David Reviews
 Biting the hand that feeds us since 2002.
Latest Work
    • Miles Bingham joins BlinkBlink have signed Leicester-born director Miles Bingham to their roster.
    • Aardman and Independent assemble.Aardman Animation and Independent Films look to bridge the gap between live action and animation with their new joint venture.
    • Ultra 4K, ultra Eighties.Marvel’s love affair with the 1980s reaches peak nostalgia with this ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ ad.
    • Onwards and UpwardsFord have released this nostalgic film to celebrate the release of its 'all-new' Fiesta.
    • Garth Lee joins NERD Productions.Animation designer and director Garth Lee has joined NERD Productions for representation.
    • Burrito-Sweet SymphonyAmerican fast food chain Chipotle has joined forces with Wu-Tang Clan to create... musical burritos.
    • Diverting traffic.City planners may take umbrage, but Nice Shirt’s Gerald McMorrow oversees some tricksy roadworks in this Nissan commercial.
    • Poetry in motion.This compelling Under Armour commercial stars Misty Copeland - the first African-American female principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre.
    • Spinning an epic yarn.Those who’ve yet to catch up with Game of Thrones now have a crafty solution - no square eye-inducing telly binge required.
    • System shock.One wouldn’t immediately associate Opel with the new world order, but the marque clearly have a Mr Robot fan on staff
    • Come Fly With MeThis collaboration between British Airways and Comic Relief ensures passengers won't forget to fasten their seatbelts.
    • MachineThis Horrors promo is a hypnotic sequence of biomechanical mutations.
    • Message in a shampoo bottle.Head and Shoulders show their environmental conscience with recyclable shampoo bottles.
    • Skater boys.Nike’s irreverent streak continues with this disco-infused commercial.
    • From Script To ScreenThis artistic ad for Honda explores the process of filmmaking, concentrating on the transition of ideas from page to screen.
    • Life in the Fast LaneRenault have released this compelling film about Rosemary Smith: the oldest person to drive a 800bhp race car.

CRAFTWORKS

Make a note in your diaries. The dates for the next three CraftWorks shows are:

Wednesday, 6th September.
Wednesday, 11th October.
Wednesday, 15th November.

Between 4.30 pm and 6.30 pm.

The LSE, Sheffield Street, Holborn, London, WC2.

Prices:
£20 for Marketing Subscribers.
£25 for Standard Subscribers.
£50 for non-subscribers.

Tickets will go on sale soon.
Miles Bingham joins Blink

Blink have signed Leicester-born director Miles Bingham to their roster for UK representation.

After a brief career as a fork lift truck driver, Bingham has spent many years building his career as a creative at JWT. He's become known for bringing a fresh perspective to campaigns, viewing the creative side of things with an outsider's eye.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE...
Aardman and Independent assemble.

Aardman Animation and Independent Films look to bridge the gap between live action and animation with their new joint venture.

As the industry pursues memorable results with ever-tightening budgets, the two companies believe their one-stop shop approach will entice brands and agencies alike.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE...
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
"Home Entertainment"		 1 min 39s
24 July 2017

Marvel’s love affair with the 1980s reaches peak nostalgia with this ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ ad. To celebrate the film’s release on Blu-ray, DVD, and digital (no sign of a LaserDisc release), Buena Vista Home Video’s cheesy presenters reveal what’s in store. Fans of “all that behind-the-scenes” are in for a treat.

The throwback aesthetic is, er, nothing new. However, it ties in well with the film’s nostalgic leanings. Informercial patter and low-grade graphics complete the spectacle. Meanwhile, curious viewers can even ring the advertised phone number… though Baby Groot can only offer limited, adorable assistance.
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Ford Fiesta
"Progress"		 60s
21 July 2017

Ford have released this nostalgic film to celebrate the debut of its 'all-new' Fiesta. With thoroughly British actress Keeley Hawes behind the wheel, we see the new model take to the streets... and a trip through time.

The ad sets out to position Ford as a constant through the nation's history, taking us from the first Fiesta leaving the factory in 1965 to today's new innovations. Hawes drives past several vintage models as she passes through the years and changing landscape, illustrating the brand's progress as time rolls by.

The set changes here are executed with a slick attention to detail, and Hawes' measured performance (and wry interaction with her past self) feels restrained and well-pitched. Primal Scream's 'Loaded' provides the soundtrack - a song pretty much from the middle years of the Fiesta's journey so far - and does a good job of emphasising the summery mood. Compelling work from GTB and the prolific DOM&NIC.
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Garth Lee joins NERD Productions.

Animation designer and director Garth Lee has joined NERD Productions for representation.

