Dark times call for dark comedy
Laughter is the best medicine, they say. But times like these need more than medicine, humanity needs life support, and it comes in the shape of dark comedy, says Dave Billing, ECD at Fold7. Here he explores how advertising is turning to gallows humour in the face of bleak times.
How I got my comedy superpower
Director and World War 7 Founder David Shafei talks about a childhood spent living at the Disney Hilton and how his (and your) weird origin story can, in fact, be your comedy superpower.
Jonnie Malachi gets surreal about comedy
Jonnie Malachi has just released a new, surreal short film about a sandwich that comes to life. Here, the director discusses the project and the polarising response it received, why the surreal has always appealed, and whether the fear of being too edgy has meant advertising's spiky corners have been smoothed out.
Amusing acoustics: how music can bring the mirth in comedy ads
Al Mills, Joint ECD at independent creative agency Impero, explores how brands can tap into the comedic potential of music to leave a lasting impression on their audience.
Brendan Gibbons' comedy casting masterclass
Making a comedic commercial can live or die by the casting choices you make. Station Film director Brendan Gibbons is no stranger to finding the funny in people and, here, reveals his thoughts on the casting process, why working with celebrities and sports stars needs a different approach, and the importance of a casting director.
Facing a funny future; an interview by AI
Unit9 comedy writer and director Hal Kirkland discusses art exhibitions and what is possible when comedy and technology dare to entwine by interviewing himself using ChatGPT.
When cars ads meet comedy: driving success through humour
Car commercials are not known for their one-liners or ability to elicit laughs. But, says Dom Sweeney, Head of Creative at Innocean UK, who recently worked on a comedy spot for Hyundai, laughter can often be the best automotive medicine.
Emma Parkinson's comic relief
After a stint in street casting and 'serious' directing, Blink's Emma Parkinson rediscovered her passion for making people laugh through film, and her Yarns-winning debut comedy Dishes Dishes Dishes shortly followed. She discusses the power of intimate humour, her love of uncomfortable eye contact, and the therapeutic reprieve of a relatable joke.
Peer Review: James Norris
From the excruciating humour of The Office to the classic comedic cutting of The League of Gentlemen, Nomad editor James Norris gives us a comprehensive tour of the work and contemporaries that inspire him.
English humour: not as alien to New York as you might think
Americans just don't get British humour, right? Wrong, says Jack Moriarty, Senior Creative at The Romans, who sets out his argument against the belief that British and American humour just don't gel.
Stand-up and be counted; why comedy can make you a better creative
Jonathan Fraser, Chief Strategy Officer and Co-founder at Trouble Maker, did a lot of stand-up comedy when he was younger and realised that, actually, comedy, creativity and strategy are skills that are transferrable. Here, he explains how cracking briefs and cracking jokes can go hand-in-hand.
On My Radar: Rob Soucy
Newly signed to Odelay Films, US director Rob Soucy talks crossed lines during a lockdown commercial shoot, and the people and films that make him laugh as he reveals what's on his comedy radar.