Leonard Wilkes

  • Filmmaker
  • Burbank, CA

“He’s a filmmaker in every sense of the word.” Kevin Cooper – New Line Cinema

View Resume

When I was a kid I couldn't decide if I wanted to be a Power Ranger or Batman (I have the pictures to prove it). I knew I had to choose, so I went with Power Ranger. One fateful day, my parents took me to a local event where I would get to... wait for it... meet the White Ranger himself! I was more excited than I'd ever been. When the day finally came, I waited anxiously in a crowd of fellow aspiring rangers as our anthem, "Go Go Power Rangers" came on. In the most epic voice I'd ever heard, the announcer boomed, "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, put your hands together for the leader of the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers, the White Ranger!" But then what should have been the happiest moment of my life took a devastating turn. You could practically read the words "What is this bull$#!&" in my 7-year-old eyes as some skinny guy with poke-dot boxers showing through his suit did what I could only assume was supposed to be a flip. That was the day I realized that Power Rangers weren't real. Thankfully, when my parents explained to me how TV shows and movies were made, I realized that sounded like a pretty cool job too. I've been doing it ever since.

Experience

Lead Director / Producer at Discovery Digital Networks – Los Angeles

2015 – Present Los Angeles, CA

Creatively produced / directed sketches, pilots, 360 vr content, experimental projects, and special promotions.

Production Manager – SourceFed Studios at Discovery Digital Networks – Los Angeles

2015 – 2016 Los Angeles, CA

Created and developed SourceFed Studios' Production Department. Built a team of shooters, editors, and supervisors and oversaw all aspects of production (pre-post) for 5 YouTube channels producing more than 30 videos and 1 million video views per week.

Producer – SourceFed / SourceFed Nerd at Discovery Digital Networks – Los Angeles

2014 – 2015 Los Angeles, CA

Produced 8 daily videos across DDNLA’s 2 flagship channels, and managed 17 writers, hosts, editors, and production staff.

Producer – ForHumanPeoples at Discovery Digital Networks – Los Angeles

2013 – 2014 Los Angeles, CA

Launched and branded a new human interest channel, the first channel launch since our acquisition by the Discovery Channel. We created over 100 unique consumer products and 2 weekly videos.

Lead Shooter / Editor – SourceFed at SourceFed Studios

2012 – 2013 Los Angeles, CA

Shot and Edited 2-3 daily videos for SourceFed with 2 hour turn-around times from shooting to posting. Trained new editors. Developed branded graphics packages every few months.

Film Editor – “I Heart Shakey” Live Action 3D Feature at Amarok Productions

2010 – 2012 Chicago, IL

Edited film to completion. Edited 8 bonus materials videos. Supervised all aspects of Post Production. Coordinated original score, sound editors, mixers, 3D VFX and 3D finishing houses in 5 different time zones.

Director / Editor at RicMon Productions

2009 – 2010 http://www.thepassiontheory.com/

Produced, directed, and edited a 3 hour guitar instruction DVD set, a 70 minute guitar instruction series for the Hard Rock Hotel and Gibson Guitars, as well as 16 music videos for the Rico Monaco Band.

Director / Editor (Volunteer) at Children’s Home Society of Florida

2009 – 2010 Orlando, FL

Directed and edited advocacy videos and public service announcements for the local branch. Awarded the “Star-scar” award for our work with the group.

Education

Master of Science – Entertainment Business at Full Sail University

2009 – 2010 Orlando, FL

Valedictorian – 4.0 GPA. Perfect Attendance. Awards: Business Storytelling & Brand Development, Entertainment Business Finance, Mobile Marketing, Business Plan Development

Bachelor of Science – Film at Full Sail University

2007 – 2009 Orlando, FL

Salutatorian – 3.97 GPA. Perfect Attendance. Awards: Sound for Film

Awards

News and Current Events Series – SourceFed, Streamy Awards

As Producer of SourceFed

Audience Choice for Series of the Year – SourceFed, Streamy Awards

As Lead Editor of SourceFed

Excellence in Media, Children’s Home Society of Florida

For my work on Point of Entry video for Perinatal Program

Chairman’s Award, Governor’s Council on Impaired & Dangerous Driving

For a 30-Minute Anti-Drinking and Driving short film shown around the state. I directed and edited the film.

Gold Key, Scolastic

For a music video I directed and edited.

Clients

Discovery Channel, Xbox, Sunset Overdrive, SourceFed, The Philip DeFranco Show, Hard Rock Hotel, Gibson Guitars

Specialties

DirectingEditingProducing360 Video ProductionNew Media Production

Skills

CinematographyWritingStory DevelopmentProject/Team ManagementPractical and Visual EffectsPremiere ProPhotoshopAfter EffectsFinal Cut Pro (7 & X)AutoPano VideoAutoPano Giga