Game-Changers: Spike Jonze (USA)

Spike Jonze is a director, producer, writer and photographer whose work includes music videos, commercials, film, television and theatre.

He is the writer and director of the films Her (for which he won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay), Where the Wild Things Are, Adaptation and Being John Malkovich.

He is the co-creator and producer of the Jackass television shows and films, a co-founder of Dirt Magazine, Grand Royal Magazine, and the director of numerous music videos and commercials.

His work is as varied as making a short documentary portrait of Vice President Al Gore in the 2000 election to acting in David O. Russell’s Gulf War film Three Kings.

He remains a frequent collaborator with creative visionaries ranging from Bjork and the Beastie Boys to director Michel Gondry and Kanye West.

He's currently serving as creative director for Vice Media and Co-President of Vice’s new TV channel, Viceland.

Jess Scully is a curator, policy thinker, festival director and media producer who is passionate about using creativity to inspire social change: she seeks to curate projects that inspire curiosity, spark conversation and explore opportunities for the arts and creativity to deliver impact in communities and add value to the broader economy. Jess is the curator of Vivid Ideas: an annual event connecting creative practitioners and businesses with global leaders, to support professional development and expand market opportunities for the sector. Spanning industries from art and architecture to gaming and filmmaking: the Vivid Ideas program now brings together close to 80,000 participants and has been recognised by the Guardian as one of the top ten ideas festivals in the world.

Jess is one of the curators of TEDxSydney: since 2013 she has collaborated with a talented team of volunteers to help deliver one of the most sophisticated talks events in the world. As a public art consultant, Jess is delivering permanent public art and temporary projects for Green Square Library and Plaza. She is also public art curator for 60 Martin Place and Barrack Place, and public realm activations at Quay Quarter Sydney. In the past, Jess served as policy advisor to the NSW Minister of the Arts, directed the Qantas Spirit of Youth Awards (SOYA), and edited magazines including Empty, Yen and SummerWinter.

www.jessscully.com