Buzzsaw Films Bruce MacWilliams is one of three top commercial directors featured in The Ad-Makers along with Fredrik Bond & Daniel Kleinman.
The Ad-Makers, by author Tom von Logue Newth, looks at the cinematic form where commerce and creativity collide most dramatically: the TV commercial.
Featuring interviews from top professionals in the field, the book provides the kind of behind-the-scenes expertise that it usually takes a lifetime of professional practice to acquire.
Gathered from the disciplines of cinematography, directing, producing, and editing, the filmmakers tell the stories behind the making of some of the world’s top commercials.
Each chapter includes an overview of best practice and a host of images—stills from the spots themselves and concept visuals. Exploring the creative process from conception to post-production, The Ad-Makers also covers developments within the industry precipitated by the digital age and the new challenges placed on ad-making by the explosion of social media.
Bruce MacWilliams‘ work includes collaborative DDB, Leo Burnett and Digitas.
Daniel Kleinman’s work includes collaborative with JWT, Fold 7 and 180 Amersterdam.
Fredrik Bond’s work includes collaborative with BBH, Weiden + Kennedy and others.
With special focus on the shooting and production elements of making a television advert, this book is ideal for all filmmakers who want to build a career in advertising or even feature films.
• The stories behind some of the best-known TV commercials, as told by the people who made them
• Top producers, designers, storyboarders, directors, editors, and visual effects creatives reveal the secrets of the television advertising industry
Excerpt from The Ad-Makers “INTERVIEW with Director, Bruce MacWilliams“
Bruce MacWilliams began his career as an independent film-maker before signing with Biscuit in 2002. Since then he has directed more than 100 TV commercials and high-profile PSAs, winning multiple awards, and has been recognized by the Saatchi & Saatchi New Directors Showcase and the Shots Magazine Grand Prix awards. He has also been commissioned to write a half-hour comedy series for NBC, and directed a documentary on the 2008 presidential campaign.
In 2011 he formed his own production company, Buzzsaw Films, which continues to work in the commercial sphere, as well developing feature film projects.
“So at age 27, I raised two hundred thousand dollars from two hot shot bond traders on Wall Street, made a movie, was picked up by a distributor, and went to Cannes. I make it sound simple, and it’s definitely not, making a movie (any movie) is extremely difficult, but at the time I was young, cocky, and slightly ignorant. I didn’t know how hard it was, so it wasn’t. Ignorance is bliss. ”
“The whole schedule was two weeks pitching the job – getting the crew, doing the research; three or four days in London and ten days for the pre-production in Miami, with all the casting, the final location scouting, and wardrobe. The shoot’s always the shortest component, which in this case was four days. Then ten days in London – about month and a half in all and then boom, it’s on the air broadcast all over the UK. The reaction was great. The agency loved it. The client loved it.”
About BRUCE MACWILLIAMS
<a href="www.Brucemacwilli
