Video content is on the rise, and Wray Ward’s motion team is capitalizing on the momentum, creating an array of transformative and results-driven pieces. The in-house production group, whose award-winning portfolio ranges from online video content to national television spots, is growing to support demand with three promotions and two hires.

Wray Ward has promoted Laura Dixon to motion production manager and Griffin Glaze to motion editor. The agency also has hired Chris Walters as motion editor and Taylor Williams as assistant motion developer.

“Consumer online video traffic is expected to account for almost 70 percent of consumer Internet traffic in 2017,” said John Roberts, vice president and executive creative director for Wray Ward. “The great content shift has given streaming content a bigger role, challenging creative minds to invent new ways of reaching their audiences. It’s an exciting time for our industry, and we’re thrilled to continue growing our motion team.”

Walters joins Wray Ward following five years in Charlotte’s film industry. A film editor, Walters’ experience also includes camera and audio work. He has worked with brands and companies including the Carolina Panthers, NASCAR, Lamborghini, ACC Network, The Southern Weekend and Carolinas HealthCare System. Walters graduated from Western Carolina University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in motion picture and television production. As a motion editor at Wray Ward, Walters combines video with color, sound and music to enhance the visual art of storytelling.

Prior to joining Wray Ward, Williams spent six years as an illustrator in Brooklyn, New York. She created magazine cover illustrations, designed packaging and t-shirts, and illustrated a children’s book, video game characters and album covers. Williams also designed an accessory sold by Urban Outfitters and illustrated an animated bit for comedian Taylor Williamson’s debut comedy album; the latter was featured on the front page of FunnyOrDie.com and Nerdist.com’s “10 Most Intentionally Funny Videos of the Week.” As an assistant motion developer at Wray Ward, Williams will assist the motion team with shooting, editing, animation, design and illustration. Williams graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2009, earning a Master of Fine Arts in illustration. In her free time, Williams enjoys designing offbeat, eclectic accessories for Weird Empire, a company she co-founded.

After two years as content developer for Wray Ward’s motion department, Dixon has been promoted to motion production manager. In this role, Dixon will continue to shoot and edit video; however, she also will touch more aspects of each production as she helps plan and guide larger motion projects. Dixon, who managed a full-service video production company in Starkville, Mississippi, prior to joining Wray Ward, has in-depth knowledge of and experience in both large- and small-scale video production that have been instrumental in the recent growth of the motion team.

In her new role as motion editor, Griffin Glaze has expanded editing, graphic creation and animation responsibilities. A designer who turned her talents to video content development, Glaze is a talented animator skilled at finding and crafting stories using pre-shot footage. When the motion team is working with limited assets, Glaze’s background in graphic design proves invaluable. She is able to brainstorm creative concepts and work in sync with the producers and editors to bring original design elements to the project.

The talent of the growing motion team can be seen in recognition from within the industry. In 2016, Wray Ward’s motion team was honored with four Gold ADDY awards and 12 Silver ADDY awards at the American Advertising Awards of Charlotte for work on behalf of clients including Sunbrella® and VELUX®. Additionally, the agency won Best of Show for its content marketing initiative “Uncharted Waters,” a full-length documentary made possible by Sunbrella that follows the journeys of US Sailing athletes as they pursued their dream of competing at the elite level in Rio this summer.