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JD Walker is an award-winning Director/Writer who was recently selected by the Academy of Motion Pictures to serve on the leadership board for Gold Rising. A graduate of USC's M.F.A. Program in Directing, where she was funded by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson, JD also has a graduate degree from Howard University, where she received a full ride. Originally from Oakland, CA, She has over 15 years of experience in the film industry and primarily specializes in scripted TV and narrative features (drama, rom com, romantic drama, comedy, and family). She has directed both single cam and multicam. She has also taught directing on the college level for over 10 years. Her long term goal is to direct original content for episodic TV and to helm inspiring stories about leading women and marginalized characters with depth and agency who have triumphed over adversity.
Walker has received Directing fellowships from The Blackhouse Foundation at Sundance, Facebook SEEN's Emerging Director Program, The Academy of Motion Pictures, and The George Lucas Family Foundation. Her short film "Oscar Micheaux" that she wrote and directed screened at Cannes (Short Film Corner) and won "Best Short" at The African American Film Festival. Another short that she wrote and directed, "Sandra: Say Her Name" won "Best Short" at the Central Illinois Feminist Film Festival. Her shorts have screened at numerous film festivals. Walker worked at AMPAS for Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting and The Student Academy Awards. She has also worked at Buzz Feed, helping to manage over 20 commercials weekly.
Some of her clients include Disney Plus, HBO Max, Oprah Winfrey's OWN Network, Wayfarer Entertainment, Lifetime, ESPN, Pepsi, Kroger, Nationwide, and more. Originally from Oakland, she resides in Los Angeles and has worked with Octavia Spencer (Hidden Figures), Michael B. Jordan (Black Panther), Tessa Thompson (Dear White People/Passing), Lin Miranda (Hamilton), Andre Holland (Moonlight), Adepero Odune (12 Years a Slave), Janelle Mona'e, Tiffany Haddish, J Lo, and Jill Scott, to name a few.
JD has worked for Disney Plus, ESPN, Lifetime, Array, HGTV and several other companies. She is one of the founding members of Rachel Raimist's "Saturday Sessions" and has participated in Directing workshops with Bola Ogun, Joel Zwick (Disney), Tessa Blake (ABC), Rachel Raimist (CW Network), Andy Cadiff (CBS), Eva McKenna (CW Network) and Jenn Page (Heart on Fire Productions).
