We’re extremely proud to announce the signing of Hamish Rothwell to Superprime’s roster. Hamish is one of Australia’s most prolific directors with a cinematic vision that’s distinct and irreverent. For commercial work, his client list features eminent campaigns across brands including VW, Honda, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, and Toyota.
Hamish describes his spirit-raising body of work as, “emotionally resonant with hints of humour.” He is renowned for telling engaging and enjoyable stories, elevated by strong character performances and a specific brand of playfulness. “I love the way film, no matter how short or long, can take you on a journey. It can make you laugh, cry, think and maybe even wonder what the hell life is all about. It can take you places you’ve never been, see things you’ve never seen and feel things you’ve never felt. I’m really inspired by it’s ability to surprise, even when you feel like you’ve seen it all before. That’s what I love about film making and what I always strive for in my work,” Hamish said of his inspirations to create.
Throughout his career he has collected numerous awards for commercial work from Cannes, Clio, D&AD, London Advertising Awards and New York Festival. This year alone he has been honored for his excellence and innovation in intersecting advertising and entertainment, winning Gold at the ADC Annual Awards for his work with Honda, Bronze at the A-List Awards for his work with Commonwealth Bank of Australia, and two Adfest Bronze awards for his campaigns with Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Captain Risky.
His feature film debut Stickmen was awarded Best Direction at the New Zealand Film Awards. Being able to direct Stickmen was a professional highlight for Hamish, as was directing for Super Bowl, and being featured on the Saatchi & Saatchi New Director’s Showcase, which was “a big honor and a great way to start my foray into commercials,” he said. “But to be honest, I feel like it’s a highlight every time I get to capture a little bit of magic on camera.”
His campaign for VW titled ‘Flyboy’ earned him Creativity’s Editor’s Pick for the way in which it, “shows us the angel’s perspective from a male point of view.” For Budget Direct he created Captain Risky, a character that evolved to have his own social media following and fan base. Jonathan Kerr, director of marketing and digital for the insurance brand said, “Captain Risky has really been a huge success for Budget Direct, weaving his way into the Australian vernacular as he overdramatized the real-life risks that Budget Direct won’t insure.”
Hamish’s passion for film begun at university. At the time, he was studying English Literature and Music Composition, but after spending time at the New Zealand Film Commission and enjoying a brief foray into the world of acting, he relocated to study film at The London International Film School. “The lure of the film industry was too great so I dropped out [of university] and after a stint working at the New Zealand Film Commission travelled to London to go to Film School,” he recalled.
We look forward to working closely with Hamish to showcase more of the director’s unique storytelling and superb comedic timing. “There’s so much diverse talent here. It’s exciting. I can’t wait to see what any of us does next,” he said.
