Brad Peyton

Filmmaker Brad Peyton had a flair for unique storytelling even during his early days. Born in Newfoundland, he took an interest in art at a young age. It was during his senior year at the Canadian Film Center that he crafted a short film called "Evelyn: The Cutest Evil Dead Girl" (2002) that would set him on the path to creative success. The Edward Gorey-inspired tale of an undead heroine who tries unsuccessfully to kill herself was nominated for a Genie award, and Peyton found himself on the radar of some major players in the animation scene. In 2006, Peyton pitched a stop-motion animation series to the CBC called "What It's Like Being Alone" (CBC, 2006). The show's mix of Victorian fantasy, black comedy, and gothic horror made it a cult sensation, though it lasted only 13 episodes. Soon, however, Peyton was busy directing his first feature film, a big-budget family action romp called "Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore" (2010). A sequel to "Cats & Dogs" (2001), the film was animation-intensive, and Peyton spent two years finishing the project. In the end, his meticulousness paid off. For his next movie, Peyton was given the chance to direct an even bigger fantasy-adventure sequel, working with action star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson on "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" (2012). The director re-teamed with Johnson for the big-budget action thriller "San Andreas" (2015).