Brian Mah
Working as a Director and Creative Director at Imaginary Forces since 2002, Brian Mah has helmed a variety of projects across multiple platforms and media. His work is characterized by striking live action cinematography, combined with sophisticated design, effects and animation. Over the years, he has collaborated with a host of top brands and networks. These include:
- Honda
- Airbus
- USA Network
- PepsiCo
- Unilever
- IBM
- Spike TV
- Sony
- Bose
- Time Warner
- National Geographic
- Coca-Cola
- American Express
- Dolby
- Lifetime
- Scion
- LACMA
- Charter
- Cartoon Network
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Spike “Momentum”
Spike “Momentum”
This campaign was created to promote Spike’s new tagline, “Get More Action.” The series of IDs was conceived and designed to focus on high-end, beautifully-shot live action vignettes. Using color and cropping to brand the look, the end product is visceral, intense and visually polished.
Credits
- Director: Brian Mah
- Client: Spike Network
- Production Company: Imaginary Forces
- Designer: Brian Mah
- Director of Photography: Stefan Von Borbely
- Editor: Keith Roberts
- Sound Design: Keith Roberts
- Producer: Keith Bryant
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Spike “Table of Contents”
Spike “Table of Contents: Anthem :30”
Brian’s second collaboration with Spike, “Table of Contents” was a new campaign which displayed the network’s content on a much larger scale. Sequences were choreographed and shot with the idea of laying out all of Spike’s content together in space, all visible in an orderly grid of action and adrenaline.
Credits
- Director: Brian Mah
- Client: Spike Network
- Production Company: Imaginary Forces
- Designers: Brian Mah, Greg Herman, Rob Bolick
- 3D Animators: James Anderson, Robin Roepstorff, Christian Argueta
- 2D Animator: Nick Jonkman
- Director of Photography: Aaron Platt
- Still Photographer: Ryan Rogers
- Editor: Keith Roberts
- Sound Design: Keith Roberts
- Producer: Keith Bryant
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FVAP “This is My Weapon”
FVAP “This is My Weapon”
The goal for this project was to motivate military personnel stationed overseas to cast an absentee ballot. Using the Rifleman’s Creed as narration, paired with macro details of a ballpoint pen being assembled, the pen is portrayed as a metaphor for their greatest weapon in the upcoming election.
Credits
- Director: Brian Mah
- Client: Federal Voting Assistance Program
- Agency: Mullen
- Production Company: Imaginary Forces
- Designer: Brian Mah
- 3D Animators: James Anderson, Billy Kwok, Mark Branton, Julian Fitzpatrick
- Modeler: Jeff Dietrich
- Director of Photography: Aaron Platt
- Editor: Joe Denk
- Sound Design: Keith Roberts
- Producer: Crystal Deones
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Google Chrome “Interactive Reaction”
Google Chrome “Interactive Reaction”
This film was created to highlight Google’s new browser, Google Chrome. Inspired by the machine-like form of the logo, the narrative imagines the browser as a sculpture in a gallery, and what might happen if this form opened up to a viewer, displaying the variety of content offered by the online experience.
Credits
- Director: Brian Mah
- Client: Google
- Production Company: Imaginary Forces
- Designer: Brian Mah
- Directors of Photography: Brian Mah, James Anderson
- 3D Animator: James Anderson
- Music: Eric Mason
- Sound Design: Eric Mason
- Producer: Courtney Graham
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Propel “Drops of Life”
Propel “Drops of Life”
This dynamic spot for the vitamin-enhanced water combines motion control camera moves of the talent with high speed water photography to create a fun, energetic and colorful experience.
Credits
- Director: Brian Mah
- Client: PepsiCo
- Agency: Fathom
- Production Company: Imaginary Forces
- Designer: Brian Mah
- Director of Photography: Martin Ahlgren
- 2nd Unit Director of Photography: Shawn Dufraine
- VFX Supervisor: James Anderson
- 3D Animators: James Anderson, Joseph Langmuir
- Compositors: Josh Studebaker, Casey Hupke, Christina Lee
- Modeler: Margaret Dost
- Editor: Keith Roberts
- Sound Design: Keith Roberts
- Flame Artists: Eric Mason, Rod Basham
- Producer: Brian Butcher
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Bauer “RE-AKT”
Bauer “RE-AKT”
Alma Mater was asked to create a powerful and dynamic introduction to the newest helmet in Bauer’s arsenal of high-tech hockey gear: the RE-AKT helmet. Layers of protective armor slide and lock into place, surrounding the innovative Suspend-Tech liner, and highlighting the many levels of increased protection.
Credits
- Directors: Brian Mah and James Anderson
- Client: MODE.
