U.S.-based boutique production company Love Song has set up a dedicated office in the U.K. led by executive producer Shirley O’Connor.
Love Song’s presence in the U.K. has already made a splash with their contribution to the Channel 4 idents produced by Art Practice. Love Song's Will Dohrn, Bafic, Elliott Power, Justyna Obasi, and Daniel Wolfe formed one half of the directorial team on the interstitials for the emblematically British channel. The idents would go on to win two Grand Prix at Ciclope along with four Gold Awards and one Silver for direction. O’Connor already served as executive producer for the high-profile eight-film campaign rebranding EE, a popular British telecom brand, directed by Wolfe, Power and Dohrn.
Originally from Ireland, O’Connor was a producer and EP at Pulse Films for nine years before moving into freelance, where she worked with Academy Pictures, MJZ, Somesuch, and Caviar to produce commercials and narrative films with top creatives. She has produced two music videos helmed by A-list director Paul Thomas Anderson for the band The Smile. Her work with Balenciaga adapted around the limitations of the pandemic and delivered a 10-minute music video shot on the streets of Paris for the high-end designer’s 2021 spring/summer Collection.
O’Connor led the charge on many notable campaigns within the U.K., including “This is Our BBC,” marking the 100th anniversary of the network, as well as the ever-popular Christmas ad for John Lewis, “The Boy and the Piano,” featuring Elton John. “The Boy and the Piano” won numerous Cannes Lions, Ciclope, British Arrows, Kinsale, Creative Circle, and One Show honors. Last year, O’Connor produced the feature film Earth Mama, for which she recently earned a BAFTA nomination in the Outstanding Debut By A Writer, Director, Or Producer category. Directed by Savanah Leaf, the film was financed by Film4 and A24 and premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.
Love Song is already home to an array of U.K. talent such as Bafic, Power, Dohrn, Camille Summers-Valli, Jess Kohl, Max Weiland, and Walid Labri. This expansion led by O’Connor speaks to Love Song’s commitment to serving its talent on their home turf, ensuring they are creatively supported in every step of their evolving careers.
“I’m honored to be running Love Song in the U.K.,” said O’Connor. “Working with the talent there has stretched my perception of what’s possible to achieve and has energized me to no end. I’m so excited about where the company is heading. I look forward to working with our incredible U.K. talent and introducing some of our amazing artists from further afield to a new territory.”
Kelly Bayett, founder of Love Song, said, “Shirley can do anything. As a producer, she’s tenacious and excited by new stories and talent to the extent that pioneering new ways of working and taking well-measured creative risks is her default. Her career is impressive, and she’s a wonderful person to work with. Our U.K. office could not be in better hands, and I could not have more fun working with someone. Her energy is infectious!”
Love Song was founded by Bayett and director Wolfe.
