The Essential List: Mateo Willis
Based in the UK, Mateo Willis is a two-time Emmy and BAFTA-winning director/ cinematographer who works across drama, documentaries and commercials. He’s probably most recognised for his wildlife filming on a number of landmark series that include: Blue Planet 2, Planet Earth 2, Frozen Planet, Dynasties, Hostile Planet and Night on Earth. One of the most respected and experienced in his field, Mateo is currently developing a series of long-form television projects and working on his first feature film. His recent commercials have shown he’s equally at home with our domestic four-legged friends, and their owners, in films for Battersea Dogs & Cats Home and Frontline.
Lifestyle
- Place of birth: Granada, Spain
- Hometown: Muscat, Oman
- Staycation: Paris with a scooter
- Vacation: Namibia by 4x4
- Pet: A guilty-looking Labrador (it was you wot ate it!)
- Place of work: A cabin in the woods
- Place of workout: Trampoline
- Side project: My short film Eulogy
- Mode of transport: Helicopter
- Bonus travel essential: Jar of Vegemite
Culture
- Artist: John Singer Sargent
- Musician: Hildur Guðnadóttir
- Commercials / music video director: Tom Tagholm
- Film director: Malick on a good day, Iñárritu for the rest
- Photographer: Peter Beard
- Film: Tree of Life/The Revenant
- Series: Succession: Series 1
- Commercial: The Loneliest What, Three Mobile
- Board game: Go
- Book: Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie,
- Graphic novel: The Arrival by Shaun Tan
- Podcast: Late Night Live, ABC Radio National
- Newspaper (off or online): The New York Times
- Magazine: Sight & Sound
- Bonus culture essential: Pick any capital city…walk across the centre in a straight line…soak up everything
Food and Drink
- Breakfast: Poached eggs (runny on the inside) and avocado
- Restaurant: Noma
- Cheap bite: Mexican street stall
- Working lunch: Empanada
- Favourite dish: A secret tomato-based pasta recipe
- Signature dish: Burrito
- Snack: Yes please
- Guilty pleasure: Chocolate ice-cream
- Bar: Somewhere on a beach facing the sunset
- Booze: Only for cooking
- Not booze: Bitter lemonade
- Bonus food: Mango
- Bonus beverage: Columbian coffee, medium strength
Kit
- Phone: iPhone X
- Computer: MBP
- TV: Huh?...what’s that?
- Headphones: Airpods
- Camera: Arri Alexa Mini LF
- Soundsystem: Again…I’ve seen them in museums but…
- Pen / pencil: Fountain pen
- Where you document an idea: Mindnode. If you love mind maps it’s the DB’s.
- Casual clothing: Adventure wear
- Smart clothing: Shirt, jeans
- Footwear: Approach shoes or Chelseas
- Watch: Any Elliot Brown. Proud to be one of their ambassadors
- App: Mindnode
- Website: https://earth.nullschool.net
- Favourite social media feed: George Steinmetz
- Work program: Mindnode
- Digital work tool: Arri
- Analogue work tool: 1979 Canon K35 lens set that I bought in Hollywood.
- Morning grooming / makeup essential: Shave
- Bonus kit essential: Leatherman. Take on the world