- Production Company: Alma Mater
- Designer: Brian Mah
- CG Supervisor/Lead Animator: James Anderson
- 3D Animators: Daesun Hwang, Sam Sparks, Margaret Dost
- Modeler: Margaret Dost
- Editor: Keith Roberts
- Sound Design: Keith Roberts
- Music: Jason Moss / Super Sonic Noise
- Producer: Kathy Kelehan
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Powerade “Science Takes the Stage”
Powerade “Science Takes the Stage”
This spot set the tone for Powerade's current campaign, “Science Takes the Stage.” The commercial features NBA star Chris Paul and highlights the unique qualities that make his game so effective. Diagrammatic forms and imagery envelop him, and visually compliment the scientific breakdown of his performance.
Credits
- Directors: Brian Mah, Charles Khoury
- Client: Coca-Cola
- Agency: Ammirati
- Production Company: Imaginary Forces
- Designers: Brian Mah, Charles Khoury
- 3D Animators: James Anderson, Charles Khoury, Dan Meehan, Pota Tseng, Tefft Smith, Jeremy Cox
- Director of Photography: Jonathan Sela
- Editor: Justine Gerenstein
- Producer: Brian Butcher
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American Express “Venue Signage”
American Express “Venue Signage”
This piece was created for the enormous, outdoor multi-format digital screens at the L.A. LIVE complex in Los Angeles and the American Airlines Arena in Miami. Long exposure-inspired trails trace the fluid movement of athletes and musicians, showcasing the content which Amex sponsors at these epic locations.
Credits
- Director: Brian Mah
- Client: American Express
- Agency: Ogilvy
- Production Company: Imaginary Forces
- Designers: Brian Mah, Rob Bolick
- 3D Animators: James Anderson, Dan Meehan, Mikko Martikainen, Matthias Mueller, Fusion CIS, Wes Kandel, Dony Permedi, Tefft Smith, Pota Tseng
- Director of Photography: Jonathan Sela
- Still Photographer: Brian Mah
- Editor: Keith Roberts
- Sound Design: Keith Roberts
- Producer: Kathy Kelehan
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Renu “Countless Enemies”
Renu “Countless Enemies”
Deliberate, graphic compositions focus attention on the many elements which can cause dry eye discomfort, all culminating in a shot of the perfect solution: Renu Sensitive.
Credits
- Director: Brian Mah
- Client: Bausch and Lomb
- Agency: partners + napier
- Production Company: Imaginary Forces
- Designer: Brian Mah
- Director of Photography: Tim Ives
- 3D Animators: James Anderson, Christian Argueta, Ko Maruyama
- Modeler: Jeff Dietrich
- Editor: Jason Webb
- Producer: Keith Bryant
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Wicked Tuna “Competition”
Wicked Tuna “Competition”
Cinematic, slow-motion shots of fisherman embarking on their daily routine, coupled with details of weathered hands and faces, build to an exciting action-packed payoff in this epic promo for the new Nat Geo series.
Credits
- Director: Brian Mah
- Client: National Geographic Channel
- Production Company: Imaginary Forces
- Designer: Brian Mah
- Director of Photography: Giles Dunning
- 2nd Unit DP: Aaron Platt
- 2D Animator: Josh Studebaker
- Editor: Keith Roberts
- Sound Design: Keith Roberts
- Producer: Courtney Graham
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Lifetime “My Story Is…”
Lifetime “My Story Is…”
This anthem spot for the Lifetime Network was part of an overall network rebrand package that included both on-air and print. Based around the concept “my story is…” Brian directed several promos and IDs featuring the cast from the network's key shows relating their own stories in the first person.
Credits
- Director: Brian Mah
- Client: Lifetime Network
- Production Company: Imaginary Forces
- Designer: Brian Mah
- Director of Photography: Giles Dunning
- Editor: Keith Roberts
- Producer: Claudina Mercado
- Executive Producer: Anita Olan
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Southern Co. “Idea Power”
Southern Co. “Idea Power”
Using a single, continuous camera move blending live action and CG, this spot for Southern Company takes us through the history of electricity and illuminates the technical advances that Southern Company is developing for the future.
Credits
- Director: Brian Mah
- Client: Southern Company
- Agency: The Richards Group
- Production Company: Imaginary Forces
- Designers: Brian Mah, Rob Bolick, Greg Herman
- Director of Photography: Tim Ives
- 3D Animators: James Anderson, Robin Roepstorff, Mark Branton, Jason Lowe, Younsung Kwack
- Modelers: Jeff Dietrich, Younsung Kwack
- Editor: Jason Webb
- Producer: Brian Butcher
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Time Warner Cable “Stream of Consciousness: Anthony”
Time Warner Cable “Stream of Consciousness: Anthony”
This was one of a 12-spot campaign for Time Warner Cable which, through a blend of live action combined with CG, takes us inside the imaginations of various subscribers, to highlight the cable company’s diverse offerings.
