Dirk Collins
Expertise & Specialties
Top Clients:
National Geographic Documentary Films, DJI, David Yurman, Range Rover, Apple, U.S. Marines, Microsoft, The North Face, Black Diamond Equipment, Amazon
Biography
Raised an outdoor kid in Anchorage Alaska, Collins moved to Jackson in 1991 when he was 21 years old, and, in 1995, helped found Teton Gravity Research, the company renowned for its annual ski flicks. Collins directed and produced with TGR for 13 years before leaving to start his marketing and entertainment company, OneEyedBird. “I wanted to work with other brands; to spread out a little and not be so pigeonholed,” he says. Since founding OneEyedBird, Collins has collaborated with a wide variety of clients—from car companies to the U.S. military—and has created everything from commercials, to documentaries, to television series. Collins’s work takes him to far-flung corners of the earth, where he manages all facets of production, including the creative vision, safety, logistics, and even distribution. “People call me to tackle difficult projects involving helicopters and big crews,” he says. “There’s usually a lot of physical and financial risk. I take on dangerous work.”
Career Storyline
30
Years of Experience
100+
Commercial Clients
250+
Days on the Road Annually
Experience
Testimonial
Dirk’s ability to work gracefully and with ease under extraordinary pressure is what makes him stand apart. A consummate team player that also leads by example, he is always my first call for my most challenging and complex projects.
Supporting Description
“All these projects are extremely complex to pull together. The way you get through it is by taking it one piece at a time. Each part is a brick, and you build them on top of one another.” —Dirk Collins
Dirk has had his hand in every aspect of production, from photography and cinematography to logistics and safety to fundraising and pitch decks—plus location scouting and talent recruitment. “I know how to find the people that are crazy enough to go down these paths with me,” says Dirk.
Collins recently launched Climate Content Alliance, a media company dedicated to telling climate and conservation stories. “Most climate stories are done through documentaries, but we’re trying to drive more education and awareness through bigger audiences than a documentary would reach,” says Collins. “The goal is to place climate stories on bigger platforms several times a year.”
