On My Radar: Paul Stone

Paul Stone, founder of the director-focussed interview series My First Shoot, has directed numerous documentary shorts as well as spots for Optimum, Nikon and Balvenie. The director, repped by US prod co Warpaint, shares what tech's currently top of his list. 

What’s the best ad campaign you’ve seen recently?

Procter and Gamble’s Best Job by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu.

What website(s) do you use most regularly and why?

Cinearchive.org has the most extensive film archive on the web. It also has rare behind-the-scenes photo collections, videos, director interviews, screenplays and more. I also visit BoweryBoogie.com on a daily basis for Bowery and L.E.S. news when I’m out of town, which seems to be all the time lately.

What’s the most recent piece of tech that you’ve bought and why?

I recently purchased a RED Scarlet camera. I constantly shoot short films in my downtime, so owning a RED made sense.

What’s your favourite app on your phone and why?

Instagram. I don’t carry a 35mm camera around with me anymore and Instagram has taken its place. Follow me @PaulStoneFilms.

What’s your favourite TV show and why?

I cut the cable TV cord years ago, so I don’t watch much TV. I mostly watch docs and films on Netflix. If I had to pick a TV show, it would be old re runs of Law & Order. It’s great for a pre-gentrified NYC crime nostalgia fix.

What film do you think everyone should have seen?

Any film directed by Jacques Audiard. Also, Bullhead directed by Michael Roskam. Matthias Schoenaerts’ performance will give you chills.  

Where were you when inspiration last struck?

Inspiration strikes every few seconds. My ADD has always been my strong suit.

What’s the most significant change you’ve witnessed in the industry since you started working in it? 

The career path to becoming a director has become a lot shorter.

If there was one thing you could change about the advertising industry, what would it be?

The rule of fast, cheap or good, and you can only pick one, cannot be ignored.

What or who has most influenced your career and why?

Tony Scott. Before I started directing, I was an editor and operated my editing company out of RSA NY for seven years. That alone was a massive stroke of luck early on in my career. I would re-edit all of Tony’s commercials and films frame-by-frame and dissect the magic.  RSA NY was my film school.  

I learned from everyone who walked through those doors – Tony, Ridley, Jake, Chris Cunningham, Carl Erik Rinsch, the EPs, producers and the reps. But, visually, my influence has been Tony. My biggest influence as a storyteller has been Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu. I’ve also been lucky enough to meet Tony and Alejandro in person.

Tell us one thing about yourself that most people won’t know. 

I am a drummer and a DJ. Oh, and I’m not related to Oliver Stone.