Eli Snyder

Believe Media

What was your first professionally directed work and when was it?
I graduated from the American Film Institute in May of 2022 and was brought on to direct the second unit of the Netflix feature film, Rebel Moon, shortly after.

How did you get into directing?
I started my career acting as a kid and slowly made my way behind the camera. In my teen years, I really benefited from iMovie and DSLR’s making film super accessible. I didn’t depend on anyone or much money to make stuff. I’d run inside and grab a camera to film a snail I had noticed, or record a ball bouncing and reverse it, or time lapse a sunset. Those intimate moments alone with a camera and a subject is what made me fall in love with filmmaking and directing.

What is your most recent project?
My most recent project was a spec spot for Headspace. I rallied some friends from previous jobs and a couple of AFI collaborators together for a couple of hours in a boxing gym in East LA. The hope was to make a piece that captured how intense and grueling a sport can be, and ultimately, the peace and beauty sport can provide when your mind is in the right place.

What is the best part of being a director?
I feel the greatest rush during the process of making a shot. I draw a storyboard or set something up during a scout, obsessing over every detail —the camera movement, the foreground element, the lens choice, the background, the set dressing— and then to finally capture it. There is something truly indescribable about the process of working with a team of individuals to bring forth something into existence.

What is your favorite movie? Your favorite television/online program? Your favorite commercial or branded content?
A recent campaign that I’ve loved is the Levi’s 150th anniversary spot; specifically the one directed by Melina Matsoukas. The tone and naturalistic aesthetic are quite compelling. And another commercial that I’ve always gone back to for inspiration is Jonathan Glazer’s “Frozen Moment” Nike ad.

Tell us about your background (i.e., where did you grow up? Past jobs?)
I grew up in Pasadena, California. I feel like I was raised on a set, whether it be watching from the side or acting myself. I then went to UCLA to study film and play football. My undergrad thesis film showed at festivals all over the country and ended up getting included in PBS’ encore series. After that, I worked in the camera department on small jobs and I ultimately went back to grad school at the American Film Institute. I directed four short films including my thesis film Aves, and most recently, I directed the second unit for the Netflix feature film, Rebel Moon.

Contact

• Believe Media US, Executive Producer: Liz Silver, lizsilver@believemedia.com