Lee plys his trade in animation, VFX, and motion graphics. NERD were drawn to his already polished skillset, as well as his desire to grow and experiment. Lee even offers budding animators advice via his website.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE...
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Five Star Work
Ford Fiesta
"Progress"		 60s
21 Jul 2017
Ford have released this nostalgic film to celebrate the debut of its 'all-new' Fiesta. With thoroughly British actress Keeley Hawes behind the wheel, we see the new model take to the streets... and a trip through time. The ad sets out to position Ford as a constant through the nation's history, taking us from the first Fiesta leaving the factory in 1965 to today's new innovations.
Under Armour
"Misty Copeland"		 90s
20 Jul 2017
This compelling Under Armour commercial stars Misty Copeland - the first African-American female principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre. It’s a far cry from the Metropolitan Opera House, but this empty arena proves the ideal stage. Agile's Georgia Hudson and DP Zoë White orbit Copeland’s graceful performance.
Opel
"Leadership"		 2 mins 20s
19 Jul 2017
One wouldn’t immediately associate Opel with the new world order, but the marque clearly have a Mr Robot fan on staff. This cinematic commercial wears its tech-noir influences on its sleeve. The main protagonist is a computer hacker determined to crash The System - while her targets squirm, she prepares to strike.
The Horrors
"Machine"		 4 mins 09s
19 Jul 2017
The Horrors frontman Faris Badwan introduces ‘Machine’ with: “Your smile is nothing to live for”. As opening lines go, that is cold. The warmth of previous album ‘Luminous’ is replaced by talk of “mannequin moves” and “cold simulation”. As for the promo, digital filmmaker Jon Emmony presents a hypnotic sequence of biomechanical mutations.
Nike
"Skates"		 60s
18 Jul 2017
Nike’s irreverent streak continues with this disco-infused commercial. It’s a West Coast showdown between the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers. When Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson receives the ball, his opponents suffer a bad case of the skates. This gridiron tussle suddenly turns into a roller disco - complete with lighting pinched from Studio 54.
Honda
"Dream Makers"		 90s
18 Jul 2017
This artistic ad for Honda explores the process of filmmaking, concentrating on the transition of ideas from page to screen. We see scripts coming to life - black and white words flowing into monochrome sketches which quickly gain colour, depth, and motion. The mix of live action, CG, and animation is kept in delicate balance by directors James Allen and Michael Skrgatic.
Renault
"Rosemary Smith"		 3 mins 40s
11 Jul 2017
Renault have released this compelling film about Rosemary Smith: rally driver, racing champion, and oldest person to drive a 800bhp race car. Directing team Michel + Nico give us an intimate insight into her nerves before the record-breaking drive, intercut with glimpses of Rosemary's life behind the wheel.
Virgin Media
"Football Tunnel"		 60s
17 Jul 2017
As players loosen those muscles and pine for transfers, Virgin Media welcome the 2017/18 Premier League season with some vocal support. This lad enjoys a quiet kickabout in a familiar-looking tunnel. He’s not alone for long, though - not when the Saints are marching on. Mark Jenkinson takes the fibre optic reins from Rogue colleague Sam Brown.
Samsung
"Polar Story"		 60s
17 Jul 2017
This whimsical ad for the Samsung Max Space fridge depicts a kid creatively passing the time. While the film was created with local concerns in mind - many Ukrainian kitchens need to be smart with space - the emotional message is universal as it shows the boy counting down the days until his dad comes back from working at a polar station.
KFC
"The Whole Chicken"		 60s
16 Jul 2017
When you see that someone has been credited as 'chicken choreographer' you know that you're about to watch something out of left field. And so it proved when DAVID hit the play button and discovered what Mother is doing for the first KFC television campaign since they won the account.
Nokia
"Bikerni"		 3 mins
14 Jul 2017
This film for Nokia celebrating the all-female Bikerni Biker Club in India offers a fascinating insight into how determined women have to be if they want to go against the grain of misogyny. The film itself is beautiful but it never prettifies the subject matter and it retains a sharp focus on the way these women's sense of independence has been enhanced by their involvement with the club.
Village Green
"Salvation"		 2 mins 13s
14 Jul 2017
So this is what happens when Noah Harris and Andy Biddle visit a car boot sale. The Blinkink duo turn bargain hunters for record label Village Green, and this beguiling short turns bric-a-brac into objets d’art. Harris and Biddle’s stop-motion expertise produces a conveyer belt of unexpected transitions.
WWF
"Protectors"		 76s
14 Jul 2017
