Thomas Barnes is a writer- director, based in New York. He shoots narrative, commercials and music video. His journey began in London, then Hong Kong, learning the ropes on everything from Tony Kaye Commercials to UK Pop Music Videos to Jean Claude Van Damme Movies.

Back in the 90’s he joined the launch team for MTV Asia and then Channel V. He earned a reputation at MTV discovering new VJ Talent and produced cutting edge shows like Alternative Nation. He worked extensively with major artists such as Radiohead, Bryan Adams, Bon Jovi, Chris Isaak, Peter Gabriel, Public Enemy and Chinese legend Faye Wong.  His forte was to take existing show formats for special guests and bend them in bold creative directions.  For instance he persuaded Chris Isaak and his drummer to busk in downtown Hong Kong to passing businessmen; he cajoled Bryan Adams and band into playing raw punk versions of hit songs like “Everything I do’ in a Hong Kong recording studio; he filmed Slash from Guns n’Roses playing affectionately with snakes in India; he handed Peter Gabriel a video camera so Peter could turn the camera on the TV crew shooting him. 

After six years of helping to spearhead production and creative content at MTV and Star TV, he set out as an independent director. He directed music videos for most of the top singers in the Chinese world including Faye Wong, Andy Lau, Kelly Chen, Eason Chan and Ai Jing as well as international artists such as Rod Stewart and Keke Palmer. His clip for Andy Lau and Kelly Chen’s -‘I don’t love you enough’ was a major smash- an intimate, sensual rendering of two megastars in their prime. This clip, as well as Faye Wong’s ‘Love Letter to myself’ now thrive on Youtube where they have several million views. 

Out of his music video career, he developed into a commercials director in Hong Kong, China and now USA. His modus operandi is a fresh and bold take on the storyboards offered by Ad Agencies. He has shot numerous spots for brands like Coke, M&M, & Chrysler. Over time he has developed the ability to balance the needs of client, agency and the local market with his own creative vision, and has won several gold and silver Mercury Awards for Public Service Announcements.

All the while he has written and directed short narrative films which are his real labors of love. Despite the tiny budgets, he is able to tell stories that are true to his vision, and work with talented collaborators and actors. Amongst them, Pork Chop, Whales & Miss Chinatown play many top international short fests -Clermont Ferrand, Berlin shorts, Pusan Shorts, Big Apple NYC, San Francisco International, Singapore, LA and so on.  His 2016 short ‘Porgies & Bass’ won best short at the Coney Island Film Festival and had over 1.25 views online before being flagged (ie cancelled) by Youtube! His latest short film is Hafus in Love (currently in post prod, 2019), which he plans to make into a feature film in 2020.

Alongside his film work he teaches Directing Craft at the New York Film Academy in Manhattan where he guides a new generation of global film makers in their quests to become visual story tellers.  He is known for enthusing students with his passion for cinematic storytelling.