On May 25, SHOOT unveiled its fourth annual New Directors Showcase reel. The 25 helmers–including three two-person teams–selected for the Showcase come from diverse backgrounds. However, the bond they share is great style, vision and commitment–whether it be reflected in comedy, visuals or storytelling. Helping fashion the Showcase lineup were entries from SHOOT‘s ongoing “The Best Work You May Never See” gallery, assorted submissions, and feedback from agency creatives and producers. Here’s a look at this year’s field:
Terri Timely (Ian Kibbey & Corey Creasey)
Crossroads
Lift Off (short)
A Persistent Vision (short)
How did you get into directing?
Corey and I both went to Berkeley together where we made many short films. There was a film contest every year that we each won separately. We met the year we both lost. After school, we began working together. We were trying to make a short film and we kind of fell into making music videos.
Why do you want to direct commercials?
We have been doing a lot of short films and music videos for the past couple years and we wanted to start working in a different medium. We got the opportunity to do some creative work for Apple and Toy NY and really liked the whole process. Before that we had always written all our own concepts so it was a nice change to get to collaborate with other people at that initial stage of a project. Commercials also present more constraints so we are forced to be more creative in working within that framework.
What is your most recent spot project?
We are actually in Vietnam right now finishing up some spots we just did for Nestle and a Vietnamese cell-phone company. Its been really fun working somewhere so foreign. Its also pretty interesting shooting in hundred-degree weather with a huge language barrier.
Do you have plans to work in other areas–e.g., shorts, films, features or TV? Have you ever done any of that in the past?
We have been making music videos and short films for several years now. We would really love to make a feature or direct television but we are pretty busy right now making videos, short films and spots.
What do you think is the best part about being a director?
It’s nice to get to collaborate and work closely with a lot of creative people. We also always seem to find ourselves in a variety of situations that we wouldn’t otherwise be in–like a Vietnamese hair salon.
What’s the worst part?
There are many “worst parts.” You never really feel like you get to leave work and go home. There is always something more to do. The on-the-job ailments are not much fun either. Currently, I have a heat rash and Corey sprained his finger while being hit by a scooter. But all the heat rashes and sprained fingers aren’t enough to hold us back.
