On My Radar: Jose Gomez

Founder and director at Shilo, Jose Gomez, recently helmed the trailer to promote season 5 of The Walking Dead, currently running on AMC.

The promo, called Surviving Together, sees a group of the show's stars slowly moving through the woods with weapons drawn as they hunt down zombies to a soothing soundtrack.

Emmy Award-winning director, Gomez, has worked on high-profile projects for Scion, Electronic Arts, Mercedes and Anheuser-Busch to name a few and below lets us in on his creative radar, including his social media platforms of choice, movies that he’d recommend and where he last found insporation.

What’s the best ad campaign you’ve seen recently?

The recent Oreo campaign is fun.

And Dove’s Super Bowl spot Real Strength made me cry. I like campaigns that draw out emotions and do more than simply tell stories.

What website(s) do you use most regularly and why?

I love Reddit and FFFFOUND! I’m just a sucker for design, art, and information.

What’s the most recent piece of tech that you’ve bought and why?

iPhone 6. I broke my iPhone 5.

Facebook, Instagram or Twitter?

All of the above! @shilogomez.

What’s your favourite app on your phone and why?

The phone app. I can talk to people and hear their voice.

What’s your favourite TV show and why?

The Walking Dead, of course. I was a big fan before and even more so now I've directed Surviving Together. Just an amazing group of people to work with.

What film do you think everyone should have seen?

Blade Runner, Akira, Baraka.

Where were you when inspiration last struck?

In the middle of the Liwa Desert.

What’s the most significant change you’ve witnessed in the industry since you started working in it?

The blurring of the lines between television and the internet as content delivery methods.

If there was one thing you could change about the advertising industry, what would it be?

The idea that if I don’t have a flying pink elephant on my reel, then we can’t do a good job shooting a flying pink elephant.

What or who has most influenced your career and why?

Growing up in skateboard culture taught me a lot about finding my own path, and it had a huge influence on my design and art. It helped me shed the fear of taking risks. It shaped who I am today.

Tell us one thing about yourself that most people won’t know…

I love pomegranate martinis.