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the Talent

Agency

From Junior Creatives to ECDs, delve into career highlights (and lowlights) in our in-depth profiles.

Production

The people who make the spots you love, covering all aspects of production, post and sound.

19th Apr Production
Theo James Krekis' frozen assets

Theo James Krekis' frozen assets

After picking up the shots New Director award in last year's EMEA ceremony with his hilarious montage short Memoirs of a Freezer, Knucklehead director Theo James Krekis speaks to Jamie Madge about his path to filmmaking and how stories of Greek youngsters and pram snatchers have helped him find his voice.

30th Mar Production
shots Unsigned: Ricky Allen

shots Unsigned: Ricky Allen

For the latest catch up with unsigned directing talent we speak with Ricky Allen. Here he talks us through his music video The Dance You Sell for the band L'objectif. We also discuss early shoots on his Canon 5DM3, his favourite family films, and the highs and lows of shooting the promo.

23rd Mar Production
Dan Mace: facing his fears

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.

2nd Mar Production
shots Unsigned: Noemi Varga

shots Unsigned: Noemi Varga

In our latest edition of chats with unsigned directing talent we speak with Noemi Varga. Here she talks us through her music video Daddy Issues for the band Exotic Girlfriend. We also discuss how filmmaking is a team sport, casting for the film, and future music video projects.

17th Feb Production
Daniel Milder: Consuming passions

Daniel Milder: Consuming passions

Chef’s Table and Street Food director/producer Daniel Milder talks to shots about his zeal for celebrating the personalities, artistry and drama behind cuisine – and how character is the starting point for everything.

27th Jan Production
Expanding concepts: The flexible world of rubberband.

Expanding concepts: The flexible world of rubberband.

Stretch it any way you like, you’ll find magic percolating in the work of New York-based SMUGGLER directorial duo rubberband., AKA Jason Sondock and Simon Davis. Here they share with Tim Cumming the processes behind their cinematic storytelling on spots for Reebok, Nowness and Calvin Klein and more, and their artfully choreographed, conceptual music videos for artists including LCD Soundsystem, Goldlink and Steve Lacey.

Creative Correspondence

Celebrating shots' 30th anniversary, industry luminaries pair up with up-and-comers in the field to talk shop and interview each other.

17th Jan Production
The Way I See It: Edgar Wright

The Way I See It: Edgar Wright

Spaced, Shaun Of The Dead, Scott Pilgrim, Last Night In Soho; regardless of your Edgar Wright entry-point, the frenetic filmmaker’s wit and passion makes fans of all who view his work. With a recent eyebrow-raising McDonald’s spot (shot through Moxie Pictures) an indication of more commercial work on the horizon, we caught up with Wright to chat about working with legends at an early age, the creative testbed offered by music videos, and how making yourself your own ‘dream viewer’ is the way to please those crowds.

11th Jan Production
Nick and Chloé's adventures at the edges of consciousness

Nick and Chloé's adventures at the edges of consciousness

Like all good surrealists, CASEY directorial duo Nick West and Chloé Claverie mine the rich filmic opportunities afforded by strange landscapes, memories of infant dreams and mysterious hypnagogic happenings. Here they talk to Carol Cooper about the creation of their mesmerising music videos.

4th Jan Production
Gregory Ohrel: Provocateur with purpose

Gregory Ohrel: Provocateur with purpose

Kicking off January's Music Video Focus, Selena Schleh speaks to Gregory Ohrel, whose brutal, incendiary and stimulative promo for Puerto Rican rapper Residente’s protest track, This Is Not America, provoked deeper thought on the nature of nationalism.

14th Dec Production
Naturalism with an edge: the expert eye of Rodrigo Prieto

Naturalism with an edge: the expert eye of Rodrigo Prieto

With a 25-year career lensing films for the likes of Martin Scorsese, Alejandro González Iñárritu and Ang Lee, Mexican DP Rodrigo Prieto is turning his attention towards direction, with an upcoming Netflix adaptation in the works. Here, he talks to Selena Schleh about his past projects in both roles, building on his reputation for being the master of emotional naturalism.

2nd Dec Production
Creature feature: the fantastical world of John Nolan

Creature feature: the fantastical world of John Nolan

From a bench-pressing rodent to filling Jurassic World with dinos, John Nolan has been flying the physical effects flag for over a decade. David Knight talks to the animatronic master about the importance of capturing magic in-camera.

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30th Nov Production
The Way I See It: Rankin

The Way I See It: Rankin

Fashion and portrait photographer John Rankin Waddell, aka Rankin, has photographed a host of legends, from the Stones to the Spice Girls, and Madonna queen of pop, to Queen Elizabeth II. He also founded magazines Dazed & Confused and Hunger, and set up an agency, Rankin Creative. He talks to Carol Cooper about protests, periods and his passion for making – not taking – pictures.

27th Oct Production
shots Unsigned: Mayukh Goswami

shots Unsigned: Mayukh Goswami

In our latest edition of chats with unsigned directing talent we speak with Mayukh Goswami. Here he talks us through his music video No Hoodie co-directed with Sean Wehrli. We also discuss people watching on the subway, six months of cel animation, and his animation bibles.

7th Oct Production
YDA winner Arthur Studholme on making a name in comedy

YDA winner Arthur Studholme on making a name in comedy

With his awkward, surreal and utterly hilarious short, What's My Name?, Pulse Films director Studholme picked up a Gold at 2022's YDA. Here he discusses the origins of the unfortunate encounter, how a chance job with a prosthetics expert can make a micro-budget into a masterpiece, and why losing your lead actor the night before the shoot can sometimes work in your favour.

29th Sep Production
People-watching with Michelle Savill

People-watching with Michelle Savill

Award-winning New Zealand director Michelle Savill is an astute observer of human behaviour. Her first feature film Millie Lies Low premiered at Berlin International Film Festival and SXSW earlier this year, following which she was signed to Arts & Sciences. She spoke to shots about the challenges of shooting on a shoestring and how a missed flight disaster proved inspirational.

21st Sep Production
Ani Acopian's adventures in aviation

Ani Acopian's adventures in aviation

Los Angeles-based filmmaker, social media maestro and tireless innovator Ani Acopian joined Park Pictures in June. She’s garnered attention for her witty short-form content, such as A World Artists Love for AWAL, and her spoof dating website for Amazon. She told shots about playing with boundaries, altering perceptions and her love of drones.

15th Sep Production
Cinematic visuals with a disruptive edge? Better call Sau

Cinematic visuals with a disruptive edge? Better call Sau

Greatcoat Films' Newham-born director Sau Ali has built a solid portfolio within six short months in the business, including music videos for artists including Henny Knightz and Raptum, as well as branded content for Samsung, New Balance and Vice. Here he tells shots how short-form filmmaking can nurture a blockbuster spirit.

15th Sep Production
shots Unsigned: Sean Wehrli

shots Unsigned: Sean Wehrli

In our latest edition of chats with unsigned directing talent we speak with Sean Wehrli. Here he talks us through his music video for Clans, his big music promo inspirations, and pivoting to take advantage of circumstances.

13th Sep Production
Lessons to be learned

Lessons to be learned

Known for his soulful films exploring pressing social issues, New Orleans-based filmmaker Abraham Felix was signed by Curfew earlier this year. Here, he tells shots about his inspirations and passion for filmmaking and about the creation of his award-winning campaign The Unspoken Curriculum, produced by Windy Films for the Boris L. Henson Foundation.