“It’s All Storytelling at Heart” Says Director Deborah Chow

From growing up with “no connection to the film industry”, to directing for one of the most well-loved franchises in the world, Star Wars, director Deborah Chow has certainly made her mark in a galaxy far, far away… and in this one too, let’s be honest.

It’s a journey that I was keen to learn more about, and following her signing to production company, The Salmon, joining its roster of curated creative talent last year, it was the perfect time to do so. 

Growing up in Toronto, with “no connection to the film industry”, Deborah, like many young directors, had placed the idea of becoming a professional director outside of the realm of possibility. Her perspective changed, however, during her final year of undergrad, where making a short film led to the formative realisation: “I wanted to become a filmmaker”. 

Finding inspiration in “books, art, music and life”, Deborah’s work spans multiple genres, platforms and mediums. Her breadth and versatility is evident in her reel, featuring work for the likes of Nissan which is characterised by her distinctive visual flair that’s been shaped by the world around her and her Chinese-Australian heritage. 

Deborah has been lauded for her work in commercials, music videos, episodic and feature films. She’s directed for popular series including ‘The Mandalorian’, ‘Better Call Saul’, ‘Mr Robot’ and ‘American Gods’, and notably picked up five Emmy nominations for the limited series ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ for Lucasfilm (of which she directed all six episodes), and in addition, she won at the VMAs for Red Hot Chilli Peppers’ ‘Black Summer’. So, I was curious to know how her distinctive style and identity translated across all of these mediums so effectively. 

“Despite any differences in format, it’s all storytelling at heart. So it's the same fundamentals – a strong visual style, good performances, and emotional connection.” she says. Diving into the kind of stories and genres that excite her, she continues, “I’ve always loved fantasy and sci-fi, but also look for narratives that have a thematic and performative depth. So I tend to gravitate towards grounded genre-films that have a big visual world, but are driven by character and emotion.”

Her commitment to immersing herself within visual worlds is highlighted by her work within the Star Wars franchise – arguably one of the biggest visual worlds of all time – marking the combination of two passions, fantasy and sci-fi. 

She describes the “profound impact” that the franchise had on her career as a “tremendous learning experience as a director”. It saw her contribute to the advent and development of Stagecraft technology, and “getting to do everything from designing creatures to blowing up large chunks of the galaxy” – a dream for any sci-fi fan.

It was a job that came with its own pressures and the weight of expectation from a loyal fanbase, describing it as, “a huge responsibility (and privilege), continuing such a significant legacy. I've never worked on anything where every detail mattered to such a degree.” 

Drawn to projects that have a “strong style and sensibility”, Deborah’s always on the look out for ways to craft moments of impact and connection, and resonate with audiences no matter the medium. Furthering this ambition as part of The Salmon, a production company which appealed to her due to its “director-driven” ethos and commitment to creativity, it’s an exciting time to see which universe Deborah lands in next.