scout (Jensen Vinca & Lindsay Sunada)

Unaffiliated

What was your first professionally directed work and when was it?
Our first directing job was a social campaign for EOS chapstick in 2021.

How did you get into directing?
We met in film school, but it wasn’t until after graduation that we began directing together. As a duo, we balance each other’s strengths well – Jensen is a very technical director and oversees a lot of our cinematography, lighting, VFX, and post production conversations. Conversely, Lindsay comes from an art department background and handles most of the production design, wardrobe, and hair/makeup conversations on set.

What is your most recent project?
We recently wrapped two spec commercials for Calvin Klein, which were produced by our mentor company Spears & Arrows as part of the CDDP (commercial directors diversity program) through the AICP and DGA.

What is the best part of being a director?
Something we really cherish is the collaborative nature of production. As commercial directors, we’re fortunate enough to learn about ourselves through creative exploration, at the same time getting to help brands and clients tell their stories, while working alongside other super talented people.

What is the worst part of being a director?
No health insurance or 401k haha.

What is your current career focus: commercials and branded content, television, movies? Do you plan to specialize in a particular genre–comedy, drama, visual effects, etc.?
We’re currently focused on expanding our commercial work and focusing on travel, fashion, and lifestyle content. We love design focused visuals with an element of magical realism/surrealism. Outside the duo, we both also write and are working on our own narrative projects!

Have you a mentor and if so, who is that person (or persons) and what has been the lesson learned from that mentoring which resonates with you?
Over the past few years, Nicholas Lam has been an incredibly inspiring mentor. Beyond sharing his extensive knowledge of the commercial industry, he has been a true champion of our work and a voice of reason whenever we need encouragement or advice. One lesson that resonates deeply is his approach to collaboration. Nick has shown us the value of cultivating genuine relationships with clients and agencies, rooted in open communication and mutual respect. His ability to align creative visions with client goals has been invaluable, teaching us that successful collaboration is more than meeting expectations—it’s about building lasting partnerships founded on trust and empathy.

Who is your favorite director and why?
So many directors have inspired us over the years, but currently we’re really into the work of rubberband. Not only are they also a duo, but their style of grounded surrealism and clever storytelling is something we really gravitate towards.

What is your favorite movie? Your favorite television/online program? Your favorite commercial or branded content?
One of our favorite commercials of all time will always be Megaforce’s “Open Spaces” for Burberry. It’s branded, but it captures this sense of awe and “movie magic” akin to narrative films. It’s exciting, it’s world building, it’s absolutely gorgeous.

Tell us about your background (i.e., where did you grow up? Past jobs?)
Jensen was born and raised in Oahu and currently lives in Los Angeles. Lindsay grew up in Los Angeles and currently resides in Honolulu. Our diverse backgrounds and passion for the outdoors translates into our aesthetic and stories we like to tell. For example – our recent fashion film “It Starts with a Dream” was shot around the neighborhood Jensen grew up in, and is a blend of Western and Japanese style wardrobe and design choices.

Have you had occasion to bring your storytelling/directorial talent to bear in the Metaverse, tapping into the potential of AR, VR, AI, NFTs and/or experiential fare? If so, tell us about that work and what lessons you have taken away from the experience?
In our latest music video for Miami Horror, we explored the creative potential of AI. Working with a tight deadline on a project heavy with stock footage and VFX, we used Runway and MidJourney to streamline tasks like rotoscoping and image-building, which would have been far more time-intensive otherwise. Working with these tools really showed us how rapidly AI tools are evolving, offering directors like us new ways to fully realize our creative visions while overcoming technical limitations. Our biggest takeaway is that while AI serves as a powerful tool to enhance our work, it doesn’t replace the unique creativity that directors bring to a project. We’re excited to see these tools develop further, empowering creatives to produce even better work, but we also believe guidelines are essential to protect artists from potential exploitation as the technology advances.

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