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On My Radar: Dave Wood
SLASH director, Dave Wood is thankful that technology allows for immediate images of racoons in funny hats, can find no flaws in a Cohen brothers classic, and is unsure about friendship if you don't like Terry Tate.
What’s the most creative advertising idea you’ve seen recently?
Doordash, All the Ads. It was just so playful. Don’t get me wrong, I love all the celebrity heavy, race to be the cleverest spots, but to make something so big stand out in such an unexpected, almost unscripted way, was brilliant. It was wonderfully fun, from both a maker and a consumer’s POV.
Credits
powered by- Agency Wieden + Kennedy/Portland
- Production Company Lord Danger
- Director Mike Diva
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Credits
powered by- Agency Wieden + Kennedy/Portland
- Production Company Lord Danger
- Director Mike Diva
- Executive Producer Anthony Ficalora
- Managing Director/Executive Music Producer Josh Shadid
- Post Production/Animation/VFX Modern Logic
- Post Managing Director Michael Bennett
- Executive Post Producer Monica Reimold
- Additional VFX/Color The-Artery
- Executive VFX Producer Deborah Sullivan
- VFX Producer Thurman Martin III
- VFX Executive Creative Director Elad Offer
- Sound Designer Morgan Johnson
- Sound Field Day Sound
- Executive Audio Producer Leslie Carthy
- Audio Mixer Noah Woodburn
- Audio Mixer Natalie Huizenga
- Music Lord Danger
- Creative Director Rafael Segri
- President Jason White
- Executive Creative Director Susan Hoffman
- Executive Creative Director Azsa West
- Executive Creative Director Felipe Ribeiro
- Creative Director Christen Brestrup
- Creative Director Bertie Scrase
- Creative Director Dan Viens
- Art Director Alex Nassour
- Copywriter Alex Maleski
- HP Orlee Tatarka
- Executive Producer Ricara Stokes
- Producer Katie Schaller
- Associate Producer Charleston Chambers
- Design Director Stephanie Ward
- Designer Luke Wilhelmi
- Design Producer Kelly Cousins
- Designer Avery Jagre
- Designer Elena Hernandez
- Designer Olivia Brown
- Designer Macy Eiesland
- Post Producer Ashlie Iacocca
- Editor Andrew Henry
- Colorist Stephen Picano
- Art Director Eugene Guaran
- Senior Animator David Ariew
- Senior Animator Ethan Chancer
- Music Producer Michael Frick
- Composer David Dahlquist
- VO Laurence Fishburne
![](https://d17mj1ha1c2g57.cloudfront.net/v1/Gp0jknmsmSlI9qJZpCI6YDTppic/1024x576%23/80/shotsmag/production/clips/d78cce38-a349-4d60-9903-df41cfbc2fb2/1718984138007.jpg?v=1&quality=80&format=jpeg)
Credits
powered by- Agency Wieden + Kennedy/Portland
- Production Company Lord Danger
- Director Mike Diva
- Executive Producer Anthony Ficalora
- Managing Director/Executive Music Producer Josh Shadid
- Post Production/Animation/VFX Modern Logic
- Post Managing Director Michael Bennett
- Executive Post Producer Monica Reimold
- Additional VFX/Color The-Artery
- Executive VFX Producer Deborah Sullivan
- VFX Producer Thurman Martin III
- VFX Executive Creative Director Elad Offer
- Sound Designer Morgan Johnson
- Sound Field Day Sound
- Executive Audio Producer Leslie Carthy
- Audio Mixer Noah Woodburn
- Audio Mixer Natalie Huizenga
- Music Lord Danger
- Creative Director Rafael Segri
- President Jason White
- Executive Creative Director Susan Hoffman
- Executive Creative Director Azsa West
- Executive Creative Director Felipe Ribeiro
- Creative Director Christen Brestrup
- Creative Director Bertie Scrase
- Creative Director Dan Viens
- Art Director Alex Nassour
- Copywriter Alex Maleski
- HP Orlee Tatarka
- Executive Producer Ricara Stokes
- Producer Katie Schaller
- Associate Producer Charleston Chambers
- Design Director Stephanie Ward
- Designer Luke Wilhelmi
- Design Producer Kelly Cousins
- Designer Avery Jagre
- Designer Elena Hernandez
- Designer Olivia Brown
- Designer Macy Eiesland
- Post Producer Ashlie Iacocca
- Editor Andrew Henry
- Colorist Stephen Picano
- Art Director Eugene Guaran
- Senior Animator David Ariew
- Senior Animator Ethan Chancer
- Music Producer Michael Frick
- Composer David Dahlquist
- VO Laurence Fishburne
What website(s) do you use most regularly?
shots and Best Ads on TV, to keep an eye on all the fresh and impressive work coming out. And Netflix at night to try and distract myself from being intimidated by all the fresh and impressive work coming out.
What’s the most recent piece of tech that you’ve bought?
I wish I could say it’s the newest, latest, innovative digital director viewfinder tool, or something impressive… but it’s a remote-control car. I pretended it was for my daughter (it wasn’t). I bought it because it looked awesome (it is).
