Creative lab Impossible Objects (IO) has brought director Jay Walker aboard its talent roster for U.S. representation spanning commercials, branded content and music videos. She has directed for brands such as Fortnite, Dell and Coachella, music videos for Diplo, and had her European-shot short film Drifters garner a Young Directors Award screening.
Prior to joining IO, Walker was most recently repped via RadicalMedia. She evolved into directing after serving as an actor. Her initial industry involvement was as a child actor who worked in theater, commercials, television, features and beyond. This first-hand experience of developing characters through performance, paired with her passion for better understanding the human condition, evolved into her desire to direct.
While helming projects in Europe, Walker collaborated with musician and 3D artist NIVVA, whose unique artistic performance is done as a digital avatar. Intrigued by the creative possibilities, Walker and NIVVA began creating multiple music videos together, entirely in the Unreal Engine which is an advanced real-time 3D creation tool for photoreal visuals and immersive experiences. Learning the program’s language created an exciting new skillset, thereby expanding her filmmaking possibilities. Walker said she found a nostalgic comfort in the experience, “Working with this medium brought me back to the beginning of my filmmaking studies, when my ideas were often described as ‘too big’ or they ‘defied physics.’ Suddenly, in this new realm, anything feels possible.”
Her first collaboration with IO was for gaming PC hardware company Alienware. With a hot-off-the-pan client concept and a burning enthusiasm across the team, they were able to deliver a jaw-dropping experience for Alienware’s loyal devotees. Walker’s goal for the campaign was to create a kinetic, multi-scene wonderscape in each scene and make it seem like one continuous take.
“IO is operating at the top-tier of production,” said Walker who’s currently based in Prague. “Not only with the cutting-edge tech they are pioneering within the industry, but the entire team is composed of incredible people. It feels as though everything has naturally built up to this moment. It’s both a trip and an honor to join this talented roster to create exciting work.”
“A huge catalyst for knowing we needed to have Jay join our roster was her phenomenal music video for Zef whose tasteful visuals represent just a small sampling of her unique visual style,” said Jerad Anderson, IO co-founder/partner. “Multiple music videos done entirely in Unreal Engine? Are you kidding? It’s a match made in heaven. This next-level exploration of real-time blew us away. Her creativity and ability to push boundaries in our profession is an inspiration.”
Review: Writer-Directors Scott Beck and Bryan Wood’s “Heretic”
"Heretic" opens with an unusual table setter: Two young missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are discussing condoms and why some are labeled as large even though they're all pretty much a standard size. "What else do we believe because of marketing?" one asks the other.
That line will echo through the movie, a stimulating discussion of religion that emerges from a horror movie wrapper. Despite a second-half slide and feeling unbalanced, this is the rare movie that combines lots of squirting blood and elevated discussion of the ancient Egyptian god Horus.
Our two church members — played fiercely by Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East — are wandering around trying to covert souls when they knock on the door of a sweet-looking cottage. Its owner, Mr. Reed, offers a hearty "Good afternoon!" He welcomes them in, brings them drinks and promises a blueberry pie. He's also interested in learning more about the church. So far, so good.
Mr. Reed is, of course, if you've seen the poster, the baddie and he's played by Hugh Grant, who doesn't go the snarling, dead-eyed Hannibal Lecter route in "Heretic." Grant is the slightly bumbling, bashful and self-mocking character we fell in love with in "Four Weddings and a Funeral," but with a smear of menace. He gradually reveals that he actually knows quite a bit about the Mormon religion — and all religions.
"It's good to be religious," he says jauntily and promises his wife will join them soon, a requirement for the church. Homey touches in his home include a framed "Bless This Mess" needlepoint on a wall, but there are also oddities, like his lights are on a timer and there's metal in the walls and ceilings.
Writer-directors Scott Beck and Bryan Wood — who also... Read More