About
Smiling Chow Productions

Creating engaging, humorous stories…

Who We Are

Dan Gorski started Smiling Chow Productions to bring fun, meaningful stories to life. Approaching each project with a unique fusion of engineering, music, and marketing, he enjoys balancing the absurdity and truth of the human experience, supercharged by the invaluable talents and contributions of an artistic cast and crew.

He honed his comedy instincts at The Second City, iO West, and UCB, and developed his cinematic sense of story telling at Columbia College Film school. Influences include the Coen Brothers, Steven Spielberg, Harold Ramis, Adam McKay, Mike Nichols, Terry Gilliam, and Billy Wilder.

How We Work

Our projects rely on the power of collaboration, with actors who bring humanity to the characters. We prefer to work with a nimble, flexible crew. Our favorite stories mix suspense, heart, surprise, tears, and laughter.

What We Make

Past projects include SLIP N SLIDE (short film), which premiered at the Los Angeles Asia Pacific Film Festival, CO-HABITS (digital series), which showcased at Hollywood Web Series Unplugged, and development of Cinestory quarter-finalists THIS IS NOT MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE (feature script) and MY SECRET FAMILY (pilot script).

Current project in pre-production is the EXISTENTIAL YO-YO SKETCH SHOW (podcast).

Steffi and Basie Chow: the real strategists behind Smiling Chow Productions

Behind the Scenes

Dan, Willy, Casey, and Sean shoot Episode 15 of Co-Habits.
Dan watches as Willy sets up a shot for Co-Habits Episode 1.
Cinematographer Willy Laszlo - all rigged up for Co-Habits.
Dan sneaks in with the clapper.
Dan likes to sit right up close to the action as it happens.
Anthony helps Willy adjust the ready rig.
Pretty readies to attack the drone camera in Winnetka Park.
Willy rigs up the cat puppet to double as Pretty the Chow's POV shot.
Pretty is ready for her close-up.
Blocking a shot for Baby Time! Episode 4.
Producer John Berger shares tales of productions past with Sound Mixer Stephen Harrod.
Shooting Baby Time! Episode 5 at Gompers Park.
Sean Bolger and Mark Czoske wait for their drunk fight in Baby Time! while the crew starts recording.
Vince Clark drives around endlessly while they shoot Baby Time! Episode 4.
Dan lays out his plan for the shot in Episode 6 of Baby Time! on Lincoln Avenue.