Raised in South Central, Los Angeles, Calmatic is a self-taught filmmaker who discovered his passion for telling stories at a young age. As a director, he strives to humanize others’ unique experiences without infusing them with negative stereotypes. He seeks to stretch the limits of his viewers’ reality while highlighting the beauty in the mundane. His creative curiosity has allowed him to solidify a place for himself in a constantly evolving industry.
Calmatic’s video collaborations span some of music’s most influential artists, including Donald Glover, Kendrick Lamar, Tyler, The Creator, Zayn Malik, Lizzo, Anderson .Paak, and more.
In 2018, his music video, “Bubblin” for Anderson .Paak, gained over 10 million views and has been recognized as one of the best music videos of the year. That same year, Calmatic directed the music video for Vince Staples’ nihilistic rap anthem “FUN!”, a film that combines cultural commentary on the surveillance state by spotlighting white America’s problematic consumption of “hood” culture.
Perhaps his most well-known project to date is Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” ft. Billy Ray Cyrus, which won the Grand Prix Entertainment Lions for Music at the 2020/2021 Cannes Lions as well as a VMA for Best Director. The video currently has over 845 million views.
In 2019, Calmatic was recognized in a national ad for AT&T’s “Codes of The Culture” campaign as one of the leading filmmakers in the new Black Hollywood. In the Spring of 2020, Ad Age named Calmatic “Director of the Year.”
Calmatic has successfully transitioned into directing commercials for global brands including Apple, Target, NBA, Sprite, Chase, Geico, and TurboTax, the latter of which premiered during Super Bowl LIV.
He made his feature directorial debut in January 2023 with the remake of the 90s cult classic film House Party for New Line and his sophomore film – the remake of White Men Can’t Jump for 20th Century Studios – opened in Spring 2023.
