On My Radar: João Retorta

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

I really loved Volvo’s Moments That Never Happened, by Marcus Ibanez that’s been universally praised, and for good reason. It’s a truly outstanding and touching piece of filmmaking. A nearly four-minute ad of the highest level of craftsmanship and with a huge heart. It makes you FEEL.

What website(s) do you use most regularly?

Aside from the usual ones like Gmail, it’s Letterboxd. Like most people, I use it to fill my watchlist with more films than I’ll ever have time to see (@jretorta — let’s swap some recs!). I also spend a lot of time on YouTube, digging for music, videos on filmmaking and some random stuff, and on the Slap message-board for some ‘useless wooden toy banter'.

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

It was a gift from my dad, actually, but the last piece of tech I got was a Bose Bluetooth speaker to play music around the house for my little daughter, and we use it every day.

What product could you not live without?

AirPods.

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

That came out in the last year? Probably The Brutalist. I watched it recently on 70mm at the BFI, and it was quite the cinematic experience. Exceptional performances, direction, cinematography and score. Completely enthralling, with the three-plus hour runtime flying by. Learning afterwards about its budget and shooting schedule only made it all the more impressive. As for something that didn’t come out last year, I’ve been diving into Kore-eda’s filmography, revisiting some films and watching others for the first time. Nobody Knows left a mark, with After Life being another favourite.

What film do you think everyone should have seen?

Tough one. I’ll go with Taste of Cherry, by Abbas Kiarostami. A masterpiece and essential work of world cinema. A minimalist yet monumental film. Its striking simplicity, visual poetry and profound meditation on existential human questions make it unforgettable.

What’s your preferred social media platform?

Instagram. For all its downfalls, it keeps me updated on everything going on and coming out. Also a great visual tool, I use the saved posts feature all the time. And, of course, Letterboxd, as I mentioned earlier.

What’s your favourite TV show?

I loved High Maintenance! A truly entertaining, original and beautiful show. For those who might not know it, it’s an anthology comedy-drama about a weed delivery guy navigating New York City. Each episode focuses on the lives of the people he meets, a vibrant and diverse cast of characters that reflect the city’s rich tapestry of life. It’s sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, always unpredictable and never boring. A show about the extraordinary everyday.

What’s your favourite podcast?

I listen to a lot of podcasts, and my favourites change all the time. Right now, it’s The Bunt, the #1 podcast in skateboarding; Nearest Truth, a podcast devoted to photography, mostly; and Living Proof New York, conversations with graffiti writers and other interesting characters.

What have you been most inspired by recently?

Photography is my constant number one source of inspiration. I immerse myself in it both for my sheer love of the medium itself and how it sparks my imagination for film. Recent highlights include Jeff Wall’s show at White Cube, which was exceptional, as you’d expect, and Abdul Kircher’s book Rotten from Within, which has been on my mind since I picked it up.

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

It would be one of the Detroit legends. The likes of Omar S, Moodymann, Theo Parrish, or the younger GOAT, Kyle Hall. Groove and soul!

If there was one thing you could change about the advertising industry, what would it be?

While there’s a wealth of amazing work out there, I think we’d see even more standout pieces with less trend-hopping, less formula, and more risk-taking and trust in the creative process. Too often, when something hits, it just gets copied over and over, and decisions seem to be driven by what worked last week instead of what could stand the test of time.

Who or what has most influenced your career?

I know this might sound corny and cliché, but the people and things around me have influenced me the most. Of course, I have my filmmaking heroes and references, but I think the decisions we make and the things we gravitate toward are ultimately shaped by the life we live and the people we share it with.