Director Ornette Spenceley Signs to The Sweet Shop

The Sweet Shop is excited to announce the addition of acclaimed director Ornette Spenceley to their roster of global talent. Highly-regarded across the industry for his authentic and carefully observed spots, Ornette has worked with many of the most loved and best known brands in the UK, including Kelllogg’s, Persil, Asda, Kinder, KFC, Lloyds and Tesco. 

Renowned for his ability to extract natural and heartfelt performances from his cast, regardless of age or experience infront of the camera, Ornette has created a body of work brimming with the authenticity so sought after in advertising. Displaying a perfectly honed instinct for what to leave out, the simplicity of his work often belies a considered and meticulous approach to film-making. It’s this uncluttered approach that creates the emotive and honest tone in all of Ornette’s work, brilliantly demonstrated in his much loved “Snuggling Bunnies” film for Ibis Hotels. 

A graduate from the National Film and Television School, Ornette started late in film making, having previously honed his aesthetic sensibilities working with designer Sir Paul Smith. After going back to school to pursue his first love, he came to the industry’s attention with his multi-award winning short film “Lard.” Having developed his talents at Partizan, Ornette joined Independent and there continued to create the beautiful, naturalistic films that have become his hallmark.

“The NFTS was an extremely creative environment, with a deep focus on the craft of storytelling.” said Ornette. “The Sweet Shop has that same commitment to craft, and signing to the company feels like a natural progression.” 

“I’ve known and admired Ornette’s work for some time” says Spencer Dodd, Managing Director of The Sweet Shop London. “His talent for directing natural and real performance across all age ranges is a key asset which has led to the huge success of big brand campaigns. Creating something that feels natural and real, despite it’s being inescapably contrived is one the hardest skills in our industry and Ornette does that consistently.” 

“The international nature of The Sweet Shop was a huge draw,” adds Ornette. “I really believe that commercial film making is built on collaboration, and having the opportunity to work alongside creative agencies based in different countries and cultures is incredibly exciting.” 

“Ornette’s signing is another important step in The Sweet Shop’s progression towards becoming truly local globally.” says CEO/Founding Partner Paul Prince. "Ornette’s standing in the UK market, alongside the universal appeal of his filmmaking, makes him a perfect addition to our team.”