Tim Pope on icons, individuality, and his whimsical new short with Willem Dafoe

Tim Pope is no stranger to singular personalities. The music video director has spent decades shaping the visions of icons like David Bowie, The Cure, and Iggy Pop. Now, he turns his lens to another inimitable figure: Willem Dafoe.

It’s a fitting pairing, brought together by single malt Scotch house Laphroaig. For over 200 years, the brand has celebrated bold individuality, and its latest cinematic project, The Taste, is no exception. The whimsical short film marries Dafoe’s distinctive presence with Pope’s pioneering eye – an ode to character, craft, and creative freedom. Working with Laphroaig’s senior blender Sarah Dowling, Dafoe co-created a limited-edition whisky, set for release in 2026.

As Dafoe puts it: “The first time I travelled overseas, I went to Scotland. I was a kid, and the first thing I thought when my feet touched down was, something feels familiar here. I feel at home. The land spoke to me, and it must be genetic because my grandmother was from Glasgow. The Taste depicts that sort of familiarity that’s found when exploring Laphroaig. It’s the flavours and how they come together.”

We sat down with Pope to discuss his collaboration with Laphroaig and Dafoe, and his approach to visual storytelling.

What was the mood you wanted to convey with The Taste?

“We set out to capture the elusive taste of Laphroaig whisky. A flavour layered with so many tones and textures that it defies simple description. To bring that complexity to life, we drew inspiration from the wonderfully poetic language of the “Friends of Laphroaig.” My personal favourite is the striking, visceral image of it being “like a beard growing in your throat. On screen, Dafoe wrestles with this challenge. Trying again and again to put the taste into words, only to find it ultimately impossible to pin down.”

You’re synonymous with iconic music videos for artists like Bowie, The Cure, and Iggy Pop, how did those experiences shape the visual language of The Taste?

“I suppose as a filmmaker, my quest has always been to uncover the truth of the matter – to reflect the essence of whoever or whatever I’m working with. The Taste continues with this ethos. I wanted the film to inhabit Laphroaig, not simply portray it. It’s about finding the character within the place, the history, and the people who make it what it is.”

“In many ways, this approach mirrors my own journey. Like Willem, I’ve tried to let boldness define my career. That willingness to go further, to take risks, is perhaps why artists like Bowie, The Cure, or Iggy Pop have returned to collaborate with me time and again across forty years. They recognise that I’m not looking for surface polish, but for the raw, unfiltered spirit at the core of things – whether in a person, a story, or indeed a glass of whisky.”

Were there any unexpected moments from the shoot with Dafoe?

“The very first shot we filmed was of him inside the wardrobe. I climbed in alongside him to direct at close range, and I’ll never forget the sheer resonance of his voice in that enclosed space. It sent the hairs on the back of my neck standing straight up – as it did for everyone else in the studio listening.”

“Although I’d spent a lot of time crafting the words for him, it was a real pleasure to tweak and refine them together, shaping them to suit his natural way of speaking. What struck me most was his dedication to getting every detail right – and, like me, his genuine love for Laphroaig.”

What qualities does Dafoe bring as an actor that made him ideal for this kind of short film?

“The first word that comes to mind is “bold.” Dafoe has built his career on bold choices, never shying away from complex characters across the 150 films or so he’s made. That willingness to dive headfirst into the difficult, the strange, and the unforgettable is what makes him so compelling to watch – and it’s exactly why he feels like such perfect casting for this film and for the whole campaign.”

What do you hope audiences take away from The Taste?

“What I hope audiences take away is that Laphroaig isn’t about one perfect note. It’s about curiosity, individuality, and the stories each person brings to the glass.”