Four words. Juan Cabral. Directing. Cadbury's. It had to be really so it is. This week's Hotshot is the directorial debut of the creative director who wooed the world with Balls and Paint. Thank you Cadbury's. Thank you Blink. And you Fallon.

Picture the scene, as unlikely as it might first sound: a Gorilla, engrossed in the opening bars of 'In The Air Tonight' by Phil Collins, sits at a drumkit, sticks in hand, waiting patiently for the song to kick in. Not really the kind of image that you'd think would sell chocolate, especially when the music starts and our hairy friend begins whacking the crap out of the drums, albeit with Collins-like precision. But it works. This is chocolate advertising circa 2007. Goodbye Milk Tray man. Hello sentient simians. Marking a bizarre yet interesting departure from the usual shots of ladies in baths, this spot for Cadbury's Dairy Milk, both created and directed by Fallon London's golden boy Juan Cabral, is aiming to 'bring the love back to the brand' while unwittingly marking a new era for Cadbury's advertisement. Going back is not an option. It seems that it's become increasingly difficult not to describe Cabral's work for Sony Bravia as the stuff of creative legend. The fact that the visual impact of those 250,000 coloured balls bouncing down the streets of San Francisco improved Sony's fortunes in the flat-screen market is testament enough, but that it made them the market leader in an already over-crowded sector is even more remarkable. A follow up spot saw a council block festooned with coloured paint in a similarly striking idea. Both carried the crossover potential most creative directors dream of, working on television, online, on outdoor big screens… In short they were gold dust. And what of the man behind the ideas? Juan Cabral is fast becoming one of Argentina's most bankable exports. Behind Polo and beef that is. When rumours of Cabral's directing debut filtered down the grapevine, the shots office found itself inundated with calls asking if he was already signed. Hard at work wrapping up the next Sony Bravia spot with Knucklehead's Johnny Green, Cabral's masterpiece in waiting looks set to be the much-hyped 'Play Doh', again for Bravia, but this time with director Frank Budgen. The industry waits with baited breath, making do instead with a tentative and peculiar first outing behind the camera involving a Gorilla, a drum kit, a Phil Collins song and the conspicuous absence of any sort of chocolate bar. Intriguing given the fact it's sole purpose is to sell the stuff. According to James Studholme, managing director of London's Blink Productions (with whom Cabral worked on the Cadbury's spot, but has so far not signed to), despite the bizarre concept there was never a second thought in giving Cabral the chance to direct the spot. "It was a film that had to be made," he says. "It breaks the mould for chocolate advertising, that's for sure. I love its goal of pure entertainment." For now Cabral and Fallon London remain tight-lipped about his future plans. A career shift into directing wouldn't be a huge stretch of the imagination given the shift of Andy McLeod and shots issue 102 cover-girl Karen Cunningham's behind the camera, but Cabral's next move remains a mystery, leaving the industry scratching its head and picking its fleas in anticipation. To view the spot click here