Director Peyton Wilson–whose work spans documentaries, branded content and commercials–has joined bicoastal Chelsea Pictures for exclusive representation in the U.S. She had previously been repped in the American ad market by production house O Positive which continues to handle her in Europe via its London office.
Wilson has brought her sensibilities as a documentary filmmaker to the branded content arena with work that includes: The Nature Conservancy’s Our Nature, a film narrated by Jessica Chastain about a woman’s first love—Nature; HP’s Making Zebras Dance web film (BBDO NY), a portrait of DreamWorks’ animator Rex Grignon; Special K’s “More Than A Number” (Leo Burnett Chicago), a hidden camera commercial and SHOOT Top Spot with real women who demonstrate that confidence and beauty go beyond the size of their waistlines; a campaign for U.S. Navy (Campbell-Ewald) featuring a reservist and chaplain whose poignant narratives unfold in authentically documented stories; and an integrated campaign for Nokia about TED Fellows (Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam).
Wilson made her first major mark as a documentarian with the fighter pilot feature Speed and Angels, honored with screenings at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum and across the festival circuit, earning Best in Fest and Best Documentary at the San Luis Obispo Film Festival and the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the San Diego Film Festival. Speed and Angels was broadcast on Discovery Channel.
Wilson additionally has to her credit The Bronzer, a documentary short about an offbeat traveling salesman, which enjoyed a successful festival run and became a Vimeo staff pick.
Recently, Wilson created the documentary series On Meaning. Featuring interviews with subjects ranging from prison inmates, to athletes, to musicians such as Moby, the series aims to examine the sources of meaning in the everyday.
Chelsea co-owners/EPs Allison Amon and Lisa Mehling have long been fans of Wilson’s work. Mehling said of the director, “Allison and I were drawn to the range of captivating films she has made, and how she consistently finds the human story. The composition and tone of her films are stunning in both her advertising as well as longform work. She is spot on for what agencies are looking for in a director.”
