On My Radar: Jake Mavity

What’s the most creative advertising idea you’ve seen recently?

Not many people can squeeze as much joy out of a idea as Dougal Wilson, and his Twix Double Act film is both devilishly simple and a glorious pleasure to watch. And shout out to Mark Molloy’s Summer Jobs Facebook ad for its tight storyline interwoven with artful messiness.

What website(s) do you use most regularly?

I’m doing this thing where I try not to spend all my waking hours plugged into the internet so, like a precocious teenager, I’ve started reading actual books in my downtime. I’m currently reading Olga Tokarczuk's brilliant Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, which isn’t a forgotten Garth Marenghi’s Dark Place episode, but is a quote from William Blake (who I assume is James Blake’s dad).

What’s the most recent piece of tech that you’ve bought?

Sadly, my MacBook just passed away. We were partners in crime for 11 fruitful years. And anyone who has ever had an Apple product knows that Apple years are like dog years, so my laptop was probably an octogenarian. I’ve bought a new one, which I’m bashing out this interview on, but it doesn’t feel quite the same yet. Mainly because I can still read all the letters on the keyboard, and it’s not so warped it wobbles when I type. Give me time.

What product could you not live without?

Do you remember iPod Nanos? Yeah, that thing. I still swear by mine. I hate having my life on my phone as it means I need to have my phone on me at all times and, for me, having the world in my pocket can be distracting, especially when I’m writing. With a Nano I get all my music and nothing else. And it’s so small it doesn’t affect my pocket silhouette which I’m reliably informed is definitely a thing.

What’s the best film you’ve seen over the last year?

Mark Jenkins’ Rose of Nevada. It’s written, directed, lit, edited and music’ed by him too, and stunningly shot on 16mm. It’s not a perfect film, but that is also its beauty. Its seams and patina are there to see, so it feels incredibly human-made. Which I suspect is a quality we are all going to appreciate a lot more with a tidal wave of banal AI slop looming over our heads.

What film do you think everyone should have seen?

Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s The Beasts. It is a French/Spanish co-production based on a true story and is one of the most intense, unexpected, heartbreaking and jaw-dropping thrillers I’ve had the pleasure of watching. It also has this captivating, visceral opening scene that foreshadows a plot point beautifully. An absolute must see.

What’s your preferred social media platform?

I hate them all, but I am sadly on Insta and LinkedIn. LinkedIn is probably the best one as it feels the most politically and socially benign.

What’s your favourite TV show?

The aforementioned Garth Marenghi’s Dark Place. When I’m shooting abroad, away from my family, I like to have something familiar to watch. It’s just wildly silly. I’ve seen every episode probably forty times, but it matters not. Watching it is like sinking into a warm jacuzzi of hospital-based comedy.

What’s your favourite podcast?

My mate Charlie Kemp does a madly irreverent podcast that is completely improvised called Mind Canyon. Like all great improv it blows hot and cold but when it hits it is absolutely superlative.

What have you been most inspired by recently?

Sara Dunlop has been a long time inspiration for me. Before I joined, Corner Shop suggested I chat to Sara and do a directors get vibey sort of coffee meet. It was exhilarating getting to swim around her brain for a couple of hours and I knew then and there that Corner Shop share my ambitions, filmmaking sensibilities and love of craft. A perfect match.

If you could only listen to one music artist from now on, who would it be?

I had a quick flick through my Nano to see who were the main artists I listen to and the massive winner was... er, me. I love making mixtapes for my travels and have an expansive record collection. When I get a moment, I slap together some Ghanian highlife, Nigerian and South African disco, UK street soul, Ethiopian jazz, east coast hip-hop and, of course, some of my true loves; jungle and garage. Therefore I’m egotistically choosing myself.