.TV Our sister site is completely free to use but credits only appear if they are attached to a membership company or individual.
NEWS The latest news stories in a shareable format. Use this to spread the word on social media.
LATEST The best of the the latest work at DAVID REVIEWS is a lovely shareable format. If you use the links at .tv then non-members will be able to watch the work.
PODCASTS All of the David Reviews Podcasts over at our .tv Sister Site. These are also available on iTunes.
DIRECTORS A searchable directory of directors. Want to be on here? Take out a Freelance Subscription for just £12.50 a month.
SISTERHOOD A searchable directory of female directors. Want to be on here? It's free... get in touch.
AGENCIES Which agency has the best ratings when you add 'em all up and average it out?
DIRECTORS And if you do the same thing with directors, who's top of that list?
CREATIVES Are you one of the twenty-five creatives who's won a coveted place on this list?
AGENCY PRODUCERS Or are you one of the most highly regarded agency producers in the UK?
FILM PRODUCERS You may have worked out that there's a bit of a theme developing by now.
BRANDS Mind you, this one's a bit different as it looks at the brands themselves.
FILM PRODUCTION COMPANIES Another company list - is your place of employment one of those on this list? If so, demand a pay rise - you're obviously doing something right.
POST / EDITING / SOUND COMPANIES We've bundled together all the tertiary companies into a single list. There are a few prominent companies on here that don't subscribe to DAVID. The fools.
DIRECTORS OF PHOTOGRAPHY Are you one of the best twenty-five cinematographers working in advertising? You are? Then you should be on this list.
The Sweetshop have completed the signing of Joshua H Walker for work in Australia and New Zealand.
Walker's credits include a compelling ad for the Royal Australian Air Force that takes viewers back to the age when the only way was up and everything called for tilting your head back. A skilful blend of between domestic and airborne imagery emphasises how humble beginnings can be the ideal launchpad for recruits.
Ubisoft's Far Cry series is known for exotic settings, excess firepower, and - since Stone Age spin-off Far Cry Primal - animal companions. These include dogs, bears, lions, and even badgers that can terrorise enemies in exchange for a pat on the head. One of FC6's additions to this militant menagerie is Chicharrón the rooster, who offers a bird's-eye view of guerilla warfare.
As the chicken escapes a life of cockfighting, we see Yara (based on modern-day Cuba) descend into civil war. This signature blend of cartoony slapstick and geopolitics will satisfy most series veterans, though animal rights groups and victims of sexual harassment at Ubisoft studios may find the crowd-pleasing chaos harder to swallow.
Daredevils abound in this two-minute Lego caper, as the brand draw attention to their Stuntz range. Directed by Andy Lambert, the stop-motion animated film sees characters like Rocket Racer and Incognitro (a name so bad it's good) demonstrate their skills on the city streets. They may be miniature, but the crew put on a big show.
The thrill-seeking cast are earnest and charming, with both triumph and disaster celebrated (Eggs-treme Chicken Man, we hardly knew ye). Meanwhile, a few neat perspective jumps show how the target market can direct their own stunt displays. Of course, some grown-ups may insist they get first dibs... just to make sure it's safe.
Idaho-based ski patroller Hannah Baybutt stars in this intriguing documentary-style film for Helly Hansen. Baybutt explains her key role on the slopes against a crisp, snowy background, detailing her essential efforts to maintain the courses and keep people safe while they enjoy the popular winter sport.
The underlying narrative of self-confidence and trusting one's abilities in a challenging environment is enhanced by the fact Baybutt is one of the few women to take on the ski patroller role. Beautiful mountain shots combined with sleekly-filmed action further draw viewers into her unique story, which will make skiing enthusiasts yearn for a trip to the slopes.
Families all over the world bring their own flair to the table in this polished commercial for Ben's Original rice. Households of all colours, creeds, and compositions use the brand's microwavable rice as the basis for a meal during the 55" montage, proving that the kitchen is truly at the heart of every home.
Director Bob Harlow skilfully handles what could be a busy sequence here, balancing communal cooking with moments of personable humour. Whether it's a kid placing their toy dinosaur on the table or flatmates photographing their food for the 'gram, viewers of all stripes will recognise their dinnertime experience reflected onscreen.
Daredevils abound in this two-minute Lego caper, as the brand draw attention to their Stuntz range. Directed by Andy Lambert, the stop-motion animated film sees characters like Rocket Racer and Incognitro (a name so bad it's good) demonstrate their skills on the city streets. They may be miniature, but the crew put on a big show.
Families all over the world bring their own flair to the table in this polished commercial for Ben's Original rice. Households of all colours, creeds, and compositions use the brand's microwavable rice as the basis for a meal during the 55" montage, proving that the kitchen is truly at the heart of every home.
A dire maths grade proves a feckless teenager’s downfall in this droll Canal+ commercial. Dismayed by her son's indifference, mum pulls the plug on the advertised channel. It may not seem like a big deal at first, but the casualties soon rack up. Mum's helpful reminders of what he's lost are relentless...and she's happy to work overtime.
Plant-based food is all the rage at present, as consumers become increasingly aware of their dietary impact on the environment, and Wagamama ride the trend gleefully with this entertaining commercial. The film draws attention to the chain's 50% plant-based menu, and sees a Godzilla-style monster rampage through a city as the planet strikes back against its human overlords.
Enduring friendships can be built on the strangest of foundations - shared hobbies, mutual interests, or even a love of gravy. At least, the latter is according to this charming ad for Bisto, which sees a pair of girls growing up together and bonding over their shared love of a good roast dinner.
