Fresh off a streak of eye-popping global campaigns, Singaporean director Clare Chong is officially joining the U.S. commercial landscape with her first stateside representation at Contagious. Known for her vibrant, cinematic style and a flair for the surreal, Chong is already turning heads—and leaping off screens big and small.
“Clare takes a cinematic approach, even when she’s shooting UGC-style,” noted Contagious EP Natalie Sakai. “Add to that a touch of the surreal, and you’ve got work that’s unforgettable.”
Chong’s breakout campaigns for brands like Amazon, LEGO, Intel, and Libresse have made waves across Asia, particularly her work for Libresse Malaysia. Titled Wonders of the Womb, the spellbinding spot manages to blend the sacred and the practical into one of the most imaginative depictions of a period product ever seen in commercial storytelling. Sakai calls the film “a color pop dream, where Clare’s mixed-media sensibilities and strong artistic craft truly shine.”
Raised in an artistic family—her mom a pianist, her dad a fashion student—Chong’s creativity was always in bloom. She studied opera before pivoting to film after discovering the power of collaborative storytelling. Since then, she’s immersed herself in a range of visual disciplines, from projection mapping to liquid light shows, often bringing that sense of experimental artistry to the screen.
“Great directors are curious,” added Sakai. “And Clare’s curiosity is rooted in the rich, ever-evolving cultural landscape of Singapore—a place where tech, art, and pop collide.”
Chong’s first project for Contagious is already in the can: a visually rich Lunar New Year :60 for Instagram via DEPT, shot on location in Bangkok and titled Very Superstitious. The shoot not only marked her U.S. commercial debut, but solidified a creative chemistry between her and the Contagious team. Take a look below:
“Clare is an excellent communicator,” Sakai said. “She makes everyone feel heard while being crystal clear about her vision.”
“I’m the most extroverted version of myself on set,” shares Chong. “And with Natalie and Hannah [Rome, Head of Production] by my side, I feel completely supported. The U.S. market is exciting, and Contagious gives me the creative freedom and warmth I’ve been looking for—it’s the perfect home.”
Chong joins a Contagious roster that includes Andrew Laurich, Brandon Bray, Emilie Silvestri, Jeff Jenkins, Kevin & King, and Tamara Rosenfeld. Contagious is a proudly WBEC Woman-Owned and NMSDC Minority-Owned production company.
Reel 360 News wishes Clare the best of luck at Contagious.
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