Indulge in togetherness at Beko’s Ramadan table - brought to life by Zaeem Asad 😋

April 4, 2024

Zaeem Asad has us licking our lips at this colourful Ramadan table — full of health, togetherness & excitement. His latest commercial for Beko combines mesmerizing shots of food preparation and some killer camera transitions with the joyful spirit of collective celebration as we near the end of this year's Ramadan.

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Zaeem had this to say about the project… “When you create without the inhibition of the outcome, that’s when magic unfolds! I’m grateful that my passion has become my work, a labor of love. I always strive to work in collaboration and allow every person involved to bring their best self. Beko was a project where I feel we all made space for one another, and it was all the better for it; I’m forever thankful for that…”

CREDITS

Client: Beko

Agency: VML London

Executive Creative Directors: Philip Siegle (London), Basel Jumaa (Jordan)

Production Company: Dat Films London

Executive producer: Tugba Selvitopu

Director’s Agent: The Visionaries

Director: Zaeem Asad

Producers: Ulgen Demir, Oguzcan Dagcakrak

1st AD: Selin Selosaurus

DOP: Alp Korfali

Gaffer: Mehmet Toz

Art director: Tuncay Özcan

Food stylist: Maksut Askar

Post production: Pixel Post Production

Colorist: Canberk Erdoğan

Introducing The Visionaries Exciting New Signing Ben White ✨

March 27, 2024

Ben White creates unique and visually arresting films that offer a fresh perspective on reality. As a director, he is known for strong visual storytelling, and blending performances with a little humour and a lot of heart.

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His talent has earned him two D&AD awards and multiple British Arrows nominations, and he has worked on various commercials for some of the world's biggest brands, including British Airways, Cadbury's, Emirates, Ikea, Miller, Facebook, Sky, Sony, Virgin, and the BBC.

Ben White had this to say… “Things are a-changing, and the Visionaries broad-reaching network of creative partnerships is at the vanguard of that shift, It offers a rich opportunity to connect and collaborate with fellow creatives and producers to craft, hone and bring to life new ideas and fresh thinking… I can’t wait to get started!”

Watch our compilation of his work below:

VIEW HIS PAGE

LEGO's Latest Message to Young Girls: Ditch 'Perfect'

March 7, 2024

Jessie Ayles celebrates the creative power of girls in her latest work for LEGO. The film is the second instalment of Lego’s ‘Play Unstoppable’ campaign, which aims to challenge gender stereotypes and empower girls. The series comes after the brand commissioned global research into the societal trends affecting children’s creative confidence. The study—of more than 61,500 parents and children between five and 12 years old across 36 countries—revealed that girls’ confidence in their creativity declines as they get older.

In Jessie’s film, we watch as parents observe the internalized messages exhibited in the girls’ attitudes toward playing with LEGO, and discuss the measures they plan to take for building their creative confidence. It explores how small changes to our language can make a big difference, removing the pressure for perfection and allowing girls to play unapologetically.

The majority of parents also noted that gendered descriptions are commonly used to assess the creative outputs of male versus female creators, with terms such as “pretty,” “cute” and “beautiful” commonly attributed to girls, while words such as “brave,” “cool” or “genius” are more often applied to boys. For Lego, these findings are extremely meaningful, as it views itself as a champion of creativity.

CREDITS

Production Company – Treehouse Films

Agency- Exposure

Creative - Sally Green
Director – Jessie Ayles

Directors Agent - The Visionaries

Exec Producer – Matt Rendell

Produce – Francesca Di Muro

DOP – Kia Fern Little

1ST AD – Janine Frank

3rd AD - Nathan Mills

2nd Cam Op-Oliver James Robbins

Gaffer - Sam Cook

Sound Recordist - Louis Innis

Art Director – Bianca Zehra

Art Assistant- Ida Hedqvist
Editor – Jenna Bowden

Grade – Karol Cybulski @ Cheat

Paris El-Said Brings his Innovative Storytelling Approach to The Visionaries ✨

March 4, 2024

Whether you’re in search of a commercial infused with cinematic beauty, brimming with emotions, or one that exudes a Gen Z attitude with bold and dynamic style, Paris El-Said delivers excellence at its zenith! With a history of over a decade of directing commercials for esteemed clients, he has solidified his position as a highly sought-after director.

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Effortlessly navigating the intricacies of technical work, Paris not only meets expectations but also extracts exceptional performances from his cast and crew. His ability to seamlessly blend complex visuals with compelling storytelling, has been recognized with numerous awards along the way. Beyond the surface of subject matter, Paris elevates every project, infusing it with heart, soul, and unparalleled cinematic beauty.

