Young Adelaide director Conor Mercury takes on Specsavers’ ‘Should’ve’ in new TV spot via TBWA

January 20 2025, 2:29 pm | BY Ricki Green | No Comments

For the second year in a row, Specsavers has partnered with an up-and-coming director via a national competition with short film festival Flickerfest to uncover and support emerging filmmakers to create their very own ‘Should’ve Gone to Specsavers’ ad. Adelaide based director Conor Mercury took out the top prize from 100 entries with his script ‘Orchestra’.

 

Filmed at Melbourne Recital Centre and featuring Orchestra Victoria performing Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, the TVC sees an enthusiastic Timpanist mistake the heads of two bald men for his drums.

The work was guided by creative agency TBWA\Melbourne.

Speaking about the opportunity, Conor says: “It was an honour to win the Flickerfest competition. The Specsavers’ Should’ve Gone campaign is one I have loved for a long time, and it was so wonderful to be able to make one of my own.

“The team at TBWA were so good and supported me each step of the way, and the crew in production and post-production were so amazing. Thank you everyone and shout out to Joel and Patto for all their help! I hope you like the finished product!”

Says Brian Patto, director at TBWA\Melbourne: “It’s been a pleasure mentoring Conor on this journey. Big thanks to Specsavers and Flickerfest for providing young filmmakers the opportunity to work with such an iconic global brand, as well as collaborating with top talent all round.”

Says Shaun Briggs, director of marketing planning ANZ, Specsavers: “Our ‘Should’ve Gone to Specsavers’ construct has long been part of the national vernacular and to inject fresh thinking into this well-loved campaign via this partnership gives us great pleasure.

“We are excited to see the ad come to life on the big screen at Flickerfest and look forward to it inspiring new audiences to take action for their eye health by booking an eye test.”

Launched on the opening night of the 34th International Short Film Festival, the 30” and 15” executions will tour with the festival nationally, and will be rolled out from 20 January in BVOD, SVOD, YouTube and cinema.

Director: Conor Mercury
Director Mentor: Brian Patto
Producer: Joel Morgan
Production Company: TBWA\Melbourne
Director of Photography: Sherwin Akbarzadeh
Casting: Northside Casting
Sound Production: Rumble
Colourist: Ted Deacey
Music Performed by: Orchestra Victoria
Creative Agency: TBWA\Melbourne
Media Agency: Initiative

Specsavers
Jane Hoban, Trading Director ANZ
Shaun Briggs, Director of Marketing Planning ANZ
Goran Majstorovic, Head of Brand Creative ANZ
Anri McHugh, Head of Brand Planning & PR ANZ
Emma Kershaw, Brand Marketing Communications Manager, Planning and PR ANZ
Joanne Dixon, Senior Marketing Manager, Brand Creative ANZ
Hannah Parkes, Marketing Executive, Brand Creative ANZ