Directors Speck & Gordon on the importance of truth in storytelling
What’s the Story? is a storytelling video series dedicated to learning what truly makes a great story, told through the lens of the world’s talent and practitioners of the craft in entertainment, marketing and beyond.
Directors Will Speck and Josh Gordon (aka - Speck & Gordon) have mined the rich depths of comedy as directors of successful Hollywood comedies. Office Christmas Party, Blades of Glory and The Switch were great successes under their watch.
Both, however, have made significant contributions to the commercial world as well, directing standout work for the likes of PlayStation for BBH/NY, Apple for Media Arts Lab, Centurylink for Arnold Worldwide, Wendy’s for Publicis NY, Overturn Prop 8 for Saatchi & Saatchi NY and others.
Their well-received film for Donate Life starring Will Arnett and Thomas Jane for The Martin Agency debuted during last summer’s Cannes Lions and not only nabbed ten awards but was a viral hit that boosted organ donation by 125%.
Speck and Gordon met at NYU film school and bonded over the same films and are big fans of the underdog. They also know what makes a compelling story. According to Gordon, strong stories are based on truth and something that has an honest core. To Speck, it’s all about keeping the audience engaged and entertained throughout.
The unexpected is also a plus and is evident in the story that Speck counts as one of the best he has ever heard involving Frank Sinatra and the legendary Don Rickles (not the first we’ve heard) that had tension, drama, perfect timing and a sense of relief at its outcome.
What's the Story? is sponsored by Branded Entertainment Network (BEN), the first global network for branded product integration in the entertainment industry, across all media, including the influencer space.