| Since 1981, Albert Pyun has written, produced and directed over forty studio and independent theatrical motion pictures with combined revenues from theatrical and video markets currently exceeding $ 227,000,000.
Pyun’s first film, “The Sword And The Sorcerer” (1982), was a commercial and critical success, is ranked number 20 on the all-time top grossing independent films with domestic theatrical revenue of over $40,000,000 (in 1982 dollars). After this success, Conan the Barbarian and over twenty-five similar themed pictures followed in The Sword and Sorcerer’s wake. The film was re-released on DVD in 2001 by Anchor Bay and continues to enjoy screenings throughout the world at conventions and festivals.
Pyun followed with the highly original "Radioactive Dreams" (1984) which won the top prize as Best Picture at the Brussels International Film Festival of Fantasy.
Other top-grossing titles include “Cyborg” (1989) starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. This picture grossed over $60,000,000 worldwide and started the sci-fi martial arts craze of the early 90s. “Nemesis” (1992), with sales of over 150,000 video units in the U.S. alone and a worldwide gross of over $20,000,000, created the cyber punk-action genre, which continues to this day.
Pyun has also produced and directed non-action films such as the comedy "Brainsmasher…A Love Story" (1993) starring Teri Hatcher and Andrew Dice Clay, mystery thriller "Dangerously Close" (1986) and romantic comedy "Down Twisted" (1987) starring Carey Lowell and Courtney Cox.
Recent projects include “Ticker” (2001), starring Steven Seagal, Tom Sizemore, Dennis Hopper, hip hop stars Nas and Chilli and “Urban Menace” with rap superstars Snoop Dogg and Big Pun. "Ticker" was awarded the 2001 Best Independent Direct to Video of the Year by the VSDA and was the second most profitable film ever for Artisan Entertainment after "The Blair Witch Project".
"Mean Guns" (1997), co-produced with Newmarket Films, became one of Pyun's most popular films with both the public and critics. It gained a worldwide cult following and starred Christopher Lambert and Ice-T. Within the industry the film is noted for being one of the first to team an action star with a successful Hip-Hop artist.
Other notable films include “Omega Doom” (1996) starring Rutger Hauer, “Adrenalin: Fear the Rush” (1997) for Largo Entertainment and Miramax’s Dimension label. This film stars Christopher Lambert and Natasha Henstridge of “Species” fame. Also “Postmortem” with Charlie Sheen and “Crazy Six” (1997) with Rob Lowe, Mario Van Peebles and Burt Reynolds.
Pyun also directed the first music video for Capitol artists The Smithereens. The video for the band's "Blood and Roses" gained heavy rotation on MTV in 1986, won several Best Video prizes and is credited with launching the band to national awareness. Pyun also shot and directed music videos for Ice-T, notably "I Wanna be a Ho" and a documentary bio on Snoop Dogg.
Currently projects include Pyun's award winning film "Infection" (2005) which was acquired by Lions Gate Films for a fall 2006 release and an adaptation of H. P. Lovecraft's "Cool Air" which is in post production at the Northwest Film School in Bellingham, Washington.
Infection won Best Picture and Best Director awards at Spain's Estepona International Film Festival of Fantasy and has been invited to screen at more than 20 film festivals worldwide. Cool Air has been invited to the Lovecraft Film Fest in Portland and will open the 2006 edition of the Estepona International Film Festival of Fantasy.
Going into production in 2006 will be the sequel to Mean Guns, "Mean Guns 2: Hell Kills" for Lions Gate Films. In addition, Pyun is developing a picture ("Empire of the Dead") for producer, Mario Kassar ("Rambo", "Basic Instinct", The Doors") to shoot in the spring of 2007.
Pyun is very proud of the long-term relationships he has established worldwide with outstanding film production personnel, including talent, line producers, editors, sound and production companies. He has produced and directed productions in locations as diverse as Scotland, Croatia, Slovakia, Namibia, Mostar, Mexico, Hong Kong, Italy, Zimbabwe, Canada and the Philippines. Within the United States, Pyun has produced and directed films in Utah, New Mexico, North Carolina, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Oregon, Hawaii, Florida, Atlanta, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and of course, California.
All of this experience and talent has allowed Pyun to secure the confidence and backing of such lenders as Bank of America, Imperial Bank, Newmarket Capital Group, Sumitoma Bank, City National Bank and The Lew Horwitz Organization. Pyun's financing models and business plans are always on the leading edge of the film business.
Film distributors and exhibitors worldwide are familiar with Pyun's name and trust him as a consistent supplier of successful motion pictures for over 25 years.
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