One of Steven Spielberg’s favourite up-and-coming film directors has just completed a classic piece of armchair, bar-stool, carpet and bath theatre – in north Manchester.
Phil Hawkins, one of Spielberg’s tips for greatness, teamed up with Manchester-based AIR Advertising and The Gate Films to produce leading furnishing retailer Housing Units’ new TV ad shot on location at the Failsworth, north Manchester, store.

Phil, an award-winning former Manchester Xaverian College student, is just 23 – but has been making films for ten years.
The challenge facing Phil, The Gate Films and Paul Barnes of AIR Advertising – celebrating ten years working with Housing Units – was to showcase Housing Units’ product range, plus the overall scale and impressiveness of Housing Units’ multi store retail park.
“We laid down a tough challenge – this simply could not be just another sofas-and-beds-style ad that seems to be the default in furniture retailing: there were some scary words in the brief: drama, tension, excitement, anticipation and intrigue,” said Nick Fox of Housing Units.