Comedy it seems, is a knack you’re either born with or you’re not. Take us, for example. We were *seriously* considering opening this intro with some lame joke about drinking lots of milk and funny bones. There you go. No such problem for today’s young director Nick Ball from @radicalmedia, whose low key comedy has netted him a clutch of Australian ad awards in the last year.

When did you first pick up a camera?
I think I was about 5 or 6. I used to film my friends acting out Peter Pan and Narnia in my backyard and then when their parents would come to pick them up we’d watch it back on VHS to polite mumsy applause. I think the major reason for doing this was to get close to the then perceived love of my life who I would cast as Tinkerbell, and me as Hook so I could spend the most time with her captive on my boat…come to think of it, that’s kind of stalker-scary but I’m glad to say that we’re still mates, and I think we may have even kissed once so who’s laughing now!

What drew you to directing comedy?
It’s hard to put a reason for it other than instinct, and the desire to make stuff that people get a giggle out of. It feels natural to me to be directing this kind of work.I love working with actors to find the funny within their performances, and adding an unpredictable irreverence to them to lift it all to another level. I also really get a kick out of adding a distinct sense of style to a piece of work. I’ve always found it quite strange that as directors the tendency is for people to put you either in the “performance” or “pretty picture” category, but seldom together. I’m hoping that my work might tick both boxes.

The past year seems to have been really successful for you with the ADC and MADC awards?
It’s a real validation of the hard work myself and @radical.media have put in, and proves that the direction in which we’re heading is the right one. It’s always nice to see or hear your name read out somewhere, but the real deal is on set and in the edit suite putting the thing together. It’s great when you just click with a creative team and client to all agree to make the best possible thing from the opportunity and unsurprisingly, it’s these projects where everything has worked together that have been the ones to get noticed.

Outside of commercials directing do you have any other projects that you’re working on?
My feature film “A Girl, A Smock & A Simple Plan” is in its last stages of final draft revisions after receiving some funding money from the film governing body down here, so that’s pretty damn exciting. I’m knees deep in script editing with a guy out of the UK which is great, and hopefully all things going to plan we may look to shoot that soon. I’ve got a couple of short films I’d love to shoot in the meantime which are ready to go, and then there’s always the writing and developing of other projects to keep my busy in amongst playing the drums in a sweet dirty cover band around the traps.

What piece of work are you proudest of and why?
Making retro computers come to life in the Bingle campaign was a blast. I loved giving these inanimate objects individual characteristics that defined them (so much so they had names by the end of the shoot!), and really working hard to keep pushing ourselves to maximise the comedy in each of the spots.

Conceptually there was a lot of work to do from when the original scripts arrived, and from refining existing scripts, to developing new ones and finding a very definitive approach to the spots, the whole process was a great collaboration between DDB and myself. This extended period of development proved that in the end, simple comedic timing and stylistic execution can go a really long way to convey a rather simple message, albeit in an entertaining and offbeat kind of way.

What’s your favourite thing about the directing process? And your least favourite?
Least favourite – I don’t really like working with cats.

Favourite – Certainly having the ability to pick and choose to work with the best in the business to maximise a projects potential is what it’s all about. Directing commercials also challenges and develops different skill sets that vary from job to job, and this keeps me on my toes. I love being on set and seeing the thing come together and the cast and crew all enjoying themselves whilst at work. I’m a big believer in bringing the right attitude to a job, and if this can stem from the top down then hopefully my approach will rub off and provide a great experience for all. We as directors are very lucky to be doing what we’re doing, and I am constantly pinching myself to remind myself of that.

Where do you see yourself in ten years time?
In a solid gold hovercraft. Boom.

To find out more, check out the @radicalmedia website.