The PRETTYBIRD director talks about starting her career along with a new artist called Sabrina Carpenter, making an award-winning statement with Dove Cameron, and simple, everyday kindnesses, in our latest Snapshot.

Lauren Dunn is an LA-based pop video director par excellence. For the past five years or so, she has been bringing her powerful visual sensibilities to artists at the cutting edge of pop and hip hop - including Dove Cameron, 070 Shake, Saweetie, Kali Uchis, Amaarae, Madison Beer, Jack White and G-Eazy - and in 2023 won an MTV VMA for her provocative gender-swapping video for Dove Cameron's Breakfast.

Signed to PRETTYBIRD in the US and UK for music video representation, she is also a photographer, with music clients including The Weeknd, Billie Eilish and Meghan Trainor. We caught up with Lauren for our Snapshot Q&A series to find out more about her - including the inspiration she gained on a recent trip to London, and why LA is really good for her right now.

Name: Lauren Dunn

Birthday: May 25th

Where did you grow up? Los Angeles

Place of further education and course (if any)? USC School of Cinematic Arts

Where do you live now? Los Angeles

What were the important first projects for you, in terms of a learning experience and getting noticed?

I feel like my major break came when I worked with Sabrina Carpenter a few years ago. She was on the rise and I felt it in my gut she was going to be the star she is today! She definitely took a chance on me early on and it was a blast making the Sue Me video with her.

Best film you’ve seen this year? DUNE!!

Favourite song/album/music artist this year? Fred Again.. - truly every song!

Favourite music video you’ve seen this year? I can watch Jungle’s Back on ’74 on repeat.

What has been your favourite night out this year? For my birthday this year, some of my closest friends and I had a hotel slumber party at one of our favorite local spots, the Petit Ermitage. We played games and ordered room service and spent the night laughing, crying, and cry-laughing.

I feel like my best projects happen when I get to collaborate on the treatment directly with the creatives or artist.

Name a film or video or other creative work that had a huge influence on your career choice? 

Once or twice a year a project really invigorates me and keeps me inspired. While I was in London this summer, I visited Elton John’s photography collection Fragile Beauty at the Victoria & Albert Museum. It was vast and striking. The images are going to be stuck in my mind for a while. Fleabag and the film Amadeus are also stories I have revisited the past few years.

In terms of music video-related jobs of the past year or so - what was the most rewarding creatively, and why? 

Breakfast by Dove Cameron is a project I poured my heart into, and its significance means so much to me.

When Roe Vs. Wade was overturned, so many Americans and women felt at a loss. This was my way of using story and the power of music videos to say something. Our win for Video For Good at the VMAs in 2023 felt so organic and surprising. I was actually at the show live, watching a performance, when my phone started blowing up about the win! It was a really special moment.

What are your favourite other (non-mv) projects of the past year or so?  Recently, I directed a campaign with Hotels.com in collaboration with the NBA. It was wonderful to work with basketball legends including Nikola Jokić and Jimmy Butler. They had such fun, unique personalities and tailoring the spots to them was creatively so fulfilling.

What’s the most surprising thing that’s happened this year? This year has been challenging for personal reasons, but what has surprised me the most is the love and support that’s waiting for you at every corner of your life. From colleagues and loved ones, to even the barista at my local coffee shop, everyone around me has lifted me up. It’s been beyond inspiring. 

Most annoying/irksome thing that’s been going on this year (work-related or otherwise)? Long layovers, lost luggage and cancelled flights! 

Your top suggestion to change and improve how the music video industry works? I feel like my best projects happen when I get to collaborate on the treatment directly with the creatives or artist. Cold pitching on open briefs is essential, but getting to craft the project with the team is always more fulfilling for me. I’d love to be able to work more directly with commissioners, creatives or artists to perfectly capture what they are after. 

What are you looking forward to most for the summer and/or the rest of the year? My closest friends are getting married and babies have arrived, so spending time with my favorite people and making memories is what I’m most  looking forward to.

• Lauren Dunn is a director at PRETTYBIRD in the UK and US. See her work here.