Alum Josiah Eloi stars alongside Michael Bublé in Asda’s Christmas campaign this year. The recently released advert sees Josiah playing Chief Quality Control Officer Michael’s assistant.
Filmed during a heat wave this summer, Josiah said he’s literally been staring at pigs in blankets and Christmas trees since July. We spoke to him about working with Michael, cameras the size of horses, pantomime and why he comes back to UWE Bristol to work with students.
How did the advert come about with Michael Bublé?
So, I signed with an agent in my 2nd year studying BA(Hons) Drama and Acting at UWE Bristol, and they’ve been getting me auditions ever since.
I went through a long casting process for this role. Initially, I had no idea who the director or star involved were. A few days after I had been cast, I had a phone call and found out everything.
Another exciting aspect was that Taika Waititi directed the advert and picked me for this job. He directed the last two Thor films and wrote, starred and directed my favourite film, JoJo Rabbit.
This was definitely a full circle moment!
What is Michael like to work with?
I can honestly say Michael is lovely! He is happy to hang out with everyone. After the shoot he came out in trainers and jeans and had a drink with us all. We just hung out. I was sat next to him on my phone when he was facetiming his wife.
He made the effort to find out who I was and check out my socials before meeting me.
My Christmas dinner brag is Michael Bublé has seen my Instagram!
I really got to know him over the three days I worked with him. By the end we were chatting about films, what he was having for dinner and my go-to takeaway. He also gave me a load of advice and taught me how parts of the industry worked.
How do you feel about starring in a high-profile Christmas advert? There’s always so much interest in the big names and what they create each year.
To star in a Christmas advert is the most surreal thing. Christmas ads are such a big part of Christmas now. For an actor it’s like gold dust. To know I have been a part of one, in a great role alongside a legend, really is incredible.
I never went to Drama School, I go to parties, my car falls apart all time and I still forget what day the bins go out. So, to be thrown into this world is one of the most exciting things that’s ever happened.
What was also incredible is because of my role, I got to see how all the behind-the-scenes stuff works. I got to see how sound producers mix things, how video editors cut it all together.
I mean, I had no idea TV cameras were the size of small horses.
December 31st will see me finishing off my sixth month in a row of Christmas work – I am doing pantomime this year in Portsmouth all the way up to New Years Eve. I have literally been staring at pigs in blankets, Christmas trees and pantomime costumes since early July!
So you graduated from BA(Hons) Drama and Acting in 2020. How did you find studying at UWE Bristol?
I had a brilliant time at UWE Bristol, truly. I still meet other alumni out and about in the world and we always say what a great time we had.
I came to UWE Bristol at 18 and fell in love with the place.
So much so that I am buying a narrow boat so I can live between Bristol and London. Although, it may now take me six days to get to one of my UWE Bristol workshops from London.
You frequently come back to take workshops with current students. What makes you continue to return to your university to help develop drama talent?
The world is really big, and I battled a lot with finding my feet after university.
I always come back to talk to students and give as much advice as possible. I think it’s so important for students to understand that…
UWE Bristol is not only a tool to learn your subject, but also a tool to teach you about yourself.
This was what UWE Bristol Drama was for me.
Find out more about Josiah on linktree.