Our Team

We are a studio founded by artists who believe that every project starts with a great idea that can grow into a story. We bring our love of craft and storytelling to everything we do.

  • James Hackett

    Creative Director

    James has guided countless productions running an independent studio for 20 years. His work has been printed into books, projected at cultural institutions, watched on TicToc and broadcast around the world. He is always mentoring and nurturing new talent within the studio and the company strives to give under-represented people a voice.

    Within the studio he usually works as a Writer and/or Director and often contributes to projects as a Producer or EP. James’ work is driven by an innovative approach to design, fusing great stories with new techniques. He is passionate about stories that deal with identity, technology, psychology and how humans relate to the natural world. Over the years James has produced and directed content for Channel 4 and the BBC in the UK, and for most of the local broadcasters. Recently he co-wrote and co-directed a gritty and compelling animated documentary for SBS and NITV and co-wrote with Jake Duczynski on Cooked, an irreverent adult animation series for online, ABC’s iView and for terrestrial broadcast.

    Writing is a big part of James’ role at Studio Gilay, with projects varying from comedy and drama, to educational and factual writing. These genres may become animation or live-action, James and the studio, always look to the brief and story to guide the style and technique. He thoroughly enjoys collaboration of all kinds and since working as Studio Gilay with Jake Duczynski, he has learned a lot about consultation and story development with Indigenous communities. James Produced the two animated dream sequences in the Netflix film BACK TO THE OUTBACK (2021), Directed by Jake Duczynski. Together Jake and James consulted and liaised between First Nations story holders of the East Kimberley region and Netflix Animation in California.

    Within the experiential space James has worked with bands such as Silverchair, Cold Chisel and U2 to bring their shows to life with unique visuals. For the Opera House he branded events such as the GRAPHIC festival and produced content for the Concert Hall for the All About Women festival. Recently Jake & James wrote, directed and produced BARANI for the 2024 Vivid festival in Sydney. This beautiful animated story, is set in-situ, but 5oo years ago where the Maritime Museum is in Sydney. The project is now permanently exhibited at the Museum.

    There is always development of new ideas and original content happening at Studio Gilay. Jake and James are the driving forces behind these projects and they are always looking for ways to tell stories with great local characters. Studio Gilay has recently hosted several writer’s rooms and development sessions on new exciting projects… stay tuned.

  • Jake Duczynski

    Creative Director

    Jake Duczynski is a proud Gomeroi and Mandandanji writer and director who is committed to First Nations representation on-screen and fortifying a space for Indigenous voices in the Australian animation industry. In 2021 Duczynski launched Studio Gilay in partnership with James Hackett alongside a diverse team of talented creatives, bringing thought-provoking stories to the screen.

    Jake co-wrote and directed the ground breaking series COOKED (2021). This animated series used comedy and satire to explore the lived Indigenous Australian experience and hit home some hard truths. Later in 2021, Duczynski Directed two animated dream sequences in the Netflix film BACK TO THE OUTBACK (2021), directed by Harry Cripps and Clare Knight. Jake lead the consultation between Netflix and East Kimberley artists from Waringarri Arts Centre.

    Duczynski co-directed an animated Documentary UNLOCKED (2022), for NITV and SBS VICELAND. Launching late in 2022, Jake and Studio Gilay collaborated with Maori artist Lisa Reihana, assisting her to deliver her cross-cultural futuristic work GROUNDLOOP for the Sydney Modern gallery. Consultation was a big part of this job, Jake contacted and liaised with many artists, dancers and knowledge keepers, helping this project take shape across both sides of the Tasman Sea.

    In 2024, Duczynski had the honour of Directing ABC’s Ninganah Lullaby, performed by and in collaboration with Troy Cassar-Daley. Every night the lullaby is the last thing to go to air for the kids block of programming on terrestrial TV.

    Close collaboration is a key component to Jake’s process, working meaningfully with fine artists, communities, composers and companies to give each project a unique design presence and honest perspective. Duczynski’s approach has won multiple accolades, from Walkely’s & Webby’s, to Best Direction at the ADG awards. His work has been projected across the sails of the Sydney Opera House, installed at the AGNSW & MCA, broadcast on the ABC, SBS/NITV and streamed on Netflix.