Much of his work transcends traditional genre boundaries, seamlessly blending live-action and animation in a stunning and often humorous way. Watch our compilation of his recent work below:

VIEW HIS PAGE

Introducing The Visionaries Photographers

January 29, 2024

Not only do The Visionaries represent the best in freelance commercial directors, but we also offer up a rich and diverse roster of photographers. From stunning portrait stills to high-end fashion, we have the right photographer to cut through to your audience 📸

JOHN WRIGHT

FASHION | PORTRAIT | ART INSTILLATIONS

John's practice delves into the realm between art and science, with a specific focus on the interplay between an 'event' and its subsequent reconstruction within gallery spaces.

HARLEYMOON KEMP

FASHION| LIFESTYLE | BEAUTY

Harleymoon Kemp spent 8 years as a fashion and celebrity photographer and in 2020 turned to directing, making her the perfect match for her recent clients; GHD, Triumph Lingerie, Bobbi Brown, Ghost, Primark and has her work featured in store windows and magazines such as Vogue, GQ and Blanc.

PAUL BARULIS

CELEBRITY | FASHION

Paul's photography is stylish, composed and brimming with beauty and sophistication. He has worked alongside Kylie Minogue, Rosie Huntington-Whitley, Keira Knightley, Zayn Malik, Tom Hiddleston, and Alexa Chung to name a handful.

SIQI LI

PORTRAIT| STILL LIFE | LANDSCAPE

Siqi Li is an image maker based between London and Beijing. She has a sustained interest in landscape representation, identity and still life.She engages with her subjects through a wide range of photographic approaches, from hand-held digital to large-format film camera.

HENRY DEAN

PORTRAIT | COMMERCIAL | LIFESTYLE

Henry's sharp sense of humour and stylish sensibilities make for a beautiful body of work with photography that captures the spirit of all of his subjects.

HANA ZEBZABI

FASHION| PORTRAIT

Hana Zebzabi is a self-taught British/Moroccan photographer who has made a name for herself through her striking and captivating imagery. Her work often takes place in iconic cities like London, Los Angeles, and New York, which serve as stunning backdrops for her artistic vision.

MELODY MAKER

COMMERCIAL | CELEBRITY | SPORT

Melody Maker's intertwined fantasy and stunning visual effects seeps into her vibrant photography work with sharp and crips images that burst with colour.

TIM SPENCE

FOOD & DRINKS | LIFESTYLE

Tim's passion for food, the arts and his eye for beauty comes together in to make a delicious and portfolio that feels like a celebration of life and wonder.

Alan Friel’s New Film for Mayo County Council Highlights the Perils of Drunk Driving

December 19, 2023

Award-winning commercials and film director Alan Friel raises awareness about the risks of drunk driving through a narrative of two friends and the contrasting decisions they make following a night of drinking. The film shows how seemingly small decisions make a big difference to the trajectory of one's night and, by extension, one's life.

Alan cleverly uses this narrative arc, in addition to a carefully curated soundtrack, to educate the viewer on both the dangers of drunk driving as well as the precautions being taken by the authorities to combat it.

Alan had this to say about the project: “Shot in my home town with local performers, this spot was a joy to shoot and has a serious message to convey. Each year more 18-25 year olds die on Irish roads than anywhere else. With zero tolerance in place in Ireland, even one pint is too much to drive. This campaign aims to show that if you do go out and drink, then choose wisely and get a taxi”

CREDITS:

Client - Mayo County Council

Prod Company: WesternFront Studios

Director - Alan Friel

DOP - Brian Durcan

Producer - Emer Durcan

Colourist - Rossa O’Dowd

Leo McCrea’s Latest Film for Volkswagen Tests James Buckley’s Entertainment Skills With the Toughest Crowd of All: Kids

December 19, 2023

Watch James Buckley tackle a chaotic road trip adventure with four kids in Leo McCrea’s hilarious new commercial for Volkswagen. From cringe-worthy dad jokes to 'magical' self-parking demos and impromptu beatboxing sessions, this journey is packed with laughs, bathroom breaks, and even some uninvited bodily noises!

Leo McCrea has been directing the top names in TV for the last twenty years. Whether it be actors, comedians or everyday people, he has a reputation for always creating a friendly working environment to draw out the best performances. This approach is key for this film, which relies on candid improvisation in order to channel the chaos of family road-tripping most authentically.

