Director X

Early life

Lutz was born and raised in the Greater Toronto Area, mostly in and around Brampton, and is of mixed Afro-Trinidadian and Swiss descent.

Career

Early work

Lutz began his career working on several productions; he was a visual consultant on Hype Williams' 1998 film Belly. Lutz was slated to direct Disney's horror feature Razorwire, though the film never moved into production.

Music videos

Lutz worked on several projects and trained under Hype Williams. Since the late 1990s, Lutz has directed dozens of music videos and been noted for his high-budget, visually distinctive music videos, including for The Wanted, R. Kelly, Aaliyah, DMX, Mystikal, Usher, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Korn, David Guetta, Nelly Furtado, Sean Paul, Justin Bieber, Drake, Nicki Minaj, T.I., Little Mix, Rihanna, Union J, Fifth Harmony, Miguel, One Direction, Zayn Malik and Iggy Azalea. In 2004, Lutz appeared in Mya Baker's documentary film Silence: In Search of Black Female Sexuality in America.

In 2015, Lutz founded his own production company, Popp Rok, in Toronto. In 2017, he appeared on episode 7 of Cycle 23 of America's Next Top Model ("X Marks The Spot") as the director for a Gypsy Sports-themed music video.

Films

In addition to music video directing, Lutz has directed two feature films and one television film; he made his feature directorial debut in 2015 with Across the Line. The film starred Stephan James and the storyline was inspired by the 1989 Cole Harbour District High School race riots. Across the Line was set and shot in Nova Scotia. The first screening of Across the Line was 19 September 2015 at the Atlantic Film Festival where it won the award for "Best Atlantic Feature".

In 2016, he directed the teen drama television film Center Stage: On Pointe. The film stars Nicole Muñoz, Barton Cowperthwaite, Maude Green, Chloe Lukasiak, Kenny Wormald and Peter Gallagher. It premiered on Lifetime on June 25, 2016. The official DVD was released on September 6, 2016. Variety critic Sonia Saraiya noted of Lutz's direction, "...though it is frustrating that the film feels like 15-odd low-budget music videos strung together, the dance in those segments, and the way it's filmed, are some of the best parts of the movie."

In 2018, Lutz directed Superfly, a remake of the 1972 blaxploitation film of the same name. Superfly was released in the United States on June 13, 2018, and received mixed reviews from critics. Variety's Owen Gleiberman wrote: "Shot in a functional, slammed-together manner that's less sensually stylish than you'd expect from a music-video auteur, the film is a competent yet glossy and hermetic street-hustle drug thriller, less a new urban myth than a lavishly concocted episode. It holds your attention yet leaves you with nothing."

Filmography

Television series

2020: October Faction

2022: The Imperfects

2023: Robyn Hood

2024: Cross

Feature films

2015: Across the Line

2016: Center Stage: On Pointe

2018: Superfly

Music videos

2026

Yeat featuring EsDeeKid - "Made It On Our Own"

2024

Soprano - "Facile à Danser"

2022

Future featuring Drake and Tems - "Wait for U"

Black Eyed Peas, Shakira and David Guetta - "Don't You Worry"

Drake - "Falling Back"

2021

Rosalía featuring The Weeknd - "La Fama"

2020

Ariana Grande - "34+35"

Demi Lovato - "Commander in Chief"

Future featuring Drake - "Life Is Good"

Lil Yachty and DaBaby featuring Drake - "Oprah's Bank Account"

DJ Khaled featuring Drake - "Popstar"

Black Eyed Peas, Ozuna and J. Rey Soul - "Mamacita"

2019

Khalid - "Right Back"

Rosalía and J Balvin featuring El Guincho - "Con Altura"

2018

French Montana - "Famous"

2017

Miguel featuring Travis Scott - "Sky Walker"

Commercials

2008 - McCafe "Kiss" Spot - McDonald's

2010 - Yeo Boyz - Yeo Valley Organic

2018 - Gap - (fashion)