Invisible Collective has added three directors to its roster for commercials, branded content and music videos: Jessica Sanders, Nate “NateTheDirector” Edwards, and Shadae Lamar Smith.
Sanders is a Sundance, SXSW and Cannes Award-winning director and producer of narrative and documentary films and commercials. Sanders recently directed the martial arts action comedy short The Cocktail Party that premiered at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival. Her VFX-heavy short film End of the Line premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and on TNT and Refinery29 for their acclaimed Shatterbox Film Series. Sanders’ Sundance-winning feature documentary After Innocence, about wrongfully convicted people exonerated by DNA evidence, was a game-changer in criminal justice reform. The director’s commercial career began when Steve Jobs hand-picked her to direct Apple’s iPad launch campaign. She won the coveted Cannes Young Director’s Award for her "Sony Make.Believe” film which also won an AICP Show honor. Sanders has directed campaigns for brands including Apple, Amazon, Samsung, Honda, Toyota, Procter & Gamble. She is currently prepping her first project with Invisible via Townhouse, NY for an undisclosed client. Prior to joining Invisible Collective, Sanders was most recently repped by Slim Pictures in the ad arena.
Meanwhile both Edwards and Smith secure their first career production house representation via Invisible Collective. Hailing from Houston, Edwards is a film director and writer who has worked with artists including Tobe Nwigwe and Doja Cat. While earning his degree from Morehouse College, Edwards found his deep, undeniable love for film. He was able to direct and edit documentaries in Central America, South Africa, and Thailand while still in college. Edwards later honed his talents in narrative storytelling at Vancouver Film School in British Columbia, Canada. His music videos have garnered hundreds of millions of views across social platforms. He just recently finished a project with Foot Locker and Lil Baby. Edwards is repped by Zita Brack of Shawe Esquire and Ashley Calloway of Color Creative Management on the deal.
Smith is an American-British filmmaker who hails from Miami. He studied ballet at Dance Theatre of Harlem school, and musical theatre at the Broadway Theatre Project. Smith received his B.A. in theatre performance from Fordham University and his M.F.A in film directing and production from UCLA. He has written and directed multiple music videos and films, many of which have played at film festivals globally. One of his films, Miss Famous, was executive produced by James Franco and stars actors Kristen Wiig, Jimmy Kimmel and Tony Cox. Smith was most recently the resident video director for Grammy Award-winning artist and entrepreneur will.i.am. Theatrically, Smith is set to direct the musical dramedy Throw It Back from a script he co-wrote with Rochée Jeffrey through Feigco Entertainment and She Ready Productions.
Founded by Stephen Love, Jr., Mel Jones and Justin Polk, Invisible Collective is a certified minority-owned production company and creative studio.