Leo had this to say about filming: “I really enjoyed working closely with creatives Adrien and Grant at BBH to bring their idea to life. Once we had sketched out the ideas it was all about encouraging and prompting improvisation from James and the great cast of kids. Originally planned for social only, the client loved it and ran it with commercials before this week's Willy Wonka screenings in cinema.”

CREDITS:

Client : Volkswagen

Director: Leo McCrea

Agency : BBH

Production Manager: Holly Newman

Production Company: Black Sheep Studios

DOP : Simon Rowles

Camera : Barnaby Wilkinson

Producer: Victoria Ayettey

1st AD: Sascha Marden

Location Manager: Jamie Jamieson

Sound : Fresh Audio Ashley Gadd

Mini Cams : Apex

Casting : Selma at Looks like me.

Editor: Charlie Marbles

Post-Prod: Coffee & TV & No.8

Henry Dean’s New Film for IG Crafts an Alluring Vision of Boundless Opportunities

December 19, 2023

British filmmaker Henry Dean’s knack for conjuring up immersive cinematic worlds is on full display in his latest creation for trading platform IG. The film combines niche archival and shot footage to build a universe bursting with opportunity, showing how IG gives you ‘more’ beyond your wildest imagination. The striking visuals and intoxicating pacing ignite an empowering sense of expanding horizons that will leave you longing for adventure.

Henry had this to say about the project: “With a script that wasn't super prescriptive over what we see on-screen and a brand that was wanting to push boundaries a little (as much as you can in the world of finance!), this job immediately became a bit of a creative playground. It was all about toeing the line and managing tone; letting our ideas run wild while keeping things grounded. We wanted the spot to be funny but still take itself seriously, playful without being silly, aspirational but not out of reach.

I love the challenge of combining pre-existing licensed footage with scenes we shoot ourselves. We get to craft and maintain a look and feel while including moments in the project that sit well outside what would be achievable on our schedule and budget. As a director who loves playing with form and formats, a job like this sits firmly in my wheelhouse.

I appreciate it whenever a client is willing to take a little bit of a risk. Whether it's with an unexpected joke or some more fashion-forward styling, I really enjoy proving how incredible these risks can be when we make them pay off. Thankfully IG and the whole team at Adam&Eve were on board to let me come in, do my thing, and make the spot pop.”

CREDITS:

Client: IG

Agency: Adam&Eve DDB

Prod Co: Cain&Abel

Creatives: Paul Angus & Ted Heath

Producer: Kiera Brogan

Shoot Producer: Lucy Bell

Director: Henry Dean

DoP: Donny Johnson

Gaffer: Alexander Cullen

Stylist & Art Director: Borys Korban

MUA: Emma Reagan

Editor: Adrian Scanlon

Colourist: Alex Gregory at No8 London

Sound: No8 London

VFX: Sam Kim

Composer: Andréas Pfannenstill at Melt Music

Casting: Emma Garrett Casting

Footage Researchers: Susi Paz (& others)

Cast: Simon Spalding, Tania Leger, Jessica Kuo, Jeffin Kunjumon

VO: Sopé Dìrísù

Indigo Bates directed the Diwali campaign for Western Union’s ‘Phone Pass’

November 28, 2023

Indigo Bates latest piece of filmmaking for Western Union captures the joyful chaos of catching up with family members over the phone. The commercial showcases Punjab culture, highlighting the spirit and togetherness of Diwali.

Indigo had this to say about working on the project - “We had so much fun recreating a little slice of family life that really felt specific to the Punjab region in India but also universal - a girl calling home for the holidays and getting passed around the whole hectic extended family.

Casting and production design were the two biggest challenges on this piece. Luckily our amazing production designer Rose Weir was able to totally transform these bland, suburban Vancouver homes into vivid, authentic-looking settings and we found some incredible non-actors to bring relatability and heart to the story.

The cheeky humour of Love Streets’s scripts for the campaign made it such a pleasure bringing them to life.”

Credits

Director; Indigo Bates

Director’s Agent (UK): The Visionaries

Agency: Love Street & Co.

