Foreword – Lynsey Atkin Chairwoman of the ARROWS Jury Executive Creative Director, 4creative I have been trying to win a National Lottery rollover since the dawn of this millennium. Failing that (to date), I have taken to chairing this British Arrows rollover year with equal fervour. After all, any attempt of winning either jackpot begs the same important question: Just how much luck is involved? People with talent don’t much like being told fate plays a hand, but the answer will always be ‘some luck is required’. No piece of great work gets made – or awarded – without numerous stars aligning. So the truth is that to some degree, both are a game of chance. Both are determined by a number of factors – including but not limited to just how many people are playing the game. This year’s Arrows had a record number of entries – unsurprising for a two year celebration perhaps, but let’s not forget the wasteland of Spring 2020... The standard of creativity in the work entered this year is remarkable, and as an industry we should be very proud of what we have collectively achieved. But it’s fair to say that even the most special among it has had its work cut out. A few times we wished to award not just one gold in a category, but three, perhaps four. But gold is gold – and we’ve respected its rare treasure. Perhaps in other years, one of the more impressive films here would have run away with the lot. But the stars aligned to give it all some very tough competition. This year the jackpot will be shared – and rightly so. There is simply too much good here for only one winning ticket to prevail. Lottery wins promise big things, big houses with big gardens, big holidays with big drinks, big skies and big freedom. But in the past 2 years, everything has shrunk. We’ve been reduced to ever decreasing bubbles, squares in screens, maximum capacities and minimum joy. It has been the hardest time in most of our working lives – so given the chance, who can blame us for wanting to shoot for big again? Perhaps it’s no surprise we’ve gravitated towards work that has scale. But this isn’t a scale that comes with bloat, greedy on a world (and a budget) that never says no. It’s big because of its humanity – the great stuff tonight takes us somewhere else and rips us out of our enforced confinement. It reminds us there’s a wonderful, complicated mess of other people – of life – outside of our shrunken orbits. The best of it executed with an enviable hand – that seeming lightness of touch and easy flamboyance that comes when people know they’re onto a good thing. So, as we step back out into the light, let’s keep things big. I think it suits us. Thank you to the British Arrows board, Clare, Jani, Lisa, Sergio and everyone else who has allowed me the privilege to chair the Arrows jury of this outstanding year. Thank you to the jurors who were every bit as smart-minded, sharp-tongued and kind-hearted as I knew they would be. What a special thing to be able to do. Thank you – and stay lucky. 8
FOREWORDS
