the Talent
From Junior Creatives to ECDs, delve into career highlights (and lowlights) in our in-depth profiles.
The Way I See It: Grant Hunter
Grant Hunter, Global ECD and London CCO of Iris, has led his agency's teams on award-winning campaigns including Starbucks What’s your name?, Samsung's Moon for All Mankind VR experience and Johnnie Walker's F1 branded content series. As a regular speaker and judge at creative industry events and a tireless campaigner for sustainable living, he is kept as busy as the hive-dwelling heroes he keeps. He shares his career journey from barn owls to bionic bees.
Creative Correspondence: Emily Marr and Hector Murray
Leo Burnett Chief Production Officer Marr and Young Arrows 2022 Producer of the Year Murray discuss first impressions, endless changes, and the transition from virtual to real-life meetings in our latest Creative Correspondence.
Young producers: the industry's new voices speak out
Last Thursday [2 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.
The people who make the spots you love, covering all aspects of production, post and sound.
The Way I See It: Siri Bunford
From the 60-second Steadicam shot on the set of The Shining which started it all, to a Super Bowl spot for Google, Knucklehead director Siri Bunford has helmed some of the most iconic ads of the past 15 years and blazed a trail for female directors in the commercials world. Whether it’s #FoodDancing or pigeon fancying, the secret to Bunford’s success is simple: finding the humanity at the heart of every story – and a ‘just keep going’ mentality.
Kate McMullen: Breaking down walls
Having started out agency side before becoming a director, Kate McMullen, a winner at this year's Young Director Award, reveals to Tim Cumming how her award-winning short film work informs her branded stories, and how, as an advertiser, her goal is to capture an audience.
Rosanna Peng bowls a perfect game against the YDA competition
Canadian director Rosanna Peng picked up a Gold in the YDA Dreampitch: Short Film category with her pitch for Bowling Bao. Here, she chats to Izzy Ashton about bowling teams from the 1980's, women taking up space in male-dominated arenas, and future projects.
YDA winner Vincent Rene-Lortie talks away the dark
Director Vincent Rene-Lortie picked up a Gold in the YDA Charity Commercial category with Talk Away The Dark. Here, he chats to Izzy Ashton about the difficult shoot, solving lighting issues, and international casting calls...
Mahboobeh Kalaee on alchemy and animation
Repped by Jelly, Iranian animation director Mahboobeh Kalaee's intriguing, mixed-media animations combine live-action, 2D animation and stop-motion to create mesmerising films that blur the line between reality and the imaginary. Here, she compares films to potions, explains why water is an inspiring element, and offers up some advice for young creatives.
Naghmeh Pour's YDA-winning cry for freedom
Copenhagen-based Iranian director Naghmeh Pour won a Gold Screen in Online Branded Film for Iran-e Man, a collaboration between new–land, the WomanLifeFreedom project and fashion brand Pairi Daeza. Here she discusses her journey as a director and the bravery and beauty in her poetic film’s expression of struggle.
Holzman: Comedy gold from the Land of Silver
Award-winner Martin Holzman may have started off his filmmaking career hiding from the Argentinian heat, but his smooth comedic style and ear for a gag display an inherent coolness. Here, the argentinacine director speaks to Jamie Madge about his influences, his ethos and how a sense of restlessness has built his creativity.
Faride Schroeder's female gaze
From being Mexico's ambassador for Free The Work, to co-founding female cooperative Dear Sisters, Mexican director and writer Faride Schroeder is a visionary creative who entwines her beautifully diverse filmmaking with advocacy and activism. Here, she talks about honing her gaze, filming home births, and how parallel careers in advertising and cinema can nourish each other.
Neil Ferron fishes on dark shores for his YDA win
After picking up a Gold Screen in the Film School (10 minutes and over) category for his comedy short film Fishmonger, director Neil Ferron tells Izzy Ashton the tale of the lonely and pathetic, Christie O’Mallaghan.
Celebrating shots' 30th anniversary, industry luminaries pair up with up-and-comers in the field to talk shop and interview each other.
Creative Correspondence: Emily Marr and Hector Murray
Leo Burnett Chief Production Officer Marr and Young Arrows 2022 Producer of the Year Murray discuss first impressions, endless changes, and the transition from virtual to real-life meetings in our latest Creative Correspondence.
Creative Correspondence: Ringan Ledwidge & Nina Meredith
Ad legend Ledwidge talks to Rattling Stick rising star Meredith about beginnings in journalism, shooting a Christmas icon and underrated Jack Nicholson movies.
Creative Correspondence: Kai-Lu Hsiung & Alice Bloomfield
For our latest Creative Correspondence, industry legend and RSA Films Global MD Kai Hsiung is in conversation with new signing and former BFI Future Film Fest Black Dog Films Award winner Alice Bloomfield about breaking into commercials, the importance of testing the water and how the industry has changed for women.
