It’s difficult to wear the label, emerging, when you’ve just completed a hugely successful project with Anomaly in New York, followed in quick succession by directing a TV campaign for BWS and a content campaign for Australian Financial Review.

Exit’s Tom Campbell is well on his way to becoming a directing force to be reckoned with. And that is due in no small measure to Exit’s way of nurturing new talent. Campbell worked his way onto Exit’s roster as a director’s assistant to Garth Davis, Mark Molloy and Glendyn Ivin.

“It’s just how we do things,” Campbell explained.

“I arrived at Exit with no real experience, but through working closely with these guys and being pushed to be part of their creative process, I’ve learnt how differently they approach story.  It’s been my film school.”

“Nurturing and developing directors has always been at the core of Exit. It’s been tricky for him to pull away from the opportunities of working with the likes of Garth, Mark & Glendyn  and it’s exciting to see him embark on his own projects ,” added Kat Latour, executive producer, Exit Films.

Campbell arrived at Exit with a willingness to take on any work given him. This meant that he was given the chance to take over a lot of the ancillary jobs for his directors. Eventually, he was given the opportunity to work as Garth Davis’ assistant on a feature film.

“I started on the project before there was even a script and the film was just a book. So I got to work closely with Garth on research and development all the way through to post. A lot of filmmakers never get a chance like that. I felt very lucky for the opportunity to soak it all up and learn so much. It was amazing.”

Meanwhile Campbell’s work had been noticed. And Anomaly associate directors and ex-pats, Jordy Molloy and Toby Kennedy, liked what they’d seen when they worked with Campbell in Melbourne.

“They needed someone who was invested in their campaign’s story, rather than just dropping himself into the project for a few days to do the job.”

Campbell’s film for Anomaly was for bakery giant, Panera. The chain was announcing its commitment to removing artificial preservatives, sweeteners, flavours and colours from its products – by blowing up sodium benzoate, a common ingredient in bread that is also used in gunpowder. Campbell’s film on Facebook Live engaged 1.4 million users in its first 9 hours in June. The video has also been viewed 442,000 times on Facebook since.

Campbell’s next job was a different kind of challenge. The content series for AFR’s annual Power List was “ a thought provoking piece with some interesting people,” Campbell noted.

“It wasn’t about championing these politicians, but to capture what they felt the essence of power is and what their power is made of – to observe how they responded. I had to approach the questioning a little differently to get a sense of who these guys really are. Some of these guys are quite skilled at the art of deflection.”

Campbell’s TVC for BWS, with M&C Saatchi’s retail agency, 1440, creates a trifecta of new work for Campbell that shows his diversity as a director. It went to air on October 15.

1440: BWS gets ready for the season of connecting with friends and family

One of Campbell’s first works as an Exit director was Bank of Melbourne’s game-changer:

Saatchi & Saatchi gets Melbournians tapping their feet for Bank of Melbourne