The New Talent Focus

We speak to a few of tomorrow's bright new directorial stars, chat to the established about their big breaks, and get to grips with how the industry is finding and nurturing fledgling creators.

Talent

Maker by name, maker by nature

Melody Maker began her career in the world of fashion, before turning her talents to helming ambitious promos. Now, the Mill director is bringing her blend of reality, fantasy, live-action and VFX to commercials and creative tech. Selena Schleh meets a rising talent who exemplifies the new breed of creative ‘slashies.’

Talent

Em Cole: Senses working overtime

Creating witty, stylised, social-ready morsels of moving image, inspired by weird and wonderful corners of the internet, Em Cole is very much the post-digital director. She’s also an impressive auto-didact, who’s achieved much in her 26 years. She tells Carol Cooper about Swindon, splosh and synaesthesia

Talent

What keeps Calmatic pushing the edge of greatness?

In 2019, director Calmatic skyrocketed onto the commercial scene, first with a promo for Lil Nas X and then landing a set of Super Bowl adverts for TurboTax. Here, he talks about his route into the business, his inspirations and what's next.

Craft

Jess Kohl: The Prettybird breakthrough capturing the fringes of society

With her latest music video and a brand-new spot for Nike providing a hefty industry one-two punch, we speak to the filmmaker and photographer about what documenting marginalised communities has brought to her subsequent work.

Showcase

Throwback Thursday: The Breakout Films

March is our New Talent Focus, but everyone was new once, right? We've compiled a selection of promo royalty, clever advert creatives, and animation maniacs to talk about the work that - in their own opinion - helped make them the success they are today.

Talent

King of the Hill

As part of our New Talent Focus, we took the chance to speak with SMUGGLER director and Hollywood icon Jonah Hill about his music video and advertising work.

Talent

The Coyle-Larner Brothers keep it in the family

Ben Coyle-Larner, aka rapper Loyle Carner, and his brother Ryan have teamed up to create a potentially formidable directing force. With a slew of great promos for his own tracks providing a perfect training ground, and a desire to "take the plunge" as directors, these multi-skilled siblings are making all the right noises.

Talent

Jesse Lewis-Reece takes on collaboration, learning, and creativity

The young director sat down with us to talk about his time spent working on his award winning project, BLEACH, how working so closely with the trans community impacted his work, and what he plans to do next.

Insight

Give youth a seat at the table

For an industry so in thrall to youth, the creative industries are alarmingly slow to give young people a seat at the table, says Creativebrief's Izzy Ashton.

Talent

Ali Kurr's naked ambition

After a dazzling start to her career, making award-winning promos, director Ali Kurr had a spell in the wilderness. Now she's back with an impressive reel of spots and a comedy porno to boot. Fascinated by all things female, the creative polymath tells Selena Schleh why she refuses to make “stereotypical female work”.

Insight

Raging against the machine; a new talent evolution

David Gamble and Simon Labbett, Creative Partners at Truant London, explain that the way the advertising industry currently approaches new talent acquisition needs to change.

Insight

Advertising’s got talent. But how to unleash its full potential?

The talent is out there, but how do you find it and, once you do, hone it? Tim Cumming talks to some of the people and institutions for whom nurturing new talent is at the heart of what they do.

Talent

David Dearlove hits the target with award-winning film

Last year David Dearlove picked up the coveted shots Awards Europe New Director of the Year trophy for his brilliant film for Women's Aid. We spoke to him after his win and, below, you can read again his explanation of what it's like to hit the directing bullseye with his first dart.

Insight

Artists and agencies collaborate to bring in new talent

Alicia Hansen, founder of the nonprofit arts program NYC SALT, worked with Eli Rotholz of Alkemy X to create a space for current students and program alumni to show off to advertising agencies.

The Sustainability Focus

It’s the burning question – with humanity facing an existential threat more potent than war, famine or disease, how can an industry full of world-class communicators talk about the climate crisis? shots discusses low-carbon film production, greenwashing and the paradox of consumerism vs planetary survival.

The Neurodiversity Focus

With growing awareness that an estimated 20 per cent of the global population is neurodiverse - the fact that advertising needs to get on top of the spectrums is a no-brainer. This month, shots speaks to experts, commentators and ADHD/ASD-powered adfolk about battling stigma, enhanced creativity and making more ND inclusive campaigns.

The Music Video Focus

Since the 90s, when their budgets ran to millions, the internet and tech advances have made music videos easier to view, cheaper to produce and, possibly, more disposable. But is the medium a dying art, or still the best way for a director to get noticed? shots probes the state of the promo nation.

The Photography & Cinematography Focus

In a cacophonous digital culture that bombards us with a stream of personal image-sharing and branded visuals, it can be hard for photography to stand out. This month, shots pulls focus on the DPs and photographers whose work sets the optic nerves a-tingle and considers the input of non-human image generators.