the Talent
From Junior Creatives to ECDs, delve into career highlights (and lowlights) in our in-depth profiles.
Chris Bettig: The Way I See It
The French American sculptor/artist/designer and Creative Director of YouTube has produced an incredibly varied body of work, from designing Converse trainers, to turning a Spike Jonze film into a 3D space. He talks to shots about about dumpster diving in the name of art, recycling old bedsteads and rebranding Google.
Icons + Innovators: Gaston Biogio & Anselmo Ramos
The Co-Founders and Creative Chairmen of GUT. Anselmo Ramos [right] and Gaston Bigio [left], on classic commercials, the correlation between awards performance and market performance, and why Cannes holds a special place in their hearts.
Icons + Innovators: Trevor Robinson
From working on one of the UK's most iconic ads, to starting not-for-profit organisation Create Not Hate, Trevor Robinson has spent decades at the heart of creative advertising. Here, the Founder, ECD & Partner at Quiet Storm tells us why he thinks there's still a lot of untapped talent out there, and reveals which ad still makes the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
The people who make the spots you love, covering all aspects of production, post and sound.
Parv Thind sounds off
Banging on bins, slurping up noodles and making machines chuckle - Parv Thind, partner and sound engineer at Wave Studios, has created some of the weirdest and most wonderful sounds in advertising. Although as Selena Schleh finds out, in an increasingly noisy world, it seems silence can be golden.
Raising the sound bar: the new power of sonic branding
Meet Michele Arnese, sound designer, Co-Founder of AMP and a pioneer in pinpointing a brand’s sonic identity. He talks to Tim Cumming about the increasing buzz around audio in marketing.
Cutting through the noise: Aleah Morrison-Basu
From the Prime Video Ripple to the Eurostar Spark, composer and music producer Aleah Morrison-Basu knows how to create sonic logos that get stuck in one’s ears. The co-founder of Zelig Sound tells shots about the sonic shift from ‘techy’ to ‘organic’, why ads without music only tell half the story, and how to learn sound mixing visually.
shots Unsigned: Dario & Dom
This month in our unsigned directing talent interview we hear from directing duo Dario & Dom. Here they both chat about the short film Talking Heads starring musician and actor Jordan Stephens, the awkward side of sex, believing in their own vision, and bringing a talking penis to life...
Ky Dickens: Storytelling for social change
Through her diverse and impactful filmmaking, director Ky Dickens raises awareness and creates meaningful change for marginalised communities. Here, she discusses how LGBTQ+ representation is shifting in advertising, and why stories are the best tools for breaking down ignorance.
Icons + Innovators: The Mill
From iconic VFX to game-changing AI, The Mill has been at the forefront of creative technology for decades. Here, three of the company's leaders talk about tech trends and the importance of having time.
Jess Kohl: Amplifying unheard voices
Love Song director Jess Kohl captures human stories from the fringes of society through her honest and impactful filmmaking. shots caught up with Kohl to discuss her favourite projects, and how directors can elevate LGBTQ+ and other marginalised voices within the commercial industry.
Debbi Vandeven’s top tips for Titanium-plated wins
Kansas-born Debbi Vandeven, Global CCO at VML and this year’s President of the Cannes Lions Titanium jury, has held a steady course through the years. She talks to Tim Cumming about keeping calm in the jury room and what elements might help work shine out from the shortlist.
Icons + Innovators: Yoshihiro Yagi
Award-winning creative, Yoshihiro Yagi, ECD at Dentsu Inc is renowned for his innovative and artistic approach, he has numerous accolades and is one of the most respected creatives in Asia.
Celebrating shots' 30th anniversary, industry luminaries pair up with up-and-comers in the field to talk shop and interview each other.
Creative Correspondence: Emily Marr and Hector Murray
Leo Burnett Chief Production Officer Marr and Young Arrows 2022 Producer of the Year Murray discuss first impressions, endless changes, and the transition from virtual to real-life meetings in our latest Creative Correspondence.
Creative Correspondence: Ringan Ledwidge & Nina Meredith
Ad legend Ledwidge talks to Rattling Stick rising star Meredith about beginnings in journalism, shooting a Christmas icon and underrated Jack Nicholson movies.
Creative Correspondence: Kai-Lu Hsiung & Alice Bloomfield
For our latest Creative Correspondence, industry legend and RSA Films Global MD Kai Hsiung is in conversation with new signing and former BFI Future Film Fest Black Dog Films Award winner Alice Bloomfield about breaking into commercials, the importance of testing the water and how the industry has changed for women.
