Twice Pictures teams up with The Visionaries director Mak Akay to bring us Nationwide’s latest spot, featuring Trevor McDonald, to Say Thank You to Loyal Members.

Twice Pictures, under the Lemonade Reps umbrella, teamed up with The Visionaries director Mak Akay to bring us Nationwide’s latest campaign, featuring broadcasting legend Sir Trevor McDonald. The new spot showcases Sir Trevor delivering the exciting news that one in five Brits will share over £600 million in a special 'thank you' from the UK’s largest building society. 

This unprecedented ‘Thank You’ payment—three times larger than the biggest National Lottery win in history (£195 million)—celebrates Nationwide members for their role in helping build the financial strength necessary to acquire Virgin Money. This acquisition enables Nationwide to further expand the benefits of mutuality across the UK. Starting Monday, 7th April, more than 12 million eligible members across the country will receive £50 in their bank accounts as a token of appreciation.

Mak had this to say about the project:

‘Had an absolute blast directing this Nationwide spot with production company Twice Pictures and agency The Romans. The maxim to 'never meet your heroes' certainly doesn't apply here, because Sir Trevor was an absolute delight to work with. A true gentleman, and someone who can easily turn any conversation into an erudite discussion with his wisdom.

Loved the creative from The Romans and was really drawn to the diverse ways of saying thank you as the film's motif. It became a fun crash-course on UK accents and dialects for me, I had no idea there were so many unique regional ways of saying it.

All the people we filmed are actual Nationwide workers, no actors. I felt that brought a sense of genuine authenticity to the project.

Met lots of lovely people on this project. It was a great team effort to bring this to life - cheers m'dears!’

CREDITS:

Client: Nationwide

Agency: The Romans

Director: Mak Mahmut Akay @mahmutakay

Director’s agent: The Visionaries

DoP: Joe Douglas @joedouglasdop

Production Company: Twice Pictures @twice.pictures.twice

EP: Rhys Evans @rhysevans93

Producer: Miles Wilkes

The Romans @helloromans

Agency Director: Kim Shuard @kimshuardcubbon

Creative Director: Dan Roberts @the1dan

Senior Creative: Jack Moriarty @jackmoriarty96

Associate Director: Inder Gill @inderdeepgill

Account Manager: Hannah Jones

1st AD: Barry Oldham @coldhab

Steadicam Operator: Matt Allsop @mrallsop

Focus Puller: Jeff Vine @jeffvine

2nd AC: Luke Gurney @luke_gurneyy

Camera Trainee: Seth McNamara-Wadd

Camera Car Driver: Hank Vadim

Final Cut @finalcutedit

Editor: Matt Gabzdyl @matthewgabzdyl

Assistant Editor: Max Adams

Producer: Ella Marafini

OkayStudio @okaystudio

Colourist: Katie Dymmock @katiedymmock

VFX / Online Artist: Mark Purser @markpurser78

Post Producer: Neuma Llusiá dos Santos @neumallds

Gaffer: Ed Smith 

Electrician: Ricky Collins

Trainee Electrician: Ezra McNeish

Trainee Electrician: Bailey Lawless

Sound Recordist: Miguel Rodriquez

Art Director: Max Roach @appropriatemaxroach

HMU Designer: Mel Szabo

Music & Sound Mix: Andreas Pfannenstill @iamstillandy @meltmusic_

Sound Design: Tim Sutton

Location Manager: Simon Churchill

Nationwide

Director of brand, MKTG and Experience: Richard Warren

Senior MGR Brand, Social & Content: Daisy Payne

Integrated Campaigns Manager: Emily Cooper

Runner: Danny Berkeley

Runner: Grace Demetre

Chris Fowles delights us once again with his talent for subtle, emotive storytelling and detail-driven approach for Subaru’s latest commercial, ‘What Drives You’.

Chris Fowles’ latest work for Subaru beautifully captures the call of wild places—those vast, untamed landscapes that offer both solace and challenge. His film explores the powerful connection between nature and self – striking a perfect balance between stillness and stepping outside of one’s comfort zone – and illustrating how these spaces shape who we are and how we engage with the world around us.

