Byron Q (born Byron Chan and also known as Byron Qiao) is an American filmmaker, director and writer. His film production company is known as "Beyond Cinema Productions." His debut feature film, '' Bang Bang'' (2011), which won a Special Jury Award for Best First Feature, Narrative, at the 2011

Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (LAAPFF) – formerly known as VC FilmFest – is an annual film festival presented by Visual Communications (VC). It was established in 1983 by Linda Mabalot as a vehicle to promote Asian Pacific Amer ...

. The film also starred Thai Ngo,

David Huynh David Huynh (born February 5, 1983) is a Canadian actor. Early life Huynh was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, briefly studied at the University of Manitoba focusing on a major in theater and a minor in film studies. Huynh continue ...

Jessika Van Jessika Van is an American actress. Van is most known for playing "Becca," the ringleader of the Asians or the Asian mafia in Season 2 and Season 3 of MTV's '' Awkward.'' She also played Kim, a Hong Kong Police Officer and sister of Detective Le ...

, Walter Wong, Yen Ly, Vanna Fut and Peter Chanhthavongsak. He has also Directed and Written a Web Series entitled "Hollywood Aliens," starring

, who also appeared in ''Bang Bang.'' He has directed and written a documentary about ''Bang Bang'' cast member Vanna Fut entitled ''Raskal Love''. He has recently finished shooting a feature film set in Las Vegas entitled ''Las Vegas Story''.

Background

Byron Q studied under renowned

French New Wave The New Wave (, ), also called the French New Wave, is a French European art cinema, art film movement that emerged in the late 1950s. The movement was characterized by its rejection of traditional filmmaking conventions in favor of experimentat ...

Director

Jean-Pierre Gorin Jean-Pierre Gorin (born 17 April 1943) is a French filmmaker and professor, best known for his work with ''Nouvelle Vague'' luminary Jean-Luc Godard, during what is often referred to as Godard's "radical" period. Jean-Pierre Gorin was a student ...

at the

University of California, San Diego The University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego in communications material, formerly and colloquially UCSD) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in San Diego, California, United States. Es ...

. As a result, his style has been observed as a mix of urban themes with French New Wave style.

Films

Feature films

'' Bang Bang,'' his first feature film, was shot on-location in San Diego. The film won a Special Jury Prize for Best First Feature, Narrative, at the 2011

. The film has also screened at the

Boston Asian American Independent Film Festival Boston Asian American Film Festival (BAAFF), a production of the Asian American Resource Workshop (AARW), includes a program of independent cinema highlighting recent, significant works by and/or about Asian Americans and the Asian diaspora. BAAFF ...

, the

Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival The Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival (PAAFF) is an annual film festival in Philadelphia that shows feature films and short films by and about Asian Americans. Run by the nonprofit Philadelphia Asian American Film and Filmmakers, the 10-day ...

, the

San Diego Asian Film Festival The San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF) is an annual film festival in San Diego San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, ...

, the

San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival CAAMFest, known prior to 2013 as the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (SFIAAFF), is presented every May (Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month) in the San Francisco Bay Area in the United States as the nation's ...

, the Regent Park Film Festival in Toronto, the Las Vegas Film Festival, and more. The film is available on Blu-ray, DVD and on iTunes, and was entirely self-distributed. In 2013, he completed his second feature film titled "Las Vegas Story."

Eric Roberts Eric Anthony Roberts (born April 18, 1956) is an American actor. He has amassed more than 700 film and television credits since his debut in 1978, making him one of the most prolific English-speaking screen actors of all time. Roberts' career ...

appears in the film, as does

from ''Bang Bang''.

Web Series, Short Films & Music Videos

Byron Q directed a web series titled ''Hollywood Aliens'' along with co-director Kevin Boston, starring

. He has also directed a number of short films, including ''The Dream'' (2007) and ''My Darling Jane'' (2007). Q has also directed several music videos for Mondega ("Stand My Ground"), Bambu ("Music for the People" featuring Mondega), Raashan Ahmad (music videos for the tracks "In Love with Wax" and "Give Thanks"),

Kero One Kero One is a Korean-American hip hop MC, producer, and DJ from San Francisco, California. He has been recognized for re-introducing the jazz rap sound in the early to mid 2000s with his jazz-hop album Windmills of the Soul. History Kero One ...

("When the Sunshine Comes"), D.U.S.T. ("Forgive and Forget"), D.U.S.T. feat.

Chali 2na Charles Stewart (born June 26, 1971), better known as Chali 2na (), is an American painter and rapper, associated with the groups Jurassic 5 and Ozomatli. He is known for his bass-baritone voice and quick-delivery rapping style. Personal life ...

("Make Your Move"), Deuce Eclipse feat. D.U.S.T. ("Blackout") and has directed a behind-the-scenes video for the music video "Back Again" by

Talib Kweli Talib Kweli Greene (; born October 3, 1975) is an American rapper. He first earned recognition through his collaboration with fellow Brooklyn rapper Mos Def (now known as Yasiin Bey) in 1997, when they formed the group Black Star. Kweli's music ...

and

Hi-Tek Tony Louis Cottrell (born May 5, 1976), better known as Hi-Tek, is an American rapper and music producer from Cincinnati, Ohio. He is best known for his work with Talib Kweli. His father is singer Willie Cottrell of the Willie Cottrell Band, ...

Documentaries

In 2013, Byron Q has also directed and produced a documentary titled ''Raskal Love'' about Vanna Fut, a Seattle-based break dancer who also appeared in '' Bang Bang''. In addition to Fut, the film also stars

, Thai Ngo, Allen Theosky Rowe and

Feodor Chin Feodor Chin is an American actor, writer, and comedian from San Francisco, California. As an actor, he was classically trained at UCLA, the American Conservatory Theater, and has studied with renowned acting coach, Larry Moss. He was a Maude Nig ...

(as Vanna's father). The film premiered at the 2013

in the documentary competition and was nominated for a Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary.Visual Communications, FESTIVAL WEEK 2013 LINE-UP ANNOUNCED, http://asianfilmfestla.org/2013/2013/03/29/festival-week-2013-line-up-announced/

References

External links

*
Byron Q, David Huynh, Jessika Van Interview: Bang Bang
*
Beyond Cinema ProductionsByron Q on TumblrGangster Dreams: Interview with Bang Bang Director Byron Q., Asia Pacific ArtsSteez360, Exclusive Interview: Filmmaker Byron Q
{{DEFAULTSORT:Byron Q Living people Film directors from California Taiwanese film directors University of California, San Diego alumni American film directors of Taiwanese descent Year of birth missing (living people)