Freddie Leyden collaborated with award-winning choreographer, Botis Seva in a beautiful exploration of visual storytelling

Freddie Leyden is no stranger to murjing the expressive art form of dance with striking visual beauty and his latest work with the award-winning choreographer, Botis Seva is no exception. The intimate piece is an expression of faith, inspired by the Greek and Roman sculptures and religious scenes from the medieval book of hours. 

The stunning craftsmanship oozes out of every frame, from the sharp editing to the black and white aesthetic which lends the piece a timeless quality to it, everything feels meaningful and thoughtful. Botis’s movements are captured with the utmost respect and detail with clever uses of vfx that add a hypnotic element to the film. 

Credits

Director: Freddie Leyden

Director’s Rep: The Visionaries

Dancer & Choreography: Botis Seva

Director of Photograph: David Bird

Executive Producer: Sophie Ede

Executive Producer: Harri Kamalanathan

Producer: Jens Nielsen

VFX:  Artists 

Paraic McGloughlin

Kevin McGloughlin

Music: MRWIZE  

Production Coordinator: maddy corner  

1st Assistant Director: Rosie Owen 

2nd Assistant Director: Rowan Hutchings 

Steadicam: Jess Doxey

Focus Puller: Dan Henderson 

Loader: Charlotte Hayde

Gaffer: James Duffy

Spark: Sam Crook

Production Coordinator: Maddy Corner  

Colourist: Alex Gregory

Executive Colour Producer: Charlie Morris

Runner: Grace Mimi 

Covid Testing: Verity Stacey

Camera Hire: Focus 24 

Marketing Strategy Lead: Pascale Zaidel 

Senior Copywriter: Patricia Lam 

Executive Colour Producer: Charlie Morris

Sound Mixer: Glen Gooden 

DIT: Euan Coe 

Runner: Iona Arae

Runner: Oli Dunk

Special Thanks 

Royal Museums Greenwich

We Love Hue 

Sugar Studios Greenwich

Honey and Thyme London 

Eugenio Donadoni

Chanel Clarke

Nina Jua Klein 

Eco anxiety is no joke and can strike at any time, but have no fear Jacob Hopewell and Grundig have you covered

A trip to the local coffee shop can turn into a dread-inducing experience when you look around and all the other customers have brought their own eco-friendly cups and you’re standing there waiting for a paper or dare we say a plastic cup, that will go straight in the bin after one use. A nice hot shower after a long day of grafting can feel like a selfish act of indulgence, and there’s the confusing ordeal of deciding what to recycle and what not to. 

Jacob Hopewell perfectly captures that eco-anxiety feeling with some lovely camera work that adds a lot of humour. Jacob’s use of close-ups really brings out the comedy and sense of sudden panic when an eco dilemma strikes, whether that be in a coffee shop or the comfort of your own home. 

But have no fear because all of Grundig’s products are sustainable, so you can wash away that eco-anxiety and get on with your day. 

Credits

Director: Jacob Hopewell

Directors Rep: The Visionaries

Executive Producer: Tim Marshall

Producer: Sara Nouman

Production Service: Mental!

Service Producer: Alice Mustang

Agency Producer: Roshni

Creative Lead: Brodie King

Creative: Dylan Hartigan

Creative: Tom Snell

Project Director: Claire Chin

Offline Edit: tenthree

Editor: Elena De Palma

Post Production: No.8

Grade: Tim Smith

Sound: Jungle Studios

Carly Cussen brings her sound and vision to The Visionaries roster

With over fifteen years of directing experience in the industry from commercial directing, music promos  and fashion Carly Cussen’s filmography is one of both sound and vision. A colorful surge of cinematic imagery that oozes with flair and style. After breaking into the industry by sneaking onto film sets at age 16, Carly has gone on to direct show-stopping promos for some of the music world’s biggest names, from Ed Sheeran to Missy Elliot. 

Carly is now producing show stopping commercials for some of the world's leading brands such as Samsung and Disney. Her eye for detail and knowledge behind the camera make her a force to be reckoned with, crafting striking visuals that capture the essence of each brand she works with. 

Here’s what Carly had to say about joining the roster - “Joining The Visionaries is start of something really inspiring and (toes crossed) explosive.There is a bubbling excitement in every conversation we have had so far, and now I’m so delighted to be part of such an incredible collection of creatives. Here’s to the future, chin chin.”