Creatives: Clayton, Kelsey Wilkins, Taylor Slyder

Agency producer Devon Dunlap

EP: Trevor Paperny

Service prod: Film Boldly

Producer: Adam Wiesner

DP: Ian Rigby

Starring: Keerit Dhaliwal

PD: Rose Weir

Art Dec: Blair Stevens

Prop Master: Mike Kearsley

PM: Mia Metz

Gaffer: Steven de Zwart

Key grip: Doug Stover

Photograher: Christian Tisdale

Wardrobe stylist: Alecia Ebbels

Sound: Nate Evans

Post: Lost Planet Post

Editors: Max Koepke, Felipe Kenji Yamauchi

Finishing: Steven San Miguel

Music: Oliver Dollop Mayo

Colour: Sam Gilling at BaconX

Mix: Mike Regan

Explore the world of Super Mario in the latest commercial from Luc Reso Janin

November 23, 2023

Luc Reso Janin teamed up with LEGO for the latest “Wild House” spot which was created by using a mixture of live action, stop-motion and CGI, which comes together to make for a fun kinetic film.

The spot showcases the new LEGO playsets for Super Mario and Donkey Kong. We witness a normal living room be transformed into a wild jungle setting, making for an adventurous rollercoaster. Luc manages to capture the excitement of not only playing with LEGO but also the spirit of Super Mario and his gang of famous friends.

Credits

Directed by Luc Reso Janin

Director’s Agent: The Visionaries

Prod company: Tash&Co

Producer: Natasha Moses

LEGO Creatives: Simon Rønsholt & Mervin Ignacio

LEGO Producer: Kathleen Howlett

Director Of Photography: Dan Holland

Production Designer: Benedict Lack

Production Manager: Tilly Gerard

1st Assistant Director: Jonathan Sidwell

Wardrobe Stylist: Fran Fox

Casting: Claire Curry

Cast: Joshua and Amelia Brigdale

Stop motion animator: Laurie Hill

1st Assistant Camera: Hopi Demattio

Key Grip: Kevin Foy

Editor: Alec Gordon

Post producer: Simon Russel @we_are_covert

VFX Supervisor: Calin Bogdacenco @we_are_covert

Colourist: Mark Horrobin @creative.outpost

Music: Jeanga Becker @soundsandsons

Sound Design: Martin Leitner @soundsgoodaud.io

Simply having a Wonderbly Christmas time with Claire Norowzian’s latest work

November 8, 2023

Claire Norowzian teamed up with online publisher Wonderbly who specialise in creating personalised books for kids and adults. The festive new spot ‘Make it a Wonderbly Christmas’ captures that Christmas joy of opening and receiving presents. The spot also showcases the services Wonderbly provides with their personalised books that have limitless possibilities. So whether you want to let daddy know his hugs are magic or turn your loved ones into story book heroes then Wonderbly has you covered this Christmas.

In typically Claire Norowzian fashion she brings a charming and playful energy to the film with subtle humour and a wonderful cast of characters.

Claire had this to say - “Claire had this to say - “My kids LOVE it when I read them their personalised Wonderbly book at bedtime so I was very up for doing this campaign. We had a lot of fun making this sweet, cheeky spot. It was a whirlwind of a day and the kids on set were brilliant…and the adults to!”

Client - Wonderbly

Agency - Studio yes

Director - Claire Norowzian

Director’s Agent - The Visionaries

Executive Producer - Sam Ojari

Producer - Alessia Lendrum

1st AD - Micki Colker - Pearlman

DOP - Bruce Jackson

Art Director - Jade Mortimer

Wardrobe Stylist - Jenny Svantesson

HMUA - Anya McDevitt

Edit - Phil Currie @ Stitch

Grade - Chris Matthews @ Lucky Cat Post

Sound Design - Craig Budd @ Lucky Cat Post

Music Composition - Ross Wakefield

Chris Fowles latest commercial ‘Reconnect’ for Volvo highlights the exclusion experienced by deaf people

November 6, 2023

Chris Fowles brings his grounded and human storytelling to the latest Volvo ‘Reconnect’ commercial which aims to highlight the exclusion experienced by deaf people and how the role of technology can play in opening up experiences in unexpected ways. Driver aids like Pilot Assist can offer both safety, and in some circumstances empowering experiences that have the potential to bring families and friends closer together.

Chris had this to say - “The story felt like such a unique twist on a classic dynamic, the silent parent-child drive home. It really got me thinking about all the small daily moments, and how different they can be for a deaf person. Technologies that often feel like a gimmick, can mean so much to people in unexpected ways. The film started as a small product film and gradually grew into this quite beautiful narrative.

The biggest challenge was working in two languages at once. Jokes and wordplay are so specific to the language, and finding something that worked both in BSL and our English subtitles took a lot of development. Michelle (sign language consultant) and both our cast were amazing in prep bouncing ideas around and rehearsing different lines.

We were very lucky with the late-summer sun - giving the film a beautiful reflective quality. It was important to everyone that it felt natural and real.

