Steve Hanft
Encyclopedia
Steven P. Hanft more commonly known as Steve Hanft, is an American independent film
director
.
. He started making films at the age of 11 growing up in California. His first works consisted of surf films and nature films
followed later by Dalí
-influenced titles. As a young man Hanft was accepted into the California Institute of the Arts
from where he graduated with a Master of Fine Arts
degree. There he learned from teachers like James Benning
and visiting artists like Monte Hellman
and Stan Brakhage
. While at CalArts Steve won several grants including the Kodak Cinematography Award and the Princess Grace Film Grant. Hanft was able to shoot several films there, including his masters thesis Kill the Moonlight
.
Hanft first rocketed to success in the mass media directing music videos, first with ("Loser,") for Beck's
first major label release, "Mellow Gold
" (Geffen), and then when Beavis and Butthead saw Hanft's "Dang", for Jon Spencer's Blues Explosion, and claimed it was "the best video ever". "Where It's At", one of the many videos Hanft directed for Beck, won an MTV award in 1996. The video he directed for Primal Scream in 1997 was written by Irvine Welsh, the writer of "Trainspotting", and features super models Kate Moss and Devon Aoki thrashing around London in a muscle car.
Recently he produced and starred in the Cannes Film Festival Bronze Lion Award winning Ray Ban viral "Sunglass Catch" and directed several videos including ones for Ariel Pink, Phoenix, and the Grammy award winners the Blind Boys of Alabama.
Hanft signed to DGA in 1999, released his first union feature, "Southlander" in 2003, and has two more in the works.
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
.
Early life
Hanft was born in Ventura, CaliforniaVentura, California
Ventura is the county seat of Ventura County, California, United States, incorporated in 1866. The population was 106,433 at the 2010 census, up from 100,916 at the 2000 census. Ventura is accessible via U.S...
. He started making films at the age of 11 growing up in California. His first works consisted of surf films and nature films
Nature documentary
A natural history film or wildlife film is a documentary film about animals, plants, or other non-human living creatures, usually concentrating on film taken in their natural habitat...
followed later by Dalí
Salvador Dalí
Salvador Domènec Felip Jacint Dalí i Domènech, Marquis de Púbol , commonly known as Salvador Dalí , was a prominent Spanish Catalan surrealist painter born in Figueres,Spain....
-influenced titles. As a young man Hanft was accepted into the California Institute of the Arts
California Institute of the Arts
The California Institute of the Arts, commonly referred to as CalArts, is located in Valencia, in Los Angeles County, California. It was incorporated in 1961 as the first degree-granting institution of higher learning in the United States created specifically for students of both the visual and the...
from where he graduated with a Master of Fine Arts
Fine art
Fine art or the fine arts encompass art forms developed primarily for aesthetics and/or concept rather than practical application. Art is often a synonym for fine art, as employed in the term "art gallery"....
degree. There he learned from teachers like James Benning
James Benning (film director)
James Benning is an American filmmaker. He is the son of German immigrants and studied film at the University of Wisconsin–Madison under the tutelage of David Bordwell. Working as an independent filmmaker, Benning's films focus on a sense of place, and are often built from long, unedited takes...
and visiting artists like Monte Hellman
Monte Hellman
Monte Hellman is an American film director, producer, and film editor.Hellman is among a group of directing talent mentored by Roger Corman, who produced several of the director's early films...
and Stan Brakhage
Stan Brakhage
James Stanley Brakhage , better known as Stan Brakhage, was an American non-narrative filmmaker who is considered to be one of the most important figures in 20th century experimental film....
. While at CalArts Steve won several grants including the Kodak Cinematography Award and the Princess Grace Film Grant. Hanft was able to shoot several films there, including his masters thesis Kill the Moonlight
Kill The Moonlight (film)
Kill the Moonlight, completed in 1994, is an American independent film by Steve Hanft. It was not officially released until much later.Filmmaker and video director Steve Hanft's first independent feature film, started when he was enrolled in CalArts in the early '90s.The film inspired Beck's song...
.
Career
Hanft released a new feature length documentary about the original Jamaican dj's called the "Return of the Rub a Dub Style" on March 10, 2011, world wide on the Ernie B's reggae label. The film recently screened at Anthology Film Archive in New York City, and at the "Don't Knock the Rock Film Festival" in Los Angeles. The film has a trailer available on Youtube.Hanft first rocketed to success in the mass media directing music videos, first with ("Loser,") for Beck's
Beck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
first major label release, "Mellow Gold
Mellow Gold
Mellow Gold is the third studio album by American alternative rock musician Beck, as well as his major label debut. Mellow Gold was released on March 1, 1994 on the strength of the surprise hit "Loser"...
" (Geffen), and then when Beavis and Butthead saw Hanft's "Dang", for Jon Spencer's Blues Explosion, and claimed it was "the best video ever". "Where It's At", one of the many videos Hanft directed for Beck, won an MTV award in 1996. The video he directed for Primal Scream in 1997 was written by Irvine Welsh, the writer of "Trainspotting", and features super models Kate Moss and Devon Aoki thrashing around London in a muscle car.
Recently he produced and starred in the Cannes Film Festival Bronze Lion Award winning Ray Ban viral "Sunglass Catch" and directed several videos including ones for Ariel Pink, Phoenix, and the Grammy award winners the Blind Boys of Alabama.
Hanft signed to DGA in 1999, released his first union feature, "Southlander" in 2003, and has two more in the works.