A TELEVISION production company in Gwynedd has recruited a trio of high-flying trainees including one who has already worked on several Hollywood blockbuster movies.

All three said that the recent decision to turn Cwmni Da, based in Caernarfon, into a staff-owned company had attracted them to the award-winning firm which prides itself on “nurturing talented young people”.

The new starters include trainee editor Tomos Morris Jones, 22, from Tregarth, near, Bangor, and trainee multi-skilled sound technician Dan Jones, 27, who now lives in Tudweiliog, on the Llŷn Peninsula.

Also among them is Siwan Cati, 25, from Llanfairpwll, whose credits already include the animated science-fiction adventure film, Isle of Dogs.

It was written, produced and directed by Wes Anderson, and features the voices of Breaking Bad star Brian Cranston, Oscar winner Tilda Swinton and top comedy actor Bill Murray, of Groundhog Day and Ghostbusters fame.

Siwan, who’s now training to become a post-production technician at Cwmni Da, has also worked on the live action remake of the Tom and Jerry cartoons by Warner Bros and Maleficent 2, the Disney film starring Angelina Jolie and Michelle Pfeiffer, that will be having its European premiere in Rome on October 7.

Siwan says she was thrilled to have secured a job with such a respected and progressive television company in her native North Wales.

She said: “I originally wanted to be an editor but after leaving university I was offered a job as a camera trainee in London on the Isle of Dogs which was being made by Wes Anderson.

“I stayed for two years and I learned a lot. It was a fantastic experience and gave me a lot of skills.

“It was a wonderful feeling to part of such a famous and important film but it’s great to be back home after being in London and New Zealand.

“Post-production is what I really want to do and I knew Cwmni Da had an excellent reputation and the change in the company structure was also part of the reason I was so keen to get a job here.”

Managing director Dylan Huws was delighted to welcome all three to Cwmni Da. Last year, he made history when he turned the £5m a year company into an employee-owned one in a move believed to be a first in the UK broadcast industry.

He said: “The company has been built on young talent over the years. There are a number of people who work here now who started with the company and have developed and come up through the ranks.

"We’re always on the lookout for fresh talent that can bring new energy and ideas to Cwmni Da.

“We also think it’s the duty of a company like ours to offer training to people who want to work in and contribute to the industry, especially in this part of the world.

“The company has changed in the last year to hand over ownership to the workers, and we are trying to expand our markets.

“We are trying to work internationally as well as for our main customers S4C, and there are great opportunities for young people like Siwan, Dan and Tomos to develop and grow professionally here.”