Justin Barker, 30, is a director and producer who has circled the globe and criss-crossed continents directing TV shows, documentary series and short films. Barker recently returned to San Francisco after a global trek to Kenya, Turkey, Thailand and Australia — directing a series of short documentaries for CouchSurfing.org, a 4 million member global social network.
In 2011, Justin was production manager on Petey and Ginger, a broadcast documentary airing on Danish, Swedish and Norwegian National Television later this year. He directed photography on The Rescue, a short comedy that debuted at Frameline 35 and is currently touring LGBT film festivals in the USA, China, Canada, India and Australia.
Barker was second unit director on the 2009 Australian Poker Hero. He conducted over 200 interviews, took 37 flights and directed 10 broadcasting hours for a show that aired nationally in Australia on WIN & Channel 9. Barker and his crew followed 50 everyday Australians as they travelled from their hometowns to Melbourne studios to battle it out on the poker table.
Barker’s production career began in 2001 as an intern at CBS News in London. With a foundation in news, Barker’s skills grew as a production assistant working with veteran producers on popular reality and documentary series from 2005-2008. Some included Tabitha’s Salon Takeover for Bravo , Discovery Channel’s Walking with Dinosaurs, The Truth About Liars for Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and Food Network’s Dinner Impossible.
Known for his tenacity and history of successful fundraising, Barker was named “One of Twenty Teens Who Will Change the World” by Teen People Magazine in 2000 and in 1999 won Parade Magazine’s React Award when his successful $250,000 fundraising campaign helped build a bear sanctuary that today houses five orphaned black bears.
Barker has a BA in Communications, Media Arts and Production from University of Technology, Sydney.
When he is not working, Justin is an avid yogi who enjoys hiking, camping, and cooking vegetarian food.
Check out Justin’s milestones below…
