GO has added award-winning director Jeff Chan to its roster for his first U.S. commercial representation. Chan first earned widespread attention for his work through spec commercials for Call Of Duty, which drew viral buzz. Activision then hired Chan to helm their first live action Call Of Duty short film that debuted at the Call Of Duty XP Conference, for which he wrote, directed, and crafted the VFX. He has also directed a number of commercials for such brands as Doritos, KPMC and the Canadian Film Center. In addition to directing the shorts “Dandy Lions” and “The Apostles,” he made his feature directorial debut with the horror thriller Grace: The Possession, which premiered at Sundance and was picked up for distribution by Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions. He is currently in production on 19, a feature film with QED International and an untitled firefighter-themed feature project with Lionsgate.
Chan began honing his craft in high school in Vancouver, writing, shooting and producing shorts with an enthusiastic group of friends. He further finessed his skills while studying film at Ryerson University in Toronto before securing a grant for his humorous short, “The Apostles,” which won various accolades at film festivals throughout Canada. As a gamer himself and a fan of the Call of Duty franchise, he crafted the high octane live action spec “Find Makarov,” which garnered over 8 million views on YouTube as well as the attention of Activision. In addition to helming the live action “Call of Duty: Operation Kingfish” short, he has also worked on a number of spots including a zombie horror re-imagining of the viral “Charlie Bit My Finger” video for the Canadian Film Centre, which won Gold honors at the Atomic Awards and Digital Marketing Awards.
Gary Rose, GO managing director, said, “Jeff has a very unique first person sensibility that touches all his work. He brings the viewer along for the ride, immersing us in his dramatic style of storytelling. I love his ability to communicate why he makes the decisions and choices that he does in his films and commercials. I believe he will be very successful in any medium he chooses to attack.”
“Dune: Part Two” and “House of the Dragon” Win 2 HPA Awards Apiece
Dune: Part Two and House of the Dragon each scored two HPA Awards during a gala ceremony at the Television Academy’s Wolf Theatre in North Hollywood, Calif. on Thursday night (11/7). The HPA Awards honor trailblazing talent in the postproduction industry, celebrating standout achievements in color grading, sound, editing, restoration, and visual effects across theatrical features, commercials, and episodics.
Dune: Part Two topped the Outstanding Color Grading--Live Action Theatrical Feature and the Outstanding Sound--Theatrical Feature categories.
House of the Dragon’s two wins were for “The Red Dragon and the Gold” episode which scored for Outstanding Visual Effects--Live Action Episode or Series Season, and Outstanding Editing--Episode or Non-Theatrical Feature (Over 30 Minutes). In the latter HPA Creative Category, House of the Dragon tied with the “Part Six: Far,l Far Away” episode of Ahsoka.
The HPA’s Judges Award for Creativity and Innovation honored Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour. This recognition celebrates the profound impact on both live and filmed entertainment that defined The Eras Tour, underscoring its exceptional impact on audiences and the industry. The jury issued a statement outlining their choice: “Celebrated as the cultural phenomenon of 2023, Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour set new records in box office sales, tour revenues, and attendance. The tour showcased exceptional artistry and innovation, making a profound impact on both live and filmed entertainment.”
This year, FotoKem was awarded the Charles S. Swartz Award for its role in supporting filmmakers, studios, cinematographers, and artists across diverse film and media landscapes. Also celebrated... Read More