An overview of work by director, DoP and editor Mike Beech. This reel includes work from a wide selection of projects shot across 5 different continents.
Hyundai Motor Company and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Korea (MMCA) present the ninth annual MMCA Hyundai Motor Series 2022 exhibition with selected artist Choe U-Ram. This is the director's cut of the main archival film documenting the project.
Through wondrously life-like mechanisms, the artist explores themes such as humanity's interaction with technology, societal structures, and our potential trajectory as a species.
Director, Cinematographer, Editor, Colourist and Sound Designer: Mike Beech
Creative Directors: Jasmyn Asvat & Mike Beech
Music Composer: Jack Fielden-Irving
Producers: Jiwon Lee, Soyeong Sheng, Suyeon Jo, Keith Keunhyung Park & Yuri C.
Executive Producer: Seungku Lee
Gaffer & Grip: Diogo Castro
Production Assistants: Sarang Lee, Thomas Maitland, Daniel Walker, Jason Lee
Operations Manager: Marin Villarreal Carvajal
Script Supervisor & PA: Wookyeong Han
Creative Agency: Edisen Korea
Production Company: Moktan Productions
The exhibition runs from September 9, 2022, to February 26, 2023.
Directed, shot, edited and music composed by Mike Beech, Reclaiming The Negative looks at a North Korean defector's extraordinary and harrowing escape from her country of birth and the artistic process of a large format photographer who captures a series of stunning portraits of her and other North Korean refugees living in Seoul, South Korea.
The film won 8 awards during its festival run, including Best Short Documentary at the London Independent Film Awards 2020 and Best Cinematography of a Documentary Film at the LA Cinematography Awards 2020. It also received a Vimeo Staff Pick upon its online release and was officially selected in 24 film festivals globally.
TV, internet, and cinema spot for Volkswagen featuring beautiful supermodel Winnie Harlow and the new VW T-Roc directed by Mike Beech. The 22-year-old suffers from a rare skin condition that causes depigmented patches on her skin. As a child, she was repeatedly bullied due to her condition but now she is a model celebrated throughout the world.
Shot on location in Lisbon, Portugal.
Unveiling Mongolia
A film commissioned by the Mongolian Tourism Association and CNN about the world-renowned artist Baatarzorig Batjargal. His work draws on the Mongoilan art tradition know as 'Mongol Zurag' and fuses it with more modern elements and pop-culture. I highly recommend checking out Baatarzorig Batjargal’s work and learning more about the rich tradition of Mongolian art. Fixer/Producer: Amga - Mediacrackers, Dir: Lucas Veuve, DP: Mike Beech, Production Manager: Chelsea Li, Editor: Macarena De Oto.
2 promo films for fashion brand Jacquemus featuring Blackpink’s Jennie. Shot in a studio in Seoul by Mike Beech. Production by Propaganda Studios.
Propaganda Studio produced the 2023 Christmas Campaign for Jacquemus with Jennie Kim of Blackpink. It was a pleasure to work with such a talent and a great team.
Client: Jacquemus
Video: Mike Beech
Photo: Daniel Arnold
Project Manager: Tim Franco
Local Producer: Mina Jang
Set Design: Ondoh
A music video for Linkin Park on which I worked as a cinematographer for their 2024 single 'Over Each Other'. The film was directed by Joe Hahn from the band and was shot entirely in one night. Thanks to the incredible crew for their dedication in pulling this off, it was a lot of fun.
