Timothy A. Chey is an American film producer, writer and director. Among his films are '' Fakin' da Funk'', ''Gone'', ''Impact: The Passion of the Christ'', ''

Suing the Devil ''Suing the Devil'' is a 2010 Christian thriller film which was released in 2011. It was written and directed by Tim Chey and stars Malcolm McDowell and Tom Sizemore. Plot Luke O'Brien (Bart Bronson), a washed-up salesman turned night law stu ...

'', ''

The Genius Club ''The Genius Club'' is an American 2006 Christian-themed dramatic thriller film written and directed by Tim Chey. It was released on 27 October 2006 via Cinemark Theatres. The film tells the story of seven geniuses who try to solve the world ...

'', ''Live Fast, Die Young'', ''Final the Rapture'', ''Epic Journey'', ''Freedom'', ''David and Goliath'', and ''

Slamma Jamma ''Slamma Jamma'' is a 2017 American faith-based-themed sports drama film written and directed by Timothy A. Chey. Premise Once promising college basketball player Michael Diggs (Chris Staples) is released from prison after serving six years in p ...

''.

Biography

Chey was educated at

Harvard Business School Harvard Business School (HBS) is the graduate business school of Harvard University, a private research university in Boston, Massachusetts. It is consistently ranked among the top business schools in the world and offers a large full-time MBA p ...

and

Boston University School of Law Boston University School of Law (Boston Law or BU Law) is the law school of Boston University, a private research university in Boston, Massachusetts. It is consistently ranked among the top law schools in the United States and considered an eli ...

doing a joint J.D./ M.B.A. He earlier attended the

American Academy of Dramatic Arts The American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA) is a private performing arts conservatory with two locations, one in Manhattan and one in Los Angeles. The academy offers an associate degree in occupational studies and teaches drama and related art ...

, and then got accepted to USC Film School as an

undergrad Undergraduate education is education conducted after secondary education and before postgraduate education. It typically includes all postsecondary programs up to the level of a bachelor's degree. For example, in the United States, an entry-le ...

. Chey has been interviewed on

Fox Morning News Foxes are small to medium-sized, omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull, upright, triangular ears, a pointed, slightly upturned snout, and a long bushy tail (or ''brush''). Twelv ...

, NBC News, TBN, ''

Entertainment Tonight ''Entertainment Tonight'' (or simply ''ET'') is an American Broadcast syndication, first-run syndicated news broadcasting news magazine, newsmagazine program that is distributed by CBS Media Ventures throughout the United States and owned by Para ...

'', Lamb and Lions, Good News TV. His work has been reviewed in '' The Wall Street Journal'', the '' Los Angeles Times'',

VIBE TV ''Vibe'' is an American music and entertainment magazine founded by producers David Salzman and Quincy Jones. The publication predominantly features R&B and hip hop music artists, actors and other entertainers. After shutting down production ...

MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...

, ''

Daily Variety ''Variety'' is an American media company owned by Penske Media Corporation. The company was founded by Sime Silverman in New York City in 1905 as a weekly newspaper reporting on theater and vaudeville. In 1933 it added ''Daily Variety'', based ...

'', '' The Hollywood Reporter'', TNT, USA Networks, the Dove Awards, '' MovieGuide'' Awards, '' People'', and '' The New York Times''.

Personal life

Chey is a devout

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

. When not making films, Chey is active in helping with the prison ministries, nursing home ministries, and speaking at colleges, churches, and film festivals. Chey worked as a

lawyer A lawyer is a person who practices law. The role of a lawyer varies greatly across different legal jurisdictions. A lawyer can be classified as an advocate, attorney, barrister, canon lawyer, civil law notary, counsel, counselor, solic ...

before pursuing film full-time and still does

pro bono ( en, 'for the public good'), usually shortened to , is a Latin phrase for professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment. In the United States, the term typically refers to provision of legal services by legal professionals for pe ...

law for

charities A charitable organization or charity is an organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being (e.g. educational, religious or other activities serving the public interest or common good). The legal definition of a cha ...

like the

Union Rescue Mission Union commonly refers to: * Trade union, an organization of workers * Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets Union may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * Union (band), an American rock group ** ''Un ...

. He and his wife have two children and divide their time between Los Angeles and Honolulu.

Films

In 1997, he wrote and directed ''Fakin' da Funk'' about a

Chinese Chinese can refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation ** List of ethnic groups in China, people of va ...

boy growing up in an African-American neighborhood,. starring among others Pam Grier, Bo Jackson, and Nell Carter for USA Networks. The film was nominated for the Golden Starfish Award at the 1997 Hamptons International Film Festival and won the Audience Award at the 1997 Urbanworld Film Festival. The film was the highest-rated movie on USA Networks in 2000. In 2002, Chey finished the feature film ''Gone'', a movie about three lawyers who deal with the

Rapture The rapture is an Christian eschatology, eschatological position held by some Christians, particularly those of American evangelicalism, consisting of an Eschatology, end-time event when all Christian believers who are alive, along with resurre ...

