The Work That Made Me: Bill Doig

Bill Doig is an award-winning executive producer with over 20 years of experience in both local and international production. Having worked with top agencies like Leo Burnett London, Saatchi & Saatchi, and Crispin Porter & Bogusky, Bill has produced standout work for global brands such as Uber Eats, Microsoft, Toyota, Burger King to name a few.

Now a founding partner at Mosaic Music & Sound, Bill brings his deep love of music and sound to the company, blending his extensive agency experience with a fresh approach to premium audio production. Known for his meticulous craft and collaborative spirit, he’s passionate about making great work.

Bill is based in Sydney with his wife, two children, and a small dog.

LBB> The ad/music video from my childhood that stays with me, made me want to get into the industry, and/or that I keep revisiting…

Bill> Oh wow, this really took me down a rabbit hole of memories, but I landed on a few from back in the day when I started my career - you’ll probably know them, but if you don’t they absolutely are worth a look - being a young TV assistant at Leo’s Sydney meant I used to watch all the great work sent in from overseas via the Chicago office, so I was really lucky in that respect.

First one is the Gatorade ‘Be Like Mike’ work, that track still sits in the far reaches of my brain, simply because folks just wouldn’t stop singing it, and I def wanted to be like Mike although I sucked at basketball.

I then spin to 'Drugstore' by Gondry… incredible piece of ironically timeless work really. Killer track by Biosphere too. 

Fast forward to this gem for Budweiser. Everyone at the agency I worked at walked around for weeks hollering ‘wazzzzuuuuppppp’ at each other. So good.

Lastly (I did mention this question took me down a rabbit hole), Tony Kayes Dunlop from 1993. Again, just a wild execution for a car tyre brand. 

So yeah, it’s probably the work that, at the time, really pushed the boundaries of music, art, and the vibe in the ad industry. Even though I was pretty green and learning, it was inspiring to see that kind of work being made and being remembered.

I think the music video question is a great question, as far as what really inspired me in the early days. I'd watch music videos before I got in the industry, and always wondered, who was the person who decided that those visuals went with that song?

That’s easy answer for me though - the incredible Floria Sigimondi.

I remember seeing the clip for 'Beautiful People' by Marilyn Manson, and couldn’t stop watching it really, so then became a huge fan of her work, discovering her influences, and really what the medium could do - music videos were why I got interested in the industry in the first place. 

It also made me realise as a young fellow that there was a world where people followed their artistic pursuits without compromise, and developed their own style, whether anyone else liked it or not, and the importance of this as a creative benchmark. 

LBB> The creative work that I keep revisiting…

Bill> This fitness app always makes me laugh - running motivation? Zombies of course!

I mean I’m not a runner, although I do love a good zombie film, so if the apocalypse does happen, and you use this app, you will absolutely be fit enough to outrun the undead. That is unless they are the Danny Boyle type zombie zingers, they seem very hard to outrun. Or that World War Z film, those ones are not playing around. 

Great soundtrack design too.

I'm also quite partial to a bit of Ridley Scott cinematic goodness like "On my signal, unleash hell".

LBB> The piece of work that made me so angry that I vowed to never make anything like *that*…

Bill> Okay this is easy, although not entirely warranted. When I first saw this work from Casey Neistat it was super irritating to me. Took the Nike money, and went around the world. I actually really hated it at the time, super indulgent and self serving, but then later, I appreciated what he was all about and understood his jam / the YouTube medium. 

LBB> The creative project that changed my career…

Bill> More than one particular project, I think about the particularly amazing people you meet along the journey, and how they affect your career. So many amazing people, and yep I’ve been really fortunate in this respect. 

LBB> I was involved in this and it makes me cringe…

Bill> I’ll just say it involved a European chocolate bar...

LBB> The recent project I was involved in that excited me the most…

Bill> It’s actually coming out next month. Watch this space…