The Craft
Q&As and behind-the-scenes info on the latest and greatest
commercials, shorts and music videos.
How straight 8's challenge can unleash creativity
With the deadline for ShootOut 2026 looming, filmmakers from Drool, new-land, Mr+Positive, Snapper Films, and VCCP discuss the terror, joy and creative freedom that comes with creating films under uniquely unforgiving restrictions.
How 4Creative found inspiration in initials
As Channel 4’s in-house agency unveils its new identity, Miketta Lane and David Wigglesworth chat to Jamie Madge about collaborative authorship, creative chaos, and resisting polished uniformity.
How radical tenderness became a dance of protest
Arriving in Mexico for a commercial shoot, director Rachel McDonald was disturbed by events unfolding in the US and, finding her feelings aligned with the ad’s choreographer, embarked on an ambitious dance film.
How Anderson Wright beat the drum for ACLU
Created as a rallying call, drawing attention to the Barbara v. Trump Supreme Court hearing, The Beat took an already iconic Bruce Springsteen song and added another layer of ideological messaging to it. shots caught up with Stink director Anderson Wright to find out how he found the political pulse.
How Ariel Fisher kept it moving for ON
As part of our Movement Focus we take a closer look at ON's latest spot Keep It Moving, where we get the lowdown from magna studios director Ariel Fisher, and composer and sound designer Joaquin Pastor.
How Partizan helped bring Iron Maiden and Eddie to life on stage
When Iron Maiden decided to set off on a world tour, they also decided to ramp up the live experience and introduce a new way of watching the band. Enter Partizan, Red Knuckles and a team of people who brought the Iron Maiden, its mascot and its songs to life for a new generation of fans.
Bryan Buckley’s resistance in motion
The Oscar-nominated director and the choreographer Matt Steffens share how their viral dance video ResistDance, produced by Hungry Man, found a new way to express the anguish of the killings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti.
How Isle of Any and Coinbase made NPCs the MVPs
Oscar Hudson's new film for the brand sees a video game character break free of his shackles and escape into the 'real' world. The twist – the lo-fi visuals and angular textures aren't CG; instead, the MJZ director used impeccable production design and canny lighting to trick us into mistaking physical for digital. Jamie Madge caught up with Hudson and Isle of Any founders Toby Treyer-Evans and Laurie Howell to download the details.
Some recent interviews in our "How To" series.
How Riff Raff and Black Kite put a spring in Telstra's step
Kicking off March and April's Movement Focus, VFX Supervisor at Black Kite Studios, Dan Moore, and Riff Raff directors Smith & Foulkes walk us through the whimsical behind-the-scenes details of Telstra's Wherever We Go campaign.
How Waitrose took its love of food to the stars
In The Gastronaut, the supermarket brand showed just how crappy life can be without access to sufficient middle-class morsels. shots caught up with Wonderhood creatives Tad Buxton and India Penny, and SMUGGLER director Tom Speers, to find out how they gave a space station such a quirky atmosphere.
Stay up-to-date with the latest news, insight and inspiration for the global creative community.
How Michael Hili personified motoring monsters
This campaign, created for Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Authority by McCann NZ, urges drivers to take a speed check and resist the monstrous urges forcing them to drive faster. Wanting to visualise these urges with as much authenticity as possible, director Michael Hili and the FINCH production team set about making a trilogy of fiends purely by hand.
How MANSCAPED is giving the Super Bowl a shorn serenade
In what might be the most snack-unfriendly spot of this year's Big Game, Quality Meats and The Perlorian Brothers are bringing clumps of hair to life to perform a painful plucked power-ballad. shots caught up with the creative team to find out just what makes an offcut croon.
How NOMINT and BBC Creative torched the Winter Olympics
Taking something as unpredictable as combustion and utilising it in stop-motion is a uniquely deranged undertaking... so step forward, seasoned element wrangler Yannis Konstantinidis. Jamie Madge caught up with Konstantinidis and BBC Creative's Paul Bailey to find out how they started the fire.