Dror Soref is an award-winning filmmaker who began his career directing music videos for "Weird Al" Yankovic, which helped establish the rock parodist as a major star. Following his success ...Show More
Dror Soref is an award-winning filmmaker who began his career directing music videos for "Weird Al" Yankovic, which helped establish the rock parodist as a major star. Following his success in music videos, Soref directed Platinum Blonde, an inspirational short that was nominated for the Gold Hugo Award for Best Short Film at the Chicago International Film Festival. Platinum Blonde drew the attention of Paramount Studio's President. Consequently, Soref was retained under contract to develop projects at Paramount Studios for him to write and direct.With the help of the Studio, The Seventh Coin became Soref's debut as a feature film writer/director. The Seventh Coin, starring Peter O'Toole, won two festival awards including Best Picture. During the early years of Soref's 25-year relationship with Paramount, Soref co-founded Orbit Productions, serving as one of its commercial directors. As Orbit's CEO, Soref ran one of Hollywood's most successful commercial production companies at the time. Some of Orbit's clients include such brands as Ford, Coca Cola, Toyota, McDonald's, and Fujifilm. Soref later parlayed a successful career in commercials into feature films, signing a multiple-picture deal with Mike Medavoy's Phoenix Pictures with one for Soref himself to direct. The first motion picture under this deal was Basic starring John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson, released by Columbia Pictures.In 2009, Soref co-wrote and directed the critically acclaimed thriller Not Forgotten, starring Simon Baker, Paz Vega and Chloe Moretz. The film was selected for a Special Screening at the Slamdance Film Festival, and was accorded rave reviews by The Hollywood Reporter and Variety. It was nominated for the Saturn Award by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror (2010).In June 2011, Soref served as one of the producers of Twist: An American Musical based on the Charles Dickens' classic. The play was written by William F. Brown (The Wiz) and was choreographed and directed by Emmy award winning Debbie Allen. It was staged at The Pasadena Playhouse to rave reviews.In 2012 Soref directed the experimental short film Morning exploring the parallels between the love of Man and God, and that of man and woman. The film was selected for a number of festivals including the Seattle Erotic Art Festival.Soref received a BA in Economics from the University of Haifa, Israel, graduating with Honors. While a student, he wrote frequently on Israeli-Palestinian relations, and was nominated by his party, at the age of 23, to run for Parliament. Soref served in the Israeli Defense Force as a combat officer in the elite Golani Brigade, where the unit under his command was cited for excellence. Soref studied film production in the MFA Program of Cinema Arts at the University of Southern California (USC). Hide
