Director Tom Hooper Pits Drama Against Reality TV In ITV "Poison" Promo

BAFTA Award-winning actor Jason Watkins and reality TV star Kem Cetinay of Love Island square off in a high-low match up of drama versus reality for ITV.

Oscar-winning director Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech) of production house SMUGGLER teamed with London agency Uncommon on the spot which is set in Watkins’ trailer on the backlot as he runs lines for an upcoming film. He’s joined by Cetinay for a glass of wine. Cetinay marvels at the opulent interior decor.

Watkins waxes poetically about the virtues of the dramatic writer and actor by proxy as a way to distract Cetinay and poison his drink. The act is the physical manifestation of “drama’s” attempt to put an end to the formidable foe of “reality TV,” constantly in a tug-of-war for the audience’s attention.  Unfortunately, in the back and forth, Watkins literally loses himself in his performance, as Cetinay performs a switch-a-roo, causing Watkins to drink from the poisoned glass.  Cetinay, ever-present in the moment, was one step ahead of the ruse and knowingly drinks from the safe glass as he watches Watkins fall to his knees.  Cetinay begins to read lines from Watkins’s script who can’t help but give notes as he succumbs to his own poisoned concoction. 

Hooper treats drama straight and mines the comedy from the over-the-top situation.  He allows the scene to play out patiently and the pitch perfect performances to shine.  The rhythm and lyrical quality of the writing is worthy of a prestige drama, and the film, titled Poison, is a fitting visual metaphor for the genre battle royale for viewers’ attention.