When Dominic Mortimer stepped into his first Offshoot Foundation workshop as a shy 11-year-old, he didn’t say a word. “Paul didn’t think I’d come back after lunch!”. But Dominic did return, and he’s forever grateful for his creative start. Today, he’s a sought-after freelance videographer with a five-year stint at Crystal Palace Football Club under his belt, and a list of high-pressure, high-profile edits to prove it.
Finding His Footing with Film
Growing up just around the corner from Offshoot founder Paul Press in Great Cornard, Dominic’s interest in filmmaking was sparked early. “I used to make stop-motion videos in my bedroom,” he recalls. A local newspaper advert for a film workshop led his mum to encourage him down to his first session.
Dominic remembers watching quietly from the sidelines until Paul invited him into the frame – just to catch a basketball for a scene intro. “I had nothing to do with the film,” he says, “but it got me on camera. After that, I started going every week.”
The subtle encouragement into the workshop space set Dominic on a path not only to learn technical skills but to grow in confidence.
“Offshoot helped me socially as much as anything. It was this other space where you could be around people who were interested in the same things.”
At school, Dominic struggled to find his place. He attended Thomas Gainsborough School (formerly Great Cornard Upper School), where traditional academic subjects didn’t click. “I was bottom set for maths and English,” he says. “It wasn’t until I picked media that something lit up for me.”
Dominic describes himself as having a “creative brain” – someone who learns by doing. Offshoot became the outlet he needed. It wasn’t just about cameras and editing – it was about being seen, heard, and encouraged in a different environment.
From Participant to Leader
Dominic went on to become a paid facilitator at Offshoot, leading workshops for younger people. “At first I was nervous,” he admits, “but then you get into it. You spend the first day talking with the young people about the kind of films they want to make, then you go home and write a script, and spend the rest of the week filming.”
Through it all, Paul Press was a constant mentor – offering encouragement, advice, and even freelance contacts to this day. “Without Paul, I don’t know what I’d be doing. He’s the reason I got into the industry. And he still passes me jobs even now.”
Dominic also credits Offshoot for something less tangible but just as important: friendship. “Some of my closest friends today – people I went to college and uni with – I actually met through Offshoot workshops,” he says. “You don’t expect to make lifelong friends at a film workshop when you’re 12, but that’s what happens.”
“Everyone's got a lot of respect for Paul just because of all the stuff he does for everybody around Suffolk and Norfolk - teaching young people about filmmaking and inspiring the next generation. If Paul wasn't about, I don't know what I'd be doing now.”
Premier League Pressure
Dominic’s big break came by proactively responding to a job ad. “I literally found the Crystal Palace videographer role online and applied,” he says. What caught their eye was his years of grassroots filmmaking experience with Offshoot, combined with a stint editing short-form videos for big YouTube creators like Calfreezy.
Five years later, Dominic had carved out a reputation as the club’s go-to editor for high-impact, quick-turnaround content. His skills were tested to the limit during the recent FA Cup Final, where he was tasked with creating a short-form video for Palace chairman Steve Parish to post immediately after the match.
“The pressure was unreal,” Dominic says. “I was basically a personal editor for the day. I had to be ready the second we won.” To prepare, he built a rough edit with music and some shots from the semi-final. On the day, camera operators would run him SD cards from all over Wembley as he worked in real time using Adobe Premiere Pro, the editing software he relies on daily.
“It was a blur,” he admits. “I couldn’t even concentrate during the second half because I was so nervous we might concede. When the final whistle went, I had to snap back into focus and finish the edit.”
The video was posted to Steve Parish’s social media – a testament to Dominic’s ability to blend speed with style under serious pressure.
Dominic’s Advice for Young Creatives
Dominic’s journey is proof that you don’t need to follow a set route to success. Here are his top tips for creators coming up in the industry:
Say yes (even if you're nervous)
Take the opportunity, especially when confidence wobbles. Jumping in is how you grow.
Be helpful on set
Anticipate needs and make life easier for others. Helpful people get asked back.
Learn as you go
YouTube is your friend. Keep picking up new editing tricks and workflows as you need them.
There’s no single path
University is optional. Build your own route and do what genuinely works for you.
Keep your curiosity alive
Every shoot and every edit teaches you something new. Stay open and keep exploring.
Make Friends
Get to know like minded people, have fun and make friends for life!
From Stop-Motion to Stadiums
After completing a Media Diploma at West Suffolk College, Dominic went on to study at Ravensbourne University in London. “I followed the path because that’s what everyone said to do,” he says. “But it was moving to London and getting hands-on experience that really pushed me forward.”
Today, Dominic works part-time for the Crystal Palace Foundation and fills the rest of his time with freelance work, including short form edits for podcasts and content for summer schools. His editing is slick, fast, and in high demand – a skill he honed through years of Offshoot workshops and frontline football filmmaking.
As a proud Offshoot Alumni, Dominic keeps in touch with many of the people he met through the programme. “You come for the film,” he says, “but you leave with friends for life.”
For parents considering Offshoot for their child, Dominic has one message:
“If your child is creative or just needs a bit of confidence, it’s the perfect place. You learn real skills, meet amazing people, and build something that stays with you.”
doMINIC'S FAVOURITE FILMS...
