Magnetic Field has added director Randall Park to its roster. This marks his first signing with a commercial production company for representation. Known for his impeccable comedic timing in front of the camera, Park carries through the same sensibility as a director, writer and producer. Recognizable for his acting roles as the Huang family patriarch in the hit ABC sitcom Fresh Off the Boat and as Jimmy Woo in the Marvel Universe, he also co-wrote, produced, and starred in the critically acclaimed Netflix romantic comedy Always Be My Maybe with long-time collaborator Ali Wong.
Park made his directorial debut with the indie feature Shortcomings, an adaptation of the graphic novel by Adrian Tomine that was an official selection of the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. His extensive on-set experiences inform his polished directorial approach and performance-driven storytelling. He is also the co-founder of Imminent Collision, a production company that develops comedy-forward projects from Asian American perspectives. Currently under a first look deal with Universal TV, the company has several projects set up at Amazon, Disney Plus, Max, and Universal, among others.
“We are excited to bring Randall’s creative edge as a director to Magnetic Field. His film Shortcomings showcased his talent as a character-driven storyteller, and that combined with his comedic chops will translate well in commercials,” noted Magnetic Field co-founders Anthony and Joe Russo in a joint statement.
“Randall is immensely talented and I’ve been a huge fan of his work since our film school days,” shared Magnetic Field co-founder Justin Lin. “We’re currently collaborating on a project and I’m thrilled to carry that working relationship through at MF and see how his vision plays out in the commercial space.”
Park said, “My favorite stories are character-driven, with heart and humor, showcasing those vulnerable, awkward, human sides of ourselves. I look forward to bringing that into branded content and commercial production. I’ve always been a big fan of the Russos and my pal Justin Lin, and diving into commercials at Magnetic Field feels like the right fit for the kind of ad work I’d like to pursue.”
First-Time Feature Directors Make Major Splash At AFI Fest, Generate Oscar Buzz
Two first-time feature directors who are generating Oscar buzz this awards season were front and center this past weekend at AFI Fest in Hollywood. Rachel Morrison, who made history as the first woman nominated for a Best Cinematography Oscar---on the strength of Mudbound in 2018--brought her feature directorial debut, The Fire Inside (Amazon MGM Studios), to the festival on Sunday (10/27), and shared insights into the film during a conversation session immediately following the screening. This came a day after William Goldenberg, an Oscar-winning editor for Argo in 2013, had his initial foray into feature directing, Unstoppable (Amazon MGM Studios), showcased at the AFI proceedings. He too spoke after the screening during a panel discussion. The Fire Inside--which made its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival--tells the story of Claressa “T-Rex” Shields (portrayed by Ryan Destiny), a Black boxer from Flint, Mich., who trained to become the first woman in U.S. history to win an Olympic Gold Medal in the sport. She achieved this feat--with the help of coach Jason Crutchfield (Brian Tyree Henry)--only to find that her victory at the Summer Games came with relatively little fanfare and no endorsement deals. So much for the hope that the historic accomplishment would be a ticket out of socioeconomic purgatory for Shields and her family. It seemed like yet another setback in a cycle of adversity throughout Shields’ life but she persevered, going on to win her second Gold Medal at the next Olympics and becoming a champion for gender equality and equitable pay for women in sports. Shields has served as a source of inspiration for woman athletes worldwide--as well as to the community of... Read More