The Talent
From Junior Creatives to ECDs, delve into career highlights (and lowlights) in our in-depth profiles.
Phoebe Smith's rules of engagement
Phoebe Smith at Helo discusses the new art of experiential engagement, and talks to Tim Cumming about her trajectory from the music business to the business of making a lasting impact in the real world.
The art of unrest: John Phillips on the power of poster art
Paddington Printshop founder John Phillips, the creative force behind some of the most enduring poster designs that spoke truth to power, has co-founded The Museum of UnRest to tackle social and environmental issues. Lucy Aitken met him at the Museum's pop-up exhibition to find out more.
From Kanye to Beyoncé: Joe Perez’s visual alchemy
From designing albums and branding for clients from Beck to Kim Kardashian, Joe Perez is the creative mind behind some of contemporary culture’s most iconic visuals. He talks to Amy Hey at OFFF Festival about the intensity of his Kanye days, the myths and symbolism that have shaped his work, and the peace he’s learning to protect.
The people who make the spots you love, covering all aspects of production, post and sound.
Todd Broder: Building on experience
The SpongeBob animator turned production company founder is betting on experiential exploding in popularity as brands realise the ROI it can offer. Lucy Aitken found out how shifting gears at BroderVille helped to meet the growing demand.
A feast for the senses: Marshmallow Laser Feast
From chemists to ventriloquists, designers to coders, Marshmallow Laser Feast unites creative and scientific minds to craft multi-sensory experiences for brands, museums, parks and public spaces. Amy Hey caught up with co-founder Robin McNicholas and EP Nell Whitley to discuss how they’re using immersive tech and storytelling to expand our connection with the natural world.
shots Unsigned: Zachary Lynch-Woodlock
For our latest shots Unsigned interview we chat with director Zachary Lynch-Woodlock. Here, he talks about his music videos for the band Birds of Tokyo, the inspiration behind his creative outputs, and exploring AI in his current work.
The methodical magic of Yuko Shimizu
Whether in film posters, murals or magazine covers, the mythical world of multi award-winning illustrator Yuko Shimizu bursts with folklore, fantasy creatures and formidable female characters. Speaking to Amy Hey at OFFF Festival in Barcelona, Shimizu reflects on the logic that drives her creativity, the lessons she carried from corporate PR and the joy of living her childhood dream.
shots Unsigned: Saul Lotzof
In this shots Unsigned interview we chat with UK based director Saul Lotzof. Here, he talks about his heartfelt remake of The Smashing Pumpkins music video for Perfect, putting the whole project together over the course of a year and getting to grips with the historical 1965 Arri 16 BL.
The Way I See It: Michael Sagol
Over the course of his 20-plus years in production, Michael Sagol, founder of Caviar Los Angeles, has EP’d thousands of commercials, ushered in a new generation of comedy directors and grown the company into an Oscar, Emmy and Lion-winning powerhouse. He tells Selena Schleh about shooting hoops with Jordan, refusing to wait tables and his dream of selling Sagol’s Bagels.
Getting to grips with Turkish Oil Wrestling
Directors Jan Hellwich and Samet Yalcin won a Gold at this years YDA for their passon project Turkish Oil Wrestling. Here they both talk about becoming friends during their studies, the almost two year long shoot, and casting your grandfather in your short film.
How Alexander Kuehn made a girl fly
With three Young Director Award Golds under his belt for his epic short If I Could Fly, Alexander Kuehn took the event by storm. Here, he explains the two-year project that blends the emotive story of a displaced family with making a girl fly.
Joe Picozzi celebrates his kind of people
Director Joe Picozzi speaks on his YDA Gold winning film My Kind Of People. Here he talks about the importance of preserving your culture, the trials and tribulations of making a short film and also relying on friends and family to make things happen.
What's your first memory? Who were your influences? Find out more about your favourite creatives in our in-depth series.
The Way I See It: MJ Delaney
Merman director MJ Delaney can count the Clintons, Spice Girls, Ted Lasso, and the new Christmas M&S ad among her oeuvre, but did you know she had slightly more canine ambitions as a child? Here, she talks to shots about the Welsh breakthroughs, words of wisdom, and perspective-altering baubles that have shaped her career.
The Way I See It: Ellen Kuras
The Corner Shop director and DP Ellen Kuras reflects on her career and creative philosophy, tracing her path from history student to pioneering filmmaker, spanning documentaries, commercials, TV and features. Discussing her feature directorial debut, Lee, she explains how cameras can be used to create meaning and challenge traditional narratives.