Credits:
Director: Joe Hahn
Producer: WL Boyd
Production Company: Swartz Boyd Productions
Korea Production Services Company: Compass Production
Ex. Producer/Producer: Tony Choi
Line Producer: Sunghee Kim
Production Manager: Johanna Seung
Production Coordinator: Sumi Kim
Location Manager: Gyeongseon Baek
1st AD: Heecheol Kwon
2nd AD: Taeyeon Kim
Set PA: Jisuk Kang
Set PA: Taegyun Kim
Set PA: Seo Heo
Set PA: Taekhyeon Lim
Dir. Of Photography: Mike Beech
1st AC: Jichul Ahn
2nd AC: Sejin Kim
3rd AC: Eunchae Lee
DIT: Jongsang Kim
BTS: Jiwoon Lee
Gaffer: Byeonjin Yang
Best Boy Elec: Segi Kim
Lighting Asst. 1: Inhee Han
Lighting Asst. 2: Daehan Choi
Lighting Asst. 3: Gwangho Park
Lighting Asst. 4: Jangun Shin
Lighting Asst. 5: Hakdong Shin
Key Grip: Sangjun Lee
Best Boy Grip: Junhee Lee
Grip: Seonghyeon Yoon
Art Director: Hyeonji Kim
Smoke Hazer/Water Truck: SF Cinema
Music Playback: MJ Lee
Make Up: Giwoong Baek
Hair Stylist: Shinhyun Kim
Special FX Make Up: Yeongjae Woo
Asst. FX Make Up: Seongyeong Lee
Asst. FX Make Up: Hyeonhui Hwang
Stylist (Emily Armstrong): Meesh Daranyl
Stylist (Korea): Hwaryeong Yang
Vehicle Drivers:
Jeonwan Kang
Sihyeon Yu
Suuk Ryu
Jaeman Kim
Jaeho Choi
Seonguk Hwang
Yungshik Shin
Byeongsu Kim
Yongwan Bae
Suhyeon Ju
Yeongi Lee
Giseok Ko
Casting Director: Wook Kang
Talent:
Emily's Friend: Kong SeongHa
Emily Body Double: Linnea
Extras:
Extra 1: Seongjoon Cho
Extra 2: Jeongyu Park
Extra 3: Seungwoo Shin
Extra 4: Jeseon Lee
Extra 5: Hyeonseong Jo
Extra 6: Sehan Lee
Extra 7: Jiung Ha
Extra 8: Gyeji Park
EMT 1: Jaehwan Jeong
EMT 2: Seohyeon Jeong
Editor: Igor Kovalik
Color Grading: Adolfo Martinelli
Video Commissioner: Devin Sarno
Directed, shot and edited by Mike Beech, this film showcases "001", IISE's debut clothing collection. Exploring the brand's aesthetic outside accessories, "001" is an assortment of wardrobe staples all made with a combination of traditional Korean and modern materials. Fabrics like "mu-myung" and "guangmok" are both native cottons that have been used in the country's traditional garb, but reinterpreted in the pieces they have created. The uniqueness of these cottons, along with the leather, raw slick fleck, and nylon twill fabrics were used to create IISE's debut streetwear line.
www.ii-se.co
Narrated by Idris Elba, this Netflix docuseries explores the origins and evolution of play across the globe, from age-old rituals to billion-dollar businesses.
The final episode of series one looks at the big business behind some of the games humans play with a focus on the gaming superstar team, Gen G. Mike Beech was the cinematographer on the Korea section of this episode.
Shot on location in a very remote part of southern Morocco, this short film looks into the amazing craftsmanship and dedication of the Berber rug weavers in the region.
These incredibly talented people are part of an ancient tradition that still employs centuries-old techniques to produce beautiful and unique handwoven rugs.
Directed, shot and edited by Mike Beech
Featuring Saida Zanafi & Mohammed Ait Ahmed
Written by Lauren Matthews
Produced and translated by Salma Debbarh
Art direction by Joyce Kong
Styling by Duygu Fidanoglu
Sound design by Ben Hensor
Guided by Taoufiq Ahmed
Driven by Mohammed Chekri
Thank you to all the weavers, washers, and people of Taznakht.
This film was made possible with the generous funding of Revival Rugs: https://www.revivalrugs.com/
Mike Beech was the cinematographer on the Seoul episode of this Netflix Original Series. Night brings out the most playful side of Asia's metropolises. This docuseries captures the food, drink, music — and night owls who shine in the dark.
Mike Beech directed, shot, edited & colour-graded these two official music videos for the singles ‘Paradiso’ and ‘Garota’
PARADISO:
Drone: Giovanni Pheromed SAS
Additional boat footage: Stefano Barbagallo
Production manager: Marcin Oz
Produced by: Bubbles Records
GAROTA:
Starring: Hana Lee
Musicians:
Þorsteinn Einarsson - Guitar
Sigurður Halldór Guðmundsson - Hammond Organ
Guðmundur Kristinn Jónsson - Guitar
Valdimar Kolbeinn Sigurjónsson - Bass
Helgi Svavar Helgason - Drums
Mathias Hemstock - Percussion
Oskar Gudjonsson - Saxophone
Samúel Jón Samúelsson - Trombone
Snorri Sigurdarson - Trumpet
Erlend Øye - Vocals
Mixed by Norman Nitzsche
Mastered by Bo Kondren at Calyx, Berlin
A short commercial produced for the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce capturing a small glimpse of the beauty Sharjah has to offer. Traveling all over the Emirate we experienced ancient tradition, epic landscapes, vibrant communities, mouth-watering cuisine, holy sites, stunning nature, flourishing wildlife and gentle souls.
