Work with us
DEATHLYAFRAID was conceived in 2020 and officially launched in 2024 alongside the production of Tulips, completed in 2025. What began as a personal exploration has since grown into a multidisciplinary film studio working across narrative film, commercial projects, brand collaborations, and music-driven work.
The name DEATHLYAFRAID originates from an examination of fear as a human condition. Irrational yet protective, instinctual yet limiting. Fear is treated not as something to avoid, but as something to study. How it shapes behavior, intimacy, and connection. This philosophy forms the foundation of the studio’s work.
Founded by filmmaker Albert Tan, DEATHLYAFRAID is rooted in a personal background shaped by growing up in a Chinese immigrant community in San Francisco, where creative careers were often discouraged. Film became both an escape and a tool. An avenue to explore psychological, emotional, and visceral realities when conventional paths felt restrictive.
Influenced by cinema that prioritizes introspection and emotional truth, the studio’s work centers on intimacy, vulnerability, and the tension between fear and closeness. These themes recur across all projects, regardless of format or scale.
DEATHLYAFRAID is based in San Francisco, with work spanning globally.
Sincerely,
Albert Tan – Founder & Director