the Talent
From Junior Creatives to ECDs, delve into career highlights (and lowlights) in our in-depth profiles.
Weird Seance summons... Trevor Beattie
In the first of a new series of interviews Amy Kean celebrates the wonderful world of weird, talking to 'iconic oddballs' about their strange brains and why oddness should be elevated.
How Pam Savage and Sick Beats hit the right note
Tim Cumming talks to Pam Savage at Area 23 about the double Grand Prix-winning Sick Beats campaign, and those points where science, technology and creativity can meet to change the world.
Friends with Holograms wants you to empathize in VR
From founder and CEO Cortney Harding and Chief Ideation Officer, Pamela Jaber, comes an interview that explains why immersive storytelling is so good for helping people connect with others.
The people who make the spots you love, covering all aspects of production, post and sound.
YDA-winner Georgy Tarasov talks us through Yamakasi
FMT.Jetlag director Georgy Tarasov picked up a Gold Screen in the Music Video category for his film Yamakasi, at this year's YDA. Here, he discusses accidental miracles, planning shoots and the inspiration of the YDA.
shots Unsigned: Max Kane
For this months interview with unsigned directing talent, we talk with Max Kane about his short road-trip film Duck, the difficulties of shooting into a windshield and his early movie watching experiences with family.
Milana Karaica: From adversity to diversity
Milana Karaica tells Tim Cumming about the difficult birth of her global studio NERD and leading the way in inclusive, co-operative creativity.
YDA-winner Olivia Hang Zhou discusses Apart, Together
Director Olivia Hang Zhou picked up a Gold Screen in the Film School (up to 6 mins) category for her short film, Apart, Together at this year's YDA. Here, she discusses her deeply personal story, her filmmaking origins and her future aspirations.
The Way I See It: Jess Coulter
From wannabe child actress to professional burlesque dancer, the career path of comedy director (and one-time Britney Spears lookalike) Jess Coulter has taken some hairpin bends. Having begun directing while a CD at BBDO New York, she’s found her spiritual home at O Positive, bringing a humorous touch to spots for IKEA, the Red Cross and Snickers. She tells Selena Schleh about healthy feminist rage and why she’s laughing in the face of her own mortality.
YDA-winner Marleen Valien delivers with Made For Hoomans
Filmakademie Baden-Wurttemberg director Marleen Valien picked up a Gold Screen in the Film School (up to 6 mins) and Animation category for her short film, Made For Hoomans at this year's YDA. Here, she discusses the inspiration behind the film, the complexity of stop-motion animation and an advertising future perhaps?
YDA-winner Luca Homolka takes us to Cold Blow Lane
Filmakademie Baden-Wurttemberg director Luca Homolka picked up a Gold Screen in the Film School (up to 6 mins) category for his short film, Cold Blow Lane at this year's YDA. Here, he discusses his football background, casual culture and the start of his filmmaking journey.
shots Unsigned: Videodrome
In the latest of our monthly interviews with unsigned directing talent, we talk with Videodrome about their music video for Muller & Roedelius, high-school-film-school and how they came together as a duo.
Studio Birthplace: Delivering us from a plastic planet
Mixing high-end digital and arresting live-action into their cauldron of creativity, Sil van der Woerd and Jorik Dozy, aka Studio Birthplace, tell Tim Cumming about working on behalf of Mother Earth, and burying Boris Johnson in plastic.
Celebrating shots' 30th anniversary, industry luminaries pair up with up-and-comers in the field to talk shop and interview each other.
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.
Maceo Frost: Dancing, dynamism and identifying the goosebumps
When he's not on top of a surfboard Maceo Frost can be found behind a camera. The Swedish director nurtured his love of film by playing with Lego and experimenting with dance and, here, tells Tim Cumming about finding his rhythm and how to conjure goosebumps.
shots Unsigned: Paul Wie
In the first of our monthly interviews with unsigned directing talent, we talk with Paul Wie about his short film Soundtrack to Greatness, translating for director Bong Joon-Ho and his love of football.
Mr Yankey's unconventional ascent
New to commercial directing, Mr Yankey relays how he moved from working on promos for artists such as Roll Deep, Sway and Kano to directing a back-to-school commercial for ASDA that keeps drill music in its DNA.
Highlighting sport's inbetweeners
Dalia Burde of Avocados & Coconuts talks to Tim Cumming about stepping off sport's "well worn 'champion' path", the future of sports advertising, finding stories in the moments in between the action, and how those stories drive audience engagement.
Raising the bar
As ex-professional rugby players turned directors, brothers Michel and Nico Arribehaute have parlayed their sporting experience into stories of passion that transcend purely physical achievements. From Muay Thai to Irish football, Formula One to the Winter Olympics, their track record is enviable – and they’re now looking beyond the sports arena for new challenges.
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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.
YDA Week 2021: Ninian Doff
Kicking off this year's YDA Week, director Ninian Doff discusses breaking into the industry, his directorial style, creative freedom and how he took advantage of a spare unicorn to make his first short film.
The Way I See It: James Sorton
James Sorton, MD & EP of multi-award-winning Pulse Films, which bagged a stash of Lions this year, including a Film Grand Prix, shares with Carol Cooper his thoughts on Pulse’s early ambitions, the human texture of IRL working, and the freedom of a childhood full of Far Eastern promise.
Susan Credle: The business end of success
Titanium jury president Susan Credle talks to Tim Cumming about spotting what’s next for the industry, the importance of the business's bottom line to the top line of creativity, and whether all those awards really matter?
Rick Brim gets to the heart of advertising
Rick Brim is the CCO at adam&eveDDB and is this year's president of the Film Lions jury at Cannes. He talks to Tim Cumming about his career and creative highlights, including a touch of selfishness from Harvey Nichols and spreading the hate with Marmite, and why listening to your heart matters.
Kerstin Emhoff: In the pipeline
Prettybird’s CEO talks to Tim Cumming about overseeing one of the Lion’s toughest categories, remote working with juries and what she’s doing to widen the gene pool of creatives across the industry.
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.
Gijs Determeijer on the power of the YDA
This year's chairman of the Young Director Award explains the benefits of entering the competition, what he'll be looking for in the online jury room, and the good and bad of the last 15 months.