Makers At Heart | VFX Supervisor Dave Hempstead on creating unconventional automotive commercials & why new talent inspires him
We are Makers At Heart. We create the extraordinary.
As the creative engine room of the world’s biggest brands we are driven by one purpose: to solve our client’s toughest briefs beautifully. Our Makers believe in the power of cooperation and partnership to deliver ambitious ideas to that break new ground and deliver awe-inspiring creative work.
Everything we do as a team makes great ideas come to life. We are thinkers, designers, artists, directors, producers, developers, colourists, coders, technicians, editors, animators, writers, doers and makers.
In our Makers At Heart series, we introduce the people behind the projects to hear more about their inspirations, motivations and creative insights. We spoke to VFX Supervisor Dave Hempstead about creating unconventional car spots and why new talent inspires him.
Tell us a little bit about your role as VFX Supervisor?
The Berlin office, being the latest branch of The Mill, is looking to expand its creative horizons into the German market. As part of the VFX team here, my role is to help nurture and bring new ideas and concepts to fruition, while building and maintaining strong and healthy working relationships with directors and agencies and creating the best work possible.
I started at The Mill ten years ago. In that time I’ve been very fortunate to have worked with some of the most exceptionally talented people, and been part of a lot of incredible projects.
If you had to choose a project that defines your career what would it be and why?
It would have to be Audi ‘Birth’ and Hyundai E SUV ‘On to Better’. Both of these projects took the idea of what you might consider the conventional narrative for a car commercial and turned it on its head, the result being the creation of something completely unique and enthralling. For me, that’s when you really feel you’ve broken through a barrier creatively, you’ve gone somewhere new.
What is keeping you inspired?
The constant stream of new talent that comes through the door is always something I find really inspiring, you never stop learning; fundamentally, the more new people you meet, the more you learn.
What career advice would you give to your younger self?
He probably wouldn’t listen.
