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From Stage To Screen Navid Charkhi Is A Dancer Who Does It All

11/16/2016

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At 15 years old, Navid Charkhi took a high school dance class. Born in Iran, the Canadian dancer grew up watching live performances by Michael Jackson on television and emulating the pop singer’s signature moves. With formal training, Charkhi soon fell in love with the art of dance and went on to join award-winning competitive dance crews in Vancouver, eventually taking his career to the next level with professional film, television and live performances. The support of his parents has been essential in his climb to the top.

“Every parent wants their kid to become the doctor or dentist, or something. It was hard for my parents to understand my interest in a performance career at the start but they saw my hard work and how much passion I have for the art of dance and, of course, that I was earning an income,” Charkhi adds.

Working with some of the best dancers, choreographers and directors in the business, Charkhi watches closely and learns from each new person he encounters, gaining inspiration to keep pushing and achieving his goals in this profession. As a result, those who work with him immediately recognize Charkhi’s abilities, talent, and drive.

Famed director and co-choreographer of the High School Musical films, Kenny Ortega was impressed with the talent and skill Charkhi showed recently on the set of Descendants 2. 

“Navid’s natural instincts performing complex dance moves as a principal dancer made him an irreplaceable asset to the film,” Ortega says. 

Co-choreographer on the film, Tony Testa agrees that Charkhi brings value to the movie and its producers.

“[Charkhi] is able to instantly adapt to any type of dance depending on the style of the production, which,” Testa explains, “is an extremely important characteristic for a Descendants 2 dancer to have.”

This versatility and ability to rise to any challenge have made Charkhi a standout during auditions and production, leading often to his promotion as a leader on film and television projects. Ron Oliver, an Emmy-nominated director who worked with Charkhi on Mostly Ghostly 3, mentions quickly assigning him to work as assistant to the choreographer, Richard O’Sullivan. Charkhi collaborated with O’Sullivan to create the movie’s choreography in just three days.

“Working under such pressure did not faze Navid,” recalls Oliver. “In fact, he welcomed these obstacles and dealt with them with incredible ease by having the entire dance scene completed in less than two days.”

Charkhi, who specializes in Urban Hip-Hop, has trained in Jazz, Contemporary, Popping, and other styles. His talents are not limited to the screen, however. They’re not even limited to dance.

Having received his license in pastry arts, Charkhi is also a remarkable baker, using his creativity to plate desserts, build and decorate wedding cakes, and sculpt chocolate. If his still young career in the movie business were not skyrocketing, Charkhi says he would probably own a food truck highlighting the most important portion of any meal– dessert.

Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately for anyone with a sweet tooth, Charkhi has been unstoppable as a dance talent in the industry. He’s successful as a live performer as well, appearing in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Opening Ceremony and with Vancouver’s finest Urban dance talent in Urban Alchemy. Most recently, Charkhi collaborated on a contemporary dance project choreographed by Heather Laura Gray called The Tunnel. Performing live is very different from dance for camera.

“When you’re in front of the camera you can cut as many times and capture the best parts of the performance,” Charkhi shares. “When performing live, you only have one chance to send your message out there. The process was longer for The Tunnel but the thrill and the reviews we got were amazing.”

The most rewarding part of such a performance, according to Charkhi, is that it allows him to grow and stretch himself as a dancer. Gray witnessed this process first-hand and describes evidence of Charkhi’s ability to tap into his creativity and make great artistic choices.

“Navid is a very open person and that makes him extremely easy to work with. Any tasks that were given, even if it was something new, he would fully commit and not let fear take over,” she remarks.

Gray also mentions that Charkhi’s energy behind-the-scenes makes him a skilled and effective collaborator.

“You can tell he values working with people to create the best outcome possible, it is not just a solo venture for him.”

In this spirit, Charkhi is quick to credit his teachers and mentors for helping him keep his feet amidst the challenges of a thriving and diverse career in entertainment. It’s not easy doing it all but Charkhi gives insight into what keeps his passion alive.

“I believe if you focus on something that you really love to do, it will take you far in life and keep you and everyone around you happy. I love to perform,” he declares.

That love is obvious judging by Charkhi’s stage and screen successes so far and this dancer on the rise is just getting warmed up.

