The Heroes Focus

For the inaugural Focus of the new site, we've collected together interviews, profiles and celebrations of the heroes that make up all aspects of this industry.'

Talent

Mark Denton: The other side of the coin

Asked to define the word 'hero', Mark Denton suggests a coin with ‘brave’ written on one side and ‘stupid’ on the other.

Talent

Rosie Arnold on smashing glass ceilings with a smile

Even Rosie Arnold – an icon and inspiration for all women in the industry – needed help from a fellow female to get her first break. Now, the creative partner and head of art at AMV BBDO tells Tim Cumming, she’s happy to be in the ideal position to preach – and practise – sisterly solidarity

Talent

Davud Karbassioun on having the best job in the world

The Pulse Films president tells shots about the power of dreams and the importance of backing the right heroes.

Talent

It's all go for Damian Kulash

OK Go frontman, Damian Kulash Jr, talks to David Knight about putting practical considerations aside in favour of the alchemical while also ‘building a structure’ so a little thing like impending fatherhood doesn’t encroach on his happiness.

Insight

Heroic Xiberras: The marvel(ous) man of adland

BETC's CCO and president speaks of the poetry of ‘zag’ and fears for a future of algorithm vs intuition.

Insight

John Hegarty: It's about ideas, not idols

The legendary BBH co-founder, John Hegarty, doesn’t really have heroes – at least not human ones. He worships ideas, not the personalities behind them, who all too often reveal their human flaws.

Talent

Standing the test of time: Smith & Foulkes

The Nexus directing duo tell shots how access to new tech means we are ushering in a new dawn of animation heroes.

Jonathan Glazer on shades of black & pursuing perfection

Going up in a blaze of Gondry

shots hero Spike Jonze is a (non) accidental anarchist

Talent

Why Trevor Robinson is our Quiet (Storm) hero

In an industry where vainglorious puffery and self-aggrandisement are not uncommon, it’s refreshing to chat to Trevor Robinson, the OBE-holding founder of Quiet Storm and much-awarded Tango man who’s untroubled by a sense of his own importance.

Insight

Shining a light on the stars of tomorrow

Partners in the Young Director Award since 1999, shots has long promoted new directing talent. But we want to pay tribute to an old hand in the star-spotting game, YDA president, Francois Chilot. Danny Edwards hears why he’s so proud of the award’s past and so hopeful for its future.

Insight

Dougal Wilson on his best spots, as chosen by shots

For our Heroes issue, we picked five of our favourites Wilson-directed spots for the hero helmsman to analyse.

Insight

Production Designer David Mark Lee discusses spinning trains & Spanish galleons

From filling spinning train carriages with 200,000 Post-It notes to wrangling sheep into plastic suits, production designer David Mark Lee is always up for a challenge.

Talent

shots Hero Sam Ashwell on the sound of muses

750MPH’s head engineer Sam Ashwell namechecks the people who’ve influenced his sound vision, from trainer designers to dirty bassliners.

Why David Lubars is a hire power

Cindy Gallop: The (Un)Caped Crusader

Nothing Beats a Londoner Editor is no ordinary Joe

The Sustainability Focus

It’s the burning question – with humanity facing an existential threat more potent than war, famine or disease, how can an industry full of world-class communicators talk about the climate crisis? shots discusses low-carbon film production, greenwashing and the paradox of consumerism vs planetary survival.

The Neurodiversity Focus

With growing awareness that an estimated 20 per cent of the global population is neurodiverse - the fact that advertising needs to get on top of the spectrums is a no-brainer. This month, shots speaks to experts, commentators and ADHD/ASD-powered adfolk about battling stigma, enhanced creativity and making more ND inclusive campaigns.

The Music Video Focus

Since the 90s, when their budgets ran to millions, the internet and tech advances have made music videos easier to view, cheaper to produce and, possibly, more disposable. But is the medium a dying art, or still the best way for a director to get noticed? shots probes the state of the promo nation.

The Photography & Cinematography Focus

In a cacophonous digital culture that bombards us with a stream of personal image-sharing and branded visuals, it can be hard for photography to stand out. This month, shots pulls focus on the DPs and photographers whose work sets the optic nerves a-tingle and considers the input of non-human image generators.