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the Talent

Agency

From Junior Creatives to ECDs, delve into career highlights (and lowlights) in our in-depth profiles.

Production

The people who make the spots you love, covering all aspects of production, post and sound.

8th Mar Production
The real Thelma and Louise

The real Thelma and Louise

Olivia Summers (right) and Dee Bryant (left) are, respectively, Founder and Partner at the Association of Women Drivers (AWD), the first and only all-female stunt and performance driving team. To mark International Women’s Day, they shared with shots how they’ve navigated the various 'stunts' the industry uses to keep females out of the driving seat.

23rd Feb Production
UNCANNY by name…

UNCANNY by name…

With their experimental, process-driven approach, director duo George Muncey and Elliott Elder – aka UNCANNY – are pushing the boundaries of traditional practices in film, design and photography to breaking point – and reshaping them into something strange and utterly compelling.

16th Feb Production
Making the cut: Nomad editors on entering the industry

Making the cut: Nomad editors on entering the industry

From DJing to dance school, new talents Serena Rossi and Elyse Raphael's obsessions with editing were inspired by their rhythmical roots. Now repped by NOMAD, they've cut work for big brands from Puma and Adidas to Nike and FIFA respectively. shots caught up with the pair to discuss entering the industry and advice for young creatives.

15th Feb Production
Abdi Ibrahim: the full picture

Abdi Ibrahim: the full picture

Drawing inspiration from the stories of people around him, the self-taught Somali-American filmmaker/photographer brings human narratives to life through sublime vignettes spanning music videos, commercials, and branded content. From shooting on the streets of Seattle to directing for Apple, he tells us how he carved his own path in the industry.

15th Feb Production
shots Unsigned: Joshua Armstrong

shots Unsigned: Joshua Armstrong

In our latest chat with unsigned directing talent we hear from Last Dog Films founder and director Joshua Armstrong. Here we talk about his latest short horror film inspired by the internet hoax MOMO. We also hear about his passion behind his projects, DIY VFX endeavours, and 20 years of filmmaking.

12th Feb Production
Jesse Lewis-Reece's new tricks

Jesse Lewis-Reece's new tricks

From obsessive-compulsive disorder to sight loss and trans identity, former skater boi turned filmmaker Jesse Lewis-Reece explores complex issues and marginalised communities with a maturity that’s rare for a young director. And, as Selena Schleh finds out, adland is starting to take note.

Creative Correspondence

Celebrating shots' 30th anniversary, industry luminaries pair up with up-and-comers in the field to talk shop and interview each other.

31st Jan Production
The Way I See It: Tim Bullock

The Way I See It: Tim Bullock

Drawn to horror, and then to humour – anything to get a reaction – Scoundrel's comedy director Tim Bullock started off in the industry as a suit, before a big break with a home-made horror flick turned him on to the creative path. He tells Tim Cumming about what makes great comedy click, and how the Woman Whisperer helped him to break through.

26th Jan Production
Untold Fable tells a story of diversity

Untold Fable tells a story of diversity

When Kate Tancred started Untold Fable it was with the idea that technology could empower filmmakers outside the usual geographic strongholds, helping broaden the industry's talent base. Here, she talks risk, reward and creating opportunity.

24th Jan Production
Meet the new romantics

Meet the new romantics

Though they’ve worked in the industry for a decade, as VFX artist and designer respectively, Jay Stephen and Ralph Briscoe only launched themselves as directorial duo The Romantix a year ago. They got off to a good start – winning their first commercial pitch – two of Channel 4’s award-winning 2023 idents. Their inspiration? The night they first met, they tell Tim Cumming.

17th Jan Production
Fresh eyes, high hopes

Fresh eyes, high hopes

Award-winning DP Stuart Harris, has worked on such films as Ken Russell’s The Boyfriend and David Hare’s Wetherby, as well as more than 4000 ads and music videos, including Pink Floyd's High Hopes. Currently co-head of cinematography at the National Film and Television School (NFTS), he also runs the School's D&AD-sponsored course, Directing Commercials. Here he shares top tips for newbie ad directors.

8th Jan Production
The Way I See It: David Mitchell

The Way I See It: David Mitchell

Building a three-decade-long career with Tony and Jake Scott, marked by masterpieces like BMW Beat the Devil, Budweiser Lost Dog, and Nike Awake, David Mitchell launched his own creative collective, Wild Gift, in 2021. He tells shots why production is finally heading to a good place – and how punk rock remains his passion.

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4th Jan Production
shots Unsigned: Andy Mihov

shots Unsigned: Andy Mihov

For our first unsigned directing talent interview of 2024 we speak with director Andy Mihov. Here we talk about his music video for Elena Flury - Burning Questions. We also hear about going on adventures, self-taught filmmaking, and ambitious shot lists.

3rd Jan Production
Hugh Mulhern: Organised chaos

Hugh Mulhern: Organised chaos

From singing prosthetic stomachs to AI augmented ravers, Hugh Mulhern’s dazzlingly dynamic – and dizzyingly depraved - mixed-media music videos have established the Riff Raff director as a bold new talent – but, as he tells shots, that’s only a small part of his identity.

8th Dec Production
shots Unsigned: Nikolaj Fremming

shots Unsigned: Nikolaj Fremming

For our latest unsigned directing talent interview we speak with Danish director Nikolaj Fremming. Here we talk about his short film Living With Humans for Jotex. We also hear about the importance of a good script, dystopia, and missing the hidden beauty around us all.

1st Dec Production
The Way I See It: Luke Scott

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.

31st Oct Production
Studio Desk: digital storytelling with a human touch

Studio Desk: digital storytelling with a human touch

With a shared passion for the painterly and poetic, Jelly animation duo Emily Downe and Kathrin Steinbacher, aka Studio Desk, weave their metaphorical magic into scientific concepts to create 2D films that inform and inspire. shots spoke to the pair about complementary qualities, creative collaboration, and animating for brands from the BBC to Badoo.

30th Oct Production
Christine Peters: a real character

Christine Peters: a real character

From attempting to animate her teddy bear at the tender age of five to breathing life into Stranger Things’ character Eleven, a swarm of bees, and a sardonic inner critic, Christine Peters, 2D animation lead at Blind Pig, has become the go-to for character design. Her tools? TVPaint, Toon Boom – and a wicked sense of humour.

27th Oct Production
Renee Zhan: the best of all worlds

Renee Zhan: the best of all worlds

Step into the work of Chinese-American filmmaker Renee Zhan, and find yourself entering an array of whimsical worlds – maybe slithering in the slimy depths of a black hole, or being serenaded by a choir of amorphous creepy crawlies. shots spoke to the multitalented animation director about blobby worms, Björk and being shy.

4th Oct Agency
The Way I See It: Anselmo Ramos

The Way I See It: Anselmo Ramos

After growing up "between Jesus and aliens", but also in a creative environment, Anselmo Ramos stepped into advertising, but didn't become an 'ad nerd' until nurturing his love of old annuals. From there he's worked in numerous countries and in various languages, led a successful but creatively moribund agency to glory, started an Ogilvy offshoot and, now, heads his own independent network. From his love of MAD Magazine to his fear of losing loved ones, he tells us the way he sees it.