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.
The Way I See It: Sharon White
Sharon White, current Chair of John Lewis Partnership, is the first ever female to hold this position. Previously she’s held such notable roles as Chief Executive of British media regulator Ofcom and was the first Black person – and the second woman – to hold the title of Second Permanent Secretary at HM Treasury. In 2020 she received a Damehood in the New Year Honours List. She talked to shots about her pride in the John Lewis Partnership, car-crash weeks as a working mum and inspiration drawn from Michelle Obama.
The Way I See It: Luke Scott
From a boy on the set of his dad’s film, Alien, Luke Scott, award-winning director and the CEO of the Ridley Scott Creative Group, has gone on to gain his own valuable perspectives on filmmaking. His two-decade career has encompassed art directing, set building and directing TV (Raised By Wolves), features, ads and viral content for Prometheus and Blade Runner 2049. He shares his views on panopticons, prime ministers and the folly of space travel.
The Way I See It: Dede Laurentino
The multi-award-winning, Brazilian born Chief Creative Officer of Ogilvy UK, André 'Dede' Laurentino, tells us about a difficult adolescence, life-changing trips to Europe, the feelings of inadequacy he has often struggled with, and why every creative person is punching back at the world.
How Milo Blake tackled Paralympic disparity
Spindle director Milo Blake won Gold in this years YDA for his commercial The Empty Seat. Here he talks about the music video that inspired the film, how a film can develop in the post stage, and future projects on the horizon.
Lauren Maya Davis flies high with Songbirds
The YDA Video Art Gold-winning director discusses weaving nature, nuance and non-actors into her evocative Mississippi Delta-set short.
Fromm Studio's animated world of whimsy
From scanning Staffordshire statues to creating folklore-inspired window displays for Selfridges, Partizan 3D studio Fromm shares the joy of creating wonderfully wonky animations.
YDA Winner Tanner Williams explores the anti-sacred space
Magna Studios director Tanner K Williams' playful and provocative promo for Madge, shiversucker, picked up a YDA Gold in the Music Video category. He explains how the self-funded film was inspired by his and the artist's shared experience of growing up queer in Utah's Orthodox Mormon community.
Folkert Verdoorn & Simon Becks: Directors with drive
shots speaks to the YDA Gold Music Video winners on Driving Round Looking For Unknown's tragic hero, the film's unique visual flair, and how to maintian a delicate balance between emotion and absurdity.
Joachim Morre’s corrective vision: The YDA Gold-winner pushes back against prison clichés
The Danish director reflects on the human-centred series that earned two YDA Golds, and why storytelling should serve rehabilitation, not sensationalism.
How YDA Gold winner Fiona Obertinca brought lost queer history to the screen
Director Fiona Obertinca, who won a Gold in the Film School (ten minutes and over) category for her short Dandelion, talks about the vital work of the 1970s Youth Advocates program and how she captured the vibe of the time.
Seeing through Leve Kühl's eyes
UPPERFAST director Leve Kühl's UNHCR film, Through My Eyes, picked up YDA Gold Screen trophies in three categories; Changing the World Frame by Frame, Creative Use of Sound and Film School [up to 10 minutes]. Here, Kühl discusses searching for truth, the power of audio, and why the film isn’t aimed at refugees, but at people like him.
Oliver Pilemand's lessons in love
True love never did run smooth, and the recognisable scenario in Oliver Pilemand's YDA-winning comedy short is proof of that. Here, the director talks lucky breaks, reckless courage and not waiting for permission.
Anja Giele’s peas of mind
The Filmakademie Baden‑Württemberg director discusses how she sprouted the YDA‑winning stop‑motion short What was I made for from a seed of an idea to a fully‑grown production.
Bec Pecaut reframes trans experiences on screen
We catch up with Bec Pecaut about their raw and compassionate film Are You Scared... - a deeply honest dive into gender identity, relationships, and the complexities of transitioning - which won a YDA gold in the Changing the World Frame by Frame category.
Katie Lambert’s tidal wave of gay lust
Kicking off shots run of interviews with the YDA Gold winners, director Katie Lambert at MrMr Films talks about their coming-of-age film I Hate Helen. Here, they tell us about their snapshot of teenage life, the highs and lows of filming with teenagers, and potentially bringing their film to the big screen.
The Amazing World of Antoine Perez
From cult cartoon show The Amazing World of Gumball to experimental game concepts and anime trailers inspired by Japanese woodcuts, Antoine Perez, director and art director at THE LINE, is a master at marrying the technical and artistic.