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Canadian Stylist Kirsten Reader teams up with Christopher Bates for Short Fashion Film

5/11/2016

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Canadian fashion director and wardrobe stylist Kirsten Reader did not always know what her path would be. She just knew that she had a passion. She did not always expect to team up with one of Canada’s most successful men’s fashion designers, Christopher Bates, as lead stylist, but her passion and innate skill led to such an opportunity.

Reader worked with Bates for two of his fashion shows, lookbooks, and the short film Check Mate, which featured all of his 2015 menswear collection. The short film opened the fashion show, and the lookbooks were designed to promote the brand. As lead stylist, Reader had to work seamlessly with Bates, the creative director, and the client, as well as remembering the goal of gaining fans and new customers. 

“Fashion videos are a fun new approach to promote fashion aside from stills, and this one had a great story line and concept that made it tell a story with the wardrobe yet with no dialogue,” described Reader. “It was a great short fashion film.”

Reader knew that she wanted to work with Bates. Both of them have an appreciation for what the other does and can bring to the table, making an extraordinary team. They also worked with award winning photographer/director Ramin Deravian for the project, which only added to its success.

“I had enjoyed Christopher’s designs and thought it would be great to collaborate with the designer to promote is designs for him,” said Reader. “There is something great about collaborating with the artist themselves to help realize their vision.”

Bates had seen Reader’s work and knew he wanted to collaborate with her for the project.

“I have worked with Christopher and pulled his collections to dress many of my male clients including some of the members of Walk off The Earth for the Junos red carpet,” she said. “He reached out as he felt I had a great understanding of what he would be looking to achieve with his collection while providing some outside views.”

Bates, who was included in the list of Canada’s 100 most influential people, truly believes that without Reader, his line would not have achieved the success that it did.

“Kirsten’s leading and critical role of stylist helped me create looks that enhanced the brand imaging,” said Bates. “She falls into a rare breed of artists that can stick true to her vision and show marketability at the same time. Her artistry and adaptability gives her the ability to work with celebrities and fuse runway pieces with unique wardrobes in a way that is successfully wearable from red carpet events to personal appearances.”

The shoot was one day at the Trump Hotel in Toronto, where they had access to an exclusive private residence penthouse that had yet to be completed in construction, but it did not come without some challenges.

“Fashion videos do present a bit more difficulty compared to stills as the wardrobe has to look perfect from every angle. We can’t cheat it with pins and clamps like a still shot so the attention to detail is that much more focused,” said Reader. “I also had to style the female model in wardrobe that complimented but didn’t detract from Christopher’s collection.”

“We also had to create strong and new looks that influenced the way designs were viewed by the media,” added Bates.

Bates has the highest faith in Reader and believes she overcame any challenges that may have been presented to her with ease.

“She has created strong looks and unique perspectives on styling for both still and motion that allowed for outreach for brands in ways not thought of before,” he said. “She has an incredible understanding of wardrobes and her innovation shines through it.”

As for Reader, the overall process was definitely a positive experience.

“The team was a lot of fun to work with,” she said. “Christopher has great amount of energy and enthusiasm all day long that really keeps the day feeling fun and you almost forget you are working.”
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Producer Mike Gut Uses His Finance Background to Raise Funds for Films

2/28/2015

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Director Ari Novak (left) and producer Mike Gut (right) at the 2014 American Film Market


Being that it is less romantic than other vital aspects of being a great film producer, some people may not see a background in finance as the typical jumping off point for a successful career based in creative expression. However, Mike Gut understands the value of striking a balance between his two seemingly contrary skill sets. He is comfortable and effective in his dual roles of both storyteller and money manager because he understands how producing successful films absolutely requires merging technical knowledge of the craft with real-life business experience.

When Gut made the decision to leave Canada and his lucrative job in the telecom industry to realize his dream of producing feature films, he began to realize just how much of an advantage his business sector experience actually gave him in his new endeavor.

 “My financial background definitely serves me well with my investors,” he explains. “I’m good with people and good with money. Producing is very entrepreneurial in the sense that each film is like setting up a small company every time.”


Armed with his solid background in finance and an inner calling to become a filmmaker, Gut originally left Montreal for Los Angeles when he was accepted to the prestigious Peter Stark Producing Program at the University of Southern California, where he earned his MFA.  With an acceptance rate of only 13%, the Peter Stark Program is extremely selective, admitting only twenty-five applicants every year.