![](https://d17mj1ha1c2g57.cloudfront.net/v1/CVBCkduIayt9Qf4CeckWXdZSep4/1280x/80/shotsmag/production/clips/cb625028-ece1-4a29-ab38-483cd5883e00/nf23v6yjkppxewetcwnmjy.jpg?v=1&quality=70&format=jpeg)
What product could you not live without?
My phone. It makes you realise that the past was actually pretty dumb. Twenty years ago, if you wanted a picture of a racoon you had to get into a car and go to the library. And a racoon in a funny hat? Forget about it. Now, it's all right there, in your pocket. Plus, there’s the whole fast and efficient work communications and staying in touch with the family thing.
What’s the best film you’ve seen over the last year?
I’m a little late to the party, but the documentary Fire of Love was exceptional. True love and volcanoes are the combo I didn’t know I needed. It’s gorgeous, dangerous filmmaking and one of the best voice overs of all time.
What film do you think everyone should have seen?
Miller’s Crossing. It’s been my favourite film for 20+ years. It truly has a tone of its own, and it’s a masterclass in characterisation. When I was in film school, my buddy and I used to watch it from the POV of a particular character to see if their actions seemed motivated and real, then we’d watch it again from the point of view of a different character. Amongst all the gangsterisms, politics and love triangles we never found a flaw. I’m amazed by its tone, complexity and effortlessness.
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What’s your preferred social media platform?
I don’t spend a lot of time on social media so this might not sound very cool, but Facebook still works for me. Curated, yet insanely frivolous. Occasionally informative and rather inane. It serves me fine in moments of waiting for a train or coffee.
What’s your favourite TV show?
It’s a bit embarrassing, but lately I’ve been hooked on those struggle-based discovery channel shows like Outback Opal Hunters, and all those pre-cellular gold mining shows. I don’t know if it’s because it’s just a big treasure hunt for adults, or if I simply enjoy spending time immersed in places where I don’t feel like I have a single useable skill set. Also, 30 Rock feels underrated as a classic comedy. Its pacing and whip smart timing are on another level.
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What’s your favourite podcast?
I’m an NFL tragic, so it’s lots of Bill Simmons, Ryen Russillo and Chris Long. Plain English with Derek Thompson is always intriguing and informative. I like the constant feed of cutdown video highlights from comedian podcasts on Facebook, it’s a good way to skim through an Uber ride with a goofball by your side.
What show/exhibition has most inspired you recently?
I recently took my young daughter to see Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs. We forget the level of craft achieved by the ancient Egyptians (or aliens – no one’s judging your opinions). The most extraordinary live show I ever saw was Slava’s Snow Show. It’s a traditional, exquisite example of clowning from one of the European masters. Slow and emotive. Funny and complex… I’m also partial to the occasional monster truck show.
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If you could only listen to one music artist from now on, who would it be?
I’ll go with the science on this. And I’m fairly certain this has already been scientifically proven for every human, and the correct answer is the Beastie Boys.
If there was one thing you could change about the advertising industry, what would it be?
I kind of like most of it. Although, maybe that little section on your video conference screen that has your name should also have to have a list of your all time five favourite ads. This would be a quick and simple way to help understand peoples influences and styles and build a language to speak through. And it would get interesting conversations started and friendships formed. Or ended. If you don’t like Terry Tate or the Budget jetpack ad…. we can’t be friends.
Credits
powered by- Post Production Cut+Run Los Angeles
- Editor Jason Painter
- Director of Photography Erk Haase
- Creative Peter Arnell
- Director Rawson Thurber
- Producer Dave Bartis
- Producer Doug Liman
![](https://d17mj1ha1c2g57.cloudfront.net/v1/N3bWzRqfmolQQvYwwF64z0Ml7X8/1024x576%23/80/shotsmag/production/clips/574d1840-5ee5-4d7f-8d69-5cb63598545e/1721899913520.jpg?v=1&quality=80&format=jpeg)
Credits
powered by- Post Production Cut+Run Los Angeles
- Editor Jason Painter
- Director of Photography Erk Haase
- Creative Peter Arnell
- Director Rawson Thurber
- Producer Dave Bartis
- Producer Doug Liman
Who or what has most influenced your career?
In high school, I did a week of work experience at an ad agency. One afternoon, my job was to dub the latest Cannes reel for the creative department. Watching the reel that afternoon changed my life. I couldn’t believe 'adults' got to work on such imaginative, excessive and playful things. I knew at that moment exactly what I wanted to do.
When it comes to directors, I’m classically trained. I came up adoring the masters like Daniel Kleinman, Rocky Morton, Traktor, Fredrik Bond and almost every ad that came out of Cliff Freeman and partners in the late 90s and early 2000s.
My other key influences have come from crew members and peers in the form of dubiously wise statements that always stick in my head.
My top 3 are…
- “Be successful, you can always dress down”. Said by a peer who was brilliant at calculated creative risk.
- “Show me what you promised, then show me what’s better” Said by an ECD when he came in to see an offline edit for the first time.
- “Something will happen” Said by a DoP when we were chasing last light and setting up for a stunt in a situation that was getting rather precarious. He was right.
Tell us one thing about yourself that most people won’t know.
I’ve taught myself how to make stained glass windows, and specialise in making immature leadlight panels (often featuring dick jokes and skateboarding themes). I once got in the front row of the audience to The Jerry Springer Show. And I think pigeons are rather underrated.