Bicoastal/international O Positive Films has signed filmmaker Jun Diaz for commercials and content. Diaz is a leading visual storyteller with work that combines both strong art direction and production design, and understated comedic performances. Among the highlights of his work is the Cannes Lion-winning Twix #TBT campaign via BBDO New York; he has also directed for Converse, eBay, Heineken, MasterCard and Yahoo, among many other brands.
Diaz began his career in film as an editor, first in long form where his credits include the critically acclaimed documentary about Hollywood producer Robert Evans, The Kid Stays in the Picture, for which he received an ACE Award nomination, as well as American Movie and Home Movie, and later as a commercials editor at MacKenzie Cutler in New York. Diaz drew upon his keen understanding of film language and storytelling, both comedic and visual, and segued to directing commercials in 2008 at Smuggler.
“After working at a large A-list production company the past few years and enjoying the opportunity, experience and relationships that came with it, the time was right for me to shift gears to be part of a specialized A-list boutique with a wide reach but more intimate creative culture,” Diaz said. “I’m very attracted to the scale of O Positive and the focus of the directors who are invested in working with me to meet my objectives. It’s an amazing opportunity to do great work and collaborate with so many creative people.”
Diaz’s own creative streak runs deep. In addition to commercials, he’s researching a documentary about the 1964 Olympics in Japan and how the event transformed Tokyo from post World War II pariah to the thriving metropolis it is today. He’s also developing a project for VR, a series he co-wrote around the classic Dickens’ work, "A Christmas Carol."
“David [O Positive director/partner Shane] and I have known Jun for years, and we are thrilled that such an enormous talent has joined our dinky production company,” said director Jim Jenkins, partner at O Positive. “We like to keep our roster small, and Jun’s sensibilities and approach to the work fit right in with our own.”
“He’s just a flat-out strong storyteller,” added O Positive director/partner David Shane. “And he knows how to do a lot with a little which is kind of everything in 30 seconds. There’s a lovely humanity radiating through his stuff that makes you really want to watch it.”
