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.
Flying through the glass ceiling with Nicolas Ivan Bori
Packed with blockbuster visuals and an important message to match, Nicolas Bori's Breaking Glass picked up a Gold in the YDA's Film School > up to 10 minutes category. Here, shots finds out how the Filmakademie Baden-Wurttemberg student piloted dreams to success.
How Stink Films cares for directors who care
Daniel Bergmann, founder and president of Stink Films, explains why his company, which won a Gold Screen producers award at this year’s YDA, has always had a mission to nurture new directors and why they seek creatives who genuinely care about the work.
A YDA delivery for Vanessa Stachel
German director Vanessa Stachel secured a Gold in the YDA Animation, and Film School category for her short film Delivery For Mr. Frogula. Here, she talks about making the miniatures, the team involved in bringing the film to life, and hopes and dreams for the future.
Love Song’s soul-enriching search for new talent
Love Song Films was one of two companies to win a Gold Screen Production Company of the Year at the YDA this year. Founders Kelly Bayett and Daniel Wolfe talk to shots about the rewards of seeking shining stars and listening out for that distinctive voice.
How Victoria Warmerdam tackled bodily-autonomy through comedy
Clinching not just one but four YDA Golds, plus the Special Jury Prize, Oak Lane Motion Pictures director Victoria Warmerdam's darkly comedy short, I'm Not a Robot, draws inspiration from CAPTCHA technology, vintage sci-fi aesthetics and psychological thrillers to address feminist themes of identity and objectification.
Will Wightman's certain success
Picking up a YDA Gold Screen award in the Commercial category, BlinkInk director Will Wightman's campaign for Ore-Ida is a "super-weird" spot that celebrates the predictable. Here, he discusses Hollywood's Golden Age, embracing the unusual, and getting thrown into the deep end.
Why anonymity and channeled rage were essential for SHIRZAN to Rise
Despite winning the Changing the World Frame by Frame gold at this year's YDA, director SHIRZAN could not claim it; the anonymous alias essential in the tale of Iranian persecution. We caught up with them to speak about the origins of the story, the perilous shoot, and why it was important to share such heartbreak.
How Sindre Haram crafted a poignant tale of childhood isolation
Sindre Haram won a Gold screen YDA for his naturalistic portrait of a boy caught in the crosshairs of his parents’ divorce. Here he explains how he created a powerful narrative by mining the past, and recalling, then detaching from, his father’s story.
All things change with Davide Vicari
Italian director Davide Vicari secured a Gold in the YDA Music Video category for Massimo Pericolo's Le Cose Cambiano album trailer. Here, he talks about connecting the artist with the audience, using FPV drones, and thriving in the commercial world.
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.
Good things come in threes; Emma Branderhorst's Cannes winning streak
In just three years, director Emma Branderhorst has clinched two YDA Golds, a D&AD award, and a Cannes Grand Prix; all before her graduation film debuted online. Here, we dive into her knack for tackling social issues, making a mark with young people, and casting non-actors effectively.
How LOOSE got tight with Football Beyond Borders
Picking up the Charity Commercial gold award at this year's YDA, Stink director LOOSE's authentic slice of footballing life hit the target. Here, she discusses how to score with a one-day shoot.
LIAKH's artistic endeavour
Spindle director LIAKH picked up a YDA Gold award at this year's ceremony for his carefully curated and brilliantly comedic spot for the Sainsbury Centre. Here, he explains how the film is a "loveletter with a bit of darkness mixed in", and why comedy is hard.
Emma Foley's tone-perfect, blackly-comedic Sound & Colour
Picking up the Short Film [10 minutes and over] prize at this year's YDA, writer/director Emma Foley's painfully honest account of a Irish family in denial hit the judges heartstrings. Here, we find out how the authentic relationships were brought to the screen, and how an enigmatic title can open viewers to challenging stories.
Liam LoPinto on the power of returning to your roots
Winning Gold in the short film category at this year's Young Directors Awards, Liam LoPinto's sublime film The Old Young Crow is a captivating fusion of live-action and animation, nature and spirituality, and Iranian and Japanese culture.
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Hugh Mulhern dishes the dirt on Doolally
Director Hugh Mulhern grabbed a Gold in the YDA Music Video category with their Riff Raff Films aided promo for Hak Baker - Doolally. Here, He talks about jumping Prime Ministers in public, big weekends, and his future projects.
YDA winner LI Shuqin on frog-themed dreams and dealing with loss
LI Shuqin's moving and whimsical short To The Moon and Back scooped up a Gold Young Directors Award in the Animation category. Here, Shuqin talks us through the inspirations behind the film, from childhood memories to traditional Chinese nursery rhymes.
YDA-winner Michael Hili on finding both beauty and pain in the story of a mother’s loss
The Public Diagnosis justly won YDA Golds in two categories – Creative Use of Sound and Branded Content. Here director Michael Hili explains how he came to use an innovative theatrical visual language to tell the real-life story of a mother and son coping with terminal illness.
Kiarash Dadgar's food for thought
The Steak is a quietly powerful film about the harsh realities of war and the fragility of life amid chaos. Director Kiarash Dadgar discusses his debut film, which picked up Gold at this year's Young Director Award.
YDA winner Alan Bradley on filming a tale of heartbreaking loss
Alan Bradley won Gold for his documentary Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost, which explores the shocking statistic that more than one in ten Irish Travellers die by suicide, many of them being males aged 15-25, some are even younger. The film follows the parents of one tragic case – 12-year-old Patrick McDonagh – as they process their grief.
YDA winner Onda talks Precision
Director Onda grabbed a Gold in the YDA Music Video category with their promo for Big Sean - Precision. Here, he chat's about what made them pick up a camera, trusting the process and working in ad-land.
YDA winner Gillie Cinneri talks death and dysfunctional families
Gillie Cinneri talks us through casting choices, character development, and how watching a stranger being embalmed was the initial inspiration behind her dark and comedic Gold Young Director Award-winning film, Allégresse.
Why Elliott Power is building work that goes against the grain
Love Song director Elliott Power struck gold at this year's Young Director Award with his spot for DIY chain B&Q. He explains how "Se7en meets Delicatessen" was the commercial's inspiration, why only he could take on the spot's voice over, and why he likes going against the grain.