On My Radar: Will Williamson

What’s the best ad campaign you’ve seen recently?

Dancing by Martin de Thurah, which came out at the start of year is exceptional. I’m a huge fan of Martin’s work and the mixture of authenticity, intimacy and transcendence is remarkable. It’s a very special piece. 

What website(s) do you use most regularly and why?

Like most people I’m pretty obsessed with the news right now, so I’m always on anything current affairs based.

Once I’ve had my fill I tend to move across a number of more creative sites such as Nowness, Creative Review, Vimeo, Short of the Week etc to see what’s being made.

Most fun I've had recently though is getting to run through fields of wheat as Theresa May.

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

I recently bought a Nikon FM2 camera which I’m not sure would be considered tech anymore. I’m intrigued to see what the new RED Hydrogen One Camera is going to look like. That could potentially be real game changer for documentaries. 

What’s your favoured social media platform?

Twitter. 

What’s your favourite app on your phone?

Pains me to say it but Instagram. I spend far too much time on that looking at pictures I wish I had taken.  

What’s your favourite TV show and why?

I know we are living in the greatest era of television and shows like Breaking Bad, The Soprano's and The Wire etc have virtually everything; original writing, acting, the camerawork, the production design, the editing, the music…they are all astonishingly well executed.

But, the best is Frasier. I’m serious. It doesn't even need to be explained. 

What film do you think everyone should have seen and why?

Obviously there are loads but I recently watched The Cruise, Bennett Miller’s first feature. It’s a documentary about a tour bus driver in New York and his philosophy of life. I find it to be one of the best examinations on what it is to be young and finding yourself in the world. It’s a beautiful film and really under-appreciated.

Where were you when inspiration last struck?

I was in London crossing the road and this woman driving along rolled down her window and shouted “You need to get your shit together” at me. 

What’s the most significant change you’ve witnessed in the industry since you started working in it?

That people are finally starting to challenge the lazy, outdated and stereotypical views on gender roles in society. 

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

If I answer this truthfully, I’ll get in trouble. If I answer this with humour, it won’t be funny.

What or who has most influenced your career and why? 

When I was younger and started to become interested in film it would be probably the Cohen brothers and the way the played with tone, and Richard Linklater for the realism he created. 

But now the biggest influences have been close friends and collaborators. If I had to list the people who helped me or gave me advice or gave me opportunities to make things you would get bored very quickly. 

Tell us one thing about yourself that most people won’t know.

I once caught a mugger whilst I was skating on rollerblades. 

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