Rodeo Show Signs Director Vanessa Black
Rodeo Show has signed Vanessa Black for exclusive U.S. representation. Black builds movements for brands at the intersection of culture, commerce, and impact, partnering with global brands like Google, Nike, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Vogue, Unilever, and Gap. Beginning as a documentary filmmaker, authenticity is the cornerstone of Black’s commercial style. Her energetic narratives in sports, fashion, and lifestyle celebrate passion and resilience.
“We build our roster intentionally to meet the demands of our dynamic industry — no one at Rodeo Show is a one-trick pony!” remarks Katie Walker, EP / Managing Director at Rodeo Show. “As a multidisciplinary filmmaker, Vanessa fits in perfectly with our ethos of being visionary, adaptable, and distinctive. She is creative with her whole being, and her passion and dedication to the work is joyful and contagious.”
“I am grateful to join Rodeo Show because I admire and trust Roxanne [Artesona] and Katie’s vision and leadership,” Black adds. “Their passion for the work and the culture of Rodeo Show is an incredible foundation for everything we will do together. We’re pushing my visual storytelling even further – leveling up the work to feel fresh and innovative for today's advertising landscape.”
Black honed her skills at USC Film School before blooming into advertising and film, working as a director, photographer, creative director, and writer. Her multifaceted filmmaking journey includes: script reading at The Kennedy/Marshall Company; PAing on Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master; producing at Heath Ledger’s The Masses; working in director sales at RadicalMedia; editing for luxury fashion brands in New York; and long-form content development. With each step shaping her dynamic career, Black brings a mastery of balancing creative vision, budgets, and set leadership with laser-like precision.
“I love advertising – short storytelling where every second counts,” says Black. “It’s math, craft, and pure adrenaline! I’m in awe of the collaboration across creatives, crews, and post teams. As a director, you have to be multilingual to support every layer of talent.”
As a fourth-generation San Diegan, growing up with a personal connection with Tijuana gave Black a broad worldview. “I have a complex relationship with borders," Black explains. “My background made me hyper-aware of where cultural or psychological borders exist in our society. Film and advertising have the power to transcend these limits.”
Her mission? To create empathy and joy on a massive scale.
Black’s love for film began when her grandmother, LaRita, took her to an anniversary screening of The Wizard of Oz, a moment that first revealed the magic of cinema’s ability to connect generations — a tradition she now continues with her son, Atlas, and the yellow brick road.