Carly’s latest spot featuring England and Chelsea star Raheem Sterling for Gillette Labs - Effortless Flow is a neon drenched delight that’s executed with precise pression, showcasing her talent for camera movement and blocking. 

Huawei - Nova Dance Challenge highlights her talents for capturing dance and the joyous spirit of music on camera, while also providing the audience with a vibrant world with top notch production design. 

Poetic storyteller Sebastian Whyte joins The Visionaries roster

The latest talent to join The Visionaries is Sebastian Whyte, a London based director and photographer known for his poetic storytelling and socially rich narratives. He’s a visually engaging filmmaker that knows how to craft nuanced and authentic performances. A self taught photographer, filmmaker, and an avid lover of film and film history make him a formidable talent. 

His filmmaking also leans on elements from his cultural background, as well as his love of photography, art, music and sound.

‘Black History Month’ for UKTV Dave highlights his own personal experiences and background to address difficult questions for himself and others, while managing to inject natural humour into an important and relevant subject matter.

Rambert Dance in Peaky Blinders - ‘The Redemption of Thomas Shelby’, is a promo/trailer for the stage show from Rambert, and Peaky Blinders creator Stephen Knight which shows off a more cinematic side of Sebastian’s directing capabilities, with flawless production design and top tier choreography that come together to make for a visual and kinetic piece. 

Seb is committed to developing compelling and authentic narratives rich in dramatic detail and beauty. With a tendency to let the performances and the action develop within their space; Sebastian’s films allow you to take your own emotional journey.

Sebastian on joining the roster -  “I am grateful to everyone at The Visionaries for taking me onboard. I am excited to see where this cinematic journey takes us and looking forward to further developing as a director. I'm keen to get out there  and  create beautiful stories.”

To see more of Sebastian’s work click here

Tom Brown shows us why the ’HP Pavilion’ is so special in the new Currys PC World spot

Tom Brown is back with a new spot for Currys PC World that lets us know why the ‘HP Pavilion’ is so special. With the employees of Currys PC world leaving no stone unturned and no question unanswered. In the commercial we see the employee travel all the way to France and back to answer a query about whether or not the HP Pavilion would be a good option for teaching in an art class…talk about going the extra mile. 

Tom once again shows his talents for capturing quirky written dialogue while still producing a well directed and kinetic piece of filmmaking with the use of virtual production technology. The perfectly showcasing what the HP Pavilion is capable of in a short and informative commercial. 

Credits

Director: Tom Brown

Directors Agent: The Visionaries 

Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO

CCO: Nicholas Hulley

CCO: Nadja Lossgott

CD: Dave Westland

CD: Jeremy Tribe

Creative: Julia Merino

Creative: Ricardo Porto

Editor: Maia Lloyd

Editor: Nazy Hashemi

Quite Brilliant

VP Supervisor: Russ Shaw

Wave

Sound: Jack Patterson

Director duo extraordinaires Stefano & Alejandra join The Visionaires

Stefano & Alejandra will be bringing their diverse and distinctive brand of filmmaking to The Visionaries Roster with their strong sense of art direction, live action and unique touch of humor.

Milanuncios - ‘Without Shame’ perfectly showcases the duo's visual flair with a mixture of live action and laser beam vfx and top notch production design that all comes together in a colourful package. 

They have worked for brands like KFC, Snickers, Phillips, Vodafone, Mapfre, La Once Lottery, Schweppes, ING Bank, Shell, Mahou Beer, Sony Music,  Rum Barcelo, American Express, LOL US, Beefeater, Sunrise and Almarai, among others. 

Here’s what Stefano & Alejandra had to say:"We really love to do advertising and film commercials around the world and now we have a cool opportunity to be part of The Visionaries and start growing up in the UK market and meet a lot of interesting people. Let's have fun!"

Corin West - Founder and MD of the Visionaries had this to say about the duo

‘When we began exploring the idea of taking on Stefano and Alejandra we knew it was going to be a perfect fit. Visionaries talent is always exceptional and everyone on the roster has their own unique flavour and S&A have their own identity in spades, which is what is needed to cut through the noise. They are also hugely enthusiastic and have an adventurousness that is a real breath of fresh air. We think that their talent will flourish in the market here and we can’t wait to introduce them to you!’

