Jay Will
Film Director Jay Will has brought unrestrained imagination and innovation to the world of film and video, since emerging on the scene in 2001. He is not only regarded as one of the most sought-after Caribbean Film Directors— but also a driving force in the global
community. His signature “Game Over” logo has been stamped on over 200 music videos to date. He has worked on numerous commercial projects, documentaries and short films. Will’s repertoire has soared to become synonymous with untamed quality, and is,
in itself, an industry trend.
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Jay began his directorial career in his native Jamaica. At the time, most locally produced videos paled in comparison to their sleek American counterparts. Relying on his trademark energy and intuitiveness, coupled with the latest technology in cameras,
software and equipment, Jay has greatly contributed to the enhancement of the quality of local video production. Blown away by the quality of his work, artists clamored for videos with Jay at the helm. His unexampled visual interpretations, interesting story lines,
sharp angles and scene-by-scene continuity brought Jamaican videos to a whole new level. Today, Jay and critics alike agree that a huge portion of third world film projects stand in direct competition to first world projects without the inflated budgets.
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Born Jason Williams on July 5, 1978, Jay grew up in Spanish Town, Jamaica; an aged city rich in nostalgia, colonial architecture and culture. In 1992, the Williams family relocated to Fort Lauderdale, Florida where entered into a brand new cultural dynamic.
The High School years saw a developing interest in media and even harboring thoughts of being a “news reporter, a sports anchor and even the technical director of a news station”. Jay knew his life’s work would be in media, but there was some uncertainty as
to, an area of concentration.
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Jay spent the first half of his college career at Full Sail University in Orlando then moved to Tallahassee in 2001 where he completed his degree in Film and Journalism at the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU). By the time he was in college,
Jay had produced and directed over twenty-five home videos. That same year, he relocated to New York and worked at CBS as an editor in the syndication department. He also worked in production for the Dan Rather Nightly News At CBS. After a year he
moved on to MTV Networks, where he began as an editor subsequently worked his way to being a Segment Producer where he produced a variety of home video projects and on-air promos.
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His first real nudge to become a film director came in--, when he worked on his first major project, Kanye West's EPK and his music video, “Through the Wire”. Jay made his directorial debut for track called, “Diggy Diggy” by KC Jockey, featuring Elephant Man.
Not long after, the demand for music videos soon eclipsed Jay’s job as a segment Producer. He soon relocated to Jamaica and established a production company “Creative Source Productions” with business partner Carleene Samuels. Since then, he has
worked on music videos for Diplo, Major Lazer, Shaggy, Ace Hood, Mavado, NBC’s “The Voice” winner Tessanne Chin, Popcaan, Sean Paul, M.I.A, Sean Kingston, Luciano, Mr. Vegas, T.O.K, Beenie Man, Junior Reid, Pusha T, Snoop Dogg, Kymani Marley, Reggae Legends Lee Scratch Perry and The Abbysinians, German Pop Star Oceana, Kanye West, Soca Monarchs Biggie Irie and Alison Hinds and Nigerian Rap star Wizkid
along many more artists around the globe.
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In his short career, Jay has taken home numerous accolades. He has walked away the Best Documentary Award at The Flashpoint Film Festival “Its all about Dancing: A Jamaican Dance-u-Mentary”. He recently won the award for “Video Director of the Year” for 2014 and 2015, an award he has won multiple times. He has received top honors at Star Awards, EME Awards, a CVM TV Award, HYPE TV Awards, RETV Awards, Youth View Awards, the Reggae Academy Awards and the IRMWA Awards; He is a three-time Youth View Awards winner in the Best Director category. The Jamaican Observer named him one of “The 20 Most Influential Persons/Entities In Reggae and Dancehall Music”.
The Reggae Film Festival also honored Jay for his work on “At The Supermarket” a short film he directed.
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Jay Will currently works as a Freelance Producer/Director and operates business in the New York and Greater Boston area. He sees himself as a storyteller, ready to bring stories to the big screen. But beyond that, he represents the capacity to not only look at a human
being, but to really appreciate and bring about their stories in a profound and authentic way. Looking ahead, Jay hopes “to create films that depict true Caribbean lifestyles and culture” And to work extensively in the areas of Film and television production throughout the world.