Rising Stars: Meet Connor Carroll

Today we’d like to introduce you to Connor Carroll.

Hi Connor, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Well, today, I am a commercial director, which makes a lot of sense to me. The path always looks clearer than from where you start, though. I grew up in the theater and in front of the camera, never giving much thought to being on the other side of it. Plays, commercials, movies, you name it, I had the bug.

Once in college at Belmont, though, my focus shifted to music, and I spent many years performing and touring as any good new Nashvillian would. It brought me to a small record label with an up-and-coming duo that was opening some huge doors for me. However, at 23 years old, the radiance of things like the Grammys was quickly fading, as was my love for music. I knew I needed to alter my course if I wanted to salvage that.

While at this label, I was asked to film some performance videos for some artists. As a hobbyist photographer and already on the payroll, it seemed the obvious choice. Trial by fire, though. I learned the hard way about things like file organization and the importance of pre-production. So, around this time, I engaged a friend and owner of Gear Seven, Kirk Slawek, to help me improve these videos. Right away, the gaps in my education, combined with my background in acting, clicked, and my path became a little clearer.

From there, I quickly jumped ship to work at Gear Seven. My continued education in production (which will never be over). I spent another five years working at an ad agency to learn the “client” side. It felt like a completely different language and something I knew I needed to master if I was going to be a successful director. Fortunately, my agency and clients gave me a lot of trusts, allowing me to curate a significant body of work. Which brings us up to date. I’m currently represented by Superlative, out of LA.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I can’t leave out that I was booking shows in Europe for an artist/friend in the middle of all of this, and we had intended to take the trip and play the sets together. LIFE ADVICE: No matter what you’re doing, tell any customs agent you meet that you’re “on holiday.” Thank me later.

I stupidly told the customs agent I was on tour, which got me and my buddy put into Airport Jail for about 11 hours, questioned, and put on a plane back to JFK, where my flight to Nashville was abruptly canceled. Standing in front of Arrivals at Kennedy airport, I get a phone call from a friend to help film something for Justin Timberlake. At that moment, I started to gain a better picture of what my path looked like.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
So I’m primarily a commercial director specializing in more heartfelt, emotional pieces. Advertising always has a bit of an ulterior motive, and I try my best to bring some humanity back to what we’re doing. That usually means me picking one of your heartstrings and tugging on it. You know, the stuff your grandmother would send you on Facebook that secretly makes you cry.

Brands constantly talk about themselves, and I push them to lean into a story. The feeling of joy or gratitude or humility becoming synonymous with your brand is the goal. I’m most proud of a few personal pieces I’ve been fortunate enough to make over the last few years. Having small teams of friends who believed in my ideas while I attempted to find my voice was invaluable. A film I released late last year called Rayleigh Scattering is one of my favorites. I also composed the music for it, which I suppose also sets me apart.

As often as I can, I try and compose the music for the films I direct. I’m a Nashvillian, so yes, I play music too. I’ve always been so used to wearing many hats as I was coming up. Being involved in the music side just felt natural. It preceded all my filmmaking. I work with a few producers (like Roary) who help me shape the films exactly the way I want them. It’s one of my favorite parts of the process too. Dipping my toe into another art form without having to shift gears completely.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://connorcarroll.tv
• Instagram: @connor_carroll
• Other: https://vimeo.com/connorcarroll