The Work That Made Me: Courtni Poe
Courtni Poe is a director and photographer based in Los Angeles, California. Formerly known as a professional dancer, her work is most notable for its compelling conceptual narratives, innovative and energetic multi-media formats, and a fresh approach to advertising and marketing through direction, photography, movement direction, and more.
She is also the founder/editor in chief of GASP ZINE. GASP ZINE is a print publication and gallery dedicated to showcasing artists nationwide and translating art and the world around it to GEN-Z.
LBB> The ad/music video from my childhood that stays with me…
Courtni> Oh gosh! This would take me hours to write. I was so impacted by commercials & MTV as a kid. The first time I saw 'Dirrty' by Christian Aguilera (Directed by David LaChapelle) totally rewired my brain. I vividly remember old Nike commercials like Nike Freestyle (2001) and the Shaq Pepsi Commercial. Also, we don’t talk enough about how iconic the Blockbuster ads used to be!
LBB> The ad/music video/game/web platform that made me want to get into the industry…
Courtni> I know I talk about him 24/7, but every single thing David LaChapelle has done is the reason why I decided to start taking directing seriously. I never planned to be a director or photographer. I was a professional dancer, and then, during the pandemic, my career shift happened when I made my print publication.
David has been inspiring me since I was 12, which carried over when my career as a director/photographer began. I was so impacted by seeing his insane art direction, use of props, colours, and dancers! It all was so fascinating to me. I spend a lot of my time with him now and watching him in his process is the coolest thing ever.
A lot of people don’t realise everything he does is analogue. He doesn’t edit or use any AI in anything! That inspires me a lot in my own work to create the things I want to see versus digitally engineer them. Everything about David and his path has inspired me to want to be the artist I dream of becoming.
LBB> The creative work that I keep revisiting…
Courtni> I’m really into Frank Lebon and Andrea Arnold’s work—as well as Sam Youkilis. “BIRD” was recommended to me to check out recently. It blew my mind. It was the first time in my life I saw a film and thought, “That’s exactly how I want my work to feel to people.”
It was so intentionally chaotic and handheld; it made me dizzy, it made me cry and feel anxious, and it made me laugh. Then you get those few moments where everything is calm, and you feel like you can take a breath. I really like art that takes a long time to 'get to the point', so a lot of my inspiration lately comes from art that makes me feel like that.
In addition to this, I watch a lot of French films. I know I’m very late, but I’m super inspired by Eric Rohmer’s films. And when in doubt, I’ll watch a full ballet on YouTube. Music wise…hmmm…Oh yeah! That Beabadoobee record is insane. I think it will be #1 on my Wrapped this year. A lot of that music has inspired new work for me. That band 'TENNIS', too. So cool.
LBB> My first professional project…
Courtni> Nike 'Own The Floor' Campaign (2021). That job changed my life, literally. It’s still, to this day, the biggest photo job I’ve ever done.
LBB> The piece of work that made me so angry that I vowed to never make anything like *that*…
Courtni> I don’t know if I should be honest. I’m sensitive to a lot. The hardest thing about our times is that we’re on social media 24/7, so I’m always seeing work that makes me reactive. I try to replace this reactivity by making things that feel good and look to those who inspire me. Sorry if this answer sucks, haha. Art is so subjective, and I don’t wanna piss anyone off.
LBB> The piece of work that still makes me jealous…
Courtni> I would do anything to direct a Louis Vuitton or Versace Fashion Show or campaign. So, I am always inspired by everyone who’s doing it now. I can’t wait for it to be my turn.
LBB> The creative project that changed my career…
Courtni> Nike 'Own The Floor' (2021). I was not a photographer or a director before that project. Nike hired me on that after seeing my print publication, GASP ZINE. It was an intense four-day shoot, and I was just winging it. At that moment, it kinda felt like the world decided I was a 'photographer.'
Then, the following year, Nike asked me to direct this social basketball series. I didn’t realise what that meant. I showed up on the shoot day, went to the agency, and asked, 'Who’s directing this?'. Mind you…we had weeks of planning. But I thought I was only doing photos. Their eyes got wide, and they both said, 'You are?...Right?'. I remember at that moment being like, 'Oh shit, how do I direct?' But talent was already walking on set. So once again, I winged it. LOL.
I owe Nike a lot because they genuinely created this path for me in such a unique way, and I am so thankful.
LBB> The work that I’m proudest of…
Courtni> I made a music video for a friend of mine, Sofia Valdes, called 'Already Yours.' We had basically no budget and shot it in my hometown with one DP and one PA. Shot it in one hour. Finessed an entire arena and horse show. It turned out beautifully and was such an important reminder that not everything you make will have a lot of support. You just need good friends and passionate people who say YES!
LBB> I was involved in this and it makes me cringe
Courtni> It has nothing to do with my career at the moment. I was a dancer for Nickelodeon on a tour that shall not be named. It was the last job I did before I shifted. I won’t tell you anything else, lol.
LBB> The recent project I was involved in that excited me the most…
Courtni> I just directed what I’d consider a 'big girl campaign' with Carmelo Anthony that comes out soon. I’m so stoked about that, and I think it’ll be a cool way to show the direction I’m moving toward in 2025!