Credits
- Director: Brian Mah
- Client: Time Warner Cable
- Agency: RTCRM
- Production Company: Imaginary Forces
- Designers: Brian Mah, Jyoteen Majmudar, Freda Lau, Saadi Howell
- Director of Photography: Chris Soos
- 3D Animators: Jeff Boddy, Robin Roepstorff, Hai Ho, Christian Perez, Anthony Honn, Ryan Zunkley
- Editor: Keith Roberts
- Producer: Keith Bryant
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Time Warner Cable “Stream of Consciousness: Grace”
Time Warner Cable “Stream of Consciousness: Grace”
This was one of a 12-spot campaign for Time Warner Cable which, through a blend of live action combined with CG, takes us inside the imaginations of various subscribers, to highlight the cable company’s diverse offerings.
Credits
- Director: Brian Mah
- Client: Time Warner Cable
- Agency: RTCRM
- Production Company: Imaginary Forces
- Designers: Brian Mah, Jyoteen Majmudar, Freda Lau, Saadi Howell
- Director of Photography: Chris Soos
- 3D Animators: Jeff Boddy, Robin Roepstorff, Hai Ho, Christian Perez, Grace Honn, Ryan Zunkley
- Editor: Keith Roberts
- Producer: Keith Bryant
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Time Warner Cable “Stream of Consciousness: Joe”
Time Warner Cable “Stream of Consciousness: Joe”
This was one of a 12-spot campaign for Time Warner Cable which, through a blend of live action combined with CG, takes us inside the imaginations of various subscribers, to highlight the cable company’s diverse offerings.
Credits
- Director: Brian Mah
- Client: Time Warner Cable
- Agency: RTCRM
- Production Company: Imaginary Forces
- Designers: Brian Mah, Jyoteen Majmudar, Freda Lau, Saadi Howell
- Director of Photography: Chris Soos
- 3D Animators: Jeff Boddy, Robin Roepstorff, Hai Ho, Christian Perez, Joe Honn, Ryan Zunkley
- Editor: Keith Roberts
- Producer: Keith Bryant
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USA Network “Characters Welcome”
USA Network “Characters Welcome”
This montage highlights key elements from the USA Network rebrand “Characters Welcome.” The intention behind this live action package was to create a unified overall look for the campaign, and to also express the character-driven identity of the network.
Credits
- Directors: Brian Mah, Matt Checkowski, Kurt Mattila
- Client: USA Network
- Production Company: Imaginary Forces
- Creative Director: Brian Mah
- Designers: Brian Mah, Peggy Oei, James Coulson, Ronnie Koff
- Director of Photography: Giles Dunning
- 2D Animators: James Coulson, Dave Dimeola, Annabelle Coleman, Shana Silverberg
- Editor: Aimee Lyde
- Producer: Abby Okin
- Executive Producer: Anita Olan
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LYSOL “No Touch”
Lysol “No Touch”
Using colorful, macro shots of kitchen activity, this spot illustrates the fluidity and convenience that the Lysol 3-in-1 kitchen soap and its hands-free dispenser can bring to your cooking and cleaning experience in the kitchen.
Credits
- Director: Brian Mah
- Client: Reckitt Benckiser Lysol
- Agency: Euro RSCG New York
- Production Company: Imaginary Forces
- Post Production Company: Alma Mater
- Additional Post Work: The Mill
- Designer: Brian Mah
- Director of Photography: Aaron Platt
- Editor: Keith Roberts
- Sound Design: Keith Roberts
- Producer: Kathy Kelehan
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21 Jump Street “Main On End Titles”
21 Jump Street “Main On End Titles”
Inspired by the humorous, non-sequitur flashbacks in the film, Brian collaborated with the film's directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller, to create a sequence which combines fast-cut action, stunts, subtle humor, and animated typography, all jump-started by Rye Rye's edgy cover of the original TV show theme song.
Credits
- Creative Director: Brian Mah
- Client: Sony Pictures
- Production Company: Imaginary Forces
- Designer: Brian Mah, Greg Herman, Juan Monasterio, Joan Lau, Kris Fortin, Wes Yang
- Animators: Juan Monasterio, John Kim, Clint Chang
- Editor: Joe Denk
- Sound Design: Keith Roberts
- Additional Cinematography: Brian Mah
- Producer: Kathy Kelehan
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