The Gate Worldwide creative director Pete Martin set out to make a short film about his Dad’s boyhood, growing up in depression era Glasgow, casting a small boy who couldn’t read was just the first obstacle. With just 3 days’ filming on 35mm, here’s how re-created a slice of personal - and Scottish – history.

The London School of Economics has published a study on the economic impact of immigration in the UK. Using 35 years of data, the researchers found that increased immigration has no impact on the wages of indigenous males. This counters the ‘popular’ view that an increase in the supply of ‘cheap labour’ tends to suppress […]

The X-Factor sucks. A lot of people watch it. Simon Cowell has made a lot of cash out of it. But it still sucks. And not just because I think the talent doesn’t have any. The sheer cynicism of the show has corroded the soul of the old ‘Opportunity Knocks’ format and left us with […]

Is new media consumption killing ‘advertising’? Or has the fundamental challenge of communication hardly changed since pre-history? The Gate Worldwide creative director Pete Martin discusses the impact of the latest ‘gorilla’ tactics in online marketing.

I’m a big fan of continuous professional development and ‘advancing my craft’ and learning new stuff. But, most of all, as a professional creative and commercials director, I like the random nature of inputs. Even with the best-laid plans, you often get something different from what you expect – and that, like many creative projects, […]

Albert Watson (Scottish photographer now based in the New York) held a show in Edinburgh this year. Probably the best - no definitely best photography exhibition I’ve ever seen. Sumptuous, massive prints. All kinds of stuff. He’s only got one eye, but what an eye. There’s also a sublime selection of shots on the Albert […]