How to make a thrilling sports promo
Sky Creative’s Simon Cole explains the process behind making sports promos, including how to appeal to younger audiences and why he takes parodies on the chin
Even Vikings wore helmets, says new PSA from Denmark
In a bid to get cyclists wearing their protective headgear, the Danish Road Safety Council travelled back to 893 to find out how the Vikings did it
Greg Williams on the art of the candid shot
The photographer discusses his journey from documenting war zones to capturing candid moments of some of the biggest celebs on the planet, plus why the best images often aren’t technically perfect
The colourful world of Autumn de Wilde
The photographer and director has injected striking palettes into fashion photos, celebrity portraits, vibrant ads and her feature-length debut, Emma. She talks to us about navigating these different arenas and building worlds through music and colour
Why the time has come for game title sequences to shine
Territory Studio’s Andrew Popplestone discusses the evolution of games credits and title sequences, and how they’re moving ever closer to the world of film
The Native on the rise of Nigerian youth culture
Since launching in 2016, the Native has grown from a magazine and festival into one of Nigeria’s most-respected cultural commentators. We speak to the collective about how Nigerian youth culture is making its mark everywhere from Lagos to London
Tony Barry on why advertising should move people
The director and former Wieden + Kennedy creative director looks back on the lessons he’s learned about peeling back the ‘veneer’ of advertising to make people laugh, cry, and truly believe in what they’re watching
Inside the mind-bending world of Alice in Wonderland
From Walt Disney to Salvador Dalí, the influence of Lewis Carroll’s iconic children’s book runs deep through popular culture. A new blockbuster exhibition at the V&A in London takes us down the rabbit hole of its fascinating history
Has the ad industry improved for women directors?
Women filmmakers have racked up long overdue accolades in recent film and TV awards. But what is the state of play in the commercial world?
Tanu Muino on making music videos bigger, better and weirder
Tanu Muino is the filmmaker on every artist’s wishlist, following a string of hits for Lil Nas X, Cardi B and Rosalía. CR spoke with her about making blockbuster music vids, her love of Hieronymus Bosch, and why artists need to embrace the bizarre
How BAFTA is tackling its diversity problem
Off the back of a successful 2021 awards, BAFTA’s Krishnendu Majumdar and Anna Higgs discuss how the academy is levelling the playing field for everyone – and what other awards can learn from its example
New animated short emphasises the harsh realities of animal testing
Working with Andy Gent’s Arch Film Studio and director Spenser Susser, the film Save Ralph features voiceovers by Taika Waititi and Ricky Gervais
Inside the VFX boom
The VFX artists behind Disney’s award-winning film The One and Only Ivan talk about tapping into their secret inner thespian and why VFX is in the midst of a golden period
Donald Graham Burt on making a career in production design
The Oscar-winning production designer discusses his journey from night janitor to one of David Fincher’s most trusted collaborators, plus his work on the director’s latest film Mank
Ode to the cassette: a mixtape of emotions
The cassette tape changed our relationship with music in ways that are still playing out today. Here, MassiveMusic’s Marijn Roozemond reflects on how it opened up our ways of listening to, making, and sharing the songs we love, plus what brands can learn from this
Qianhui Yu’s sugar-coated animations come with a serious message
The animation director and recent RCA graduate uses a pastel colour palette and cutesy characters to address important subjects such as sustainability
How local networks are supporting creatives
The pandemic has forced many of us to think locally. For creatives this might be no bad thing – here we explore a number of regional and community networks that are helping creatives survive and thrive
Inside Megacomputeur’s world
French collective MegaComputeur make funny films for grownups. Here, we chat with its three founders about their playful process focused on fun, and their delightfully twisted CGI animations
Why we should take laughter more seriously
Leaders might shy away from humour during difficult times. Yet, as leadership coach Tanya Livesey points out, laughter is one of the most powerful ways to help your team bond
The colourful characters of Munya Chawawa
Munya Chawawa has garnered legions of followers through his whip-smart videos and characters, which he shares online. Here, he discusses the importance of craft and the challenges of 60-second satire
An oral history of the Old Spice ads
First launched in 2010, Wieden + Kennedy Portland’s shirtless one-shot ads for P&G brand Old Spice turned heads and spawned a cascade of spinoffs. We retrace how the ads were made with the creatives as well as The Man himself, Isaiah Mustafa
Copa90 and Mind join forces for film on football and mental health
Sunday is a new short film which discusses the role that local football teams have in supporting men’s mental health
Marketing for laughs
With TV comedy experiencing a boom time, channels are in stiff competition to attract viewers. Emily Gosling talks to creatives and marketers from across broadcasting and streaming to find out how they draw in the audiences
The Creative Review Humour Issue is out now!
The latest issue of Creative Review is devoted to comedic creativity and giving you a laugh in our challenging times. We talk to the creatives and performers who are helping to shape what makes us chuckle today