Tayo Amos
Admissions Committee at University of Southern California
Works at Sapelo Agency
Available Monday
Starting at 4:00 PM UTC
Questions? Start chatting with this coach before you get started.
About Tayo
When I was younger, I was that kid who was picking up the camera and shooting things: mainly music videos and documentaries with my friends. That curiosity has grown over the years into a writing and directing career - with short films that have screened at top festivals including Tribeca and Cannes, an episode of hit television (Chicago Fire), a writing deal at a major studio, and presenting Oscars at the Academy Awards. I truly love what I do but I didn't know how it could be a career. Growing up in Silicon Valley to immigrant parents, I didn't know whether a career in the film industry was attainable. I'm happy to say that now - as a DGA member and filmmaker, I am living out my creative dreams fully. Does that mean this road is easy? No. But it aligns with my purpose: which is telling stories that make people feel seen and brings people together.
Why do I coach?
I fell into teaching on accident! I was asked to teach directing at a summer program at Northwestern University. At first, I was skeptical because I wasn't sure if I would enjoy teaching. But after that summer, I knew that I wanted to continue empowering filmmakers and mentor emerging voices. My students remind me of why I love what I do: to tell stories and to share our point of view. Filmmaking is all about combining strong technical and storytelling skills while also honoring who you are as a person and I find it very encouraging and inspiring to support filmmakers find their voices.
Work Experience
Founder
Sapelo Agency
May 2025 - Present
Working with B2B tech companies to tell the story of their products through effective visuals Clients include: Acellent Technologies, Spotlights with Shelly Podcast, Inklo
Adjunct Professor
University of Southern California
January 2024 - Present
Directing Adjunct Faculty for the Grad Production Course 508
Freelance Music Director
Sapelo Productions
February 2023 - Present
- Director - Chicago Fire S11E18 (Released Apr 2023) - Director - Wreckless Strangers Music Video (Released Sept 2023)
Executive Assistant
The Black List
October 2020 - February 2022
• Assisting the CEO/Founder Franklin Leonard and his team with scheduling and maintenance of call logs and office phone line • Providing administrative support during physical shoots (i.e. a feature film directed by Floria Sigismondi in Ireland) • Created and organized the team’s development slate on the platform Airtable so the team can more easily track project and talent submissions • Organizing and maintaining internal communication and information – contacts, scripts, casting sheets,etc – as well as researching projects
Assistant to VP of Production
Fulwell73
July 2019 - February 2020
§ Assisted Executive in Charge of Production Meredith Fox and Fulwell73 production team (James Corden's production company) in administrative and logistical tasks; rolling calls; scheduling, etc. § Provided on-hand production support for the following: Amazon’s KACEY MUSGRAVES CHRISTMAS SHOW and CBS’S GAME ON.
Education
University of Southern California
Master of Fine Arts - MFA, Cinematography and Film/Video Production
2016 - 2019
Admissions Committee Experience
Activities and societies: Vice President of African-American Cinema Society
Stanford University
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Science, Technology, & Society | Iberian & Latin-American Cultures
2010 - 2014
Activities and societies: Stanford Talisman, Club Basketball, Black Recruitment and Orientation Committee, Sophomore Class Cabinet
Tayo was also personally admitted to
The American Film Institute
Chapman University
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