The Visionaries is a freelance roster of Directors who are available to work with Agency, Brand and Production partners.

Feast your eyes on more of their work here

However you garden Spring It On with the new Dobbies spot from Jonas McQuiggin

Spring it on with the latest spot from Jonas McQuiggin. His latest outing is for Dobbies and comes with a catchy little rhyme that’s bound to be imprinted into your head for the next several months. Providing slick camera work, top notch editing and a fantastic colour palette the short but snappy spot overflows with confidence. 

So whether you're a painter of sheds or a killer of pesky weeds or simply just want to show off your garden and impress your social group, Dobbies has you covered every step of the way to achieve your gardening goals. 

Credits

Client: Dobbie Garden Centres 

Agency: Elvis

Director: Jonas McQuiggin

Director’s Agent: The Visionaries

Producer: Sam Greaves 

Producer: Natalie Cooper

PM: Agne Motieciute

DP: Richard Bell

Focus Puller: James Roberhills 

2nd AC: Ashley Rees 

Gaffer: Sam Horne

Electricians: Michel Salaga, Oscar Whaley, and Danny Golds

Lighting: Location Lighting London Ltd

Art Director: Jess Elcock 

Art Director: Ashleigh Latter 

Art Assistant: Tom Quinton, Alize Speed, Jack Needell 

Wardrobe Designer: Nil Tomakan

Make Up: Bobana Parojcic 

Editor: Thomas Faulkner 

Colourist: Vlad Barin

Colour: Cheat

The Mandela Project - Huse Monfaradi’s new five part series for Youtube Originals Black Voices Fund

Huse Monfaradi’s latest work  “The Mandela Project” is an insightful and important five part series for YouTube Originals Black Voices Fund. With a global spanning production and starring a diverse range of talent. The message of the series is the importance of community and togetherness championing the spirit of Nelson Mandela Day. One episode features UK rapper Big Zuu and takes us to a community Garden in North London, another episode takes us across the Atlantic with the Fresh Prince Of Bel Air actor; Jabari Banks to encourage Gen Z African Americans to vote. The series also features episodes with ex Manchester United footballer Patrice Evra, Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi and Black-ish stat Marasi Martin. 

The Mandela Project - Trailer

The Mandela Project - Ft Big Zuu

The Mandela Project - Ft Jabari Banks

 Huse explained how the project came to be, saying: “It was a huge honour to be Series Director on “The Mandela Project”, a five part series for YouTube Originals Black Voices Fund, produced through Paramount’s international studio VIS, celebrating the legacy of the great man himself. Shooting across multiple territories in the UK, US and South Africa and with a diverse range of A-list talents was logistically and creatively challenging, but ultimately extremely rewarding. 

The essence of Nelson Mandela Day is to encourage people to take part in community service and acts of kindness. The series took us from Big Zuu working in a community garden in North London alongside an aspiring young female farmer, to the new Fresh Prince Of Bel Air,  Jabari Banks, helping run a voter registration drive in Atlanta Georgia, encouraging Gen Z African Americans to vote and meeting with young voting activists. 

 Personally, I thrive filming in documentary settings and for this project especially the subject matter was super gratifying, as we entered the homes and lives of everyday people to tell their individual and at times compelling stories.”

Credits

Production - VIS - A Division Of Paramount, in partnership with The Nelson Mandela Foundation

Client - YouTube Originals 

Series Director - Huse Monfaradi 

Showrunner - Shurwin Beckford

Series Producer - Sheila Risk

Exec Producers - Dillon Khan, Tim Horwood, Monde Twala

Line Producers - Charon Benjamin, Carla Holdforth

Producers - Riva Japaul, Carissa Jump

Director of Photography - Olly Wiggins, Ryan Maslyn, Keith Gubbins

Editors - Jamie Mac, Ben Harrex, Alexander Cockburn

Original Music - KC Sounds

Chris Fowles directs a wholesome new spot for Google Nest

Chris Fowles latest work for Google Nest is a warm piece of filmmaking and the automated robotic voice powered by Google has never felt so comforting. Chris brings his naturalistic storytelling to the forefront of the commercial with a focus on close ups and emotive visuals.