Directed, shot, edited, drone piloted and colour-graded by Mike Beech
Sound by Adam Layland
Music by Max LL
Produced by Mohamed Parham Al Awadhi
This short documentary exposes systematic sexual and gender-based violence in a North Korean prison. Using advanced 3D modeling, satellite imagery, and powerful survivor testimonies, our visual investigation reveals the harrowing realities faced by women, men, and children in North Korea.
Korea Future team: Suyeon Yoo, Jiwon Kim, Sujin Cho
Production by Moktan
Directed, shot, and edited by Mike Beech
Produced by Jiwon Lee
Assisted and gaffed by Jeechul Ahn
Sound recorded by Jiwon Lee and Keunhyung Park
Music composed by Jack Irving
3D modeling by Orion Intel
Thanks to the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Korea
Support Korea Future in this crucial effort. Visit their website to learn more: koreafuture.org
A feature-length documentary on which Mike Beech worked as a cinematographer along with visionary director Mark Waters. The film was number 1 on Apple TV upon its release.
A materially successful young man, riddled with anxiety embarks on a world-wide journey, exploring the root cause of the modern societal epidemic of stress, anxiety, panic, and emotional suffering. Watch Now: https://geni.us/Watch_CTP
Starring Russell Brand, Alex Grey, Graham Hancock, Gary Weber, Jose Sanchez, Zelda Hall and more.
A TVC and online promo for the sports brand PUMA featuring sports personality Sherif Fayed. One of five TVCs shot shot on location in Dubai, UAE.
Co-directed and shot by Mike Beech & Mark Waters
A television and online commercial promoting Chinese New Year travel to Dubai. Commissioned by the Dubai Tourism Board and shot on location over two days.
Directed, shot and edited by Mike Beech
Produced by Antonio Sabatella
Sound design by Khaled Hamdy
Colour grade by Luca Parma
Music by Max LL
An event film I made for Chanel for their Coco Crush pop-up photo event that took place at Anderson C in Seongsu-dong, showcasing its high-profile brand ambassador Jennie from BLACKPINK, often dubbed "Human Chanel." The event drew significant attention, featuring a star-studded guest list including Park Seo-joon, Lee Jae-wook, Gong Myung, Choi Soo-young, Jo Bo-ah, Jeon Yeo-been, and Kim So-hyun. Also in attendance were musicians Younghoon from The Boyz, Seungmin from Stray Kids, and Code Kunst. TV personality Kim Na-young also appeared at the event.
Director, DoP & editor: Mike Beech
Camera operators: Jiwon Lee, Wonman Kim
Produced by Propaganda Studios
Directed, shot and edited by Mike Beech.
Inspired by the rugs of nomadic tribes, who, limited by the size of their loom, would weave long narrow panels and join them together, this ‘panel kilim’ collection is spun from a custom blend of the softest, strongest materials — a mix of Sardinian, New Zealand, and Afghan wool.
Shot on location in Northern India, the film tracks the creation of these beautiful and unique rugs from the craftsman's hands to your home. A journey that begins with a generations-old weaving house in rural Uttar Pradesh that passionately obsess over every detail of these stunning hand-spun pieces.
Sound design by Ben Hensor
Music by Max LL
Shot and edited by Mike Beech, this Vice documentary has now received over 3 million views on YouTube alone.
In 2011, Kim Ji-hun was selected by Big Hit Entertainment to train with 30 other trainees for an upcoming K-pop group. This, then unnamed group would later become the global music phenomenon, BTS. Ji-hun shared a small dorm with 6 other trainees who went on to debut as members of BTS while his life took a different turn when he was eventually cut from the final line up. VICE meets Ji-hun as he shares his first hand experience of almost being in BTS and his life after that.
Shot & Edited by Mike Beech
Directed by Keith Keunhyung Park
Colour grade by Shahnawaz Shaikh
