Robert Wilkins is an award-winning writer/director known for his beautiful visually cinematic storytelling, with raw emotions. Starting in documentary he burst into the public consciousness with the visceral, taboo-bashing film ‘Gypsy Blood’ for Channel 4 in the UK. An exploration of fathers and sons in the Gypsy community, it went on to be BAFTA nominated.
Robert’s ability to craft relatable stories and draw out warm, emotional performances from actors and street cast alike has led him to become highly sought after as a commercial director. Working with leading SFX companies, he has also developed an in-depth knowledge of technical camera work, using it always in service of the narrative. For his 2023 campaigns for eBay in the UK and Germany, Robert immerses the viewer into the up close and personal – ‘built different’ – worlds of DIY motoring enthusiasts. For Waitrose ‘Taste’ Robert honed that craft with food preparation, getting camera lenses inside ovens, champagne flutes, bubbling water or even Christmas puddings.
Sound design often features heavily in Robert’s work, grounding it and enhancing connection.
Guinness, eBay, BBC, Waitrose, Tesco, British Airways, Oppo, Amazon, Pedigree and Sony are just some of the brands he has worked for. His work has been recognised at Cannes Lions, Creative Circle, D & AD, British Arrows, and Kinsale Sharks among others.
Robert’s important 2022 advert for UK suicide prevention charity CALM screened to millions on ITV during the finals of the men’s football World Cup. It puts viewers inside the mind of modern footballing hero Declan Rice as he battles ‘invisible opponents’ alone, using post VFX and sound to powerful effect.
