Last week, Smith & Western launched its series of interviews with great creatives, The Creative Relay – an interview series with a twist (given away somewhat by the title).

In each episode a great creative talks to the creative who inspires him or her and the interviews are run as a relay, each interviewee becoming the interviewer for the next episode.

Smith & Western podcasts: Great creatives interview the creatives who inspire them

The fourth interview happened to coincide with Halloween. DDB Sydney executive creative director Tara Ford interviews Cam Blackley,  the BMF ECD who starts as chief creative officer of M&C Saatchi in March – and is made up as a clown for the interview.

On the eve of his move to M&C Saatchi, Blackley reveals what it was like to grow up with a Mad Man for a Dad (ad legend David Blackley), as well as his unexpected penchant for face paint.

Something else no one was expecting was Blackley’s story about a ghost sighting at the old BMF building (teaser audio provided). While he may have been wearing clown make-up while telling it, he was dead serious.

And then there’s something else very much worth knowing about Blackley. He’s a creative giant with a heart to match.

Here’s a taste:

The Creative Relay series is the brainchild of creators and producers, Dan Higson and Nick West from Smith & Western.

Listen to and download any of the first four episodes of The Creative Relay – Paul Dunne interviewing Ant Keogh, Keogh interviewing Jonathan Kneebone and Kneebone interviewing Ford – here or here.

There will be more to come early in 2018.

[cover image l-r: Paul Dunne, Tara Ford, Cam Blackley, Dan Higson]