Kinka Usher

Kinka Usher
Born	1960 (age 56–57) France
Occupation	Director
Years active	1984–present

Kinka Usher is a director of television commercials. He also directed the 1999 feature film Mystery Men.

Kinka Usher was born in France, one of four children. His mother taught dance and his father was a graphic designer. Growing up he spent his time between Europe (primarily Italy) and the United States (primarily Santa Barbara). During these early years he explored a career in the restaurant business as a sous-chef.

Entering the film industry at 23, he began as a production assistant at Harmony Pictures and gradually worked up to camera assistant, Steadicam operator and eventually a director/cameraman. His big break came though when he was hired as a camera assistant to director Roger Corman on one of his films.

His directorial debut came in 1992 on "Aborigine," a spot for Acura which earned him a Belding Award. Three years later he opened House of Usher and by 1997 he had four Lions from Cannes. The following year he received the Directors Guild of America Award for Best Commercial Director. His extensive list of credits include spots for Taco Bell, Nike, Got Milk?, Nissan, Miller Lite, Polaroid and Pepsi.

In 1999, he crossed over from commercials to features, directing Mystery Men for Universal Studios. He has not since stepped back into a feature film directing role, instead focusing once again on commercials, including a Bridgestone ad featured in the 2011 Super Bowl.

He is dedicated to directing in the United States so he can be near his home in Los Angeles. He has one child.

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