Director Teaunna Gray Joins Westside Studio

Westside Studio welcomes director Teaunna Gray to the roster for exclusive Canadian representation.

With a documentarian’s sensibility and considerable talent for helping subjects’ authentic selves emerge on camera, Teaunna’s striking work elevates the commercial medium with a focus on real human stories. Teaunna has worked on campaigns for Holt Renfrew, Amazon Music, Gilead, and Toronto History Museums.

“We are, and have been, huge fans of Teaunna’s work,” says executive producer Amanda Morrison. “Teaunna has a deep well of empathy and understanding that allows her to tell stories in a remarkable way.”

She studied to be a social worker while shooting passion projects on the side. “I love talking to people and learning their life stories, which drew me to that educational path, but also heavily influenced my artistic interests,” she says. “As a Black Indigenous person, representation is central for me. I’m especially interested in working alongside underrepresented people, both on camera and behind the scenes.”

Finding her voice as an imagemaker, Teaunna pursued photography and filmmaking. She curated mixed media art shows in Toronto, in which she showcased her own projects while platforming the work of women, non-binary people, queer folks, and people of colour. Following numerous successful exhibits, she leaned into her storytelling talent and started shooting full-time. 

Teaunna believes relatable, human-centred storytelling is key to effective commercial work. Her work sees marginalised people in light of their full humanity; accordingly, her style is raw, intimate, and heavy on vivid closeups. “It’s really about capturing people’s essence on film,” she says. 

In her forthcoming documentary 'Black Girl Magic,' Teaunna interviews 12 Black women ranging in age from seven to 40. “It’s a love letter to Black women and girls,” she says. “There are layers of intersectionality in the film. It features two deaf women, a trans woman, and a self-identified fat woman. I wanted it to reflect the faces, backgrounds, and abilities Black women share.” Using authentic narratives to connect with viewers, Teaunna brings an insightful, compassionate approach to commercial and music video projects.

“Teaunna’s powerful voice is a vital addition to Westside’s roster, and to Toronto’s commercial industry,” says executive producer Ellie Winston. “Her talents are paired with a genuine love for the craft, and enthusiasm to learn and evolve. We’re thrilled to work alongside her as we head into this exciting new chapter.”