Creative Correspondence: Sam Sneade & Ellie Johnson
Editing legend Sneade chats to the newly promoted partner at tenthree, Johnson, about the progression of their careers, the lack of industry rockstars and how cultivating talent is the most important part of the job.
Creative Correspondence: Kate Stanners & Mia Silverman
Saatchi & Saatchi's Global CCO, Kate Stanners, and up-and-coming Saatchi Art Director, Mia Silverman, discuss their respective careers, how the job has changed (and stayed the same), and why the growing need to deliver at speed can lead to bad work... but doesn't have to.
Creative Correspondence: Joe Guest and Lucy Berry
Final Cut's legendary editor speaks to up-and-coming top talent Berry in the latest of our Creative Correspondence conversations.
Creative Correspondence: Anthony Moore & Dylan Holmes Williams
Kicking off 2021's Creative Correspondence is multi-award winning sound designer, the Founding Partner and ECD of Factory, Anthony Moore, and Stink Rising director, talented short film maker and YDA winner, Dylan Holmes Williams.
Icons + Innovators: Prasoon Pandey
Prasoon Pandey, Founder of Corcoise Films, is a legendary figure in the advertising industry, celebrated for his innovative and impactful campaigns.
Icons + Innovators: PJ Pereira
PJ Pereira, co-founder and creative chairman of Pereira & O’Dell, is a revered figure in the advertising industry, known for his innovative storytelling and impactful campaigns.
Icons + Innovators: David Shane
David Shane, partner of and a director at O Positive, is one of the industry’s most celebrated comedic directors, with a host of award-winning work to his name.
Icons + Innovators: Peter Grasse
Founder and Producer at Mr+Positive Tokyo, Peter Grasse, talks optimistic outlooks and unhappy assholes.
Icons + Innovators: Francois Chilot
The President of the Young Director Award talks about why, after 27 years, the YDA still matters, and how he's more emotionally minded than business minded.
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Prasoon Pandey’s crusade for concealed craft
As the president of the Film Craft jury at Cannes Lions this year, director and founder of Corcoise Films, Prasoon Pandey, is looking forward to playing detective with his jury. He talks to Selena Schleh about discovering examples of great craft hidden inside “deviously demented” ideas.
Icons + Innovators: Kerstin Emhoff and Ali Brown
In the first of our new series, which highlights some of the industry's most iconic and innovative people, we speak to PRETTYBIRD's Kerstin Emhoff and Ali Brown about Cannes, commercials and being ahead of the curve.
Geoff Edwards' nebulous art of entertainment
Previously holding ECD roles at Media Arts Lab, R/GA, CAA and TAG McCann, plus co-founding Spike DDB with Spike Lee, Geoff Edwards is at home at the intersection of entertainment and advertising. Now MD of Creative at Gale Partners, he talks to Tim Cumming about his role as president of Cannes Branded Entertainment jury, and explains how this shape-shifting, culture-following category excites him.
shots Unsigned: Vanessa Stachel
In our unsigned directing talent interview this month we hear from the wickedly talented director Vanessa Stachel. Here she talks about her brilliant Delivery for Mr. Frogula film, the trials and tribulations of putting together a stop motion project, and bringing these amazing characters to life.
Thuan Tran: Keeping it real
m ss ng p eces director Thuan Tran has become a go-to for brands and artists seeking honest, culturally-relevant storytelling, while his creative community OnLunchBreak supports a new generation of talent. Here, he talks authentic human narratives, adapting to trends, and navigating the changing expectations of audiences.
Ben Tallon: Cultivating creative optimism
Through his writing and interviews as host of The Creative Condition Podcast, multi-disciplinary artist Ben Tallon champions human creative expression and its power to make positive change. We caught up with him at OFFF Festival to talk craftsmanship, collaboration, and 'circles of competency'.
Opening the Closet: David Wilson bares all
Known for his radical, playful, and sex-positive work, David Wilson's first retrospective, Closet, blends live performance, music and film into a spectacularly queer cabaret show. Amy Hey caught up with the Riff Raff director after his appearance at OFFF Festival, Barcelona, to find out more.
Tal Zagreba’s curious case of creativity
Having channelled his passion for ‘playing with cool stuff’ into an award-winning filmmaking career and a flourishing sideline in AI art, the UNIT9/USA director explains to Selena Schleh how he's looking for new ways to tell stories.