| Isaiah Saxon | |
| Birth Place: | Aptos, CA |
| Nationality: | American |
| Alma Mater: | Academy of Art University |
| Occupation: | Film director Co-founder, Encyclopedia Pictura Co-founder, DIY.org |
| Years Active: | 2003–present |
Isaiah Saxon (born 1983)[1] is an American film and music video director. He co-founded the animation studio Encyclopedia Pictura, and the online community DIY.org.
Saxon was born and raised in Aptos, California.[2] He majored in film directing at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.[1]
Saxon and Sean Hellfritsch founded Encyclopedia Pictura as a directing duo in 2004, before expanding into a trio when Daren Rabinovitch joined in 2007,[1] and ultimately transforming into an animation studio.[3] Through Encyclopedia Pictura, Saxon has directed music videos, short films and commercials.[2] The studio is known for creating ambitious music videos and short films with an organic, handmade quality.[4]
In 2007, Saxon and Hellfritsch directed the music video for the Grizzly Bear single "Knife".[4] The video was filmed in Death Valley, CA and Brooklyn, NY. Their first major video,[3] it was listed at #26 on Pitchfork's list of the top 50 music videos of the 2000s.[5]
Following the "Knife" video, Saxon got a call from Björk, asking Encyclopedia Pictura to direct a music video for her single "Wanderlust". Their concept was inspired by the work of Hayao Miyazaki, Stanley Kubrick, and Walt Disney's work from the 1930s.[3] The video was shot at Matthew Barney's studio in New York City,[3] in stereoscopic 3-D using a 3-D camera rig they designed and built.[1] Combining handmade puppetry, scale modeling, CGI and live action,[1] it took over nine months to complete.[6] The "Wanderlust" video premiered at the Deitch Projects gallery in Long Island City, Queens,[6] and was shown in 3-D at Saatchi & Saatchi's 2008 New Directors Showcase.[7] It won three D&AD Yellow Pencil awards[8] and the UK Music Video Award for Video of the Year.[9] Spin magazine named it the best music video of 2008,[10] and Pitchfork ranked it #21 on its list of the top 50 music videos of the 2000s.[5]
Saxon directed the animated music video for the Panda Bear song "Boys Latin", which premiered on Adult Swim in 2015.[11] It was nominated for the UK Music Video Award for Best Animation in a Video.[12]
In 2011, Saxon began developing a feature film titled DIY, about a group of kids that rebuild their town after a flood.[2] [13] The following year, Saxon, Zach Klein, Andrew Sliwinski and Daren Rabinovitch founded DIY.org, an online educational community for kids, with a storefront in San Francisco. Saxon served as chief creative officer from the company's founding in 2012 through 2014.[13] [14] He creates the skill patches that are sent out to community members.[15] [16]
Starting in 2008, Saxon, Hellfritsch and Rabinovitch transformed 10 acres in the wooded hills in Aptos, California, into Trout Gulch, a community where they built their own houses, farmed, and produced digital animation. The intent was to blend technology with nature.[1] [2] [17] At its peak, 18 people lived at Trout Gulch.[18]
| Year | Song | Artist | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | "Soo Tall" | Zion I | Director |
| 2006 | "Haven't Been Yourself" | Seventeen Evergreen | Co-director |
| 2007 | "Knife" | Grizzly Bear | Co-director |
| 2008 | "Wanderlust" | Björk | Co-director |
| 2015 | "Boys Latin" | Panda Bear | Co-director |
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Grow | Director | |
| Micro/Macro | Director | ||
| 2008 | How Will You Create the Universe? | Co-director | Trailer for Spore video game[20] |
| 2010 | The Internet | Co-director | Soundtrack by Dan Deacon |
| 2013 | Jay Nelson: Fort Builder | Director | |
| 2016 | The Tale of Hillbelly | Co-director | |