For a future issue of Iconoclast Magazine, we spoke to Garreth Chan,
A Hong-Kong born Director for Music Videos & Concert Photographer.
Through his impressive showreel, we asked him how he’d got into directing to begin with:
“I stumbled into directing actually - I had been working in post-production as an editor and colourist, and during COVID I was asked by a friend to edit their first music video. I didn't think much about it until the video was published and I was credited as director. That scratched an itch I didn't know I had, so I started exploring directing through small music videos for friends. Years later, here I am.”
“I really rely on building a personal relationship with the artist and their song's journey in order to craft a music video that is the visual interpretation of the song. That means that each project has its own unique challenges and successes, since it follows the ups and downs of any human relationship.”
Do you think Music Direction is where you’ll stay?
“My goal for directing is just to do more different types of work. My interest in directing has been the craft itself rather than outcome, so I'm equally interested in commercial, narrative, documentary, or even shorts. I'm actually working on some narrative projects this year so stay tuned!”
What advice would you give to someone starting out?
“For anybody starting out in production, the most important advice is to remember that hard skills bring new clients, soft skills keeps them. You can be a brilliant DP or director or gaffer which will automatically attract eyes, but clients and producers and agencies are drawn to collaborators who are punctual, good communicators, easy to work with, flexible (within reason). So many creatives obsess over the creative and the delivery of the creative, and subsequently neglect how they communicate that creative to their collaborators. Also remember that the industry doesn't always reward those with the most skill or talent, it rewards those with the most stamina. Keep working on it - the journey's just begun.”
Find him here:
@garrethchan or online through his website garrethchan.com!