The heartwarming story is centered around a young boy in a wheelchair, who appears to be making the house more wheelchair accessible. Making little inventions such as a ramp made of books and boxes but his endeavors are made easier with the help of Google Nest. At the end of the commercial we discover that it’s his sister who needs the wheelchair and he was making sure everything would be accessible for her. 

 Credits

 Director: Chris Fowles

Production Co. Jealous Films

EP / Producer: Alex White

Production Manager: Kris Declan

DOP: Matt Wilson

Gaffer: Marcus Kartal

1st AC: Matt Hollis

Steadicam: Tom Colli

Art Director: Skye Halsey

Art Assistant: Matilda Maguire

Colourist: Jonny Tully @ Cheat

Sound Design: Scott Lyon @ Floss 

Tom Brown’s latest virtual production for Coca-Cola brings the sound of the summer

Tom Brown is back with new work this time for Coca-Cola, bringing his trademark filmmaking energy into every frame. This latest piece of work was achievable through the groundbreaking technique of virtual production, that places live actors against CG backgrounds with very convincing and authentic results. Using large LED backgrounds known as “volume” which allows filmmakers to transport the cast to new locations…the possibilities are endless and exciting. 

For Tom’s Coca-Cola spot he is able to transport a bottle of Coca-Cola and its various thirsty owners around several locations, from a store to an outdoor music festival in seamless fashion. The new technology perfectly complements Tom’s distinctive brand of flashy filmmaking and in this cool little BTS video we get to see him flex his talents with virtual production. 

Coca-Cola is your ticket to the ultimate summer of sound with a chance for you and your friends to win various prizes, so make sure to scan every can and bottle.

Credits

Production Company: We Are Social UK

Producer Evelyn Tsekoura

Production Coordinator Keri Douglas

Dir: Tom Brown

Director's Agent: The Visionaries 

1st AD: John Robinson

Production Designer: Charles Whiteway

Styling: Luke Temple

Drink stylist: Tara Garnell

DOP: Sam Meyer

1st AC: Adam Fox

2nd AC: Dan Howe

Trainee: Joel Robinson

Grip: Alex Hudson

Moco: g6moco

VP: Teleport Virtual Production

Adam Loveday-Brown

Gaffer: Mark Stewart

Sparks: Robbo Shears, Joss Garnet-Lawson, Rob Gifford

Riggers Harry Elvidge, Scott Allen David Hartnett

VFX Untold Studios

The Future of Fries is here in the latest Tim James Brown commercial for Heinz

You may not have realized it yet, but you probably suffer from FRIESTRATION: the frustration of not being able to get enough sauce with your fry. Well, fortunately Heinz came up with a solution: Spoon-Friez. Friez to enjoy more Heinz.

Spoon friez are here…yes you read that right, the latest commercial from Tim James Brown showcases Heinz new Spoon-Firez, an easier way to get the most from your dip. The charming new clip invites people from around the globe to try the new Spoon-Friez with positive results.

The condiment to starch ratio is something that plagued dinner-tables and lunch breaks for years. Now we can move forward as a society knowing we can master the perfect blanc of chip and sauce. 

Credits

Director: Tim James Brown 

Director’s Agent: The Visionaries 

Agency: DDB Africa

Creatives: Yan Prado and Leandro Vilas

1AD: Emma Pounds 

2AD: Daniel Stoker

DOP: David Meadows 

Playback: Alex Bates 

Sound: Christopher Wright 

Gaffer: Tristan Hutchinson 

DIT: Luke McCarthy 

Focus Puller: Frankie 

Stylist: Sophie Surridge 

Food Stylist: Alyssa Owens 

MUA: Caroline Piasecki 

Prod Assist: Agnes Jarek 

Cast:

German Man: Alexander Ballanger 

Italian Woman Jessica Giuffre 

Chinese Woman Ning Lu 

British Man Andrew Boateng

Award-winning filmmaker Michael Geoghegan is the latest addition to bring his talents to The Visionaires Roster

Michale Geoghegan started out his career directing music videos when MTV was still brand new. His iconic music videos for Pulp, Jesus Jones, Thomas Dolby, and Simple Minds would put Michael on the map as one of the best directors around. 

