Branded Content – Best Of... March 2025

The Shooting, a campaign that portrays the harsh reality faced by journalists in Mexico: While they shoot for the truth, they are shot at to be silenced.

It’s the short film/commercial/ad-for-ourselves that nobody really asked for, but we went ahead and made anyway. Part short film, part meta-ad, this piece merges the absurd with the satirical. All powered by a hefty dose of next-gen innovation, it further explores the possibilities of what Gen AI can do when in the right creative hands. Everything is indeed, computer.

This groundbreaking project explores cultural memory and transformation through AI-driven innovation, bridging past and future in a deeply personal and visually mesmerizing way.

In this epic new spot a host of South African creators spark off each other to show how original always feeds original.

A bedtime story about a monster that mirrors domestic abuse

The film captures the heart of Prazeres United’s mission: building a community where every child feels at home.

PRESS INFORMATION RE: MR JONATHAN
Mr Jonathan in words: “Mystery today is a luxury” says Johnny Hardstaff of his new and somewhat outré brand film for reclusive Paris client Mr Jonathan. “Industry’s harsh searchlight is busy banishing the shadows and intrigue is evaporating fast. So when an unusual project comes along where you're invited to do the very thing that advertising never would but maybe should, well, who are we to let a little unorthodoxy get in the way? Why be boring?

"Yes - it’s true that we never did meet or speak with Mr Jonathan - just an intermediary (The Jonathan Foundation correspond solely by telephone). And at the end maybe that was the strangest client presentation I’ve ever experienced (the client silently sat behind a curtain). And no, we never did fully understand what it is that 'Mr Jonathan' does exactly (something ‘lifestyle’ perhaps?). But then the mission wasn’t to be literal. It was to capture an essence. A loose, or should I say ‘louche’ - agenda. The mission was to cast some shadows, not run in fear from them.

“So, why let the genie out? Why explain mystique away with ‘details’ and ‘context’ let alone 'the truth’ - whatever that is? Why let the steam dissipate? No - bottle that magic! Scare those horses! Inhale that airbed! Allow your curiosity to be piqued! Get naked and wriggle around together in the intrigue! Revel in secrecy - while there are still secrets to keep and as you do, whisper it - mantra like - over and over… 'Vive la differencé! Vive l’humanite! Vive Mr Jonathan!” -
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Mr Jonathan in numbers: In-camera stop motion stills = approx 12,000 / Bespoke music compositions = 1 (‘Mr Perfecto’ - Colin Smith & Simon Elms @ Eclectic) / Artificial intelligence = zilch / Out-sized satin knickers = 1 pair (returned) / Art, craft, beauty & refinement = much (Selected Works) / Boiled eggs = 2 (uneaten) / Brilliant sound & picture edits = 1 (J.D. Smyth @ Final Cut) / Alans = 1 (Alan @ Pentonville Rubber) / Genius sound design = bountiful (Patch Rowland @ Machine) / Wonderful on-screen talent = 13 (appropriately) / Totally disproportionate number of shoot days = 23 / Commercial value = £-0.00 / Fucks to give = 0.