Gut remembers, “It was really the perfect program for me--- it really set the wheels in motion.”


His Masters in Fine Arts allowed him to continue honing his passion for filmmaking, something he had reserved as a weekend hobby prior to leaving the telecom industry, while also building on his expertise in finance.  Finding investors and arranging for his films to have the funding they really need and deserve can be difficult for producers who only have pure love of the cinema and no real knack for the sometimes harsh business realities that require close attention. True, being a great producer is undoubtedly about being able to tell a story artfully and supervising an array of creative counterparts-- but it is also about being able to secure serious investors, managing a feasible budget, and ultimately being able to sell the finished product as profitable in an ever-changing media marketplace.
 

For Gut, the fact that the producer is the one who gets the last word on everything from the soundtrack to what ends up on the editing room floor is both a blessing and a curse. The producer’s key role in selling the film and arranging subsequent distribution rights means that even the smallest decision can make a world of difference.

Soon after completing his MFA, Gut was thrilled to be working on films alongside the likes of Harvey Weinstein and other heavyweight names in the world of film producers; he even had the pleasure of producing and directing the film Unfair & Imbalanced.

Gut says he loves to produce original features because the discovery stage can be a make-or-break moment for the success of the film. Sifting through the endless material to find a gem that is promising, both artistically and financially, is no small or easy task. Gut explains that when a film isn’t based on an original script, films often begin with just ideas, and no script; once a producer believes they have uncovered a novel idea, they must begin the search for the perfect screenwriter to bring it to life.  

Gut’s work as a producer is more than just the supervision of its construction; his role requires him to prepare the finished product to present to various financing entities or film distributors. This final step is undoubtedly one of the most challenging, as it entails deep collaboration with the creative production team as well as the film’s accounting personnel.    


As the producer and director of the original feature film Hollywood Hick, which he produced though his production company aptly named GellyGut, his efforts paid off as the film gained national attention being screened across North America. For Gut, the release of the film was a turning point in his career.

Today Mike Gut is a producer with Oracle Film Group, and with several upcoming projects still on the horizon and the release of Timber the Treasure Dog set for this year, he has attained his dream of producing features with worldwide theatrical release.

On Timber the Treasure Dog where Gut worked alongside director Ari Novak, he solidified his commitment to being the kind of producer that can turn out “quality feature films that cater to a specific market while getting a suitable return for the investors involved.” Something that separates the good producers from the really great ones, this kind of thinking is what facilitates the best possible films actually making it to the screen.

Although his keen financial background helps foster investor relationships and responsible decision-making, Gut never forgets his vision for a production, or the joy he gets from being a filmmaker.  “Nothing makes me happier than when I’m on set. When I used to make films as a hobby on the weekends, I remember thinking - If I could get paid to do this, it would just be icing on the cake,” Gut recalls.

Gut is clearly dedicated to each project he takes on, as he is responsible for the production of his films from conception to completion. He takes pride in his involvement in the early stages of a script's production all the way until the concluding stages, with special attention given to post-production efforts in order seal in the finishing touches. He is one of those rare producers that truly understands the “big picture” fate of a film, and with all the subpar films that hit the market on a daily basis, audiences can take comfort knowing that he will continue to produce captivating films with engaging for years to come.

 

 

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Defying Asian Stereotypes, Actor & Model Steven Van Nguyen 

1/22/2015

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Steven Van Nguyen shot by Yan Markovich of Candiishop for Boss Magazine's Summer 2014 Issue

After garnering the first prize Commercial Print Award at the well-known International Model and Talent Association Competition for men between the ages of 18 and 22 in 2013, Steven Van Nguyen went straight to the top of both the American and Canadian entertainment industries as a highly sought after model and actor. The IMTA competition has become a launch pad for the careers of a long list of today's celebrities including international supermodels Grayson Gettys, Branden Rickman, Tyson Ballou, Madeline Kragh and Mariah Watchman, and high-profile actors Katie Holmes, Jessica Biel, Eva Longoria, Elija Wood, Seann William Scott, Ashton Kutcher and Josh Duhamel. With the history of successful talents the competition has already been credited with discovering, Nguyen's rise to stardom comes as no surprise.  The IMTA recently asked Steven to be their spokesmen at the IMTA 2015 convention in New York City where he will talk about the success he has found as an actor and a model since competing in the competition in 2013. The 2015 IMTA convention will be held from July 20-24 at the New York Hilton Midtown Manhattan Hotel.