His career has seen him go on to create a portfolio of award-winning commercial work that has won him multiple Arrows, Cannes Lions and D&AD's not to mention his Brit Awards and a Grammy for his work in the Music world.

Michael’s adaptive style has long been established and still carries through to each film he takes on. His award winning work for Greenpeace, Patek Phillippe, British Airways, Canon, Suzuki and Honda shows his agility in styles and sensibilities. 

Here’s his work for Greenpeace, titled Save The Arctic, which is every bit cinematic as it is thought provoking.

To see more of Michael’s work click here

Unfilter Your Life with the poignant new Bupa spots from Lauren Midwinter

Mental health can affect us all in many different ways, whether it’s trying to manage family life with work life, or feeling trapped in a job you don’t want to be in, sometimes everything can be overwhelming.On top of this the long-tail impact of Covid lockdowns is also having a huge impact on women’s mental health. Sharing your story is a powerful thing and can be the first important step in finding help. 

After a year of virtual casting due to the pandemic Lauren was finally able to do a casting room with the actors face to face, allowing for a more natural and collaborative experience. The final product is two great performances from Cheyenne (Alice) and Kaya Bradly (Angela) who truly get the emotional message across. 

Credits

Cast -

Alice: @chymeariver

Angela: Kaya Brady

Casting Director: Hannah Wills 

Crew -

Director: Lauren Midwinter

DOP: Tasha Duursma

1st AD: Janine Frank

Focus Puller: Milo Brown

Grip: Dan Huntley

Gaffer: James Duffy

Spark: James Owens

Sound Recordist: Duncan Ettie

Runner: Jacob Hughes

DIT: Duda Rodrigues

Wardrobe: @a_thompson

Hair & Make-up: @chloeedwardsmakeup

Props: Rana Fadavi

Props Assistant: Max Stranger

Kit: @emmyland

Post -

Colourist: Max Ferguson-Hook @timebasedarts

Colour Producer: Dan Kreeger @ Time Based Arts

Sound Design: Lucky Cat

Agency: Contented

ECD: Paul Reid

Exec Producer: Nicola Harris

Production Co-ordindator: Amy Brown

Director Agent: @visionaries_uk

You can really taste the fizz in the latest Smirnoff Lemonade Spritz spot from Samona Olanipekun

The latest Smirnoff commercial from Samona Olanipekun captures that laidback sunny vibes, with a strong emphasis on the glorious fizz of their Lemonade Spritz.The commercial kicks off the first day of the UK summer in style, so it’s time to get out in the back garden and invite your friends round for some drinks in the sunshine…or maybe wait until the weekend arrives. 

Credits

Client Smirnoff Ireland

Agency HeyHuman

Production Company Another Production

Executive Producer Tanja Adams

Producer Fiona Boakes

Line Producer Danny Prescott

Stills Producer Maria Stavang

Creative Team Shnoosee Bailey and Nick Frearson

Account Team Danielle Bruce, Lucy France  and Mafalda Morao

Director Samona Olanipekun

Director’s Agent The Visionaries 

1 st AD Bailey Marks

DOP Joe Douglas

We blast of into to space via the ZX Spaceport in latest Adidas commercial from Tom Brown

We travel through the galaxy in style with the latest Adidas ZX commercial from Tom Brown. The latest work is a mind bending dose of science fiction taking place at the ZX Spaceport,Tom also adds his trademark brand of humour with some surreal imagery and some very stylish pensioners. 

Like all airports there are rules and regulations to abide by and the ZX Spaceport is no different. Some of the most important rules are appropriate footwear, keeping all animals on a leesh and driving the Spaceport Mobility Service responsibly. 

Credits

DIR- Tom Brown

Director’s Agent - The Visionaries 

Trinity Operator - Charlie Rizek

1st AC - Adam Fox

2nd AC - Dan Howe

Trainee - Joel Robinson

Grip - Alex Hudson

Playback - Charlie Gibson

DIT - Will Gardner

Producer Hanna Davis @the_midnight_club

1st AD John Robinson

Set Designer Joe Bazalgette

Gaffer - Robbo Shears

Sparks - Craig Cambell, Joss Garnet-Lawson,

James Leech & Shaun Paul Clarke

Riggers

Harry Elvidge

David Hartnett

Scot Allen