Creative Correspondence: Sam Sneade & Ellie Johnson
Editing legend Sneade chats to the newly promoted partner at tenthree, Johnson, about the progression of their careers, the lack of industry rockstars and how cultivating talent is the most important part of the job.
Creative Correspondence: Kate Stanners & Mia Silverman
Saatchi & Saatchi's Global CCO, Kate Stanners, and up-and-coming Saatchi Art Director, Mia Silverman, discuss their respective careers, how the job has changed (and stayed the same), and why the growing need to deliver at speed can lead to bad work... but doesn't have to.
Creative Correspondence: Joe Guest and Lucy Berry
Final Cut's legendary editor speaks to up-and-coming top talent Berry in the latest of our Creative Correspondence conversations.
Creative Correspondence: Anthony Moore & Dylan Holmes Williams
Kicking off 2021's Creative Correspondence is multi-award winning sound designer, the Founding Partner and ECD of Factory, Anthony Moore, and Stink Rising director, talented short film maker and YDA winner, Dylan Holmes Williams.
YDA winner Sinan Sevinç on weaving powerful parallel narratives
Sinan Sevinç's heart-rending short film Split Second scooped up a staggering five YDA wins this year, taking home the Special Jury Prize, three Gold and one Silver awards. He talks to Izzy Ashton about the technicalities of telling three stories in one film, and the attention to detail required on set to accurately represent historical events.
The Way I See It: Jonathan Kneebone
The Glue Society co-founder, who is repped by Biscuit and Revolver, shares with Tim Cumming his reflections on more than 25 years of cutting-edge creativity and communications. From the pioneering interactive campaigns of the 1990s – long before we ever thought of connecting the words ‘social’ and ‘media’ – through to the impact of experiential work; art installations; crazy ideas and the secret behind how to create a bona fide Fountain of Youth.
Adjani Salmon's comedy of terrors
From editing reality TV shows to making and starring in hit BBC sitcom, Dreaming Whilst Black, Adjani Salmon’s star is on the rise. As he plots his next move into commercials, he tells Selena Schleh how ‘telling jokes about terrible things’ is in his DNA – and why brands need to take risks on new voices.
YDA winner Lucas Parra on match cuts and memorable moments
Bagging a gold in the Film School (up to 10 minutes) category, Lucas Parra’s spot for the Catalonian School of Cinema and Audio, This is ESCAC, was inspired by some of cinema’s most famous frames including falling men, knives and petals.
YDA winner Linda-Schiwa Klinkhammer on patriarchy and perspective
Director Linda-Schiwa Klinkhammer picked up a Gold in the YDA Dreampitch: Changing the World Frame by Frame category with her pitch for I Think I Hate My Father. Here, she chats to Izzy Ashton about creating multidimensional characters, exploring family dynamics, and examining cultural differences.
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Jing Ai Ng tells us how a passion for the Delta Chinese community led to a YDA
Winning Gold in the Passion Project category, Jing Ai Ng's Asian American folk story Delta is rooted in observations around heritage. Here, she tells shots how instinct, influence and Instagram helped form the film.
Inspirations and post-Covid impact; the industry’s new voices speak out
Four bright young talents share their dreams, doubts and career pathways: Strike Anywhere's Erica Eng, a Chinese American director in LA; Toronto-based director and VFX wizard Lucas Hrubizna of Blink Productions; journalist-turned-director Brian Broeckelman of Dictionary Films in Chicago and Serena Rossi, recently promoted to editor at UK-based post production company Nomad.
Jan Vrhovnik on turning back the clock for a YDA win
With Edi, Jan Vrhovnik's glorious tribute to his childhood hero, the filmmaker drew upon his cinematography prowess to refine his directorial style. Here, he talks to shots about finding his own POV when telling stories.
Florian Reittner's helping hand
Director Florian Reittner picked up a Gold Screen in the Super Short category at this year's Young Director Award. Here, he explains how the absurdity of life aligned with the sadness of a funeral inspired him, and why the subject of a film should not determine its mood.
Kaho Yoshida: a director in motion
Jelly animation director Kaho Yoshida's work combines stop-motion with 2D drawings to create light-hearted, yet thought-provoking animations that explore often untold stories. Here, she talks about her experience of entering the industry, representation of WOC directors, and her career journey so far.
Aziz Zoromba's instinctual storytelling
After his short film, Simo, picked up Gold in the Short Film (10 minutes or above) category at this year's Young Director Award, director Aziz Zoromba reveals the inspiration behind it, and why the most important lesson he's learned is to trust his instinct.
Victoria Singh-Thompson on their Lolita inspired YDA winning short
Director Victoria Singh-Thompson chats to Izzy Ashton about their film 14 in February which scooped a YDA Gold in the Short Film (Up to 10 minutes) category.
Tara O'Callaghan gets sex-positive for the YDA
Director Tara O'Callaghan speaks with Izzy Ashton about her impactful YDA Special Jury Prize-winning film Call Me Mommy, which deals with online sex work in a candid and intimate way.