Bartley Taylor

Adolescent Content

1) What was your first professionally directed work and when was it?
I like to consider my first spec, a Volkswagen ad, my first professionally directed work. It was the first thing where I really felt like I needed to please someone other than just myself. I had to attempt to fake something so well that anyone else watching would believe it was commissioned by the client. I shot that just under 2 years ago in June 2016.

2) How did you get into directing? 
My mom worked in administration at Warner Bros. for 25 years. I grew up being fascinated by the backlot and facades and the fact that people got to play make believe for a living. When I was 16 I thought I wanted to be an actor so I began to take acting classes outside of school. I found myself watching the work that my acting coach was doing with the actors. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I would rather be working with the actors as opposed to being one. From there I began writing and shooting short films, fake music videos and a bunch of other stuff no one should ever see.

3) What is your most recent project? 
My most recent project is the opening sequence for a new web based travel baking show called ‘Six Sweet Under’. A longtime friend of mine is the host and executive producer – she has a hip ‘Morticia Adams’ vibe, dipped in pink. That’s what we aimed for with the show intro. It was a bit outside of my wheelhouse, which was a challenge that I welcomed. It was an incredible feeling to collaborate and deliver on someone’s vision.

4) What is the best part of being a director? 
The best part of being a director is the collaboration. You get to interact with so many talented, hard working people and ultimately absorb much of what they do. Directing has taught me about sound design, editing, wardrobe, lighting…on that note, the hundreds of personalities you get to meet along the way is highly rewarding – most of the time. Craft service is great too, but you don’t need to be a director for that, so never mind.

5) What is the worst part of being a director? 
Wondering if you will ever work.

6) What is your current career focus: commercials and branded content, TV movies? Do you plan to specialize in a particular genre—comedy, drama, visual effects, etc.? 
My current career focus is commercials and branded content with the goal of expanding into TV directing in the not too distant future. My day job is as a show runner’s assistant on a TV show, so I’d like to bridge the gap between commercials and TV after I continue to absorb that world through my experiences. I wouldn’t say I plan to specialize in any one genre, but I feel like my sweet spot is something I call drama with a twinkle – that being some glimmer of humor. With that said I’ve become a big fan of horror and would love to explore that more.

7) 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? 
I have several, but the first commercial production company I worked for is home to my fairy godmother, Ali Brown of Prettybird. She’s currently VP and EP there and has offered me so much guidance in the world of advertising and life in general. She’s an amazing representation of how you can be extremely successful in entertainment while still being a kind person. That’s something I’ll never forget.

8) Who is your favorite director and why? 
Jon Favreau. The man can play in any sandbox. From grass roots, self funded films, to commercials to TV to animation to studio tent poles. He’s highly versatile and tells extremely entertaining stories. I’d love to have a career like his.

9) What is your favorite movie? Your favorite television/online program? Your favorite commercial or branded content?
Favorite movie is Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Current favorite TV show, UnREAL. Favorite commercial is Jeep’s Jurassic Park spot with Jeff Goldblum from the past Super Bowl.

10) Tell us about your background (i.e., where did you grow up? Past jobs?) 
I was born and raised in Los Angeles, the Valley specifically. I’ve grown up with a slight obsession of the ‘80s, even though I was born in the second half of the last year of the decade, so that doesn’t make much sense. I’ve been everything from a waiter to the guy that drives the cart on the driving range to pick up golf balls. My current day job is as a show runners’s assistant on the sci-fi show called COLONY on USA Network.

Contact

Ramaa Mosley, Adolescent Content

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