Director Martin Stirling swaps wrangling CGI tigers for the frontline in this compelling WWF commercial. Shot from a first-person perspective, the ad follows three protagonists as they pursue the charity’s goals - albeit in different ways. Pavel, Singye, and Ollie may never meet, but their respective efforts combine to meaningful effect.
IKEA
"Lion"		 60s
14 Jul 2017
IKEA have an original take on nature documentaries in this amusing ad by Us and Mother. We observe a lion in a domestic setting... only it's a stylish living room rather than a savanna. Attenborough fans may want to look away now. The voiceover informs us that lions relax for up to eighteen hours a day, just so they can be ready when the perfect moment to strike suddenly arises.
Stihl
"Garden Magic"		 60s
11 Jul 2017
Stihl’s debut UK ad pays homage to ‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’. Instead of a grotty workshop, though, the protagonist must tackle the back garden. Dad’s pat on the shoulder doesn’t instil confidence... so how will he tame this suburban jungle? With a little help with from his friends, of course.
Grant's Whisky
"The Journey"		 60s
11 Jul 2017
Blended whiskies often struggle to make an impression alongside their single malt contemporaries e.g. Laphroaig revelling in its divisive taste. However, the likes of Grant’s have raised their game. This classy effort suggests blended means business. As this smart-casual trio go forth, director Loren Denis makes astute use of limited surroundings.
HSBC
"Life Cycle"		 60s
8 Jul 2017
A child provides the voiceover as a man recalls his life through a series of bike rides in this film promoting an HSBC initiative. We first see him with a playing card positioned to generate the cool noise loved by Generation X in their youth before we leap forward a few decades and see who he has become.
VW
"Finding Yourself"		 60s
8 Jul 2017
This lovely commercial for VW - designed to underscore the car company's support for independent cinema in the UK - features an ageing hippy who claims to be "a condor, eddying on an invisible breeze" as he negotiates his vehicle through unfamiliar terrain. We might be inclined to believe him if it weren't for the telltale voice of his satnav coldly issuing the instructions which help him make his way to a remote spa.
HSBC
"Pride"		 2 mins 53s
7 Jul 2017
This emotive film for HSBC explores the origins of the Pride march, tracing from its beginnings to where it is today. We're introduced to two men who have strong connections to the movement: Andrew, who was part of the first Pride march, and Jamie, a transgender man who carried the British flag during Pride London.
Three
"Sloth-Dolphin"		 60s
6 Jul 2017
Three expand their menagerie of hybrid beasts with the chill-yet-energetic Dolphasloth. Much like the flamboyant Giraffeamingo - which amusingly combined the most distinctive features of both creatures of origin - this guy features the head and arms of a stoned-looking sloth, and the tail of a peppy dolphin.
Spec Films
"Keeping Cupid Busy"		 1 min 51s
6 Jul 2017
Cupid has become weary with the modern world in this fascinating spec film for dating site OkCupid. Taking the form of an ageing union guy - married to his job and not ready to quit despite his constant bellyaching - he decries the modern world and the complexity of love in it. This is an American Gods-esque portrait of Cupid: grizzled, grouchy, and jaded - just the way we like him.
Nike
"The Roger Effect"		 1 min 37s
6 Jul 2017
Roger Federer has endured tougher starts to his Wimbledon campaign. With Federer’s opening match lasting only forty-three minutes, at least he can sit back and watch this terrific Nike ad.
Absolut Vodka
"Equal Love"		 2 mins 20s
5 Jul 2017
Absolut Vodka - long time champions of the LGBT community - have released this classy snog-fest to celebrate equal love. Set against a dark city backdrop, the Sense8-esque production sees kissing become contagious as strangers succumb one by one to the siren call of each other's lips. With astute choreography and a dreamlike feel, this film makes a powerful statement without saying a word.
New Zealand Transport Agency
"Legends"		 90s
5 Jul 2017
Like the redneck protagonist in this extraordinary anti-drink/driving film from New Zealand, you may need a little thinking time to entirely get this. He is clearly one of those guys who is impervious to the rules that other men live by, It's revealed in a terrific flashback sequence that he's a fellow who thrives on recklessness while appearing immune to its consequences.
SOS
"Lunchbox"		 1 min 40s
3 Jul 2017
This moving film directed by Nice Shirt's Liz Murphy for a German charity tells its tale of compassion with extraordinary intimacy. An unhappy looking boy looks at others eating their lunches in the school playground and your first thought is that he's being bullied. It appears to be his teacher's thought too and he reaches out to the boy's mother who decides to find out for herself what's going on.
Five Star Work
David Reviews - Lovely Lenzie Ltd, Woodbourne House, Seven Sisters, Lenzie, G66 3AW. Telephone: +44 141 776 7766. Editor: Jason Stone.