SUPERLATIVE has signed director Connor Carroll for commercials and branded content. Carroll has directed spots for Discover, SONY, Nissan and Amazon. His new film, titled Rayleigh, Scattering, has garnered critical acclaim for its unique approach; a poignant short film propelled by Carroll’s rich music composition and “movie trailer” structure.
“Connor’s instantly familial and jovial personality so clearly translates through all of his work,” said creative manager Stefan Dezil who heads SUPERLATIVE along with EP Pia Clemente and managing director David Kwan. “Our team is devoted to using art to bring positivity with a humanitarian focus into the world and Connor’s commercials and short films showcased that with verve. He brings an exuberance to free-flowing camera work, a naturalistic warmth to each composition, and he has a formidable ability to connect with people on and off set.”
Carroll’s background is grounded in filmmaking. He grew up in front of a camera, first acting in commercials and features into his teen years. He then began to hone his skills as a producer/director, working both agency and production sides out of some creative Nashville-based shops. Adding to his skill set, Carroll is also professional musician, holding a degree in music business from Belmont University.
“I learned a lot as a musician and SAG actor,” said Carroll. “Great storytelling begins with the importance of the small gesture. I was always inspired by the phrase, ‘The Long Walk is Part of the Gift.’ I’m grateful to have this opportunity. I had discussions with other companies but nothing felt right until I talked with David [Kwan] and his team at SUPERLATIVE.”
Carroll’s love for branding and storytelling is evident in his “Small Batch” video series. Each film pairs handmade brands with emerging artists, allowing each to experience heightened recognition in the community. “I had local businesses pick some of their favorite home-grown music artists to do on-site performances,” he said. “It worked for the benefit of both.”
One of Carroll’s favorite spots was directed for Tennessee State Parks. Titled “Open The Door to Adventure,” the piece carries a storyline the director loves. “A family goes camping,” he said. “The first thing the viewer sees is a parental hand confiscating a child’s cell phone. Hiking, swimming, fishing and boating follows. A shared laugh at the picnic table and good moments around the campfire. All those small gestures.”
First-Time Feature Directors Make Major Splash At AFI Fest, Generate Oscar Buzz
Two first-time feature directors who are generating Oscar buzz this awards season were front and center this past weekend at AFI Fest in Hollywood. Rachel Morrison, who made history as the first woman nominated for a Best Cinematography Oscar---on the strength of Mudbound in 2018--brought her feature directorial debut, The Fire Inside (Amazon MGM Studios), to the festival on Sunday (10/27), and shared insights into the film during a conversation session immediately following the screening. This came a day after William Goldenberg, an Oscar-winning editor for Argo in 2013, had his initial foray into feature directing, Unstoppable (Amazon MGM Studios), showcased at the AFI proceedings. He too spoke after the screening during a panel discussion. The Fire Inside--which made its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival--tells the story of Claressa “T-Rex” Shields (portrayed by Ryan Destiny), a Black boxer from Flint, Mich., who trained to become the first woman in U.S. history to win an Olympic Gold Medal in the sport. She achieved this feat--with the help of coach Jason Crutchfield (Brian Tyree Henry)--only to find that her victory at the Summer Games came with relatively little fanfare and no endorsement deals. So much for the hope that the historic accomplishment would be a ticket out of socioeconomic purgatory for Shields and her family. It seemed like yet another setback in a cycle of adversity throughout Shields’ life but she persevered, going on to win her second Gold Medal at the next Olympics and becoming a champion for gender equality and equitable pay for women in sports. Shields has served as a source of inspiration for woman athletes worldwide--as well as to the community of... Read More