Jordan Barker is an award-winning artist and director who has directed music videos, commercials, and multimedia projects for clients such as PORSCHE, THE HOCKEY HALL OF FAME, MUCHMUSIC, BRAVO, YTV, TVO, GENERAL ELECTRIC, THE ONTARIO SCIENCE CENTER, JANSSEN-ORTHO, and THE CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY.

 Jordan began studying film production at York University after receiving their prestigious Fine Arts Talent Award and went on to direct his first two short films, 1995’s “THE TRAVELLER” and 1996’s “INTERSECTION”.

 “From an early age I was making films, telling stories with whatever medium I happened to be obsessed with at the time. I especially fell in love with animation and digital media because I could create entire worlds from nothing.  I was only limited by my imagination”. 

 Jordan’s imagination and impressive creative portfolio garnered him an invitation to one of the world’s most prestigious digital animation programs at Sheridan College. “What sets Sheridan apart is their selection process.  The recipe was a few painters, sculptors, architects…Take them from all over the world, then throw in a Toronto filmmaker for good measure.

In 1997 Jordan went to work for FILM EFFECTS as a digital artist and animator and had his first taste of working on the feature films that he one day dreamed of directing.  “FILM EFFECTS was my boot camp…I’m very grateful to John and his team for laying down the foundation for what GEARSHIFT is today.” Jordan’s work included digital FX work for Brian De Palma’s SNAKE EYES, the title sequence for Vincenzo Natali’s CUBE, Clement Virgo’s PLANET OF JUNIOR BROWN and was awarded the 1997 Toronto International Film Festival GALA SCREENING opening animation. 

Jordan still directs several high profile creative projects, but has refocused his energy on making feature films. “I’m ready for the next step…This is where my heart and soul has taken me...and I’m going to run with it.”  Jordan recently served as Visual FX Supervisor on the NOTHING IN THIS WORLD, music video for the pop group UNTAMED, and was awarded a BravoFACT grant to direct Kiran Aluwahlia’s debut single KOKA.  Jordan will be making his feature film-directing debut this summer, with a Canadian project about identical twins called MY BROTHER’S KEEPER. 

Jordan also has an impressive acting resume. “Since getting more involved in filmmaking, I wanted to learn more about the craft of acting.  I felt it could only make my work stronger…so I threw myself into the mix...There is no faster way to learn than by experience.” Jordan’s ACTRA roles have included guest starring roles on CTV’s THE ELEVENTH HOUR, UPN’s KEVIN HILL and WITCHBLADE, Family Channel’s RADIO FREE ROSCOE, and QUEER AS FOLK, as well as principal roles in the films HURT, OPEN HOUSE with Christine Lahti, DANGEROUS CHILD with Delta Burke, and GUILT BY ASSOCIATION with Mercedes Ruehl.

Jordan likes to joke about his first piece of press. “I was born on the cover of  the Toronto Star, literally…My identical twin brother and I were born on the same date as my mom and her identical twin sister.  As if that wasn’t enough, November 4^th,1976 was also my parent’s 5^th wedding anniversary.”

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