For Rodney Passé, Craft is a “Keeper of Time, a Translation of a Moment”

This imaginative storyteller’s kinetic visual poetry expresses the way that he views his world.

“Craft is a keeper of time, a translation of a moment,” said Passé. “I think directors and photographers have this ability to encapsulate what a moment is. Craft is about finding ways of visually translating it. We put things in the capsule.” 

Rodney’s beautiful musings let us glimpse his unique perspective on what it means to be a director. To watch his work is to see a slice of the human experience rendered in the bold hues of his audacious imagination. 

All artists need a muse, and for Rodney that source of inspiration is found in humming cars and bustling streets of his everyday surroundings. 

“Walking around Brooklyn for sure inspires me. As soon as I’m bored, I go for a walk. If my attention span is not grasping onto the next thing and my thoughts feel at their limit, I go right outside. There’s always something happening.” 

His mesmerizing films reflect this process, every vivacious frame inviting viewers into a realm that weaves the surreal and the intimate, the personal and the universal. 

Capturing the cherished memories of a growing family his film “Life of Photos” honors the many landmarks new parents get to celebrate and anticipate. This is a cinematic memory book with a visual language elevated to exude the glowing excitement of new parents. 

“I wanted to show these intimate, human moments. Photography is sentimental. You’re capturing a memory to keep it forever. I wanted to focus on the human connections between families, between friends, between lovers.  I wanted to focus on the sentimental moments we want to capture forever.”

An immersive photographic exploration of women’s boxing in Cuba, “Perserverancia, Son Mi Gente” pulls audiences into Passe’s striking imagery and textured, layered soundscapes.

Rodney Passé creates a lyrical visual symphony, flashing between photographs of the boxers to the rhythm of his resounding sonic world.

Havana itself is a main character in this stunning film. Our eyes drink in the beautifully captured imagery of not just the boxers but the cityscape, the bustling streets, the passersby, the churches that surround them.

Passé’s ornate soundscapes submerge audiences in each visual story. 

“I draw inspiration from my mentor, Khalil Joseph. I always ask artists for stems. It’s transformed how I build a visual and sonic language. Working with stems, you have your vocals, you have your instruments, you have all the soundscapes and you can build your own soundscape. And it’ll still be in the same sonic tune, even if you’re incorporating different soundscapes.”

Passé’s distinct directorial voice, crafting visceral, groundbreaking work that encapsulates his unique visionary, has told the brand stories of major clients such as Apple, Google, Gucci, Indeed, ESPN, and Lincoln. 

Excited to be on Eleanor’s US roster, Rodney celebrates the promise that winks over the horizon, "I’ve been watching Eleanor for a bit. It feels very focused on what the directors’ voices are. I’m excited for what the future holds."