBOOTH 2026 video coverage in one place. Check back to this page regularly as we will be updating with more video ...
11/05/2026
aconnic AG (ISIN: DE000A0LBKW6), Munich, is participating in the Equity Forum Ge...
11/05/2026
Bounteous Acquires Cartesian to Accelerate Enterprise AI
May 11, 2026
Business Assurance
News
Acquisition enhances deep data and analytics capabil...
11/05/2026
11 May 2026
VEON Shareholders Re-elect Board and Chairman, Reaffirming Confiden...
11/05/2026
Fox Corporation Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2026 Financial Results NEW YORK, NY, May 11, 2026 - Fox Corporation (Nasdaq: FOXA, FOX; FOX or the Company ) t...
11/05/2026
Arvato Systems Becomes a Member of InsurLab Germany
Collaboration in the insurance industrys leading innovation network
G tersloh - Arvato Systems has joine...
11/05/2026
Pirate Predator uncovers new information from victims and survivors of abuse on ...
10/05/2026
RT ALL-IRELAND DRAMA FESTIVAL WINNERS ANNOUNCED DURING GALA AWARDS STREAMED LIVE ON RTE.IE/CULTURE
Kilmeen Drama Group hailing from Rossmore, Co. Cork Scoops ...
09/05/2026
New desktop instrument focused on tactile performance
Bastl Instruments have announced Kalimba, a new desktop instrument that combines physical modelling, F...
09/05/2026
Compact sampling workstation gains new features
1010music have announced blackbox 2, a new version of their compact standalone sampler designed for DAWless ...
08/05/2026
One-button synth generates random four-track ideas
Cyma Forma and French artist Bambounou have announced RND synth, a compact hardware synthesizer built aro...
08/05/2026
Portable four-layer granular and sampling instrument
Tasty Chips have announced the GR-2, a new granular synthesizer and sampling instrument that combines e...
08/05/2026
Video Show Report
Video of SUPERBOOTH 26: Polyend Drums
Polyends big announcement for Superbooth 2026 is the Drums, a new drum machine that features both ...
08/05/2026
Deal agreed as NI enters new chapter
Native Instruments CEO Nick Williams has announced that a definitive agreement has been signed for the company to be ac...
08/05/2026
Video Show Report
Video of SUPERBOOTH 26: Erica Bullfrog Drums
The Bullfrog Drums is the latest collaboration between Erica Synths and Richie Hawtin, and ...
08/05/2026
In our latest blog, Tim Pearson reflects on the recent launch of Play Snooker, the new digital home of snooker by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker A...
08/05/2026
Pete reunites with Dogs Trust for a fourth series and a two-part overseas special
London, Friday 8th May 2026: The award winning factual entertainment series P...
08/05/2026
Wuppertal May 8, 2026
Riedel to Support Glasgow 2026 as Official Connectivity Integration Provider Riedel Communications today announced its return as a spons...
08/05/2026
ICG is excited to share news of our official launch in Northern Ireland, marking a significant milestone in the agency's growth.
Led by Digital Marketing M...
08/05/2026
Over the past ten years, Thames Water, in partnership with Arqiva, has installed more than 1.2 million smart meters, creating one of the most extensive advanced...
07/05/2026
Journalists reporting on Sudan are working in one of the most complex and fast-m...
07/05/2026
Seit dem Start im Jahr 2023 hat DJ (Beta) das personalisierte H rerlebnis von 94...
07/05/2026
Da quando stata presentata nel 2023, DJ (beta) ha aiutato a definire un'esperienza d'ascolto pi personalizzata per 94 milioni di utenti Spotify Premi...
07/05/2026
Since launching in 2023, DJ (beta) has helped shape a more personalized listenin...
07/05/2026
Desde o lan amento em 2023, o DJ (beta) j ajudou a deixar a experi ncia de ouvi...
07/05/2026
From our earliest days, Spotify has been built on a simple principle: Great audio should be easy to reach. It's what's driven us to expand from music to...
07/05/2026
Asian and Pacific Islander artists continue to shape the global soundscape, pushing creative boundaries and connecting with fans worldwide. This Asian & Pacific...
07/05/2026
Company announce long-requested choir instrument
In the latest expansion of their Symphonic Elements series, UJAM have introduced an all-new vocal instrumen...
Adam Downey, director of post production at Sky, tells TVBEurope how seeing a harmonious team working to deliver a project is like watching a ballet
