On My Radar: Richard Fearon

What’s the best ad campaign you’ve seen recently?
 
Nike Nothing Beats a Londoner is a stand-out campaign this year. It’s just an epic film on multiple levels. It’s Megaforce and Riff Raff films at their best.

What website(s) do you use most regularly and why?
 
Sky Sports news is my go-to every morning, so I can check on Spurs! I still have an unhealthy addiction to promonews.tv. This goes back many years. Despite budgets being hammered down there is still some great creative work being made and that's where the next generation of film makers are honing their craft.

What’s the most recent piece of tech that you’ve bought and why?
 
iPhone X because unfortunately, like many others before me, I dropped and smashed my last one. The portrait function on the camera is actually pretty good.

Facebook, Instagram or Twitter?
 
Instagram. It seems to be a great way to get people to see your work and my account @richardfearon has even got me a few jobs at MPC. I met Kes Glozier through Instagram and we have worked together a couple of times now. His stills photography is amazing and I love working with him. 

What’s your favourite app on your phone and why?
 
Podcasts. I listen to a lot of random stuff depending on what mood I’m in. My library at the moment consists of BBC’s The Infinite Monkey Cage (you can’t beat a bit of physics in the morning), Fantasy Football Scout, The Adam Buxton Podcast and Under the Skin [below] with Russell Brand.

What’s your favourite TV show and why? 

Game of Thrones and Battle of the Bastards is still my favourite episode. The VFX breakdown of this episode is incredible. Although I was late to get into GoT, I am now a big fan, having read all seven books and watched the whole series. If I was ever to go on Mastermind I think this would be my specialist subject.  

What film do you think everyone should have seen?
 
There are so many good ones it's hard to choose just one. Apocalypse Now Redux is a must-see followed by Heart of Darkness, The Godfather Trilogy and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas [below].

Where were you when inspiration last struck?
 
I get a lot of inspiration when I go running in Epping Forest [below], which luckily for me is just at the end of my road. I don’t know if it’s the release of endorphins or my surroundings but I seem to tackle a lot of problems while running. 

What’s the most significant change you’ve witnessed in the industry since you started working in it?
 
The one that stands out to me is the move from film to digital. 15 years ago everything was shot on 35 and 16mm negative, but then around 2007 the industry started to move to digital formats.  I could just be speculating, but perhaps this change from film to digital was accelerated by the financial crash. Shooting on film was much more expensive and so digital was the more cost-effective option. 

If there was one thing you could change about the advertising industry, what would it be?
 
Streamline the approval process. It seems that approvals have become much too regular and lack a consistent process. 

What or who has most influenced your career and why?
 
I would have to say George K [senior colourist, MPC]. He taught me everything I needed to know to get me started as a junior colourist, even down to the still store wipe function on the Da Vinci 2k. 

Tell us one thing about yourself that most people won’t know…
 
I have run six marathons, which to some may seem impressive but not to my mum who has actually run 106.