James Q. Chan

Founder

James Quyen Chan (Producer, Director, Camera) is a San Francisco-based filmmaker who has collaborated on Emmy- and Grammy-winning projects. His film mentorship/training began alongside two-time Academy-Award winning filmmakers Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman (THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK, THE CELLULOID CLOSET, PARAGRAPH 175). Producing credits with Epstein & Friedman include History Channel’s 10 DAYS THAT UNEXPECTEDLY CHANGED AMERICA (Emmy Award; 2006 Outstanding Non-Fiction Series), HOWL (Sundance 2010 Opening Night; National Board of Review Freedom of Expression Award). Recent producing work include films about-- a child IT protégé :PUCK AND THE RIDDLE OF CODES (IDFA 2014; Dutch Television VPRO); father & son reconciliation ISTINMA (Best Short, 2014 American Indian Film Festival; Smithsonian Institute Native Showcase); U.S. immigration law impacts on bi-national same-sex couples ENTRY DENIED (Jury Award, Best Short, 2012 Provincetown); love & equality RIGHT DOWN THE LINE music video (Bonnie Raitt, Grammy 2013). Prior to filmmaking, James worked as a SAG/AFTRA Union Talent Agent. His refugee and working class background, love for nature shows, memories of his mother’s cooking shape his sensibilities in all of his stories.

His award-winning directorial debut FOREVER, CHINATOWN (May 2017 national broadcast, WGBH/World Channel) has been selected for the American Film Showcase, the premier diplomacy program bringing screenings and workshops to audiences in more than 40 countries. A partnership between the U.S. State Department and USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, James will serve as film envoy for the 2017-2018 AFS Program.

MORE ABOUT JAMES

Foundational Films: The 400 Blows, The Decalogue Series, Children of Men, The Times of Harvey Milk, Last Train Home

The Special Piece of Property in My Heart Film: Harold & Maude

First Job: babysitter

Childhood Ambition:  being on Star Search

Fondest Memory: yearlong backpacking thru India, Nepal, and South East Asia

Soundtracks:  A Tribe Called Quest "People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm"; Trashcan Sinatras "Cake"

Inspirations: a good home-brewed cup of chai, my Mom's cooking, monsoon season, Krzysztof Kieślowski

Books:  "Giovanni's Room" (James Baldwin), "Assata: An Autobiography" (Assata Shakur), "The God of Small Things" (Arundhati Roy)

Indulgence:  Belgian Ales and Vietnamese food

Proudest Moment:  coming-out to my brothers

Quote: "Walls turned sideways become bridges." (Angela Davis); "You can cut all the flowers but you can not keep Spring from coming." (Pablo Neruda); "First one to the top, reach back." (unknown source)

Three people (deceased or living) I'd like to cook dinner for: Carl Sagan, James Baldwin, Dolly Parton

Collaborators

Good Medicine Logo designed by James DiRito @