James Q. ChanJames produced PLAGUE AT THE GOLDEN GATE, (Premiering May 24, 2022 on PBS/American Experience). His film BLOODLINE (Emmy®Award Nominee, 2022) is streaming on American Public Media and broadcasting on PBS stations nationwide. James trained and worked alongside two-time Academy-Award winning filmmakers Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman (THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK, THE CELLULOID CLOSET, HOWL). His producing credits envelop our human connection; father & son reconciliation ISTINMA (Best Short, American Indian Film Festival; Smithsonian Native Showcase); love and equality RIGHT DOWN THE LINE (Bonnie Raitt’s Grammy-Award winning album “Slipstream”); community history CHINATOWN RISING (CAAMFest Opening Night). James’ directing credits include 360° Circle Vision films, Disney; educational media for community organizations and PBS Learning Channel; the documentary series CHINATOWN SHORTS. His debut film FOREVER, CHINATOWN (PBS/World; Emmy®Award Nominee) received multiple awards, screened with American Film Showcase and the USC/U.S. State Department’s film diplomacy program, where he is a filmmaker envoy. He received a Certificate of Honor from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors for his work amplifying immigrant and APA stories. His refugee and working class background, love for travel and nature shows, memories of his mother’s cooking shape his sensibilities in all of his stories. James is a 2020 YBCA 100 Honoree, a member of New Day Films and the Directors Guild of America. |
Jessica HeidtJessica is an independent director who directed ECTP’s 2017 production of MADAME HO at the EXIT Theatre and Cameron House, as well as the English-Chinese reading of Madame Ho for Eugenie Chan Theater Projects at the Great Star Theater in San Francisco’s Chinatown and 19 WENTWORTH ALLEY, CHINATOWN at Z Below. (Jessica directed an earlier version of Madame Ho at the Magic, as well.)
Other theater credits include the world premieres of THE LILY’S REVENGE, TERRITORIES, PLEASURE AND PAIN, and THE BLACK EYED (Magic Theatre); COLLAPSE (Aurora Theatre); MAN OF ROCK, BRIGHT RIVER (Climate Theater), HELLO AND GOODBYE (The Jewel Theatre), OLD WICKED SONGS and THE STORYTELLING ABILITY OF A BOY (Center REPertory Company). Ms. Heidt served as Artistic Director of Climate Theater, and prior to that was the Associate Artistic Director at Magic Theatre. She has directed developmental readings and workshops for companies across the country. She is also a casting director, and producer for theatre and film. Jess currently works for Pixar Animation Studios where she spearheaded a new program that tracks Pixar scripts by gender and gender balance in films under production. |