Scott Gardner
Multi-disciplinary artist working in three primary areas: Documentary film, fine art photography, & cultivation of compassion through public art via his non-profit, AboutFace CLT.
EDUCATION
North Carolina School of the Arts - BFA
August 1995 - May 1999
Graduated from the School of Filmmaking with a major in cinematography.
FILM & TELEVISION (select experience)
The Mecklenburg County Project, Whirlygig Productions - Director of Photography
January 2020 - ongoing
● Feature film documentary that tells the Jimmy Lee Kirkpatrick story, detailing his role in Charlotte’s civil rights history as the African-American Myers Park football player who was denied the right to play in the Shrine Bowl, as well as his ongoing journey of personal reconciliation with the descendants of the family that owned his ancestors during the 1800’s in Charlotte.
TRU Colors, Macho Grande Entertainment - Director, Producer, Cinematographer
January 2021 - ongoing
· Pilot episode for a documentary series detailing the lives of rival gang members who have come together to start a brewery in Wilmington, NC as a way to decrease gun violence. Bloods, Crips, and Gangster Disciples setting aside their rivalries to create a safer community through economic opportunity and life skills training including yoga, nutrition and conflict resolution.
Castaways, ABC – Camera Operator/Story Producer
July 2017 – November 2017
● 10 part social experiment/documentary filmed for ABC in the Dominican Republic, Ghana, and Raja Ampat Indonesia. The project asks the question whether it is better to come together and share resources, or hoard your things and go it alone.
Uncensored with Michael Ware, National Geographic – Director of Photography
June 2016 – September 2016
● Multiple episodes of an hour-long investigative journalism series featuring Michael Ware, former CNN Baghdad bureau chief.
● Investigated stories such as contemporary witch burning in Papua New Guinea, the last true monarchy in Africa in Swaziland, and an Iranian dissident group in Paris, Berlin, and Albania.
The Horn, Red Bull/Netflix – Director of Photography
January 2016 – May 2016
● Six part documentary series focusing on the pilots and medics from a helicopter rescue company in Zermatt, Switzerland. The series dives in to their lives to understand the men who put their lives at risk on a daily basis to rescue others.
● Won two Realscreen documentary awards.
Additional film work:
● Compliance, Magnolia Pictures : 2nd Unit DP, Movie poster : Sundance
● Prince Avalanche, Magnolia Pictures : Underwater DP, Movie poster : Silver Bear @ Berlin Film Festival
● Take Shelter, Sony Pictures Classics : Movie poster : Sundance, Cannes
● The Rough South of Larry Brown, Down Home Productions : DP : Los Angeles Film Festival
FINE ART EXHIBITIONS (photography + painting)
● Seeking Silence, Charlotte, NC: Sozo Gallery
● Stalking Deep Time, Houston, TX: Gremillion Gallery
● A tale of two cities, Charlotte, NC: McColl Center
● Annuale 9, Charlotte, NC: The Light Factory
● #connect, Charlotte, NC: Ross Gallery CPCC
● Neighbor, Charlotte, NC: Warehouse 242
● New Work, NY, NY: The Empire Hotel
● Through the Ethereal, Charlotte, NC: Barings
● Breathing Space, Charlotte, NC: Sozo Gallery
● Grounded, Charlotte, NC: Sozo Gallery
COMMUNITY ART
The Future is NOW, Charlotte, NC
May 2019 - June 2019
● Large scale photo installation covering the exterior of the uptown Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Library as part of the Charlotte SHOUT festival.
● Installation involved photographing and interviewing 250 school children from across the city to encourage engagement around children’s issues.
#connect, Charlotte, NC
January 2018 - February 2018
● Interactive installation at the Ross Gallery @ CPCC designed to encourage connection between people from all corners of the community.
The Blessing Box Campaign, Charlotte, NC
August 2016 - August 2017
● Multi-phase project designed to cultivate habits of kindness and compassion in our community.
● Engaged ~25,000 Charlotteans from across the city, including 50 schools (public and private), all the universities, churches, synagogues, a mosque, the police department, the government center, small businesses, individuals and families.
● Included 8 art-making workshops and 4 installations of the final project across the city including Spirit Square and a collaboration with the Charlotte Symphony at Romare Bearden Park.
LOVE + LISTEN + SERVE, Charlotte, NC
2015 - June 2017
● Made a series of short documentary films sharing the stories of our neighbors who are judged, discriminated against, or ignored: designed to create connection and empathy between parts of the community who never really intersect or communicate. The idea is don’t judge somebody if you’ve never talked to them or heard their story. Cultivating the inherent empathy and compassion that comes with listening and connection.
● Videos were produced in partnership with local non-profits serving these communities. Homelessness, poverty, & LGBTQ+ stories.
PANELS + LECTURES
● The Mint Museum : Develar y detonar
● FactualWEST Conference
● North Carolina School of the Arts
● Queens University
● Central Piedmont Community College
● Charlotte Country Day School
● Covenant Presbyterian Church
● Myers Park Methodist Church
RESIDENCIES
● McColl Center for Art + Innovation :August 2016-May 2017