JAMES PILKINGTON JOINS PLAZA

British comedy director James Pilkington has signed on with Plaza in Sydney.

Earlier this year, Pilkington received a great deal of attention after directing the Dove ‘Chocumentaries’, a fable of how two women escape life’s afflictions through their chocolate addictions. Pilkington perfectly captured the character’s neurotic relationships with chocolate in MARS Snackfood’s largest campaign of the year.

Pilkington loves laid back attitude of the Australian comedy scene:  “In Europe everything is so PC it’s hard to tell a joke anymore. In Australia and New Zealand you’re still allowed to be rude and offend people. So I moved here four years ago and became a fat British Pom on the beach.”

Pilkington’s unique comedic style is founded upon a love for slapstick and more subtle ‘less is more’ humour.  He manages to place the most ordain characters in absurd situations with an air of normality. 

Pilkington first found success directing short films. His first short film, Pocket won the 1998 BBC Short Film Award and more recently, his short film ‘Sweet’, featuring the comic duo Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding (of Might Boosh fame) was runner up in the London Film Festival and was also nominated for a BAFTA. His Tip Top ‘Togs to Undies’ spot picked up three AXIS awards in 2006.

Says Plaza Executive Producer, Peter Masterton: “It’s great having James at Plaza. He’s hilarious as well as talented and I know we’re going to have a lot of laughs on and off screen.”