As an actor Steven Van Nguyen has starred in a long list of productions including the films Checkmate, The White Samurai, Add To Cart, Cheese The Musical, M.E.G.O, Deception and Social Media Critique, as well as the shows The Amazing Gayl Pile, Haphead and UNDERside. A testament to Nguyen's talents as an actor, the series Haphead, in which he plays the leading role of Leicester, was chosen as an Official Selection of the 2015 HollyWeb Fest and Vancouver Web Fest. He was also featured in a video for hip hop artists HOTB,which was directed by Manee Osman, and recently aired nationally in Canada on Globe TV. 

Nguyen is passionate about using his fame to defy global stereotypes surrounding Asian people, with a primary focus on Asian males.  Last year Nguyen was in the documentary film Project Gelb, which aired on Bell Fibe TV and focused on fighting Asian male stereotypes in North America.

Nguyen explains, "I was interviewed about my win on IMTA 2013 in NYC and how that broke a lot of stereotypes on Asian men not being attractive compared to other ethnicities, and I found the experience extremely fulfilling because everything I have done in my life and my career has been the opposite of typical Asian stereotypes, so I was able to debunk a lot of false perceptions and show that we are all human and success is based on the individual not on their ethic origin."

Project Gelb was directed by multi-award winning artist and director Francis Luta, whose work as an artist has appeared in galleries across Germany and Canada, and has garnered him the 2013 IIDEX Silver Innovation Award, the 2010 Bezpala Brown Gallery Jury Award and the Bezpala Brown Gallery People’s Choice Award, the 2010 Motorola Webber Seavey Award, as well as an Advertising Award from the School of Design at George Brown College in 2008. About Nguyen's work in the film, Luta says, "[Steven] was a delight to work with on the documentary Project Gelb with his high energy and an “I’ll do what it takes” type of attitude. He was a key contributor that represented a younger demographic with a fresh point-of-view on the subject matter."

While Steven Van Nguyen has created a reputation for himself as a versatile actor whose capacity for playing roles across various genres ensures that he will never get pigeonholed into playing the same role over and over again, a common pitfall for many of the best actors currently working in the Hollywood entertainment industry, Nguyen admits there are some roles he won't play.  "I won’t play any roles that support Asian stereotypes like the nerd, kung fu master, low life, anti social etc."

In addition to his acting career, Nguyen has had great success as a model as well. After winning the coveted award at the 2013 IMTA Competition Nguyen was featured in a four-page spread in Boss Magazine. The talented young model went on to be featured in a nationwide print ad for the Canadian Aids Society, as well as several campaigns for companies including AskforTask, Arroware Anti-privacy, Maniwonders, Onyx Barber Shop and others. Aside from his spread in Boss Magazine, Nguyen has been featured in FrameInn, Atomic Poison, Jahlmar, as well as several other magazines.

Steven Van Nguyen has also become a highly recognizable face in the Canadian public due to his roles in several television commercials. Some of the advertising productions Nguyen has been featured in include commercials for Emerald City Condos, Clipter, Emoteplay, Voxx Sports and Tim Horton's. While Nguyen's commercial look is the perfect fit for print ads and TV commercials, he is also know for his ability to strut his stuff on the runway. Nguyen has walked in several shows including Moore’s Fashion Show, Niagara Bridal Fashion Show, Hamilton Bridal Fashion Show, Club Roma Fashion Show, Diversity Fashion Show, Culture Shock Fashion Show and others.

If it isn't already clear from his impressive repertoire of work as both an actor and a model that Steven Van Nguyen is one of the most diversely talented individuals working in the Canadian entertainment industry today, his work on the show Health Core, as well as his contributions to various podcasts serve as further proof. Nguyen wrote, produced and starred in the show Health Core, which was broadcast every week online through CIB 24.

He says, "I would educate the viewers on fitness, dieting, sleep and anything dealing with a person's well being. For example, I did an episode where I talked about how eating frozen or canned foods isn’t the same as eating fresh foods due to the high sodium content needed to preserve can food."

As this talented young actor and model continues to defy Asian stereotypes with his unparalleled international success in the entertainment industry, Steven Van Nguyen proves the sky is the limit.

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