Creative content studio The Collective @ LAIR has signed NYC-based director Kamp Kennedy for commercial and network content representation in the U.S. Expanding on a prolific career in the music and beauty industries, Kennedy has amassed a body of work which includes commercial, feature films and branded content for clients ranging from Netflix to Biogen, Garnier Fructis, Levi’s, Nestle and Coca Cola. Prior to joining The Collective @ LAIR, he had his own shop for an interim stretch and earlier was handled by Chimney.
As a director, creative director and photographer, Kennedy via a keen eye for style and movement brokered an entry into the music video space where he launched his career working with Snoop Dogg, Janelle Monae, and Lauryn Hill. Kennedy went on to shape the Garnier Fructis seven-year music festival series Style Files and direct for Rolling Stone the series, Women Who Rock, and the feature film Beware of the Dogs.
Kennedy expanded into the beauty arena with branded fare, winning clients from Redken to L’Oreal and Coty. Kennedy’s recent creative partnership with Netflix includes writing and directing the miniseries Fight showcasing a feature character from Will Smith’s Bright, and a piece of original content, Love Assistants, used to promote the film Set it Up starring Lucy Liu and Zoey Deutch. Liu and Deutch are also featured in the promo as they try to set people up on blind dates, feeding them humorous dialogue via earpieces.
LAIR EP Mark Aji said it is this varied background in particular that makes Kennedy such an asset to the studio’s roster. “Kennedy’s fresh, insightful approach to storytelling paired with his upbeat, collaborative manner made him a natural fit for us, our clients, and our community of artists.”
When asked why he chose to make a home at LAIR, Kennedy said “[They] run the gamut in terms of the work they create. They’re a mix of old-school sensibility and new school technique but most importantly, they’re a group that syncs seamlessly together. When everyone falls in step like that, it makes a space where everyone wants to be creative.”
Kennedy maintains that the best part of directing is always engaging with people and “working with talent. Making them feel grounded and heard. No matter how A List or what industry they come from, everyone just wants to made to feel human. That’s when we get the best performances.” This affinity for interpersonal storytelling has extended to his work with talent like Jennifer Garner and Michael Strahan, and clients ranging from Toyota to Netflix, NBA and Verizon.
