Director Kevin Wilson, Jr. Joins Chelsea for First Commercial Representation

Chelsea has announced the signing of Oscar nominated, Student Academy Award Winning Filmmaker Kevin Wilson, Jr. to their roster for his first ever branded representation. Wilson’s directorial debut and award winning film, My Nephew Emmett, tells the emotional true story of Emmett Till, a black 14-year-old murdered in Mississippi in 1955, experienced from his uncle’s perspective. Wilson directed, wrote, and produced the film which garnered multiple awards, including the gold medal at the 44th Student Academy Awards, a Directors Guild of America Student Film Award, and a BAFTA Student Film Award. Months later, My Nephew Emmett was nominated for an Oscar for BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM at the 90th Academy Awards.

"I met Kevin while teaching him at NYU Grad Film School and saw great promise in him as a visual storyteller,” recounts Spike Lee, director, producer, screenwriter, actor, and professor, “He's grown to become a fine filmmaker with a very strong point of view. His Oscar Nominated short film ‘My Nephew Emmett’ shows his ability to craft a compelling, visual story and speak truth to experiences black people are confronted with every day. To be able to do both through film requires great talent… I have no doubt that he's going to go far in this business!" 

Kevin Wilson, Jr. attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts where he received a Master of Fine Arts in Film Production while simultaneously producing and debuting My Nephew Emmett. His short film has screened at Film Festivals all over the world including the New York Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival and HollyShorts Film Festival. He is currently in development for his debut feature film.

Chelsea President, Lisa Mehling, adds: “We are honoured to welcome Kevin to the Chelsea roster. As a writer/director his grace and talent are on full display in his Oscar nominated short My Nephew Emmett. From our very first conversation we were drawn to his passion for the power of storytelling and for what he intends to accomplish as a filmmaker. We were equally struck by his heart, humanity and drive to have an influence.” 

In February of 2020, Wilson wrapped production on an Untitled Netflix Documentary Series which is scheduled to be released this winter.

"It's difficult to put into words how excited I am to be joining the Chelsea family,” exclaims Kevin Wilson, Jr., “It's always been an ambition of mine to find a home where I can express my voice through stories in the branded content space. The artists at Chelsea are already engaged in works that naturally live within the intersection of dynamic, bold visual storytelling and meaningful, passionate messages that resonate long after the commercial is over. That's the voice I've managed to develop over the years and I am so excited to join the ranks of artists whose work I already have an immense amount of respect and admiration for. Artists like David Gordon Green, Nisha Ganatra, and Nadia Hallgren. I look forward to flexing my visual storytelling muscles at Chelsea and continuing to grow as an artist while making some fun and resonant commercials!” 

Kevin is an active member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.

"I was immediately captivated by Kevin's work,” expresses Denise Blate Roederer of RHODA, “drawn to the breathtaking cinematic film palette and pacing of the narrative in My Nephew Emmett. He is a serious young talent with integrity, keen eye for artistry, passion for storytelling and heart of human gold.” 

For more of Kevin Wilson Jr.’s work, please visit Chelsea.com