Below are profiles of a dozen leading helmers who have made a major impact on advertising and marketing. These profiles are followed by Creative Perspectives, a look at new directorial talent that bears watching. And check out Cinematography Chatter in our Columns section in which cinematogrphers offer insights into their working relationships with directors.
At the time we were putting the finishing touches on this issue, we had also earnestly embarked on our fifth annual New Directors Search, which will culminate in SHOOT’s fifth annual New Directors Showcase, a major event that will take place at the Directors Guild of America Theatre in New York on May 23. The ties between the spring Directors Series and our new talent competition are strikingly evident in the pages that follow.
For one, David Gray of Hungry Man was included in our 2005 New Directors Showcase. This January he was nominated for the DGA Award recognizing the best commercial director of ’06. In less than two years he went from being at the DGA’s Manhattan venue as part of our Showcase to appearing at the DGA Awards in Los Angeles as a nominee.
Gray is profiled in our Directors Series section as are former SHOOT Showcase helmers Yael Staav of Reginald Pike, Aaron Ruell who recently joined Biscuit Filmworks and John Immesoete of Backyard Productions and sister shop Seed. Via the latter, Immesoete created and developed three series for the recently launched online entertainment network bud.TV, underscoring the opportunities that are emerging for talented industry artisans.
Speaking of bud.TV, this issue’s coverage of up-and-coming directors in the feature titled “Creative Perspectives” includes the team of Don & John of HSI Productions who recently scored their first big ad industry helming break with episodes of The Arrogant Fake British Rich Guy and Guided Meditation With The Billy Lama, which are both series out of DDB Chicago for the ambitious Budweiser network. Don & John are former agency creatives, a background prevalent in our spring crop of new directors.
And our search for new talent isn’t confined to Directors Series editions or the New Directors Showcase. Virtually every issue of SHOOT provides exposure for emerging artisans. For example, in this week’s “The Best Work You May Never See” gallery, we feature a spec spot conceived and directed by Nir Bashan, a promising newcomer who recently signed with BeachHouse Films.
Indeed among our most enjoyable pursuits is having a hand in uncovering new talent. In that light, we hope you enjoy this special issue and we welcome your feedback at rgoldrich@shootonline.com
Oscar Nominees Delve Into The Art Of Editing At ACE Session
You couldn’t miss Sean Baker at this past Sunday’s Oscar ceremony where he won for Best Picture, Directing, Original Screenplay and Editing on the strength of Anora. However, earlier that weekend he was in transit from the Cesar Awards in Paris and thus couldn’t attend the American Cinema Editors (ACE) 25th annual panel of Academy Award-nominated film editors held at the Regal LA Live Auditorium on Saturday (3/1) in Los Angeles. While the eventual Oscar winner in the editing category was missed by those who turned out for the ACE “Invisible Art, Visible Artists” session, three of Baker’s fellow nominees were on hand--Dávid Jancsó, HSE for The Brutalist; Nick Emerson for Conclave; and Myron Kerstein, ACE for Wicked. Additionally, Juliette Welfling, who couldn’t appear in person due to the Cesar Awards, was present via an earlier recorded video interview to discuss her work on Emilia Pérez. The interview was conducted by ACE president and editor Sabrina Plisco, ACE who also moderated the live panel discussion. Kerstein said that he was the beneficiary of brilliant and generous collaborators, citing, among others, director Jon M. Chu, cinematographer Alice Brooks, and visual effects supervisor Pablo Helman. The editor added it always helps to have stellar acting performances, noting that hearing Cynthia Erivo, for example, sing live was a revelation. Kerstein recalled meeting Chu some eight years ago on a “blind Skype date” and it was an instant “bromance”--which began on Crazy Rich Asians, and then continued on such projects as the streaming series Home Before Dark and the feature In The Heights. Kerstein observed that Chu is expert in providing collaborators with... Read More