The Work That Made Me: Matthew Sterling
Matthew Sterling is an award-winning director, writer, and producer specialising in creating visually striking and emotionally resonant commercial content. With a foundation in storytelling and a keen eye for detail, Matthew’s work seamlessly merges creativity with brand messaging, delivering campaigns that captivate audiences and elevate brands.
Having worked for brands like New Balance, Coca-Cola and EA Sports, he has a keen eye for framing that sees him working across fashion and sports campaigns. His work has also screened at BIFA, BAFTA and Academy Award-qualifying festivals.
Matthew began his career as a creative researcher, collaborating with notable clients like Bradford Young ('Selma', 'Arrival') and Alejandro G. Iñárritu ('The Revenant', 'Birdman').
He was selected for the Directors UK Inspire scheme, where he is mentored by Otto Bathurst ('Peaky Blinders', 'His Dark Materials', 'Black Mirror'). Under this mentorship, Matthew shadowed and directed splinter unit for the Sky and Peacock series 'Lockerbie: A Search For Truth'.
LBB> The ad/music video from my childhood that stays with me…
Matthew> Strangely the music video that I remember watching was one for Britney Spears. I cant remember which one it was, just vague imagery which makes me think it was Toxic, although that came out too late to have been it.
Circa 2001 and my father had been given a copy of one of her music videos on DVD somehow (now I think about it, was it a whole DVD for just ONE music video? Did they even do that??). It came alongside a story that she had wanted him to have it because of some ‘crush’ she had on him. I don't know if I’m misremembering, misheard at the time or what. Maybe I’ve just made the whole thing up. But it’s stuck with me for decades now, so.
LBB> The ad/music video/game/web platform that made me want to get into the industry…
Matthew> I had a two prong attack that got me into the industry. Maybe three? I had wanted to be an actor when I was younger because I loved watching films so much and thought it’d be the best job in the world to be in them.
Then when I discovered YouTube, and more importantly the OG GOATS, Freddie Wong and Brandon Laatsch - AKA FWONG. The all nighters editing 5 cans of Monster deep. The airsoft guns. LA. Making movies with your friends. It got me hooked and I suddenly saw behind the camera as my own Hollywood dream.
Add on top of that the glorious and epic behind the scenes features for Peter Jackson’s 'Lord of The Rings' and that was it. Signed, sealed, delivered. I was in.
LBB> The creative work that I keep revisiting…
Matthew> The early days of Vimeo had a lot of really great music videos and experimental films that got me hooked into commercials.
The Shoes - 'Time to Dance' is one I revisit frequently and quite often reference for my own aesthetic ambitions.
It’s probably what got me into shooting film, how I often like to light, colour palettes etc. I’ve just flicked through it again now while writing this and I’m like ‘daaaaaaamn this shit is good isn’t it’. I watched 'Primer' while I was in uni and loved the look of that, I fee like these two are in the same ballpark that I’m constantly chasing.
LBB> My first professional project…
Matthew> I’d argue my first professional project was a music video I made for my friends who had a band called The Moth Club. I’d just finished work experience at Caviar and wanted to run my own shoot in a similar way to how I saw them run their music videos. It felt like a game changer having hair and makeup, production design etc all on set. It’s not the first video I made, but in many cases it’s the first that I felt had my voice. It’s also the earliest piece of my work you’ll find online.
Technically speaking I guess a video I made for my mother's art gallery and got paid a bit of cash for was my first professionally paid gig, but that seems less fun (and you’re not seeing it anywhere online now).
LBB> The piece of work that still makes me jealous…
Matthew> 'The Matrix' (other than previously mentioned The Shoes promo). It boggles my mind that something that excellent was made. The notion that someone can create something on that level is awe inspiring to me. I have watched it dozens of times since I was a child and I still get a thrill years later. If I could touch that excellence in my work I’d feel very satisfied.
LBB> The creative project that changed my career…
Matthew> Not sure that I can pin point one project that was that golden elevator ticket, or seismic shift. It happens for people for sure, but I think I’m either yet to hit that right time, right place, right conditions project that really does that for me - or - my career is a product of many projects/late nights/meetings/emails.
I love the allure of that one silver bullet break, but I think for 95% of people its unrealistic. We’re sailing huge ocean liners here, they take a while to move and change course.
But hey, almost made a Hollywood movie off the back of one of my shorts so maybe I’d give you a different answer had that happened :)
LBB> The work that I’m proudest of…
Matthew> It takes a monumental effort to get anything made, if you have no money or an endless budget. Every project is such an achievement to bring to life, especially if it has stayed true to the original vision. I like to think that I’m always most proud of whatever I’ve just made, as I’ve been the best version of myself to make said project at the time.
Don’t get me wrong, its not an exact science and I do make stuff that doesn’t see the light of day, or that I’m less proud of sometimes. But I try to keep trumping myself each time to make something that becomes my best piece of work.
LBB> I was involved in this and it makes me cringe…
Matthew> Probably a short film I worked on a few years back where we shot 10 rolls of 16mm film, only to find out when we had it all developed that the camera was fxcked and it was all out of focus.
Lesson learnt that you ALWAYS have a camera test day.
You’ll find more information about STORM+SHELTER and their roster of directors at https://stormandshelter.com
