This ad for Heineken started out as a shooting experiment and eventually materialized into a spec commercial, explains director Julian A. Renner. "The DP (Walter Tyler) and I talked about lighting techniques and I eventually went off and wrote the concept. Seeing that we both were really busy, it actually took us a year after the idea was written to finally get together and shoot it. The biggest challenge was lighting and time. We had to abandon a lot of shot because of the time factor and crew budget."

Did the experience leave the director enlightened for future shoots? "As far as effects are concerned," Renner advises aspiring spotmakers, "plan well and be realistic in terms of what you can acquire in the course of a day."

Spot Title: "Lights"

Director: Julian A Renner
DP: Walter Tyler