The commercial highlights the flexibility and opportunity that the new Subaru Forester provides, taking you where you need to go with a focus on comfort and support.

Chris had this to say about the project: 

“Car spots are always great to work on, but it’s even more interesting when the car itself plays a small role in the story. 

From the start, the agency and client were set on making this a human film - one about bravery and overcoming anxieties. 

I suggested opening with a single unbroken take to really trap her in the moment and build up to the actual jump. That, I think, is what makes the film special. 

We shot in late January in Snowdonia, expecting the worst the English weather could throw at us, but it ended up being the most amazing sunny warm day. 

The lake itself was still about 4-5 degrees and I definitely wouldn’t have tried to go in myself… but we had to create the cold breath in post because it was just that warm.”

CREDITS:

Agency: Cogent

Art Director: David Finch

Copywriter: Mark Teece

Senior Account Manager: Beth Hinton

Production Company: Junction Eleven 

Producer: Lucy McDermott

Production Manager: Alex Hill

Location Manager: Joel Cockerill

Lifeguard/Water Rescue Team: Matt Jones

Director: Chris Fowles

Director’s Agent: The Visionaries

Director of Photography: Rhys Warren

Focus Puller: Raul Menendez

Loader: Dewi Roberts

Steadicam Operator: Gary Kent

Key Grip: Adrian Greenfield

Gaffer: James Duffy (Cinelight)

Spark: Orlando De Silva

DIT / BTS: Peter Hackett

Photographer: Daniel Du Cros

Photography Assistant: Steve Thomas

Editor: Peter Hackett

Post-Production: Black Kite

Colourist: Thomas Mangham

Sound: JJ Mitchell 

VFX: Afterworld Studio 

Camera: Panavision

The Visionaries’ director TARAN perfectly blends comfort with bold style in his latest work for Sloggi.

TARAN brings his fresh energy to Sloggi’s latest ZERO Feel campaign, capturing confidence through sleek visuals and electric performances. Harnessing his extensive experience directing music videos, he creates an upbeat and dynamic spot, sure to catch your eye and hold your attention.

The campaign introduces the Zero Feel range – featuring seamless bodywear, made from 360 stretch fabric with no wires or fastenings, for an ‘unfeelable feeling’ that seeks to revolutionise the bra category and bring real comfort to women across the globe.

TARAN had this to say about the shoot:

‘Working on Sloggi SS25 was one of those unicorn moments where I was fortunate enough to be given quite a lot of freedom from the client & CD Theresa to bring my own ideas to life. My only real parameter was working within a framework of this idea of moving from behind the scenes onto a large stage set, beyond that everyone was quite keen to hear my approach.

Production design was definitely a hero department that I was quite invested in. I think given the intimate and feminine nature of the product, I was keen on a set that avoided sharp angles and reflected the product itself. Working with production designer Paul Zabihi was nothing short of a pleasure, everything I threw at him was met with smart solutions and counter-ideas that got me thinking more deeply about textures and palette.

Equally, I knew we needed a DP that understood beauty and could offer something stylised whilst still feeling product focused. Enter Miguel Carmenes, I’d argue nobody does that better than him. My conversations with him were all about layering light & set dress for depth as well as finding the balance between a vibrant colour palette and keeping the film feeling mature. Given our spots were only 15s and 20s, we were also very aware of the need to condense camera movement to only what was absolutely essential, which I think translates quite well in the opening 5s of each ad.

Sloggi was a dream to work on and I had the chance to work with some new faces as well as some of my core team from my background in music.’

CREDITS:

Director: TARAN

Directors Agent: The Visionaries

Choreographer: Supple Nam

DOP: Miguel Carmenes

Production Designer: Paul Zabihi

Producer: Zara Balfour

Production Manager: Jo Fogarty

Assistant Producer: Sonia Amini

Client Service Director: Tanya Faulkner

Senior Account Manager: Barbara Puddu

Strategy Director: Hannah Hayes-Westall

Creative Lead: Theresa Schmitz

Design: Julie Lee 

Head of Production: Jack Bayley

Executive Producer: Lois Newcombe

Post Producer: Nicola Haffenden & Rachel Bliss

Print Producer: Danny Wallace

Photographer: Eddie Cheaba

BTS Video & Stills: Joe Austin

1st AD: Laura Carrion Del Pozo & Ali Copland

Stylist: Jordan Kelsey

MUA: Fernanda Paz & Yas Khan

Hair: Gaia Bezbradica & Luke Christou

Eco Consultant: Phil Briggs

Offline Editor: Josie Farrugia

Online Editor: Josie Farrugia

Colourist: Anna Barsukova

Audio Engineer: Tom Pugh

VFX: Thomas Castellani 

Photographer’s Team: Kay Thomas & Wilbert Lati

Retouch: John Martin & Rupert King

Social Media: STAN STUDIOS Stuttgart

‘Ladder’ - Jennifer Sheridan’s latest campaign for LinkedIn highlights career frustration for Gen Z workers with ‘Itchy Feet’

Director Jennifer Sheridan has once again brought her unique storytelling style to the forefront with her latest series of ads for LinkedIn. The campaign, consisting of three witty and thought-provoking spots, delves into the challenges faced by Gen Z workers in today’s fast-paced and competitive job market.

One standout ad in the series centers around a young employee who finds herself trapped at the bottom of a broken career ladder with no clear path to advancement. In a humorous yet relatable twist, one of her feet, now desperately seeking change, pops out from beneath her desk to voice her frustrations about the dead-end prospects she faces. Despite the moment of career-related distress, the ad’s underlying message is clear— LinkedIn is the solution for employees seeking job opportunities that offer more than just a pay-check, providing avenues for upskilling and career growth too.

This campaign’s innovative messaging, paired with Jennifer Sheridan’s instinct for comedic timing, is sure to garner positive attention for LinkedIn, positioning the platform not just as a job-search tool, but as a valuable resource for personal and professional development.

Jennifer Sheridan had this to say about the project:

”Embracing the character of the foot was such an enticing challenge. The audition process was a highlight, as we set off to discover the most talented 'acting feet' in the UK. Ultimately, I think we succeeded and they bring as much charisma to the films as our amazing actors. 

Working with the team at VCCP has been a joy, and I hope our collaboration resonates with everyone. Additionally, I believe LinkedIn is a fantastic resource for young professionals, and I hope we’ve highlighted how they can use it to shape the careers they want.”

CREDITS:

Creative Agency: VCCP

Production Company: Girl & Bear

CD: Matt Lloyd and Emma Houlston 

Creative: Henry Westcott and Robbie Field

Producer: Hannah Chitty

EP: Charlotte Borrell

Director Agent: The Visionaries

Edit House: Shift Post

Editor: Rachael Spann

Colourist: Ashley Barrett

Sound House: Suite TV

Sound Design: Simon Wrig

‘Dream Home’ - Simon Neal blends the adult world of mortgages with child-like innocence in his latest Barclays spot.

Simon Neal brings the essence of Barclays’ brand identity with his latest commercial, a follow-up to the beloved 'Kids World' spot that debuted last year. In this new 30-second ad, he expands on the original concept, taking us back into a whimsical world where seven-year-olds take on the roles of adults with charmingly surprising results.

This clever continuation of the 'Kids World' narrative captures both the innocence of childhood and the responsibility of adulthood with striking finesse. The small, nuanced moments, such as the children’s playful exchange and the seamless blending of innocence into the often-dreaded subject of finances, are testament to the depth of thought that went into this campaign. It’s a brilliant reminder that, even when dealing with serious topics like mortgages, there’s room for lighthearted moments—and that's what Barclays continues to deliver.

A statement on how simple, human connections can make even the most daunting aspects of life, like mortgages, feel just a bit lighter.

Simon Neal had this to say about it:

“I loved the original ‘kids world’ film so  I leapt at the chance to make the next instalment of this funny, charming campaign.  

The young actors were a dream to work with, utterly professional to the point of offering ad libs and notes on blocking. Stars of tomorrow!”

