the Talent
From Junior Creatives to ECDs, delve into career highlights (and lowlights) in our in-depth profiles.
John Maeda: the Jack of all trades taking on big tech
Described as the “Warren Buffett of design”, "Da Vinci of the digital age" and named one of Esquire’s most important people of the 21st Century, Publicis Sapient’s new Chief Experience Officer John Maeda has had a career that’s been nothing short of prolific. Kate Hollowood speaks to the designer about coming from nothing, the new meaning of brand experience and helping businesses stand up to the tyranny of the tech giants.
Alice Bottaro: Creative journeys and changing everything
One of the greatest heroes of the automotive industry was a women — a fact that few people outside of the historically male-dominated sector knew about until Mercedes-Benz launched its film about Bertha Benz this year. Through this campaign and more, Alice Bottaro, Creative Director at antoni, Berlin, is helping Mercedes-Benz connect with a female audience in a job that she considers to be the best in the world.
Andre Moreira on steering Toyota's creative journey
To begin this month's automotive special Tim Cumming talks to Andre Moreira, European ECD of Toyota's in-house agency at The&Partnership, about tinkering with car brands and building an agency model for the future.
The people who make the spots you love, covering all aspects of production, post and sound.
Editing House of the Year: Final Cut
We speak to David Webb, editor and managing director of shots Awards Europe-winner Final Cut London, about what led them to have such a cracking 2019 and what the future holds for post production.
The funny business of comedy directing
Station Films director Brendan Gibbons is one of the industry’s most renowned comedy directors. His ongoing work for Progressive Insurance has built a series of established characters and, here, he discusses the processes involved in creating the right environment for comedy gold.
Greg White: Post production is a dirty word
Natalie Mortimer talks to Envy Managing Director Greg White about his former career in fashion, the creative power of technology in advertising and the evolving role of the post production house.
Aaron Duffy: In tech we trust
As we continue our focus on tech, Tim Cumming talks to 1stAveMachine director and SpecialGuest founder Aaron Duffy about marrying creativity with tech innovation and why you need to mix things up to get people to take notice.
On the road to success with Kit Lynch-Robinson
From sending three second hand Jaguars 'skiing' down a mountain to helping to launch the new Bentley Continental, automotive director Kit Lynch-Robinson isn’t afraid of navigating the industry at breakneck speed. Natalie Mortimer speaks to him about his career, creativity and the future of car ads.
Changing the face of automotive advertising
Spindle's Aldona Kwiatkowski has fused automotive commercials with a fashionable flare, notably with her work for Mercedes. David Knight talks to the Polish-born director about her 'melancholic mindset' and the necessity of the female gaze.
Elena Petitti di Roreto: The hunger for story
Noted for her exquisite fashion films for such clients as Vogue Italia, Valentino and Hugo Boss, and with a flair for visual language, Italian director Elena Petitti di Roreto has amassed an impressive body of work in just three years as a director. She tells Carol Cooper about her quest for the possible and impossible in film.
Shimmy Ahmed: how an obsession with music led to a passion for fashion
From working on fashion titles like Elle and Twin Magazine to collaborating with Alexa Chung and FKA Twigs, director Shimmy Ahmed casts a liberal sprinkling of sass and swagger across everything she touches. For our Fashion Special, she tells Natalie Mortimer about her work, inspiration and how she intends to connect rural India and Brexit Britain through style and storytelling.
Promo king Vaughan Arnell on a life behind the lens
Ahead of his talk at the Kinsale Sharks, where he'll be sharing is thoughts and experiences from three decades of making commercials and music videos, Vaughan Arnell gives us an insight into working with some of music's most recognisable names.
We speak to the Gold winner.s of this year's Young Director Award.
Jola Bankowska on her YDA win, finding animation and how to tell a good Story
The director talks us through how discovering her talent for animation helped her experiment with narrative.
Nare Mokgotho on doing the double at the YDA
We continue our look at this year's gold-winners from the 2019 Young Director Award as we talk to a South African director who returned home with two well-deserved trophies.
