Director's Works
Spencer Badu, Interwoven This Was Needed
Nathan Burland, professionally known as This Was Needed, is a filmmaker and creative director whose work pushes the boundaries of visual storytelling, transforming everyday scenes into extraordinary narratives.
Under the banner This Was Needed, Burland embodies the ethos of global connectivity through artistic collaborations. In his work, he aims to foster spaces where creativity can thrive, diverse perspectives are celebrated, and ultimately, the impact is felt. He has developed a distinctive style that is technical and innovative, blending profound storytelling and nuanced characters. He’s collaborated with brands including Adidas, Google, Wireless Festival, Libero, and Nike, as well as artists like Rema, Headie One, Shenseea, Wizkid, Pa Salieu, Gunna, and M24. Born and raised in South London, Burland moved first to Vancouver in his early teens and then later to Toronto. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in International Business and pursued a career in soccer before finding his way to filmmaking. He participated in The Remix Project, an incubator providing integral filmmaking skills, coupled with working at Fela, gaining comprehensive hands-on experience in various facets of production.
"The process behind Interwoven was incredibly freeing — it felt like a genuine act of discovery. We knew we had three distinct stories to tell, but we weren’t bound by a strict linear connection, which allowed the film to remain experimental while still being grounded in craft and intention. Each story revealed itself through the process, and together they formed a streamlined narrative that only became clear as we kept digging.
I loved the idea of mixing formats and using the magazine as the connective tissue — a physical and conceptual binder for Spencer’s world. His themes, and ethos became the chapter titles of each mini-film, eventually revealing themselves as the answers to the crossword — a living keepsake born from the magazine itself. The film ultimately plays like pages of history being flipped and assembled in real time.
While the imagery leans into polar opposites in tone and texture, everything moulds into a single world that feels honest to Spencer, to Badu, and to the brand’s identity as a whole." - This was Needed
