Brian Jun
Encyclopedia
Brian Jun is an American
film director
, screenwriter
, film editor and producer
. Jun has made two short films, Jimmy Brown and Researching Raymond Burke. Jun won the Sundance Channel Emerging Director Award in 2006 at the St. Louis Film Festival for his first feature film
Steel City. The film also received a nomination for the grand prize jury award at the Sundance Film Festival
in 2006. As of June 2008, his second feature film The Thacker Case
is in post-production
.
, Neil Simon
and Samuel Beckett
, he began to create his own characters and to write screenplays. Jun attended Webster University
in St. Louis, where he learned the basics of filmmaking. Jun's first work was the short film Jimmy Brown, an hospital drama
dealing with racial issues
. The film was based around conversations between two characters, played by Dennis Lebby and Jun himself. A screening of the film at Los Angeles Shorts Film Festival led to the opportunity to make another short for Fox Searchlab; a program run by Fox Searchlight Pictures
with the aim of nurturing up-and-coming talent. The result of this was Researching Raymond Burke, a short featuring John Heard. Jun's original plan was for this to be a tester to a feature film entitled In the World of Raymond Burke but he did not manage to acquire the capital
to produce the film and the project was abandoned.
as the Los Angeles
firm agreed to produce the film. The idea of family breakdown interested Jun and a mix of this idea with midwestern economic downturn formed the basis for Steel City. In addition to Heard, the film starred America Ferrera
and Raymond J. Barry
, who later received a nomination for best supporting actor from the Spirit Awards for his role in the film.
The film received a nomination for the grand prize jury award following its screening at the Sundance Film Festival in 2006. The film was generally received well by critics: reviews from both The New York Times
and Entertainment Weekly
praised the strength in depth of the supporting characters. However both also acknowledged the debut film's flaws. The New York Times notes flaws in the script: "Heard has to utter the wince-inducing line "I wanted to be a better dad," but mostly Mr. Jun's script is sharp". Entertainment Weekly summarised that "Steel City could have used more rhythmic drive, but if Jun keeps weaving together characters this compelling, he could be a major film artist in the making". Time Out also pointed out that the film had the teething problems of a first effort but otherwise praised the script and the casts performance.
, a drama featuring Eliza Dushku
. As of June 2008 The Thacker Case is in post-production
and the Jeff Buckley biopic remains in the script writing stage.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
, film editor and producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
. Jun has made two short films, Jimmy Brown and Researching Raymond Burke. Jun won the Sundance Channel Emerging Director Award in 2006 at the St. Louis Film Festival for his first feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
Steel City. The film also received a nomination for the grand prize jury award at the Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
in 2006. As of June 2008, his second feature film The Thacker Case
The Thacker Case
The Coverup is a crime/thriller film directed by Brian Jun and starring Gabriel Mann and Eliza Dushku.-Plot:...
is in post-production
Post-production
Post-production is part of filmmaking and the video production process. It occurs in the making of motion pictures, television programs, radio programs, advertising, audio recordings, photography, and digital art...
.
Early career
Since he was a child, Jun always had an interest in film and literature and, inspired by the work of Sam ShepardSam Shepard
Sam Shepard is an American playwright, actor, and television and film director. He is the author of several books of short stories, essays, and memoirs, and received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1979 for his play Buried Child...
, Neil Simon
Neil Simon
Neil Simon is an American playwright and screenwriter. He has written numerous Broadway plays, including Brighton Beach Memoirs, Biloxi Blues, and The Odd Couple. He won the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play Lost In Yonkers. He has written the screenplays for several of his plays that...
and Samuel Beckett
Samuel Beckett
Samuel Barclay Beckett was an Irish avant-garde novelist, playwright, theatre director, and poet. He wrote both in English and French. His work offers a bleak, tragicomic outlook on human nature, often coupled with black comedy and gallows humour.Beckett is widely regarded as among the most...
