People
Optimistic is driven by people power. We have a small core team but the work and reach only happens through the collaboration and support of thousands. We open up our working process to others. Our current POWER STATION is fuelled by people across the country as active members of our online membership - learning together, feeding back and contributing financially. We collaborate. We make long term connections of care and community and build national partnerships to increase the audience and impact of the work.
“You. We. Are powerful. Your energy and determination is rippling”
We train and employ local people in film production with paid trainees going on to successful film careers or growing within Optimistic.
We are a London Living Wage employer. We train and employ local people in art and print methods bringing in local expertise in techniques from paper making to metal working.
We work with a local and international network of skilled professionals from music producers to film post production.
Many of our collaborations were built through pulling off a Bank Job and we continue to build community wealth and connections through an ecosystem of local organisations. We work with Organic Lea food growing co-operative on street by street approaches to food, Hornbeam on joined up approaches to climate action, Stories&Supper on workshops, song and publications, HEET and HEAL on developing a collective street approach to retrofit, Project Zero youth club on song, film and growing and grassroots football team Coppermill Swifts on kit sponsorship. We bring together expertise and collaborate with Solar for Schools and Repowering London in our current work building a POWER STATION.
Through ‘Mini Movies to Millions’ we mentor and produce film and marketing packages for other social entrepreneurs.
Hilary Powell - co founder and director. Artist filmmaker committed to creating and inviting others into joyful, anarchic visions. Embracing and sharing multiple methods of thinking through making. www.hilarypowell.site
Katie Rosier joined the team as a money printer. She lives on the POWER STATION street and is now logistics head - managing, packing and posting artworks, books, crowdfunder and membership rewards.
Dan Edelstyn - co founder and director. Film maker and social entrepreneur focused on the technology of storytelling to provoke people powered change. Challenging economic narratives to build creative practices of abundance. Musician and mischief maker.
Mark Eris - has a background in The Electricity Industry ( tech that became the basis of smart consumption tools to manage energy usage) and Academia. He looks after all aspects of our membership platforms and the mysterious under the bonnet stuff that ensures our community are kept up to date with access to new events, workshop and information.
Leonie Rousham joined post Grierson DocLab as archive researcher. As artist and filmmaker she now works on all aspects of building and sharing the POWER STATION story. Civic Futures Fellow 2024 and cofounder of kneed.
“Great artists and social entrepreneurs putting their weight, imagination and industry up against the great problem of our age. This is how change happens.”
“Being involved in this form of purposeful defiance gives me energy and vitality and is the antidote to despair.”
Natalie Sloan. Super experienced filmmaker and editor working on all POWER STATION’s short films. Dedicated to community and revealing the stories and histories of a place.
Testimonials
“This project joins up people, economics and power generation in a climate crisis. It cracks open the stuff that is normally hidden and complicated and puts it all on a local doable scale. It gives me hope.”
“I’ve found that solidarity is a two way process and though, of course, it’s serious, it’s also such fun!”
“Everyone deserves to be part of this life affirming project”
“I learned a lot practically, and saw how projects like this can engage individuals and communities in an incredibly organic and accessible way that turns big societal problems into things that seem within our grasp to change and improve…””
“Bank Job is the best piece of art I have ever experienced. It shows the power art and community can have. It is truely inspiring.”
“The art of the possible is real.”
“The people themselves have become a power station of possibilities with Dan and Hilary as their guide.”
“Friendly anarchy!”
“It’s imaginative, fun and artist led and I want to support them in their ‘crazy’ adventure - an inspiration for others to make a Power Station in their street.”
