the Talent
From Junior Creatives to ECDs, delve into career highlights (and lowlights) in our in-depth profiles.
Creative Correspondence: Stéphane Xiberras & Mélanie Pennec
Old pals Stéphane Xiberras and Mélanie Pennec discuss boring 'feel good ads', the joys of lurking on social media and how they'd set up an agency from scratch in the latest of our 30th birthday celebration features.
D&AD – In Conversation with PJ Pereira
shots co-editor Jamie Madge sits down with PJ Pereira, Creative Chairman at Pereira O’Dell and Jury President of Entertainment at D&AD Awards to chat about this year's awarded work and the unusual situations under which they judged it.
Creative Correspondence... with Trevor Robinson and Seb Jamous
As shots celebrates its 30th birthday we begin a series of features in which we ask one of our advertising icons to interview - and be interviewed by - a potential icon of the future. First up is legendary UK creative and director, Trevor Robinson OBE.
The people who make the spots you love, covering all aspects of production, post and sound.
Meena Ayittey: Showing it like it is
The daughter of Ghanaian immigrants, Meena Ayittey eschewed her parents’ conventional career aspirations to forge a successful career in the creative industries. Recently signed to Great Guns, she finds rich filmic inspiration in the concept of racism, from her heartrending tribute to the Black Lives Matter movement to a new documentary lifting the lid on creatives of colour and the challenges of adland.
Creative Correspondence: Andreas Nilsson and Ben Campbell
From whale poop, to rockhopper penguins; from the importance of planning to the influence of artists, The Quarry's Ben Campbell and Biscuit's Andreas Nilsson have the email correspondence you didn't know you needed to read.
Em Weinstein’s queer homecoming
We talk to emerging director Em Weinstein about their recent win at Outfest, how to disrupt the gender binaries in film, how to make festivals more approachable, and what it will take to make storytelling more inclusive.
Creative Correspondence... with Ram Madhvani and Tanvi Gandhi
Our 30th celebrations continue as we eavesdrop on conversations between some of the industry's most renowned figures chatting to the icons of the future. This time it's directing legend Ram Madhvani talking... well, rhyming... with Equinox Films' up-and-comer, Tanvi Gandhi.
Mark Molloy: The Underdog at Apple’s core
With a career spanning the best part of 15 years, and a 2019 that would be tough to beat, what’s next for the SMUGGLER director whose Underdogs and Surprises have given Apple advertising real heart? Jamie Madge grabbed some FaceTime with the locked-down Aussie to chat about the whole working-from-home thing.
Hannah & Adriana's internet of comedy
Comedy directors, Hannah & Adriana, of Superprime, chat about cutting their teeth on editing Funny or Die skits, what SNL taught them about collaboration, and how to become funnier than your neighbor’s 12 year old kid who downloaded TikTok last week and has a million followers.
Creative correspondence... with Diane McArter and Casey Rand
As part of our ongoing 30th birthday celebrations, we're asking iconic industry figures to chose a person to interview and be interviewed by. Here, Diane McArter and Casey Rand talk social change, discovering purpose and what finally helps tip a tipping point.
YDA 1-to-2 with Lisa Mehling and Nisha Ganatra
The final element of this year's YDA Week, ahead of tomorrow's ceremony, is a discussion with Chelsea Pictures' MD and former YDA President, Lisa Mehling, and TV, film and commercial director, Nisha Ganatra.
YDA 1-to-1 with... Ram Madhvani
Day two of YDA Week ends with insight from iconic, Cannes Lion-winning director Ram Madhvani.
The latest interviews from the talent highlighted at the shots Awards Europe.
Director of the Year: Georgia Hudson
With a slew of great work behind her and last year's shots Awards Europe Director of the Year award sitting on her mantlepiece, Park Pictures' Georgia Hudson reveals why choosing faith over fear has paid dividends.
Production Company of the Year: Pulse Films
James Sorton and Davud Karbaassioun, Managing Director and President respectively of Pulse Films, 2019's shots Awards Europe Production Company of the Year, look back over a year of achievements and what helps them stand out.
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.
Audio Company of the Year: Factory
Continuing our conversations with the winners of this year's shots Awards Europe, we speak to Anthony Moore, founding partner and creative director at Factory, about the audiotastic work they've produced in the past 12 months and what 2020 brings.
Editor of the Year: Joe Guest
With his company, Final Cut, picking up Editing House of the Year, it's no great surprise that the industry titan should also pick up an award. We chat to Guest about his impressive body of work and how the future looks to him.
YDA 1-to-1 with... Pamela B Green
In the second of today's YDA 1-to-1 interviews, Pamela B Green discusses her fascinating and powerful documentary, Be Natural; The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blache, which is about the world's first female film director.
YDA 1-to-1 with... Justin Reardon
shots Co-Editor Danny Edwards and Budweiser Whassup creative-turned-director Justin Reardon discuss using humour in dark times, the best way for aspiring directors to get noticed, and much more...
Benji Weinstein’s aiming higher than quarantine comedy
Writer/Director Benji Weinstein is behind the all too real zoom sitcom, Join Meeting, but he has been working with comedy for years. He dives into what makes comedy funny, what makes a joke land, and why it’s all so terribly relatable.
Cracking the comedy case with The Bobbsey Twins From Homicide
With a creative partnership background and a fine eye for visually impressive, side-splittingly funny gags, the 'Twins' body of work has seen them go epic with Sindy dolls, have some BCFing fun and recreate an iconic dance routine with muscled movers. We caught up with them to find out how to make laughs look good.
Pete Cain's funny bones
He's a creative, a director and a tutor at the School of Communication Arts. The common denominator across each is humour. From selling time shares in Lanzarote to working with brands such as Boddingtons and Carling, Pete Cain has employed comedy at every turn. Oh, he's also a stand-up. Figures. Here, he discusses why truth is at the heart of humour.
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Pulse Films' Nez finds his voice
As Karim Bartoletti continues his series of YDA chats, former winner Nez talks about the journey from wide-eyed, TV-obsessed youngster to fashion filmmaker and beyond.
William Armstrong's YDA Chat
The 2012 European Test Commercial category winner steps up to the mic for a chat with Karim Bartoletti.
Michael Cumming: Notes from Shatner’s Bassoon
Best known for his work on the notorious spoof news show Brass Eye, Michael Cumming has collaborated with some of the biggest names in British humour. Not one for parping his own comedy trumpet however, the Moxie director has retained a quiet modesty throughout his career. Now bringing his droll touch to advertising, he broke his silence to talk to Carol Cooper about Brass Eye, big apes and working with bees.
Emilie Thalund's chat with the YDA
Karim Bartoletti continues his series of discussions with former YDA winners, this week chatting to 2018 winner and director Emilie Thalund.
Kibwe Tavares chats to the YDA
In episode seven of the YDA Chats series, Karim Bartoletti speaks to director Kibwe Tavares about his career since picking up the 2014 YDA Special Jury Prize.
A YDA chat with Thessa Meijer
Though the deadline for this year's YDA has now passed and judging is on the horizon, Karim Bartoletti continues his series of YDA Chats, this time talking to 2019 winner Thessa Meijer.
Tilting at windmills: building branded entertainment with Jae Goodman
Observatory CEO Jae Goodman talks to Rich Johnson about the developments in branded entertainment, why brands need to embrace it, and how he worried for a while that the agency's mantras were more Don Quixote than Don Draper.
YDA chats to We Are From LA
The deadline for the Young Director Award 2020 is today and, to inspire you to enter this year's competition, Jury Chairman, Karim Bartoletti continues his YDA Chats series, this time talking to former winning directing duo, We Are From LA.