Parker Schmidt

Direction

Oct 20

Written By WÜL Magazine

Director Los Angeles, USA

Stemming from the high-adrenaline world of downhill skateboarding, Parker Schmidt’s pursuits in filmmaking are entangled in elevating the every day in automotive, fashion, and sports commercials. Having traveled around the world while competing in skateboarding, studying art and design in Berlin, and currently residing in Los Angeles, Schmidt has found new desires alongside film in the world of surf, cycling, baking, and pottery. Constantly in search of the nearest alpine lake, surf break, or scenic backcountry, by his preferred mode of off-roading, this young director infuses every project he undergoes with a spirit of determined excitement to bring it to the next caliber.

Website Instagram Contact

Production Company: Bigfoot Films
Executive Producer: Aly Saifulnaser
Director: Parker Schmidt
Director of Photography: Jasper de Kloet
1st AD: Vanessa Mghames
Producer: Rania Salame
Line Producer: Farah Abdelkader
Production Manager: Georges Khalaf
Unit Manager: Mohammad Ali
Catering Manager: Ogaret
Production Coordinator: Elissa Hammoud
Production Assistant: Walid Wazir
Production Runner: Shanavas Saina

1st AC: Jonathan Saccal
2nd AC: Murali Nair
VTO: Jad Bou Nemer
DIT: Eyüp Ömer Yücel
Photographer: Ziga Mihelcic
Photography Assistant: Alex Voinov
Gaffer: Sohail Iftikhar
Best Boy: Qaiser Farooq
Spark C/o: Kokofilm
Key Grip: Remon Awny
BB Grip: Shahed Iqbal
Art Director: Maria Villegas
Props Master: Ilya Zykov
Car Detailer: Nes Faustino
Wardrobe Stylist: Gretta Tayeh
HMU: Deepa Yadav
Veil Artist: Hassan Karanouh

Post Production Studio: Lockt Editorial
Editor: Lucas Raimondo
Sound Designer & Mix + Master: Eric Crepeau
Media & IT Manager: Nate Lawrence
Lockt President: Connor Scofield
Executive Post Producer: Eileen Miraglia
Post Production Supervisor: Shea Zmerzlikar
Composer: Oliver Reid
Color Studio: Ethos Studio
Colorist: Cameron Marygold
Ethos Color Producer: Brayden Deskins
Ethos Color Associate Producer: Ben Ferren

I started in action sports, competing internationally in downhill skateboarding, which led me to create films and photos for my sponsors. After recognizing the risks, I shifted my focus to creative work and studied art direction at MASB Art School in Berlin. My skills in skateboarding helped me shoot for brands like Leica, Porsche, and Nike while traveling across Europe.

I later spent a year in Portugal learning to surf, balancing my passion for adrenaline with gravel biking. Now based in L.A., I continue to embrace outdoor sports, infusing these high-energy experiences into my directorial projects.

I take a conceptual approach grounded in human experience but elevated to a heightened reality. I use emotionally charged elements like meticulously designed lighting, visual effects, and sound to create scenes that transcend everyday life, offering a deeper, more cerebral interpretation.

This perspective stems from my background in action sports; for example, I’ve reflected on the psychological impact of racing down a mountain road at 60 mph. I aim to capture that intense experience in my projects, presenting it in a way that resonates with a broader audience.