Spotlight On: Matt Dunford (TrailerFarm / Big Farmer)
By MetStudios
22 October 2025
We caught up with Matthew Thomas Dunford, who studied at MetFilm School, our partner institution, before transitioning to the games industry. He began his career in production, starting out as a runner on adverts and charity projects, working briefly in television, and even spending two years at Brighton Pier. Eventually, he returned to the screen industries as a 2nd Assistant Director on a feature film. That mix of experiences ultimately led him to the games world, where he now works as Talent & Recruitment Senior at TrailerFarm & Big Farmer.
Introduce yourself in your own words…
My name is Matthew Thomas Dunford. After graduating, I started out working on advertisements and charity productions as a runner. I spent about a year working on short-form productions after leaving film school, followed by a month or two at a production company in an assistant admin role on some TV productions.
After that, I found myself working at Brighton Pier – quite the change of pace – where I stayed for around two years before leaving to work as a 2nd Assistant Director on a feature film. Not long after, I was offered a role as a Talent Assistant at a game advertising company, where I’ve now been working for almost six years.
What inspired you to get into the games industry?
I’ve always been a gamer and, honestly, would have gone into game studies if I’d had the artistic eye for it. But alas, I’m most certainly not an artist! Instead, I found myself drawn to the ‘puzzle’ of production. I loved being an AD, making sure every element came together and ran smoothly, from risk assessments to schedules. I genuinely enjoyed that kind of work.
Taking that knowledge into the games industry as a talent manager was actually a pretty natural transition, since the skill set is very similar to an AD role; it’s still all about coordination, communication, and keeping things running efficiently.
What are some of your responsibilities and daily tasks as a Talent & Recruitment Senior at TrailerFarm & Big Farmer?
It really depends on how busy the studio is. During busy periods, I spend most of my day emailing freelancers and external studios about collaborating with us, setting up calls with the team to discuss the creative elements of projects, negotiating fees, and sending out contracts. I then input all that information into our system. At any one time, I might be juggling a dozen external resourcing requests.
When things are quieter, I focus on outreach and organisation, reaching out to new talent, updating internal databases, and talking with our internal teams to understand their needs better. That helps me know exactly what to look for when recruiting.
How did you first break into the industry after finishing your studies?
I did a lot of odd jobs in TV and film, working wherever I could – it was tough at first, and honestly a bit disheartening. There are so many talented people out there trying to make their mark. I used to check in with the alumni team every week about opportunities for graduates, and I imagine they were quite relieved when I finally landed a role, so I’d stop pestering them!
Eventually, an opportunity came up to work as a Talent Assistant at a local game marketing company. Changing direction from film and TV was daunting, but the similarities quickly became obvious – and it ended up fitting like a glove.
What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned in your professional career so far?
There’s always something new to learn. I’ve been in this role for a while now, but every day I pick up something new that helps me improve. It’s easy to fall into a rhythm and resist change, but new tools, techniques, or workflows are always emerging – and it’s important to stay open to them. I try to spend some time each week actively looking for new ways to work more effectively.
What advice would you give to current students aspiring to enter the games industry?
Keep an open mind about where you might end up. When I left film school, I had a very fixed idea of what I wanted to do, and I didn’t think the skills I’d learned would apply anywhere else. But you’d be surprised how transferable those skills are.
Also, don’t lose heart. It took me a long time to find a role that felt truly fulfilling, and it can be easy to give up or get stuck in a job you don’t love. Be realistic, of course, but that doesn’t mean you can’t keep searching, developing your skills, and surrounding yourself with supportive people along the way.
What trends or changes in the games industry excite you the most right now?
The games industry, like most creative industries right now, is tough. But there’s so much incredible talent out there, all over the world. I get to work with people using new software, experimenting with new techniques, and producing some genuinely amazing work. It’s a challenging time, but the creativity out there is inspiring, and I’m really excited to see what’s coming in the next few years.