CREDITS:

Creative Agency: Bartle Bogle Hegarty

ECD: Felipe Guimaraes

Creative: Lucy Johnstone and Grace Chambers

Producer: Allen Grebovic and Tina Mwazange

Production Company: Black Sheep Studios

Director: Simon Neal

Producer: Ethan McDowell

EP: Sophie Fitzgerald

Producer: Faye Rizzo

Cinematographer: Christopher Sabogal

Director Agent: The Visionaries

Edit House: Marshall Street Editors

Editor: Joe Wilby

The Visionaries Presents: The Visionaries Short Film Festival, an Unforgettable Evening celebrating directors and creatives, accompanied by Djs and Jazz.

The Visionaries congregated at All Is Joy Studios to bring together an eclectic mix of directors and creatives for the latest instalment of their Visionaries Short Film Festival. 

The evening unfolded in the studio’s 120-seater cinema, for the screening of nine short films from some of the best and brightest directors on The Visionaries Roster. The screened films were CAKE by Alan Friel; Travelooper by Jennifer Sheridan; Seven by James Morgan; At First Sight by Pedro Allevato; The Ringmaster by Maya Albanese; Non-Playable Connection by Zeynep Oguz; Business Plan by Stefano & Alejandra; Take Me by Claire Norowzian; and ORIGINS by Phil Hawkins.

Guests enjoyed an open bar, provided by the wonderful sponsors of the event (Work Editorial, Covert, Naf+ and Felt Music), gathering in All is Joy’s resident Bozo’s Bar for ample networking opportunities and plenty of laughs. The Lemonade Lounge returned in full swing, with a performance from The Teapot Travellers, providing a relaxed and inspiring space for conversations to flow.

Corin West, MD at The Visionaries had to say about the evening:

"What a wonderful celebration of creativity and storytelling our short film festival was! It was truly inspiring to see such a diverse range of talent and passion on display. All who attended, thank you for making the festival such a success and joining our creative community".

Directors and sponsors had this to say:

“Networking events like last night are so important for our mental health and sense of community - feeling that there’s more outside our own little bubbles.” Mateo Willis

“Thank you SO MUCH for the fantastic event, we had such a great time and it’s all thanks to your efforts & energy” - Zeynep Oğuz

“The event was absolutely brilliant, we met so many people, there was a really good vibe, and all in all I loved the evening!” - Frankie Elster (Work Editorial)

‘No Taste Like Home’: Leo McCrea takes household names on a journey of self discovery through food.

Leo McCrea’s latest work for National Geographic, No Taste Like Home, is a feast for all the senses. 

Each episode sees Antoni Porowski curate bespoke journeys for celebrities as they travel the globe to explore their ancestral culinary heritage. We are taken on a visceral journey through culinary pasts and family dishes, passed down through the generations to reveal how much they can tell us about who we are.

The journeys are undertaken with the likes of Florence Pugh, Justin Theroux, Dan Matteuci and many more, it is not one to be missed!

Leo had this to say about it: 

“It was crucial for 'No Taste Like Home' to feel beautifully cinematic with a grand sense of scale, while also having close and intimate moments of emotion. Although the show dives deep into ancestry, we filmed it dynamically, with one foot firmly in the present.

To emphasize this sense of travel and movement in each episode, we shot our dialogue scenes on the shoulder, using a Steadicam-type gimbal rig, which allowed us to track the subjects as they walked. Capturing natural reactions is essential when revealing emotional moments of family history or tasting a new flavor or dish, so we ensured we captured these moments the first time around by shooting with three cameras.

As the lead director on this big-budget series, one of my primary roles was to create and capture grand cinematic moments. Whether it was traveling by boat, flying drones through viaducts while tracking trains, or sailing through Tower Bridge, we aimed for everything to feel epic. Thanks to the amazing teams we worked with, I believe we achieved this.”

