shots' most read articles of 2023
Including Britney breakdowns, AI takedowns, eyebrow waggles, and producer gaggles, here's a countdown of the ten most-read articles on shots.net in 2023.
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10. Why having ADHD makes me perfect to be a producer
As a child, Lilly Alter, Creative Producer at Creature London, was sometimes cheeky, generally chatty and occasionally labelled disorganised. Far from those traits hampering her role as 'organiser-in-chief', they have helped make her a successful producer and, after recently being diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, she examines how it has impacted her career and what companies can do to be more inclusive to those with neuro-divergent conditions.
9. The Way I See It: Anselmo Ramos
After growing up "between Jesus and aliens", but also in a creative environment, Anselmo Ramos stepped into advertising, but didn't become an 'ad nerd' until nurturing his love of old annuals. From there he's worked in numerous countries and in various languages, led a successful but creatively moribund agency to glory, started an Ogilvy offshoot and, now, heads his own independent network. From his love of MAD Magazine to his fear of losing loved ones, he tells us the way he sees it.
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8. How Paul Trillo’s short film found the artist within AI
The director/robot collaboration – made with Runway’s Gen-2 generative video – has resulted in a moving ‘human’ story that probes the nature of identity and memory. Here Trillo tells shots how he mined the subjective reality and genuine beauty that AI can create.
7. How to cast an eyebrow-raising commercial
Edgar Wright and Leo Burnett's latest McDonalds spot is the talk of the ad-break at the moment, but how did they fill the screen with so many forehead flickers? We caught up with casting directors Emily Tilelli and Zita Zutic Konak and casting associate Bex Reynolds, from ET Casting, to find out how they assembled the ensemble.
6. Why big clients need independent agencies
With GUT winning both Independent Agency and Agency of the Year at Cannes last month, Matthew Robinson, CEO at Joint, argues that client/agency relationships are shifting and that global brands no longer need to be shackled to agencies built in their own image.
5. Young producers: the industry's new voices speak out
Thursday, 2nd Feb, Biscuit Filmworks and Electric Theatre Collective hosted their ninth annual Young Producers Dinner. shots caught up with some of the attendees to discuss their inspirations for joining the industry, the challenges the future might bring, and how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted the role of producer.
4. Dan Mace: facing his fears
Dan Mace burst onto the scene as a bright new directorial talent. Success in commercials followed, ahead of a triumphant YouTube career and collaboration with a Hollywood A-lister. But fear, anxiety and ego led to depression, alcohol and drugs. Here, Mace discusses not only facing those fears, but how they helped him flourish.
3. Laughing matters
Back in 2019, shots looked for the lols surrounding the issue of women in comedy advertising and was left unamused. Here, Tim Cumming chats to a range of women directors and producers to find out what’s changed, and what still needs to change.
2. Is this the first ad generated entirely in AI?
Using GPT4, Midjourney, Runway Gen2, Eleven Labs, and SOUNDRAW, AI enthusiast PizzaLater managed to create a horrifying fake commercial for a pizza restaurant - Pepperoni Hug Spot - generated only from a few prompts. Surreal experiment or terrifying look at what's to come? Jamie Madge sat down with the creator to find out.
1. Why Britney Spears is ‘manic’ again, and the rise of weaponised pop psychology
From Princess Diana to Britney Spears, a woman in pain or dubbed 'tortured' by others, is one of societies favourite kinks. But, despite more supposed understanding of mental health issues, our love of pop psychology and self-diagnosis has become an addiction, one that's dangerously out of control, says Amy Kean.
