Uprising: Charles Gamble and “The Holy Trinity” of Filmmaking

A reserved and introverted person ever since childhood, OkayStudio’s editor Charles Gamble feels most inspired and at ease in the edit suite. 

As he himself puts it, he is used to opening up only in front of close friends and shows the full breadth of his personality to those he trusts most. Trust is a huge part of his work too, as he believes that in filmmaking and editing, the dynamic between the director and editor is reliant on it.

Charles had his ducks in a row from early on, so after finishing school he knew that he had taken academia “as far as [he] wanted,” and he decided to enrol in a media production course at his local college.

“It was actually my woodwork teacher, Mrs Speck, who encouraged me to explore my interests,” he says. “College gave me practical skills, but also the obsession to create stories through moving images.”

This then led to a three-year-long course at Brighton University, where Charles’ network of those he trusts rapidly expanded. “Being on the coast in an area of the UK famed for its bohemian lifestyle continued to feed my ambition for becoming an editor,” he explains. “The course taught me that every word in a scene has purpose and therefore every frame in a scene must also have purpose.”

He started applying that logic to his work, blending storytelling skills from college and critical processes from university. Then, lockdown happened.

Above: Charles' student film 'Made of Stone'

Almost instinctively, Charles used the time at home to cut music videos and short films, focused on improving his craft. At the time he didn’t realise it, but taking advantage of the isolation in this way helped him create a bond and kinship with the directors he was working with at the time, like Yousef and Melody Maker, who he still works with today.

During the earlier days of his career, Charles didn’t only learn of the importance of making friends, but also making mistakes. He says: “Having the confidence to make mistakes during the creative process, whilst in the company of others, gave me thicker skin and accelerated my growth. It’s very difficult for anyone to reach their full potential without feeling comfortable around the people you work with.”

Today, other challenges are top of mind. “I am always trying to navigate the fine balance of working hard to achieve the best creative results, without risking burnout,” says Charles. Knowing the broader state of the industry, he believes that creatives and artists often need to check in with themselves and others and remind one another that “it’s not life and death.”

“Being more conscious of our mental health and the wellbeing of our peers is something I feel very strongly about. OkayStudio have always strived for a high work ethic, but they’ve always considered the wellbeing of their employees before anything else. 

When he joined OkayStudio back in 2022, it was exactly the company’s impeccable work ethic and setup that got him hooked, while they were totally excited to see what they can do with such a versatile talent.

While Charles had an impressive body of work prior to joining the company, working with production company PRETTYBIRD and cutting music videos for the likes of Aitch, Paloma Faith and Sam Fender, his proudest moments are more recent.

“My favourite piece of work to date is the collaboration with Adidas Originals x MUFC x The Stone Roses, directed by Rogue Films’ Charlie Watts,” he shares. “There are many reasons why, one of them relating to my final year of college film in 2017. I created a film inspired by The Stone Roses that shared the exact same opening shot as this Adidas spot.”

Seeing the storyboard for the first time, Charles’ eyes totally lit up. A dream collaboration, fully encapsulating everything he loves about life and filmmaking – “football, fashion and music.” Or as musician Liam Fray had described it, “The Holy Trinity.”

“This is the kind of work I strive to be a part of. It marked a real chapter in my career. It’s an honour to be part of the process alongside creatives with such diverse backgrounds and create a piece of work that has the potential to live long in the memory of people’s lives and in culture.”

Another piece here has a honourable mention – Sam Fender’s ‘17 Going Under’. Charles says he loved seeing how much people enjoyed the song and feels “very lucky to have played [his] part in the project.” 

Outside of work, Charles says that family is most important to him. That and (one of ‘The Holy Trinity’ again) football, which helps with regular catch ups. “Although the games at West Ham can be hit and miss, I cherish the build up and anticipation to the games, particularly sharing it with those I care most about. Often the 90 minutes of the game is the worst part of the day! 

“West Ham for me has rarely ever been just about football. It’s always been about family, tradition, singing and dancing. It’s the perfect unwinding after a busy week of editing. I’d feel lost without it.”

Charles leaves us with the best piece of advice that his parents ever gave to him: “make sure whatever [you do] in life [makes you] happy.” That, and his love of film remains at the forefront of his mind and at the top of his motivations list.