CREDITS:

Directors: Leo McCrea, Jenny Dames & Graeme Hart 

Exec: Lisa Edwards 

Show runner: Robin Anne Osullivan 

Series Producer: Fiona Cleary

Production Exec: Jill Greenwood 

Line Producer: Emma Pinching 

Production Manager: Bex Morton

Senior Producers: Aisling Browne and Lucy Evans  

Producers: Cosima Malizia, Ola Mosaku and Phoebe Mills 

Assistant Producers: Ester Thorn Gent, Giulia Franlanci and Aileen Martinez Infante  

Assistant Director: Freya Jefferies & Barney 

Junior Production Manager: Sam Walter’s

DOP: Steve Lidgerwood 

Camera Operator: Charlie Granger & Jon Sayers 

Cam Asst & 3rd Camera: Nick Lawnton 

Sound: Ash Gadd and Manson Peregrine-Lewis 

UK Drone: One Weller and Hallum Films

'Fairer Healing': Chris Fowles Brings us an emotional new Film for Essity USA.

Chris Fowles harnesses his signature talent for emotive storytelling in his latest film for Essity USA. The film highlights the importance of wellbeing and fairer healing, using a cast of almost entirely real patients, from amputees to cancer survivors.

Essity are global leaders in hygiene and health solutions, committed to creating cutting edge solutions, improving health, and setting new standards for hygiene and wellbeing.

Chris had this to say about the shoot: 

"This was a really special project to work on. We had a cast made up mostly of real patients, and it was inspiring to hear their stories firsthand. Some had never acted before, and watching them step in front of the camera for the first time was a joy—it brought such raw authenticity to the film.

The schedule was intense, covering several stories in just two days, but the energy on set kept us going. My goal was to make something gripping and real, and the agency really encouraged us to be bold visually, to lean into the details that aren’t often seen in advertising.

I’m proud of what we created—a film that feels honest and deeply human."

CREDITS:

Production Company: Prodigious

Executive Producer: Richard Grisman

Producer: Stephen Riera

Director: Chris Fowles

Agency: Publicis London

Chief Creative Officer: Noel Bunting

Creative Director: Valentina Amenta

Senior Creative: James White

Senior Creative: Henry Finnegan

Editor: Jason Fok

DoP: Henry Gill

Agent: Wizzo

Colour: Cheat

Colourist: Jonny Tully

Music: MassiveMusic

Audio: thesoundworksmedia 

Sound Designer: Ross Gidney

'Original Punk Cereal': directing duo Martians Bring us a film to shake up the world of cereal.

Martians bring their natural talent for directing comedy and performance in this campaign against the ‘status quo’ of cereal. Set in an extravagantly Punk factory, with equally eccentric characters, their film successfully positions Jordans as the rebels of the cereal world.

The campaign includes ice guns freeze-drying strawberries, a fire breather popping oats and so much more - all contributing to the finished pack of Country Crisp. 

Martians had this to say about the shoot: 

"We've always been fascinated by how much Earthlings enjoy breakfast. But after seeing how much energy the Jordan's factory workers put into their cereal-making process, we finally got it. Each grain is instilled with so much energy that it must power humans throughout their day."" 

When we were first briefed, we actually had no idea what punks were. Here's the thing, we're quite new to Earth, and the punk era was long before our time. So we did what any responsible Martian would do: went back to our spaceship and googled "what is punk?"

Here's where it got interesting. All we found were thousands of black and white photos of humans in colourless clothes hanging around not very colourful industrial spaces. As logical aliens, we concluded: At the time only black and white pictures existed. So we thought, "what if we just added some colour to this whole punk thing?" And that's how our vibrant punk style was born."

We grew so attached to MooDonna, our punk cow, that we decided to adopt her. She now travels in our spaceship wherever we go."

Claire Norowzian Throws Us into the World of Wicked for LEGO

Claire Norowzian’s latest advert film for LEGO is an homage to the playfulness of childhood and the wondrous new LEGO sets inspired by the new release, Wicked! 

Claire directs us unto a colorful world of witches, where the only limit is your imagination. Claire’s direction and VFX skills are, as always, cutting edge and pull you into the project with bright visuals, bringing an escapist world into reality. Her work for LEGO perfectly encapsulates that magic found within LEGO worlds and maybe even inspires you to go see the new Wicked film! 

Credits:

Agency - LEGO

Agency Producer - Jayne Harrington

Creatives - Mya Rydman & Edmond Dukaj

Creative Director - Scott Selkirk Neilands

Executive Producer - David Z Obadiah /Kinetic Popcorn

Producer LT - Martynas Mickėnas / Strictly Baltic

Director - Claire Norowzian 

Directors Agent - The Visionaries

DOP - Pieter Snyman.

