August 06, 2018

Student Filmmakers Create Original Video Content for JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. Live

The Final Creative Works Will Be Displayed Throughout the Hotel and Via the Property’s Social Media Pages

This summer, JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE —in partnership with ArtCenter College of Design—is commissioning four student filmmakers to showcase the vibrant and diverse personality of its home city through original video content and the perspective of local artists. Each filmmaker will select one fellow artist to profile—from an avant-garde hair stylist to an empowered graffiti artist. The short films will capture the personality of Los Angeles through the unique perspective and artistic lens of its subject. The four completed videos will be on display throughout the hotel and available on the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. Live social media pages beginning August 6. Underscoring the brand’s commitment to its local community and the creative talent within it, this is the hotel’s second collaboration with ArtCenter College of Design and is now an annual initiative.

“We are thrilled to share this content with our guests, with the community, and with the world. Celebrating the many attributes that make our home city so distinctive and offering our guests—both locals and visitors alike—the opportunity to explore Los Angeles in fresh and inspiring ways are essential to who we are,” says General Manager Javier Cano. “It is an honor to collaborate with these talented young filmmakers and invite them to tell their stories and the stories of the artists they admire.”

About the Artists

• Rudy Gold —Rudy Gold is a first generation American, born and raised in the inner city of Los Angeles. Gold holds two bachelor’s degrees: one in Media Studies and a second (with honors) from the prestigious ArtCenter College of Design, where he studied film and advertising. He has won several awards for his short films, including a GOLD ADDY from the American Advertising Federation Club and the 2018 AICP Gold Award. He has also been shortlisted by the CLIO Awards. He will be profiling Deity, a local graffiti artist.
• Seejon Thomas —Raised in Michigan and Singapore, and currently residing in Los Angeles, Seejon Thomas pulls inspiration from the many lives and moments that intersect around him. Thomas is a recent graduate of ArtCenter College of Design with a BFA in film directing. He currently works as a director and editor under his production collective zero4 and produces his own narrative work. His work explores questions of humanity and seeks to explore a sense of yearning and connection present in the collective human experience. He will be profiling Mike Nesbit, a fine artist with a background in architecture.

• Kristy Fung Heroy —Originally from Hong Kong, Kristy Fung Heroy is a director and producer based in Los Angeles. She has worked with clients and collaborators from more than 35 cities and 21 countries. Her credits include “Fast and Furious 6,” “Criminal Blues,” “Give me 5,” and “Apartment 1303 3D.” She graduated with a Masters of Fine Arts from ArtCenter College of Design in 2017 and speaks English, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese and is fluent in Japanese. She will be profiling nationally acclaimed illustrator Esther Pearl Watson.
• Antoine Mellinger —Born in New York and raised in Paris, Antoine Mellinger is a director and cinematographer who taps into his cultural heritage to create innovative films that reflect his unique point of view. He is a recent graduate of the Master of Fine Arts program in film directing from ArtCenter College of Design; his work focuses on narrative dramas. He will be profiling hair stylist and colorist Mairena Cortes.

ABOUT JW MARRIOTT LOS ANGELES L.A. LIVE

Located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, the JW Marriott serves as the focal point of the L.A. LIVE district, offering travelers a front seat to world-class sports and entertainment. The hotel features 878 stylish guest rooms, a full service spa and fitness center, outdoor heated pool, diverse dining options and 100,000 square feet of versatile meeting space. The JW Marriott Los Angeles shares the distinctive 54-story tower with sister hotel The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles and The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. LIVE. Steps away from STAPLES Center, Microsoft Theater L.A. LIVE, The GRAMMY Museum, and an array of restaurants, venues, and nightspots, the JW Marriott Los Angeles is at the center of one of the most exciting parts of the city.

ABOUT ARTCENTER COLLEGE OF DESIGN

Founded in 1930 and located in Pasadena, California, ArtCenter College of Design is a global leader in art and design education. ArtCenter offers 11 undergraduate and seven graduate degrees in a wide variety of industrial design disciplines, as well as visual and applied arts. In addition to its top-ranked academic programs, the College also serves members of the Greater Los Angeles region through a highly regarded series of year-round educational programs for all ages and levels of experience. Renowned for both its ties to industry and social impact initiatives, ArtCenter is the first design school to receive the United Nations’ Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) status. Throughout the College’s long and storied history, ArtCenter alumni have had a profound impact on popular culture, the way we live and important issues in our society. Information about ArtCenter’s graduate film degree program can be found here and undergraduate film degree program can be found here .

Contacts:

Lindsey Huttrer/Nicolette Dantas
Wagstaff Worldwide
323 871-1151
lhuttrer@wagstaffworldwide.com

Teri Bond
ArtCenter College of Design
626 396-2385
teri.bond@artcenter.edu