Award-winning Documentary Director J. Austin Wilson Signs with UNHEARD/OF

Oct. 25, 2018

The Atlanta and Seattle-based production company, UNHEARD/OF, adds award-winning docu-style director J. Austin Wilson to its roster.

Born in a small town south of Atlanta and raised by two professional illustrators, Austin’s creative passions flourished from a young age. Inspired by his parents’ careers, Austin began painting, before adding photography, music, and filmmaking to his creative toolbelt. Driven by the work of Gus Van Sant and Harmony Korine, directors who blur the line between real-life and fiction, Austin focused on documentary filmmaking and cinematography at the New York Film Academy before moving to LA to attend the prestigious USC School of Cinematic Arts.

Austin jumped into commercial work immediately after USC, frequently collaborating with San Francisco-based ad agency Heat to helm spots for clients including Bank of the West, EA Sports and Fantex. In 2005, he moved to Seattle and began directing short music docs for KEXP, a local college radio station, where he worked with bands like Fleet Foxes, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, and Jonsi. Inspired by his work at KEXP, Austin directed, shot and edited his first short film “Frank Fairfield,” which premiered at SXSW 2011.

In describing his style, Austin says: 

“Authenticity is the ultimate goal. I try to bring a cinematic approach to a mostly observational style of filmmaking.” Capturing the real and the raw often means working with non-actors, and forging a true connection with those he works with. He says, “I’ve spent my career developing a style that feels unscripted. It’s especially rewarding when I work with musicians and artists. I spend a lot of time with the people I make films with, and often that develops into a natural friendship. And this relationship translates on screen, it helps the audience to experience that sense of authentic affection.”

 

Since then, Austin has directed dozens of commercials, among them are credits for Home Depot, Facebook, Nissan, and Intel, along with many music videos and documentary shorts. His organic aesthetic has struck a chord with audiences, leading to a Bronze Lion for his Nissan spot “What's in the Giant Box?” and two American Advertising Awards for his “Visit Seattle” tourism campaign.

The “Visit Seattle” project holds a special place in Austin’s heart, as he was given creative freedom to represent the city through all of the senses. The film utilizes unexpected perspectives as real people share why they love the area. Achieving the right sound was equally as important as the visuals, an emphasis Austin fostered through his experience working with musicians.

As he describes it: 

“For me, Seattle is a town that’s not only visually beautiful, but it also offers a constantly evolving audio experience. I was inspired to capture that via the marriage of images with sound design and music.”

 

Austin easily fits right in among the UNHEARD/OF team, saying:

“They’re a young, ambitious group with vision. They love what they do, and they know how to support filmmakers like me. And it doesn’t hurt that they have offices in the two cities I now call home: Seattle and Atlanta.”