Choreographer - Supple Nam

Production Designer - Aurimas Akšys

Costumes Designer - Monika Solominė

Production Manager - Urtė Aškelovičiūtė

Location Manager - Vilius Kalaušis

1st AD - Lukas Lukoševičius

VFX & Grade - Freefolk

VFX Producer - Cheryl Payne

Grade - Marty McMullan

CG Lead - Reece Weldon & Matt Fisher

Flame - Vinny David

CG Generalist - Jansen McCord & Ilaria Colavito

Animator - Ting Liu

Nuke - Cerys Steenhuis

Grade Assist - Edward Webb

Edit House - Stitch Editing

Editor - Philip Currie

Sound Design - Gez Lloyd

Music -Arian Grande (Popular)

Casting -Tree Petts Casting CDA CSA

Mum - Amber Cameron

Daughter - Nina Rose Galano

Simmons & Kamaz Bring Moncler’s City of Genius to London

Simmons & Kamaz drop a new work for Moncler’s City of Genius brand, their newest collection soon to traipse the streets of Central London. With this series comes a celebration of high powered collections, allowing signature artists to have their effect on the brand.

Simmons and Kamaz perfectly capture the fast paced city life with jump cuts and closeups that catch your breath, as the camera rushes past some of London’s most iconic landmarks. The contrast between light and dark emulates the reflected silhouettes seen previously in the Moncler Genius installation in Japan. 

Immersive projections walk Moncler from the underground to Parliament, illuminating the creativity reflected in the remarkable vision of this directing duo and the Moncler brand. Simmons and Kamaz breathe life into the collection, as their playful use of timelapse and freezes bring the viewer in sync with the pace of the Genius city everywhere.

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Directing duo Simmons & Kamaz had this to say about the project: ““Each brief we push to innovate, with our routes connected to London, we felt honoured to bring Monclers City of Genius to the United  Kingdom.”

Credits:

Film direction, Creative direction , DOP, photography, edit & sound - Simmons & Kamaz

Production Company - ELF TV & Film 

Producers - Erinn Fitzgerald and Ross Campbell

Camera Operator - Tobias May

Digital Handling - Tom North

Photography- Simmons & Kamaz, Maddison Blackwood 

VFX - Aleksa Mirosavljević

Grade - Matt Jones 

Talent Agency - Davide Cantelmo at Visionaries UK

‘NOISE’ : CHRIS FOWLES’ COLLABORATION WITH SALVATION ARMY AND THE LERMA AGENCY DRIVES HOME THE HARD HITTING IMPACT OF POVERTY ON FAMILIES

Chris Fowles’ knack for emotive storytelling & directing performance is on full display in his latest film for The Salvation Army and the Lerma Agency. The film showcases the burden eldest children and parents take on to support their families, whilst highlighting that such mental weight can be eased with the support of Salvation Army.. 

Poverty is an extremely urgent issue, on both sides of the Atlantic. In the US, 5.4 million children provide care and support to their family, many living below the poverty line. Parentification of older children left to care for their younger siblings often matures them too quickly, leaving their childhood and friends behind to aid their overworked parents. 

Yet with the help of agencies like the Salvation Army,  hard working families are able to receive hot meals and mental support. In the UK alone, the largest food bank had 35 locations in 2010, and now has over 1,300, providing widespread assistance year round and especially leading up to the holidays this time of year. 

Lerma had this to say about the project: “We’re so proud to share this year’s Christmas spot for The Salvation Army. Ana and her family’s story is one that thousands of people across the United States relate to. One in five children in the US will wake up hungry on Christmas morning. Together, we can change that.”

Director Chris Fowles had this to add: “We had the most wonderful team on this from start to finish - everyone gave it their all and I’m so proud of the final product. Including our lead Alynna who had never acted on camera before - and had to wear winter coats in 40 degree July weather.”

