Lights, camera, action

The huge logo, photographed from a crane 60ft high, created for the television advert

ONE of Steven Spielberg’s favourite up-and-coming film directors has completed a classic piece of armchair, barstool, carpet and bath theatre — in Oldham.

Phil Hawkins, one of Hollywood director Spielberg’s tips for greatness, teamed up with Manchester-based AIR Advertising and The Gate Films to produce a new television advertisement for furnishing retailer Housing Units, shot on location at the Hollinwood store.

An award-winning former Manchester Xaverian College student, Phil is just 23 — but has been making films for 10 years.

The challenge facing the creative team, including Paul Barnes of AIR Advertising, was to showcase Housing Units’ product range, plus the overall scale of the multi-store retail park in Wickentree Lane.

Director Nick Fox said: “We laid down a tough challenge — this simply could not be just another sofas-and-beds-style ad that seems to be the default in furniture retailing. There were some scary words in the brief — drama, tension, excitement and intrigue.”

The crew of 70 included 15 staff from Housing Units acting as extras building a Housing Units logo, measuring 116ft by 42ft, made up of sofas, tables, baths, cushions, lighting, vases, barstools, carpet, rugs and hundreds of other different items available in the store.

The ad was screened in the Granada TV region throughout June.