Mr Yankey: A Few Of My Favourite Things
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The Armoury director highlights the comics, clouds and cow poop that keep his creativity flowing.
With ads and pop promos that ooze style, flair and comedic flourishes, it's not surprising that Mr Yankey's list of Favourite Things combines both charm and chuckles.
Finding industry recognition with George at Asda back-to-school ads, the Armoury director has since become known for punchy visuals, character-led storytelling and authentic casting.
Here he shares the trinkets, toys and turds that help get that charm up on the screen.
The Olympic Badges
I worked the 2012 Olympics as a runner driver – buzzing atmosphere, lush weather.
My media pass let me sneak off after drop-offs to explore the Games.
Saw Bolt, Kobe, Ennis up close.
I got deep into the Olympic pin-trading “scene” with a load of athletes.
So many priceless experiences.
At the gymnastics, our DIT got caught with a bullet shell from a History Channel job.
I was outside when an undercover counter-terrorist unit jumped me, stripped my vehicle, and I may or may not have been put on a list.
The Answer Machine
Found this beauty on Gumtree for an ‘80s music video.
Used it for a Romesh voice note in the video, and now it lives in my flat.
It’s got that wood veneer, “clink clunk” buttons, and plays tapes with that warped, dreamy sound.
Bit of a morning ritual – pop in some Aretha while getting ready, or wind down in the evening with some Sade.
The Pet Cloud
My nieces gave me a pet cloud for Christmas.
I’m meant to walk it every day... and “I totally do”.
They take silliness seriously, and that’s exactly why they’re such a joy to be around.
It hangs above my desk as a little reminder not to take life (or myself) too seriously.
The Speaker
This is not paid sponsorship, but this JBL speaker packs a punch.
Bassy as f***, huge battery life, even has a strap so you can throw it over your shoulder.
Great for festival campsites, getaways with my mates for a bit of a living room disco, or in the bathroom for those long sessions in the shower… when I’m washing my hair.
Get your filthy mind out of the gutter.
The Bullshit
I narrowly missed out on a big pitch.
We lost, and my producer articulated her feelings by gifting me this piece of elephant bullshit.
The Comic Drawer
I rescued this chest of drawers off the street – didn’t know what to do with it till I turned it into comic storage.
The first in was my collection of Kick-Ass and Scott Pilgrim titles.
I was obsessed with the adaptation by Edgar Wright, who’s a huge inspiration of mine.
Then came the first run of Miles Morales – the Black Spider-Man!
A massive cultural moment.
He’s gone on to be one of the most iconic contemporary characters.
And a stash of more dramatic stories – Fun Home, Black Hole, and Blue Is the Warmest Colour.
[Bonus Story]
I was running on an ad Mark Strong was starring in.
I was a big fan, and production kept pestering me to check on him in his winnie.
“Ask if Mark needs anything… Ask again… Again.”
Eventually, Mark just said, “Ato, if you just come and chill in here with me, they can’t bother you.”
So I did.
We had a brew and chatted about cinema.
That day we were shooting this wild scene – jet landing, Jag getaway, helicopter chase – I was totally blown away by it all.
“Mark, do you ever get bored of action scenes?”
“I prefer a quiet scene. Just two people in a room, talking.”
Later he asked me, “Have you seen Blue Is the Warmest Colour?”
It had just won the Palme d’Or and I had just finished reading the graphic novel.
I got well excited – felt cultured, sophisticated, intellectual.
“Yeah I have – have you read the graphic novel it’s based on, by the French writer and illustrator Juls Maroh?”
(Pretty sure I even ballsed it up and said Julie Monroe at the time.)
“Oh Ato, you’re so cultured, sophisticated and intellectual,” said Mark Strong.
“Oh stop it, Mark Strong, you cad.”
We clinked our paper coffee cups together and chuckled.
And I’m 90% sure that’s how it happened, verbatim.
