Director Gerald Ding’s work is defined by a mashing up of visual styles in both live-action and animation. When asked about the best medium to create impactful work, he explains that it’s less about a specific technique and more about mixing things that might not go together.
According to Ding, “combinations can evolve and change so much through trends that sometimes when a style just feels right, it’s considered something new.” Along with technique, another important part of directing is to be conscious of your audience. “I want to tell stories about genuine people and things they truly care about. It’s one of the reasons I’m drawn to a mixed visual style because it is a great way to characterize and express emotions, whether heavy or small, happy or sad. It’s like visual poetry.”
So how do you connect with and surprise audiences when expectations are set so high? For Ding, it’s not always about bigger and better. Instead, it’s about not shying away from the cultural climate and listening more. Whether it’s working with popular icons or speaking to issues facing the younger generations, the more in tune a director is, the more relevant the work they are capable of creating. Finally, great collaborators make all the difference.
“Scholar has always been on my radar,” says Ding, “but lately, it felt like we could really elevate one another. Looking at their recent work, I thought, our worlds go together so well, kind of unexpectedly; I can’t wait to collaborate with all the talent here.”
And the feeling was mutual.
According to Co-Founder & Director William Campbell, “Scholar has always been about building a culture of creativity, and we define that as having a distinct lack of ego. We want everyone to bring ideas to the table, melding minds to create together. It’s about the people and Gerald is the epitome of those values. He’s talented, humble, and an all-around great human.”
In terms of how his visual sensibility will fold into the mix, Co-Founder & Director Will Johnson adds that “Gerald has a very keen eye for how he blends and collaborates between culture and medium, style and technique, that is really deliberate. He’s an investigator that has this awareness to him that we can’t wait to support and see in action.”
To learn more about Gerald and his passion for celebrating authentic characters and discovering the truth in their stories, check out his Artist page at Scholar.com.
About Scholar
Scholar is a creative production company drawn together by a love for design, endless curiosity, and passion for engaging viewers on an emotional level. The company blends top-tier artistry with production expertise to forge braver, smarter content that is highly original. A full-service studio with offices in Los Angeles and New York, fueled by a diverse array of award-winning creators, Scholar produces work that is driven by substance and elevated by style. Experience Scholar at http://www.helloscholar.com.
About Gerald Ding
Gerald Ding is a director based in New York. His heavy range and striking visual approach have led him through 20 years in advertising, a run in the international film festival circuit, and most recently as narrative director for the video game franchise Madden NFL 22. His short documentary, Fayettenam, premiered at the Seattle International Film Festival before going on to win Best Documentary Short at the Hollywood International Moving Pictures Film Festival. His recent commercial clients include Apple, League Of Legends, Madden NFL, Airbnb, Square, Samsonite, and AT&T.