  • Melissa Azizi

    Producer

    Melissa Azizi spent the last decade in Los Angeles working closely with Gail Mutrux (RAIN MAN, DONNIE BRASCO) to produce Oscar-winning and nominated films such as THE DANISH GIRL and NEWS OF THE WORLD (starring Tom Hanks). She has a knack for finding great IP, having sourced the Mick Herron SLOW HORSES crime book-series which currently airs on Apple TV+ starring Gary Oldman. Melissa is a Sundance Producers Lab finalist and has produced short narrative films which have screened in over 100 film festivals worldwide. Melissa received a Bachelor of Arts First Class Honours from the University of Sydney followed by a Masters in Media Arts and Production from UTS. At both universities, she was presented awards for her directing work. Melissa also graduated from UCLA’s Professional Producing Program.  She is awesome.

  • Sabina Pjetrovic

    Senior Producer

    Sabina comes to us all the way from the great state of Texas y’all! She is our American boomerang, returning back to us from maternity leave. She was a gun Senior Producer at former Studio Hackett and a Development Producer on Cooked. She comes with a wealth of content agency and account management experience, working with clients such as Sydney Opera House, Deloitte, Volkswagon, United Airlines (US), & Cancer Council. From TVCs to magazines, Sabina has worked with brands strategically to create meaningful content that does everything from educate to entertain. She has always been a world traveller, calling Argentina & the UK home for brief stints and finally settling in Byron Bay.

  • Paul Carlton

    Senior Designer

    In early 2024, we welcomed a Senior Designer to our team. Paul is a multi discipline animator from London with over nine years experience producing 2D and 3D animated content. He graduated with a Bachelor of Animation (Hons) at UCA Farnham, with a postgraduate in Motion Design at Escape studios, London. He specialises in 3D design, motion graphics and dynamic animations. When not animating Paul likes to jump on his bike in pursuit of the best coffee in town!

  • Genevieve Stewart

    2D Animator / Designer

    Genevieve Stewart is a Kuku Yalanji and Wemba Wemba woman residing on Gadigal land. She is a 2D generalist at Studio Gilay and has an honours degree in Animation at UTS. She is also known for her cultural response to colonisation in an illustrative piece titled ‘Weaving Woman.’ This had been showcased at the Australian Museum’s exhibition: ‘Unsettled’.

  • Zoë Velonas

    Animator / Designer

    Zoë is a Bachelor of Animation graduate from SAE Creative Institute, Sydney. She has an interest and proficiency in both 2D and 3D mediums. Zoë has always had a passion for art and endeavours to embrace any creative opportunity that comes her way.

  • Emily Hestelow

    3D Animator / Designer

    Emily is an artist who enjoys collaborating with others to create compelling visual narratives. She’s worked on various films, animated shorts, projections, and a variety of web media. She’s a graduate from UTS Animation (honours) where she was a co-director on the 3D animated short ‘Backfire,’ which received an excellence award and became a finalist in the 2022 Rookie Awards. Learning is a priority for Emily. She enjoys taking online classes and exploring the natural world to develop her storytelling skills further.

  • Jalamara Towney

    3D Animator

    Jalamara is a proud Wiradjuri man, with a passion for storytelling through animation. He began working at Studio Gilay whilst studying a Bachelor of Design in Animation at UTS. He’s had his hands on projects such as ‘Cooked,’ ‘Un-locked,’  television content and multiple art installations, including projections for the Sydney Opera House 50th anniversary. He is always striving to challenge himself to improve his skills, and continues to produce work that is intriguing, informative and inspirational.

  • Cathy Skow

    Finance Manager

    Cathy graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from UNSW. She started her career in the corporate world, but has loved the shift to working with smaller, creative businesses. Cathy has worked with James for over 10 years, and with Jake since the launch of Studio Gilay.

  • Joshua Yasserie

    Designer / Director

    Josh represents the Wiradjuri-mine, Bulgundrahmine-Peak Hill, Dubbo, NSW, and the Australian South Sea Islanders (ASSI) community from Mackay, QLD.

    He has dedicated nearly a decade to academic storytelling, beginning with Interactive Gaming Art at AIE, moving on to Animation at UTS (Honours), and culminating with a Master’s in Art Screen (Animation) from AFTRS in 2022.

    Josh has continued his passion for representing his story and community by creating, directing, producing, and writing the proof-of-concept mini-series KingsLand (2023), released on ABC YouTube as part of the Fresh Blood 2023 initiative by ABC and Screen Australia, aimed at emerging filmmakers. This opportunity allowed Josh to establish his own First Nations-owned and operated company, Catching Fire, where he serves as the company director.

    He has collaborated with renowned institutions including NAISDA, Bangarra, WellMob, Orana Arts, Vivid, ABC Indigenous, Regional Arts, and Sydney Museum.

    Currently, Josh is undertaking a 12-month placement at Studio Gilay, having been selected for Screen Australia’s Enterprise People program. This placement allows him to deepen his industry knowledge and skillset while working alongside the team at Studio Gilay.