4th Annual New Directors Showcase
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:
Jon Watts
Smuggler
Fatboy Slim’s “Wonderful Night” music video
How did you get into directing?
Making Hi8 movies with my friends in high school. I was planning on going to school for chemical engineering in Colorado but applied to NYU and USC film school as a long shot. I got a full ride scholarship to both schools and ended up going to New York. I still can’t believe it.
Why do you want to direct commercials?
I took a negotiating class a few years back…working in commercials has given me a shot at using those skills in a way I never imagined….and there’s the cash, the red carpet at pre pros, fast food, fast women.
What is your most recent spot project?
Just delivered a music video for Fat Boy Slim and posting one for The
Spinto Band. It’s a completely arduous technique that involves videotaping actors, printing them onto paper, cutting them out then animating them using digital still cameras. It’s a cool effect, but man… it takes forever.
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?
I didn’t even realize that making music videos and commercials could be a real job until very recently. I made a short at NYU that people really seem to like and have written a couple of feature scripts. I went to school to make features, and that’s what I want to do.
What do you think is the best part about being a director?
Having an epiphany about the perfect way to shoot a scene.
What’s the worst part?
Having that epiphany at 4 am the night before the shoot.
AICP Awards Tour To Conclude With Stops In Dallas and Chicago
The 2024 AICP Awards Tour concludes with stops in Dallas and Chicago this month as it wraps up its tour of cities across the U.S. The National Tour brought presentations, panels and screenings to marketers, advertising agencies, production and postproduction companies.
The AICP Awards will be in Dallas on Thursday, November 14, at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, followed by the Chicago event, set for Thursday, November 21, at The Old Post Office. Tickets are available now for both events here.
In Dallas, the program kicks off at 6:45 pm with a happy hour, followed by the screening and panel discussion at 7:30. The evening ends with a networking reception from 8:30 to 11:30.
Appearing in Dallas will be Abe Garcia, chief creative officer, Dieste; Julia Melle, director of brand and content, Southwest Airlines; and Isaac Pagán Muñoz, VP, executive creative director of PepsiCo Foods. The panel will review selected winners from the suite of the AICP Awards programs, offering insights into what made them rise to the top of their respective categories and share their viewpoints on key trends in the industry.
The Chicago stop starts at 6 pm with a happy hour, followed by the presentation and screening at 7 pm. A reception caps the event, starting at 8 pm and concluding at 11:30 pm.
The panel there will feature 2024 AICP Awards curators and winners from the marketer, agency, production and postproduction sectors who’ll highlight this year’s winners. The conversation will include a discussion about the winning work, including insights into what makes a project stand out, as well as industry trends and insights.
Panelists include Brian Billow, director, O Positive, AICP Show curator and... Read More