Creativity
Ella Cowin is Booked, Busy, and Building Her Creative Empire
Ella Cowin is the kind of creative who just gets stuck in. As a Marketing Manager and Camera Assistant, at just 25 years old she’s become one of the Isle of Man’s go-to creatives for storytelling on screens. And now, she’s officially a 2025 Gef 30 Under 30 winner in the Creativity category, supported by the Isle of Man Arts Council.
It all started with an A-level
‘I fell in love with photography during my A-levels at Ramsey Grammar School,’ Ella says. That early obsession evolved into a fascination with cinematography, which led her to the University of Salford in Manchester for a very hands-on degree in film production.
But when she graduated in 2020, things didn’t exactly go to plan. ‘I was graduating into an industry on a downward spiral. I had internships lined up which fell through due to Covid. I had to move back home, and at the time it felt like the end of the world.’
Spoiler: it wasn’t. Instead of waiting it out, Ella got to work. She launched her own video production business, Port Mooar Productions, and started making a name for herself on the island.
Thrown in at the deep end (and thriving)
After a networking event, Ella was put in touch with the team behind Bushy’s who were looking for a Marketing Manager. Despite having zero experience in marketing, she said yes to the job.
‘Even though this was something way out of my comfort zone and something I hadn’t fully explored before, this is the best decision I ever made. I wouldn’t be where I am today without it.’
She took that new experience, went back to the UK to sharpen her technical skillset in Manchester, and then returned to the Isle of Man with a mission to build something brilliant right here.
Globe-trotting and always growing
While Ella is now back on the island, she never stays put for long. Working as a Camera Assistant for Formula E takes her all over the world, with trips to 12 different countries in the last season. From Brazil to Japan to Mexico, her day-to-day is anything but boring. ‘I’ve never met anybody else on the island who works in the same industries as I do with the same roles,’ she says. ‘I’m constantly trying to better myself, improve the industry and set new standards of inclusivity for women within my field.’
‘There is truly something for everyone in the TV and film industry,’ she says. ‘It’s not just the events. It’s the work after. The editing. The research. Creating new designs. Figuring out what people actually want to see. It’s a lot.’
Calling it out and changing the game
Ella is open about the challenges of working in a male-dominated industry. ‘Looking around at your coworkers, who are all men over the age of 40, can be really daunting. The main challenge is finding confidence in myself, and being able to speak up when something isn’t right.’
A bad experience with a so-called industry mentor early in her career taught her just how vital it is to trust your instincts. ‘I wish I knew not to trust everybody in the industry just because their job title is higher than mine,’ says Ella. At 18, she accepted an invite from a well-known producer to visit his studio in London and discuss her future over a drink. At first, he seemed kind and helpful, but halfway through the evening Ella’s gut instinct warned her that something was off. Before long she found herself unexpectedly tipsy in an unfamiliar city with a much older man whose intentions were becoming increasingly clear. ‘It came out in later years in the news that he was in fact not a nice man at all.’ The experience changed the way she viewed the industry forever.
She now knows how important it is to be vocal about her experiences, so others feel safe doing the same. ‘I never wanted to jeopardise my job by speaking up, but in reality, tackling sexism and misogyny is super important, not just for me, but for the women that come after me.’
Looking ahead
Ella’s big goal is to stay happy, healthy and booked. Port Mooar Productions is growing, and she’s hopeful for another season filming Formula E, more marketing work with the Manx Grand Prix and Bushy’s TT Village, and a continued focus on doing work that feels meaningful.
‘I find this work very fulfilling, I feel very lucky as I know not everyone enjoys their job. As long as it’s making me happy, I will continue full steam ahead.’
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