Creative film company Farm League has added filmmaker, animator and editor Travis Wood to its roster. This marks the first time the director has been represented.
A lifelong skateboarder, Wood first developed a passion for the craft of filmmaking when he started making skate videos and learned to shoot and edit. Inspired by Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing and influenced by many of the indie and DIY films on NoBudge and Vimeo Staff Picks, Wood started gravitating towards more narrative work.
In addition to his degree in broadcast journalism, Wood has also completed the Cinema Production Certificate program at Minneapolis College, where he further honed his skills in filmmaking. An experienced director in live action and animation, his short films have been selected for multiple Vimeo Staff Picks, SXSW, Rooftop Films, and a NY Emmy.
Wood’s films often ride the line between fiction and non-fiction using a hybrid of animation and live-action. Blending different mediums he is able to deepen the emotional connection and better illustrate the characters.
Wood’s first collaboration with Farm League was on an original campaign for the Los Angeles Clippers, where he brought the basketball players to life through animation, having spent only 15 minutes with each player. Interviewing the likes of Terance Mann, Luke Kennard, and Ivica Zubac, Wood was able to find interesting stories from their past to personalize the campaign.
Most recently, Wood worked with Ancestry.com to create a three-part series of films featuring characters as they discover new revelations about their own ancestry. The use of mixed media and textural elements intercuts the films with playful touches. He also received the One Outside Film Grant via Eddie Bauer, through which he directed a branded short film, Outside After Work.
Wood said, “The work and team at Farm League have always felt very genuine to me, which resonated a lot because that’s how I approach my filmmaking. To me, what separates Farm League from other companies is that they are invested in the long game. They’re thinking about what our legacy and careers might look like in five or 10 years, rather than being bogged down in the latest trends. The team is made up of adventurers and artists who value storytelling and aren’t afraid to think outside the box. It’s really rewarding to be part of a team that supports non-traditional routes to success and encourages everyone to be themselves. I want to work with clients, cast, and crew who have diverse backgrounds and points of view, so we can make something together that is fresh and new”.
Tim Lynch, founder of Farm League, said, “Travis’ talent and interests are the perfect blend of what we love at Farm League: embracing the blend of work and life. He’s a skateboarder with a love for subcultures, and he’s also an advocate for making these spaces more accessible to everyone. He’s got an irreverence and wink in his work, largely drawn from his keen observational eye and killer wit. But while there is an innate playfulness to his films, it is always tempered with a deep respect for the characters. His blending of mediums always serves a purpose, and usually that’s to deepen an emotional connection or better illustrate something central to the character. He works across many disciplines, including live action, animation, found footage, and miniatures.”