Credits:

Director: Chris Fowles

Production Co: CoMPANY Films

Executive Producer: Ron Cicero

Executive Producer: Richard Goldstein

Producer: Bo Clancey

1st AD: Jeremy Haak

Agency: LERMA

CD: Katie Bernet

CD: Amanda Jackson

ACD / Art Director: Kirstin Mullins

Writer: Brooke Boulter

Art Director: Jillian Morrison

Agency Producer: Bridget Fontenot

Director of Photography: Peter Simonite

Agent: Wizzo / CAA

Production Designer: Marcus Laporte

Casting: John Williams @ The Cast Station

Editorial: Camp Lucky

Post Producer: Jennifer Brannon

Editor: Liza Moore

Colourist: Neil Anderson

Music: Mophonics

Sound Design: JJ Mitchell / crispywav

'32 Minutes to Go': Carly Cussen Brings us a New Film for Luton Airport Express, Inspired by Grime

Carly Cussen combines her knack for directing performance, music videos, subtle comedy and choreography in this playful film for Luton Airport Express. Set in a purple world of transportation, and inspired by grime group So Solid Crew’s song ’21 Seconds’, her transitions transport you straight to Luton’s front door with enticing visuals that leave us eager to jump aboard.

As soon as they told her they were making a tongue in cheek remake of 21 seconds… to sell train tickets…. she was sold!!! Cussen’s clever word play and smashing lyrical narrative showcases the ease of choosing to travel with the pseudo So Solid Crew to Luton, inexpensively and hilariously rhymed. Just set foot in St. Pancreas and arrive at Luton in just 32 minutes but the journey feels like it takes ‘21 seconds’.

Carly had this to say about the shoot: ‘When Leith Art Director Debbie Morgan first rapped the script to me on a video call- I just fell in love with the concept. The creatives’ idea to recreate an iconic song for a train advert really grabbed me. I was given the support and freedom to explore the perfect balance of ‘hip hop video’ and ‘TV commercial’, resulting in this attention-grabbing piece. It’s unusual, but I got the opportunity to work on re-recording the song and to hang out in studio with an incredible cast and team. This allowed us to craft the exact phonic tone we wanted for the piece. The cast were incredible and naturally comedic, so the shoot day was hilarious - you could see and feel the attention to detail the agency put into the work.  We shot on a Luton Express train (turning the set brand purple by replacing the all the original carriage lighting). It’s a performance-led piece so congrats to the cast for absolutely nailing each line. And thank you to DOP Miguel Carmenez for bringing the vision to life! Big up to Producers Jennifer, Amber, and last but certainly not least, Neil, the Copywriter of the stellar creative duo). Can’t wait to see more from the Leith Agency!’

CREDITS 

Director – Carly Cussen

Directors Agent – THE VISIONARIES

Agency: Leith

Art Director – Debbie Morgan

Copy Writer – Neil Mackinnon

Executive Creative Directors – Troy Farnworth & Phil Evans

Account Lead – Ed Brooke

Account Managers – Beth Lauder & Lucy Allison

1st AD – Ben Burton

2nd AD – Alex Tawny

Cinematographer – Miguel Cármenes

Lead Producer – Jennifer Howells

Co-Producer – Amber Hooker

1st AC – Adam Fox

2nd AC – Ernie Griffiths

Camera Trainee – Arla Albertine

DIT – Dan Austin

Playback – Nathan Valente

Gaffer – Edward Smith

Spark – Peter Joslin

Spark – Nik Lekaj

Grip – Alex Bojic-Aguilar

Lighting Desk Op – Robbie Smith

Lighting Trainee – Bailey Lawless

Production Designer – Felix Von Coles

Prop Hand – Tom Watson

Prop Hand – Cecily Arris

Prop Hand – Luis San Martin

Wardrobe Stylist – Neesha Sharma

Wardrobe Assistant – Nicole Ranger

Hair & MU – Jojo Copeman

Hair & MU Assist – Lily Simmonds

Runner – Elliot Lang

Runner – Rene Renak

Casting Directors – Claire Catterson & Suzette Brissett

Cinematographer Agent – Independent Talent

Offline & Online Edit – Dan Austin | Leith Studios

Colourist – Toby Tomkins | Harbor

Music Licencing & Re-Record – GAS Music Ltd.