YDA Gold-winner Paul Nevison on diving into Lake Volta
The Volta director talks to us about the logistical troubles of a Ghanese shoot, his ongoing imposter syndrome and what he's up to after his 'Changing the World Frame by Frame' YDA win.
Emmanuel Adjei on the Dark Ballet of music videos
Off the back off two showstopping promos for Madonna, David Knight speaks to the Amsterdam-based director about his ability to craft films with depth and imagery that burns in the memory.
Henry Scholfield on the moving world of music videos
From sundry synchronised Will Youngs to complex camera choreography for Wiley and Stormzy, Henry Scholfield has always found new and exciting ways to drag the viewer into his work. Tim Cumming speaks to the Caviar director about finding the emotional connection in his artist-driven promos.
YDA-winner Nina Holmgren wants us to panic
The filmmaker talks us through how talks by young climate activists Greta Thunberg and Xiuhtezcatl Martinez inspired her to create her visually dazzling, emotionally charged short.
On Reflection: Eric King on Guerrilla Tennis' rallying cry
The R/GA Creative Director looks back on the iconic 1995 W+K-led Nike spot that saw Spike Jonze pit Sampras vs Agassi on a busy street.
Emily Maye's sporting excellence
The You Are Here repped director Emily Maye has made sports commercials her specialism. She discusses her approach to shooting sporting heroes, why women shouldn't only be considered for female-related projects and why avoiding cliche is key.
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YDA Producer of the Year-winner on targeting new talent
After picking up the Producer of the Year award at this year's YDA, HALAL's Partner and EP, Gijs Determeijer, reveals how the company sources new talent, and why it's the most important - and exciting - part of the process.
YDA-winner Istvan Kovacs discusses his A Siege mentality
Good Kids director Istvan Kovacs picked up a Gold Screen for his short film, A Siege, at this year's YDA. Here, he discusses turning his back on law, the influence of the Balkan war and his desire to tell brand stories.
![David Gesslbauer on making cinematic vertical filmmaking in [UNUM]](https://d17mj1ha1c2g57.cloudfront.net/v1/evEjzjVsZIAaSQyfdUyfQ4JzaGg/448x252%23/80/shotsmag/production/news/1563890172375/unum-hero.jpg?v=1&quality=70&format=jpeg)
David Gesslbauer on making cinematic vertical filmmaking in [UNUM]
The YDA Gold winner speaks about the challenges, and freedoms, inherent in shooting in an unusual aspect ratio, collaborating with co-director Michael Lange, and how no amount of planning can prepare you for filming with animals.
This space is reserved for Georgia Hudson
A reluctant runner but enthusiastic supporter of the south London squatting scene, the young Georgia Hudson hated being told what to do. That disdain for authority drew the Park Pictures director to her chosen career, where she's brought movement to music videos and dynamism to sports ads for Under Armour, Nike and the BBC. She tells Selena Schleh how she's put aside her rage and why curiosity, not passion, powers her creativity.
Asher Jelinsky on their award-winning film & the portrayal of trans & nonbinary characters
Miller & Son, Asher Jelinsky's film about Ryan, a transgender mechanic, was a Gold winner at this year's YDA. Here, Jelinsky discusses the making of the film and their thoughts on the representation of transgender and nonbinary people on screen.
Pascal Schelbli on finding The Beauty in plastic pollution
Fresh from picking up a Gold in the Changing the World Frame by Frame category of this year's YDA, the director talks us through how he combined marine life with man-made waste.
Eugen Merher on making a charity film with bite
The Dark Red director won gold at this year's YDA with a grisly yet unexpectedly tender take on blood donation. He tells shots how he and the team created their 'own kind of vampire film' and what's next on the slate.
YDA gold winner Josh Hayward paints a Still/Life portrait of Yangon
The director spent weeks exploring the Burmese city, capturing its cultural renaissance through the eyes of a new generation of athletes, and the result is this award-winning short film.