Thomas Barnes is a New York-based writer-director of narrative films, commercials and music videos, with over 25 years in film and television. He started out in London and Hong Kong, learning the ropes on everything from Tony Kaye commercials to UK pop videos and Jean-Claude Van Damme movies.

In the 90s Thomas joined the launch teams for MTV Asia and Channel V, discovering new VJ talent and producing cutting-edge shows like Alternative Nation. With artists such as Radiohead, Bryan Adams, Bon Jovi, Peter Gabriel and Public Enemy, he bent show formats in bold directions to capture each artist's personality. He got Chris Isaak busking for businessmen in downtown Hong Kong, and filmed Slash from Guns N' Roses playing with snakes in India.

He then founded Big Fish Productions in Hong Kong and directed MUSIC VIDEOS for top Chinese-language stars including Faye Wong, Andy Lau, Kelly Chen, Eason Chan and Ai Jing, as well as LA productions for Rod Stewart and Keke Palmer. Andy Lau and Kelly Chen's "I Don't Love You Enough," an intimate, sensual portrait of two megastars in their prime was a media sensation and Faye Wong's "Love Letter to Myself" captured her emotion with raw immediacy.  

From music videos he moved into TV COMMERCIALS, first in Hong Kong and China and now in the USA. He brings a fresh, bold take to agency storyboards and has shot spots for brands like Coke, M&M's and Chrysler, covering everything from cars to banking services. He balances the needs of client, agency and local market with his own offbeat vision, and has won several gold and silver Mercury Awards for public service announcements.

All along he has written and directed short NARRATIVE films. The budgets are small next to a commercial shoot, but they let him tell stories true to his vision with talented collaborators and actors. Taking a film from words on a page to a festival audience gives him deep creative satisfaction. His shorts Pork Chop, Whales and Miss Chinatown have played top international festivals including Clermont-Ferrand, Berlin Shorts, Pusan Shorts, Big Apple NYC, San Francisco International, Singapore and LA.

Thomas is currently working on two documentaries in which he is capturing the personal and dramatic journeys of the flamboyant artist Stone 石村, and inspirational US architect Jing Idenburg-Liu (SO-IL). He set out to create projects where the passing of time in the subject’s lives plays a pivotal role.

He also teaches Directing Craft at the New York Film Academy in Manhattan, mentoring a new generation of filmmakers from around the world in becoming visual storytellers. He is known for inspiring students with his passion for cinematic storytelling. One of his favorite teaching anecdotes is hearing a voice on a subway platform as a familiar woman approached him with the words “Teacher!  I don’t know if you remember me. Ten years ago I was your student and you changed my life. I’m a producer now. Thank you.” For Thomas, a proud moment that makes it all worthwhile.