Music Publisher – SONY Music Publishing UK

Sound Design – Finiflex Studios

The Visionaries Host An Unforgettable Night Celebrating Black Cinema with Naomie Harris & Director Sebastian Whyte at All Is Joy Studios!

In Sebastian Whyte’s latest documentary for Sky, Academy Award nominee Naomie Harris celebrates Black cinema in style. During this entertainment special, Harris’ guests curate a watchlist showcasing their favourite movies, characters, and directors from Black cinema. The audience was captivated, moved, and entertained as Adrian Lester, Lashana Lynch, Oti Mabuse, and Trevor Nelson discussed why each film was important to them. 

Hosted by us at All Is Joy Studios, the sold-out screening featured a special appearance from Naomie herself,  plus an insightful Q&A between Director Sebastian Whyte and filmmaker and poet Be Manzini (Caramel Film Club) - which touched on Black cinema past and present, upcoming projects and the broader industry.

Like the documentary, the night celebrated the cultural richness and creative achievements of Black storytellers. It heartfeltly explored the impact of Black cinema while thoughtfully recognising that progress still needs to be made and that many stories remain untold.

Director Sebastian Whyte had this to say about the night: “It has been great to watch the film with an audience and share their experience. The most common reactions have been people telling me they wish it was longer, asking for more episodes, or wanting a list of the featured films! It’s been a fun night; the reaction has been amazing. It’s got everyone debating what their choices would be.”

At The Visionaries, we are dedicated advocates for pioneering underrepresented talent and will continue to showcase groundbreaking work from our diverse roster in innovative and engaging ways. 

Dare to Race: Montirex and Mak Mahmut Akay Challenge the Limits of Physical Activity with 360 Cinematography

New work from Montirex presents a whip pan- tastic film that takes on the challenge of physical and mental endurance, pushing the limits on the achievable. UFC fighter Leon Edwards and a host of athletes take on one sport to the next, sinking impressive hoop shots and running faster than lighting. 

Directed by the incredibly talented Mak Mahmut Akay, the piece employs daring, swooping shots that provoke a sense of defiance to the restrictions of what’s possible.  Akay’s collaboration with Playmaker Films produces a whirlwind display of strength and fortitude, creating a motivating advert that makes you want to grab your trainers and move.  Mak commented that he had an “absolute blast working with the super talented team”. 

Credits:

Client: Montirex

Agency: Big Group

Director: Mak Mahmut Akay

DoP: Ethan Lodge

Production company: Playmaker Films

Producer: Melissa Massey

EP: Carly Cussen

EP: Kem Ekundayo

Executive Creative Director: Jane Linton

Business Director: Josh Hayman

Senior Accountant Manager: Millie Barker

Head of Copy: Bruce Lawley

1st AD: Kimane Erskine

2nd AD: Rory Purdy

Production Manager: Talor Hanson

Production Coordinator: Kam Ashley

Editor: Kaz Ove

Post Production: The Quarry

Steadicam AR: Austin Butler

Steadicam AR: Justin Theodore

1st AC: Justin McGillivray

2nd AC: Cameron Sealby

Grip: Wolf Wasserman

VHS/MiniDV operator: Karan Teli

Gaffer: Massimo Filippi

Drone Pilot: Barney Clark

Sound design & mix: Sefi Carmel

Art director: Katie Jessica

Art director: Louis Lasa-Tarbuck

Colourist: Andi Chu @Electric Theatre Collective

Head of Colour Production: Oliver Whitworth

Music composer: Andreas Pfannenstill @Melt Music

Sound Operator: Matthew McCabesound

MUA: Bethany Lewis

MUA Assistant: Ruth Pease

Photographer: Ali Yaqub

Digi Op: Phil Hardman

DIT: Darren Blackwood

Montirex

CMO: Amanda Calder-McLaren

Creative Lead: James Arthur Armstrong

Brand Marketing Executive: Jennifer Eckersley

Senior Graphic Designer: Hannah Amelia

Head of Social: Karan Teli

BTS: Luke Rochester

Runner: Ervin Hajdarmata

Runner: Hannah Molyneux

Runner: John Yusuf