Luke Gilford Explained

Luke Gilford
Birth Date:1986
Birth Place:Denver, Colorado, USA
Occupation:Director, writer, photographer
Notable Works:The Future of Flesh, Connected, National Anthem: America’s Queer Rodeo, National Anthem (film)

Luke Gilford (born 1986) is a director, writer, and photographer based in New York City and Los Angeles.[1] [2] He has directed several short films, including The Future of Flesh, which showcased Prada collection narrated by Jane Fonda, and Connected, starring Pamela Anderson and Dree Hemingway.[3] Gilford has directed music videos for Blood Orange, Troye Sivan, Christina Aguilera, and Kesha and has collaborated with Mercedes Benz and Maison Martin Margiela. Gilford's first monograph, National Anthem: America’s Queer Rodeo, documents America’s queer rodeo and members of the International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA).[4] [5] In 2023, he made his feature film debut by directing and co-writing National Anthem, which premiered at the 2023 SXSW Festival, inspired by his monograph.[6]

Early life and education

Gilford was born in Denver, Colorado and raised in Evergreen, Colorado and the San Francisco Bay Area. His father is a former rodeo champion and judge, and Gilford recollects growing up surrounded by an extensive collection of snakeskin boots, Stetson hats, and giant silver and gold champion belt buckles.[5]

He studied fine art and photography under Barbara Kruger at the University of California, Los Angeles.[7]

Work

Gilford has documented and photographed a breadth of Americana and beauty from the Miss America pageant and the model Hari Nef to queer rodeos and R&B stars. In 2013, Gilford released The Future of Flesh, a short featuring Prada-clad models, a voice-over from Jane Fonda, and an original score by Jake Shears and Steven Stoner to launch Prada's F/W 2013 collection. His second short released in 2015, titled Connected, is a 10-minute film starring Pamela Anderson, features as "a woman grappling with aging, self-perception and transformation in a technologically optimized world."[7]

In 2023, Gilford made his feature film debut by directing and co-writing National Anthem, inspired by his National Anthem America's Queer Rodeo monograph, which premiered at the 2023 SXSW Festival on March 10, 2023,[8] to positive critical reviews.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: LENS. 2020-11-26. www.imglens.com.
  2. Web site: Luke Gilford Artist Profile with Bio. 2020-11-27. www.mutualart.com. en.
  3. Web site: 2013-09-26. Jake Shears & Jane Fonda Collaborate on Short Film: The Future of Flesh. 2020-11-26. www.out.com. en.
  4. Web site: "An America where we can be whatever we want to be" : Luke Gilford provides space for the queer rodeo community. 2020-11-27. www.itsnicethat.com. en.
  5. Web site: AnOther. 2020-09-23. Tender Portraits of America's Queer Rodeo. 2020-11-27. AnOther. en.
  6. Web site: Rooney . David . 2023-03-11 . 'National Anthem' Review: Charlie Plummer Leads a Tender and Timely Rural Queer Awakening Drama . https://web.archive.org/web/20230320050752/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/national-anthem-review-charlie-plummer-1235347999/ . 2023-03-20 . 2023-03-20 . The Hollywood Reporter.
  7. News: Hawgood. Alex. 2016-02-03. An Image Maker Fixated on California Youth (Published 2016). en-US. The New York Times. 2020-11-27. 0362-4331.
  8. Web site: National Anthem . https://web.archive.org/web/20230323041317/https://schedule.sxsw.com/2023/films/2081840 . March 23, 2023 . February 3, 2023 . SXSW.