, he began to create his own characters and to write screenplays. Jun attended Webster University
Webster University
Webster University is an American non-profit private university with its main campus in Webster Groves, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri. Webster University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools...
in St. Louis, where he learned the basics of filmmaking. Jun's first work was the short film Jimmy Brown, an hospital drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
dealing with racial issues
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
. The film was based around conversations between two characters, played by Dennis Lebby and Jun himself. A screening of the film at Los Angeles Shorts Film Festival led to the opportunity to make another short for Fox Searchlab; a program run by Fox Searchlight Pictures
Fox Searchlight Pictures
Fox Searchlight Pictures, established in 1998, is a film division of Fox Filmed Entertainment alongside the larger Fox studio 20th Century Fox...
with the aim of nurturing up-and-coming talent. The result of this was Researching Raymond Burke, a short featuring John Heard. Jun's original plan was for this to be a tester to a feature film entitled In the World of Raymond Burke but he did not manage to acquire the capital
Capital (economics)
In economics, capital, capital goods, or real capital refers to already-produced durable goods used in production of goods or services. The capital goods are not significantly consumed, though they may depreciate in the production process...
to produce the film and the project was abandoned.
Steel City
The collapse of this project inspired Jun to make his next film on a much lower budget. The product of this was the film Steel City. John Heard had remained interested in working with Jun and his involvement with the new film led to interest from Your Half Pictures. This marked the end of two years of searching for a production companyProduction company
A production company provides the physical basis for works in the realms of the performing arts, new media art, film, television, radio, and video.- Tasks and functions :...
as the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
firm agreed to produce the film. The idea of family breakdown interested Jun and a mix of this idea with midwestern economic downturn formed the basis for Steel City. In addition to Heard, the film starred America Ferrera
America Ferrera
America Georgina Ferrera is an American actress, best known for playing the lead role in the television comedy series Ugly Betty...
and Raymond J. Barry
Raymond J. Barry
Raymond John Barry is an American film, television and stage actor.-Personal life:Raymond John Barry was born in Hempstead, New York . His father, Raymond Barry, worked in sales. His mother, Barbara Barry , was also an actor, known professionally as B. Constance Barry...
, who later received a nomination for best supporting actor from the Spirit Awards for his role in the film.
The film received a nomination for the grand prize jury award following its screening at the Sundance Film Festival in 2006. The film was generally received well by critics: reviews from both The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
and Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
praised the strength in depth of the supporting characters. However both also acknowledged the debut film's flaws. The New York Times notes flaws in the script: "Heard has to utter the wince-inducing line "I wanted to be a better dad," but mostly Mr. Jun's script is sharp". Entertainment Weekly summarised that "Steel City could have used more rhythmic drive, but if Jun keeps weaving together characters this compelling, he could be a major film artist in the making". Time Out also pointed out that the film had the teething problems of a first effort but otherwise praised the script and the casts performance.
Post Steel City projects
Following the success of Steel City Jun was offered more filmmaking work. This included his self-penned second feature film The Thacker CaseThe Thacker Case
The Coverup is a crime/thriller film directed by Brian Jun and starring Gabriel Mann and Eliza Dushku.-Plot:...
, a drama featuring Eliza Dushku
Eliza Dushku
Eliza Patricia Dushku is an American actress known for her television roles, including recurring appearances as Faith on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spinoff series Angel. She starred in two Fox series, Tru Calling and Dollhouse...
. As of June 2008 The Thacker Case is in post-production
Post-production
Post-production is part of filmmaking and the video production process. It occurs in the making of motion pictures, television programs, radio programs, advertising, audio recordings, photography, and digital art...
and the Jeff Buckley biopic remains in the script writing stage.
Filmography
| Year | Film |
|---|---|
| 2001 2001 in film The year 2001 in film involved some significant events, including the first of the Harry Potter series and also the first of The Lord of the Rings trilogy... |
Jimmy Brown |
| 2002 2002 in film The year 2002 in film involved some significant events. The first significant releases of sequels took place between The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, Men in Black II, Analyze That, Spy Kids 2: The Island of... |
Researching Raymond Burke |
| 2006 2006 in film - Highest-grossing films :Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top-grossing films that were first released in the United States in 2006... |
Steel City |
| 2008 2008 in film This is a list of all major films made in 2008.-Highest-grossing films:Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the USA in 2008... |
The Thacker Case The Thacker Case The Coverup is a crime/thriller film directed by Brian Jun and starring Gabriel Mann and Eliza Dushku.-Plot:... |