This paean to acceptance will doubtless have earned some opprobrium for Oreo in its home country because it's currently impossible to issue an inclusive message in America without offending the people who are convinced that the rest of us are offended by everything.
A bloke makes his po-faced way through life in this amusing ad for South African fast food chain Chicken Licken. Entering the world as a humourless baby and quickly progressing to a smile-less adolescent, it seems that nothing can crack his flat exterior - not sporting victory, needle jabs, or even a somewhat terrifying classroom clown.
A nine-year-old boy lays waste to the family home in this fabulous commercial for John Lewis's insurance services. A fully committed performance has been coaxed out of the youngster by director Tom Kuntz, and a lot of care and attention has gone into the choreography.
Spotify encourage potential advertisers to reach a truly immersed audience in this polished commercial. The film follows people in their own little worlds as they float through life without distractions, literally encasing them in a bubble of sound as they navigate traffic, meditate the morning away, or simply release some stress with headbanging tunes.
Ad industry burnout is the target of this mini-musical from Canadian charity nabs, who present a stressed-out worker with support from an unexpected source. A singing and dancing cracker may not be the most traditional route to realising you're over-worked and near breaking point, but it certainly gets the message across in eye-catching fashion.
This isn't entirely relatable for those of us whose misspent youth involved pool halls and jumpers for goalposts, but younger generations seem sure to understand the appeal of a date night which involves settling the baby; cracking open a takeaway; and spending an evening playing with the advertised games console.
During these straitened times, we need a morale boost wherever we can find it, and so many current commercials seek to hit an uplifting tone with a rallying cry. This splendid ad for Uber Eats simultaneously lampoons this fashion, and participates in it. An Uber driver delivers an eclectic array of different food items to the demoralised staff of a dismal-looking workplace, describing each as he hands them out.
This classy new campaign for McDonalds establishes something of a McCinematic Universe. Brief spots span multiple movie genres, each drawing attention to the fast food giant's delivery options in a visually distinctive way. From tearful lovers insisting the other take the last chicken strip to a superhero arriving to save the whole house with a feed, it's an eye-catching collection.
Winnie the Pooh, Ted, and Old Bear may suffer gym envy after watching this super IKEA commercial. When a father and daughter arrive home on a rainy night, they're greeted by two of the cuddliest bouncers in the world: a pair of jacked teddy bears that take the sanctity of home very seriously.
Instagram present an ode to users of all stripes in this intriguing film. Clocking in at just over a minute and a half, the piece takes place in a mysterious digital void populated by creatives and influencer types going about their business - choosing outfits, discussing self-esteem, and (oddly enough) riding scooters on a mini-ramp.
Starling Bank's latest ad follows the company’s fourth Best British Bank award in a row - not bad for something founded in 2014. As rivals Virgin Money close more High Street branches, the brand reckon now's the time to attract more customers online. They harness the power of flight (and Sixties supergroup Cream) in this agile commercial.
Following last year's understandably muted version of the Christmas ad arms race, online retailer Very are first out of the gate in 2021 with a stunningly premature effort eighty-two days before Santa comes to town. Thankfully, a self-aware sense of humour and tongue-in-cheek approach allow the brand to pull off such an audacious move.
This globe-trotting German ad for HP takes the ad-hoc nature of remote working to the extreme. The pacy film sets up two characters in parallel - one who's embraced the advertised brand's swanky laptop, and another who's stuck in the technological dark ages.
Apple invite viewers to join a gym with no restrictions in this sweat-soaked film. Well, no restrictions bar the cost of an Apple Watch, that is. Director Sara Dunlop takes the brand's message that working out can take place anywhere under the sky literally here, taking viewers on a whistle-stop tour of bedrooms, basketball courts, and other spur-of-the-moment workout spots.
This pacy commercial pays tribute to racing driver Pedro Rodríguez, fifty years after the Mexican’s death at the wheel. A veteran of Formula One and endurance races like Daytona and Le Mans, Rodríguez returns thanks to animation studio Clubcamping and long-time employers Porsche. Vinyl collectors and motorsport fans alike will doubtless approve.
Australia's Keno bingo embraces the ubiquity of its image with this entertaining three-minute outing. Based on the waiting time between each game, the film takes place in an old school working club - complete with middle-aged hen dos, karaoke stages decorated with plastic streamers, and pool tables of indeterminate colour.
This peppy ad for Purple Bricks assures homeowners across the nation that selling their houses is a snap... one electrified by some purple magic, in this case. The wielder is comedian Mo Gilligan, who struts through the 60" ad with a self-aware sense of humour, promising that castles, run-down homes, and even remote lighthouses can exchange hands quickly via the online estate agency.
Alex Gorosh directs this cogent piece of work for The Stuttering Association for the Young (SAY), who claim that "everyday sentences take as much courage for kids as public speaking". This is illustrated by a young cast transported to packed classrooms, theatres, and auditoriums when they open their mouths.
B & Q take a stand against inertia in this compelling animated commercial. Directed by Sam Gainsborough, the film sees a dad paralysed by inaction who finally manages to shake off the accumulated dust of putting things off 'for later'. It's an inspiring sight for those who didn't embrace the home improvement trend during lockdown.
Breast cancer awareness charity Coppafeel encourage boob-owners of all stripes to get to know themselves in this delicately shot commercial. Director Jess Kohl captures bodies of all shapes, sizes, and genders with a forensic eye for detail, ensuring that every wrinkle, roll, and fold is presented with loving care.