. While working with films at

USC USC most often refers to: * University of South Carolina, a public research university ** University of South Carolina System, the main university and its satellite campuses **South Carolina Gamecocks, the school athletic program * University of ...

, Chey was the recipient of the prestigious "Spirit of the Independent" award for Best Director. In 2004, Chey flew around the world to make the feature documentary ''Impact: The Passion of the Christ'' that looked at the impact of the movie '' The Passion of the Christ'' around the world. "Impact" had its debut in Dallas at the

American Film Renaissance American Film Renaissance (AFR) was a non-profit film institute best known for its conservative/ libertarian film festivals, held annually in different locations. Mission AFR's mission was to celebrate "timeless American values by producing, showc ...

festival. In 2006, he finished writing and directing ''

''. starring Stephen Baldwin,

Tom Sizemore Thomas Edward Sizemore Jr. (; born November 29, 1961) is an American actor and producer. He is known for his supporting roles in films such as ''Born on the Fourth of July'' (1989), ''Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man'' (1991), ''Passenger 5 ...

, Jack Scalia, and Paula Jai Parker. In 2008, he finished his fifth film, ''Live Fast, Die Young'', about an A-list star who dies at a Hollywood party and a group of 10 Hollywood insiders seeking redemption in the aftermath. In 2010, he wrote and directed ''Suing the Devil'' (starring Malcolm McDowell,

Rebecca St. James Rebecca Jean Fink (; born 26 July 1977), known professionally as Rebecca Jean or Rebecca St. James, is an Australian Christian pop rock singer, songwriter and actress. She began performing in Australia in the late 1980s and released her first ...

) about a guy who sues the devil for $8 trillion. The film was awarded the 5 Star Dove Award.Dove.org
/ref> The film was one of the most illegally downloaded indie movies in history. In 2012, Chey wrote and directed ''Final the Rapture'' in four countries. In 2012, Chey embarked on a 31-country (including Japan, Brazil, Argentina, China, United Kingdom, Egypt, Dubai, Peru, Hong Kong, et al.) journey for ''The Epic Journey'', a film that shows people whose lives were changed by God. The film premiered on prime-time television on Daystar TV reaching over 80 million households. The film was submitted to Guinness World Records for most countries filmed in a movie. In 2013, Chey also wrote and produced ''Freedom'', based on the early life of John Newton. The film stars Cuba Gooding Jr., William Sadler, and

Sharon Leal Sharon Ann Leal is an American actress and singer. She is known for her roles in movies such as ''Dreamgirls'', '' This Christmas'', ''Why Did I Get Married?'', ''Why Did I Get Married Too?'' and her roles on the television shows ''Legacy'', ''Gu ...

. The film premiered on Showtime Network to 55 million homes on prime-time. In 2014, Chey wrote, produced and directed ''David and Goliath'' that was shot in North Africa and finished in studios in London. In 2016, Chey produced and directed "Slamma Jamma" that was released nationwide in theaters in 281 cities on March 24, 2017. The film was the third-widest release in the nation. The film stars 5-time slam-dunk champion

Chris Staples Chris Staples is an American indie rock musician originally from Pensacola, Florida, long based in Seattle, Washington. He released ''Panama, Burned and Blistered'', '' Blackest Hair, Bluest Eyes'', ''Badlands'', and ''American Soft'' independe ...

, Michael Irvin, Jose Canseco, et al. The film is about a man who finds God in prison and wins the national slam dunk competition against all odds. In 2017, Chey is producing and directing "The Islands" which is the biggest movie on Hawaii history and is based on the incredible true stories of Hawaii's beginnings from Captain Cook's arrival to King Kamehameha's unification wars through the chaotic last months of the monarchy of Queen Liliʻuokalani. The film was scheduled to release on 3,000 theaters in November 2018, but that release date has been repeatedly pushed back and is now slotted for September 2019.

Awards

*5 Star Dove Award for ''

'' (starring Trica Helfer, Stephen Baldwin, Tom Sizemore). *5 Star Dove Award for ''

'' (starring Malcolm McDowell, Tom Sizemore, Corbin Bernsen). *4 Star Dove Award for ''Freedom'' (starring Cuba Gooding, Jr., William Sadler, Sharon Leal).Dove.org
/ref>

Filmography

References

External links

*
Tim Chey Official Website

10 Questions for Tim Chey

Tim Chey filmography at Spout.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chey, Timothy A Living people American screenwriters American film directors American film producers Boston University School of Law alumni Harvard Law School alumni USC School of Cinematic Arts alumni Year of birth missing (living people)