Presenting the kick ass class of Young Guns 22
It’s a kick-ass class. Young Guns 22 is topping the charts in creativity. But are you even surprised? Of course, not. If you’re new here, let me catch you up. Young Guns is a community of incredibly talented individuals – think amazing cinematographers, animators, illustrators, photographers, designers, and directors – and a new class of winners is chosen by an expert jury every year. This year we have 33 winners and among them, we have some very new, very exciting titles to unveil – an Architectural Designer, Composer, Stage & Show Designer, and Colorist.
We interviewed the winners so we could share their prowess with you. And if you’re a NYC local you can snag a ticket to the official YG22 Party at Sony Hall on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, where you will have the chance to meet and greet them.
Young Guns continue to dominate the creative industry, so we’re happily presenting you with the kick-ass class of Young Guns 22.
Cameron Thuman
Director
Based:
Los Angeles, California
Hometown:
Rochester, New York
What were your original impressions of the Young Guns competition, award, and community?
I’ve followed it for years now. My impression has always been that the YG community is filled with the people I want to be surrounded by and trade ideas with. YG winners are the creatives and storytellers who have always been my Northstar.
How did you end up in the creative field anyways?
I actually owe it to skiing. I grew up skiing at a local “mountain” (a hill of sheer ice) in Upstate New York. When my family moved to Park City, Utah, I remember being in awe of the twenty-two-foot halfpipe as a 10-year-old. By age 12, filming and editing ski videos was my life.
I became ranked #7 in the nation for halfpipe skiing (18 & under). However, by this point, my love for storytelling and filmmaking was much stronger than competing. I had been helping out at a boxing gym, and executive producer/show-runner Jack Amiel happened to box there - Jack liked to shoot the shit, and those conversations still guide me today. He taught me how to become a storyteller and shaped my mentality.
From there, I attended Chapman University to study writing and directing. At age 19, I was hired by line producer Scott Chester as his assistant on A24’s Hereditary. I spent my summers learning the business with another 100+ days working on features and TV shows before entirely devoting myself to directing. Since then, I’ve never looked back.
Congrats on the YG win! Why did you decide to enter this year?
This was my first year entering. My commercial work started to take shape once I directed Team Ireland’s 2024 Paris Olympics campaign for PTSB (Personal and Business Banking) with board creative director Ger Roe at Publicis Dublin. Also, I recently wrote and directed two new films that genuinely show who I am at my core. “Dreaming of a Better Place” began screening worldwide on all Air Canada flights, and “Suspended in Space” became a Vimeo Staff Pick.
You only get to submit six projects that embody you and your talent. So, how did you decide which pieces were good enough to make the cut?
Each piece had to represent my voice and style across all formats: commercial, branded short, documentary, and short film. I love building visually immersive worlds, and focusing on striking character-driven narratives that launch you on a journey.
For the past two years, I have mainly been looked at for automotive campaigns (which I love to do!), but I decided only one of the six projects would be automotive. I felt it was important my YG submission showed my range.
What was your reaction when you discovered that you won?
It was a total surprise! I was alone at my desk writing a treatment, actually. I celebrated by FaceTiming with my loved ones and sharing the news right away.
How does your current home inspire your creativity as an artist?
I am based in Los Angeles, and the accessibility to other artists is absolutely incredible. Working in person together is special. Lately, I haven’t been able to escape the connectivity and curiosity I feel in New York. Creative thoughts just flow clearly there, and I find myself spending more and more time in NY.
Now that you’re a part of the Young Guns community, are there any past winners you look up to and admire?
There are so many I’ve referenced, and I could name a bunch, but I’d love to specifically call out my close friend, YG18 winner Jackson Tisi. I was inspired to see Jackson release multiple personal passion projects and incredible short films that paved his way into commercial directing.
If you could create a new Young Guns tradition, what would you want it to be and why?
Quarterly screenings in NY and LA of each other’s work. (Dare I say an open bar, too?)
“Quarterly screenings in NY and LA of each other’s work. (Dare I say an open bar, too?)”
Name a dream project that you have yet to fulfill — maybe Young Guns will propel you in that direction!
Right now, I just want to stay close to the fire and give my full attention to whatever is in front of me. I love learning from my EP in Canada, Edie Weiss, who puts me in the mindset of building a long, deliberate career. I also love how my EP in Ireland, Margaret Levingstone, does an amazing job of channeling my creative focus, which I bring over to my day-to-day work.
But since you asked, my current dream is to stay connected to all pathways of filmmaking, between commercial and long-form narrative. A few of my goals in the advertising space are the Winter Olympics, Porsche, and Nike. Olympic stories are the quintessential human journey of perseverance. Porsche covers all the senses. They are intoxicating - it’s the feeling of freedom. A story-driven Nike campaign is up there in terms of goals. Director Rupert Sanders’s iconic storytelling work with Nike and the Jordan brand is like fine wine. Creating something of that cultural magnitude is a huge source of inspiration.
Will we see you at the YG22 party in NYC in November?
Yes!!!!! 10000%
Come party with us and celebrate the class of Young Guns 22 on Wednesday, November 13, 6:30 PM, at Sony Hall in NYC!
 11_21_50 a_m_ - Camila Ordoñez Bozzi.png)
