Below is Part 1 of a collection of feedback I received from the international actors and crew that worked with me on my 2010 sci-fi anthology feature, Embers of the Sky. (Note: Justin wrote-directed-produced Embers of the Sky as Justin Calen Chiang)
ACTORS + ACTRESSES
RACHEL RATH (Ireland)
“I've worked as an actor for almost fourteen years and in all that time I have found it rare to work with a director that is talented, calm, controlled, prepared and ready to collaborate. Justin Calen Chiang is all those things. Being on set with Justin was a great feeling. I was there to act and he trusted in my ability as a performer and gave me freedom and respected my choices. I would work with him again in an instant. :)”
SKIP PIPO (USA)
“I worked one day with Justin on Embers of the Sky and it was a pleasure. The set was relaxed and comfortable and Justin encouraged creative collaboration with everyone while at the same time running a very efficient shoot day. I would jump at the chance to work with him again.
I am originally from Seattle where I studied at Northwest Actor's Studio and have been a working actor in Los Angeles for nine years. Thank you for taking the time to read this.”
MARIA OLSEN (South Africa)
“I came to America from South Africa in January 2005, and haven’t stopped to take a breath ever since! Project wise, I’ve done over 15 stage plays, 30 feature films, 60 short films, 5 web series, and 8 music videos.
I was excited when a friend suggested that I meet Justin Calen Chiang - and possibly work with him on Embers of the Sky - as I know that this friend is a total professional and perfectionist who wouldn't work with anyone not cut from the same mold. When I actually began to work with Justin, I found that he was more even than what I thought he would be as, not only is he an incredibly talented filmmaker with a unique vision, he is also extremely gracious on set and works with a quietness and calmness that is sure to bring out the best in every actor. I can't wait to work with Justin again in the future.”
NAPOLEON RYAN (England)
“Justin Calen Chiang is a skilled director who knows what he wants and how to get it with economy and style. He is a pleasure to work with and a creative thinker who can circumvent logistical difficulties with flare and ingenuity. I worked with him on 'Embers Of The Sky'. His technical knowledge of sound production allowed him to record my voice for pivotal moments in the film quickly and effectively despite time pressures. He is tenacious and has the determination to bring his future ambitions to fruition.”
HUGH MUN (Morocco)
“I liked working with Justin Calen Chiang on "Embers of The Sky" because of his attention to detail, and drive for perfection. As a person, I found that Justin is approachable, friendly, and generous. I would be delighted to work with him, again.”
Hugh Mun has been in the film industry for nearly ten years, and has worked with notable people such as James Caan, Adam McKay, and on film and shows that have been shown at Cannes, nominated for the Emmy’s, or shown on NBC.
NATALIE MCMILLAN (USA)
"Despite being the ultimate authority as writer/director/producer, Justin was always very open to feedback from his creative team. Rather than trying to control everything, Justin trusted us to discover his vision together, so that each artist involved had room to explore and play. He was also able to adapt to last-minute adjustments gracefully, which is very important for film-making generally, and especially for low-budget film-making. I would work with him again. I am an alum of Tisch School of the Arts, and have been involved in film both in front of and behind the camera."
TRAVIS GREENSTREET (USA)
I worked with Justin on his very first feature, The Way of Snow. For starters, I felt the film (which was also written by Justin) was powerful, and provoking in what it wanted to say about the pains of emotion. Justin was also the lead actor in it, so my scene was going to be opposite him. From our first rehearsal, I was impressed by how natural an actor Justin was, even though he had never done any training.
On the day of the shoot, I was further impressed by the depth of Justin’s acting ability. Given that the role was very complex and needed extreme emotional subtlety, Justin handled it with ease, just like he handled his directorial abilities. He was concise, prepared, but also ready to go off and “seize the moment” if such an instance came up. He didn’t waste takes, and if he saw that he got it, then we moved on. I did my close up in one take, and then, we were onto the next shot. As an actor, I appreciated that.
****CREW
DAN KANES (USA), Cinematographer
"It is rare that one finds a young visionary director as motivated, passionate, clever, and contemplative as Justin Calen Chiang. I had the opportunity of shooting a series of three science-fiction films for Justin. Despite the challenges we faced in creating strong production value in an independent, entirely self-financed project - Justin maintained a strong vision, level headed response to challenges, and the urge to innovate and explore new ideas in filmmaking. Watching Justin work with the actors inspired me to push myself further as a cinematographer, and expand my horizons in filmmaking.
I have worked on over 100 film sets, and working with Justin has been one of the most rewarding experiences because of his strong vision, matched with compassion and understanding for cast and crew, as well as a strong vision and skill at bringing that vision to life on the screen, no matter what it takes. I look forward to working more with Justin in the future, and seeing his vision come to life on the silver screen for all to enjoy."
MICHAEL BRUCE LOGAN, ASC (England)
(Directors Guild, Academy Member, Senior Colorist)
“Justin Calen Chiang is a highly creative and visual director. He is fantastic to work with. He is very decisive and knows exactly what he wants, but he is very open to input and a good listener. Apart from his passionate filmmaking abilities, he is also very personable. My experience working for him as a colorist was one I would love to repeat and was an opportunity to do some really creative work. I would love to work with Justin again.”
Bruce Logan has been in the film industry for over 40 years, starting with his first job in visual effects on Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. He has gone on to DP films such as the original Tron (1982) and worked on films such as Star Wars, Clint Eastwood’s Bird, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Airplane! and many, many more.
No comments:
Post a Comment