It has been incredible to see the positive reaction from the deaf community. I’m immensely proud of the film.”

Credits

Director: Chris Fowles

Director’s Agent: The Visionaries

Production Company: Petroleum & Co.

EP/Producer: George Howson & Lucas Coombs

DoP: Terrence Wilkins

Tracking Services: RKD Motion

Casting: Tobi St Clair @ Deaf Talent Collective

Sign Language Consultant / Translator: Michelle Parry

Colour: The Mill London

Colourist: Philip Hambi

Colour Producer: Dan Hills

Sound: SoundCanvas

Sound Designer: Tom Joyce

Audio Producer: Clare Wilde

Jeremy Haccoun accepted the mission for Verisure x Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One commercial

October 5, 2023

Jeremy Haccoun brought his cinematic style of filmmaking to the Verisure Mission Impossible 7 Dead Reckoning Part One commercial. Bringing the high-octane action that the Tom Cruise action franchise series is known for. The security company Verisure teamed up with Paramount Pictures to help promote the latest installment of Ethan Hunt’s spy adventure and The Visionaries filmmaker Jeremy Haccoun accepted the mission of directing it.

The commercial perfectly captures the spirit of the films and of the Verisure brand, showcasing the extra security and safety that Verisure can bring to your home. With Paramount Pictures giving permission to have Lorne Balfe’s iconic Mission Impossible theme play throughout the commercial creating a sense of tension and charm to the piece.

Jeremey had this to say - “To recreate the scene of Ethan Hunt dropping from the ceiling, the stunt team built a large metal structure above the camera. We then used a motorized descender to control the speed and position of the actor in frame.`’

Most importantly Tom Cruise himself approved of the commercial.

Credits

Director: Jeremy Haccoun

Director’s Agent: The Visionaries

DOP: Neel Potgieter

Production: Manière Noire Production

Producer: Gilles Sasson

Agency: Mai 69

Creative Director: Jérémy Zeitoun

Copywriter: Bluma Pariente

Art Director: Martin Aizier

Customer: Verisure

Customer: Paramount

Production Director: Sylvain Carellas

1st Assistant Director: Olivier Bizet

Stylist: Tanina Barra

Production Designer: Stéphanie Vareillaud

Cinematographers Agent Kinou | Cinematographer Agency

Calibrator: Bertrand Duval

Post-production: Everest Studio

Music: Lalo Schifrin & Lorne Balfe - Mission Impossible

Huse Monfaradi directed the a new film celebrating the partnership between Bowers & Wilkins and Aston Martin

October 5, 2023

Huse’s ‘Performance. Intensified.’ tells the story of the partnership between two iconic British brands, Bowers & Wilkins and Aston Martin. In detail we see what brought these two powerhouses together, sharing a passion for perfection and style.

The documentary is insightful and provides an interesting look at behind the curtain, as we see what drives and motivates each company as they strive for greatness. The new Aston Martin DB12 sports car is the peak of automotive technology and when the company needed a new sound partner Bowers & Martin felt like the perfect match.

Shooting over three days at both Aston Martin’s HQ and the Bowers & Wilkins facility, Huse managed to capture the spirit and ethos of both companies, while also creating a sense of wonder and discovery with some beautiful imagery.

Credits

Director: Huse Monfaradi

Director’s Agent: The Visionaries

Production: DOGEATDOG

Exec Prod: Harvey Ascott

Exec Prod: Jane Bolton

Prod: Lydia Martland

DOP: Olly Wiggins

Editor: Jamie McCallum

Colourist: Vic Parker

Sound Mix: Pitch and Sync

Sound: Matt Senuik

B Cam: Dave Bridges

Camera Equipment: S+O Media

Tom Brown delivers that ‘Oooft’ feeling in the charming and funny new Tennen’t Lager TV spot

October 2, 2023

Tom Brown’s Tennent's Lager TV spot ‘Oooft’ is a refreshingly great time. Tom brings his usual style of fast flowing camera work to the table, creating a rollercoaster ride, full of charm and slapstick comedy. The commercial starts in a pub but soon turns into chaos as Tom takes us from one location to another, with a montage of ‘Oooft” moments, some good, some painful…

Tennent’s Lager is Scotland’s favourite and best-selling beer brand, with the TV spot featuring some very familiar Scottish sporting figures including football legend, James McFadden and the women’s rugby national team captain, Rachel Malcolm.

Tom teamed up with creative agency John Doe and unit9 to capture that ‘Oooft’ feeling, while providing some wonderfully funny moments, capturing the spirit and trademark humour of the Scottish people and culture.