Josh Melnick and Xander Charity have come a long way in the past year. Their reel was anchored by a lovely stop-motion-cum-jump-cut video for indie band Death Cab for Cutie, along with videos for Postal Service and The Stills. Now, spots for youth leadership group YLI and wildlife advocacy group Wild Aid have allowed the pair to show off their documentary-influenced "high concept and stylised naturalism".

But they owe much to that initial partnership on Death Cab's "Movie Script Ending". Their debut effort got some airplay, was included in RESFEST's 2002 program, and most importantly, drew the attention of international prodco Partizan, with whom they signed in 2003.

Friends since childhood growing up in New York City, the pair didn't work together until in their mid twenties. Both with Fine Arts backgrounds, Charity says they are basically "big dorks trying to figure out the simplest, most beautiful way to get a shot. We do a lot of storyboards. We pay attention to every frame."

Melnick adds they try to direct "great looking things with verité," and the YLI campaign gave them just that opportunity.

The first spot, "Prison", presents stats about how new government money will be spent renovating prisons around the US. Set against rich interior shots of an institutional building in serious decay, it sounds positive until the VO states that the pictures are from a school.

Created by BBDO LA, it's a moving and timely piece made all the more powerful by its companion "Quotes". In that one, children mouth the pre-recorded education promises of prominent politicians. "Leave no child behind," says Dubya though the mouth of a babe. Alone, the spot says 'we will keep you to your promise' but taken with "Prison", the gig is up: the promise has been broken.

Josh & Xander's attention to detail is also evident in Wild Aid's "Elephant" (JWT), which shows an Olympic long jumper apparently gearing up to jump a herd of elephants. But it's a grim reveal: he's actually jumping over a pile of tusks from a herd.

The pair says planning allows them to achieve the desired outcome with their work: "It lets us be sure of what we want to see so when we get there it can be about letting moments happen," says Melnick. "It sounds anal but it allows for spontaneity."

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