Jordan Shanks.

WORK

Jordan Shanks is a producer and filmmaker working at the intersection of media, entertainment, and culture, creating award‑winning narrative and documentary films, branded campaigns, and social‑impact projects.

Jordan’s background spans film and TV development and content strategy at YouTube Originals, digital production across flagship series at Complex NTWRK and Complex Magazine, literary management and series development at M88/MACRO, and international distribution to 230 countries and territories for the Pasadena Rose Parade under the leadership of veteran TV executive Dick Block.

Recent credits include producing Last Hoorah at G‑baby’s (2025), an official selection for the HBO Short Film Showcase at ABFF, Urbanworld, BlackStar, Pan‑African, and more; Negro League Nights (2025), which premiered at Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival and won the Best Sports Drama Award at the Oscar-Qualifying Hollyshorts Film Festival; The Distinguished (2025), which was the opening short film at LA's Micheaux Film Festival and is currently streaming on The Roku Channel; and Blackifier (2023), which premiered at ABFF, won the 2023 DGA Grand Prize Award, and was distributed via American Airlines in‑flight entertainment.

His work has been featured in national outlets including Variety, Deadline, Yahoo Entertainment, and POPSUGAR.

Shanks began his career as a congressional intern for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, where he conducted investigative research under senior counsel to Ranking Member Elijah E. Cummings.

Shanks holds a BA from Howard University and an MFA from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where he mastered in film and television production.

Experience

Producer

Ironbridge Labs

2025 — Present

Lead Producer

Open Media Group

2021 — Present

Coordinator (Global Distribution)

Block Communications Group

2022 — 2024

Executive Assistant to Executive Producer

Anchor Entertainment

2019 — 2020

Unscripted TV & Film Development Associate

YouTube Originals (Google)

2018 — 2019

Production Assistant

Hot Ones (Complex + First We Feast)

2017 — 2018

Production Assistant

Sneaker Shopping (Complex NTWRK)

2017 — 2018

Production Assistant

Everyday Struggle (Complex NTWRK)

2017 — 2018

Production Assistant

Sean in the Wild (Complex + First We Feast)

2017 — 2018

Editorial Assistant

Complex Magazine Cover Shoots

2017 — 2018

Policy Intern

U.S. House of Representatives (Comittee on Oversight and Government Reform)

2015 — 2017

Award Highlights

HBO Short Film Showcase - ABFF 2025

HBO Short Film Showcase - ABFF 2023

DGA West Student Short Film Award - 2023

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Artist Fellowship - 2020

Education

MFA in Film & TV Production | University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts

B.A. in Media, Journalism, & FIlm | Howard University