AGH TELEVISION CEO, CREATOR

DIRECTOR, WRITER, PRODUCER, EDITOR, PHOTOGRAPHER, LECTURER AND MUSICIAN 

SOCIAL MEDIA: 

INSTAGRAM @aghchad

TWITTER @chadcalek

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/americanghosthunter www.facebook.com/aghchad  www.facebook.com/chadcalek

YOUTUBE www.youtube.com/aghchad

Chad Calek provides the overall vision, voice and creative direction for 100 percent of the products released by AGH Television. In addition, Calek is also the driving creative force behind AGH TV's unique "grassroots" approach to marketing and promotion, as Calek's belief in the power of social media, combined with his passion for the sincerity created by face to face interaction with fans and supporters, has played a defining role in establishing AGH Television as not only an independent film studio with worldwide distribution, but as a full-fledged "entertainment” company with a touring resume that includes over 380 live touring events in the United States, Canada and Australia.

"The accomplishments of AGH TV are only possible through the efforts of an entire team of people who chose to try and do something special with their lives. This is the 20th year that we've all been working on accomplishing our collective goals. Sometimes it seems like your chasing your tail, and nothing is happening. Other times it seems like we're building a fire the gods can see. Nothing is ever and good or as bad as you think it is. But if you just stay the course, the truth is identified over time. We started 20 years ago with nothing more than an idea, and here we are. That's the truth, my friends. Here we are... and it's only the beginning."
- Chad Calek

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CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

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FILM & TELEVISION

• 1999 - BASED ON HIS COLLEGE EXPERIENCES AS A JOURNALIST, CALEK PRODUCES AND WRITES HIS FIRST FEATURE FILM, TITLED "THE PRIVATE PUBLIC", WHICH IS A COLLEGE-AGED ROMANTIC COMEDY.
• 2001 - "THE PRIVATE PUBLIC" IS SOLD TO THE SHOWTIME CABLE NETWORK AND RELEASED ON DVD BY ARDUSTRY HOME ENTERTAINMENT.
• 2003 - CALEK DIRECTS HIS FIRST PROJECT EVER, WHICH IS INDEX CASE'S "WHY DREAM BLEED" VIDEO.
• 2004 - CALEK DIRECTS A SERIES OF COMMERCIALS FOR MOUNTAIN DEW/AMP ENERGY DRINK, FEATURING SEVERAL ROCK BANDS, INCLUDING PLATINUM-SELLING EMO ROCK BAND TAKING BACK SUNDAY.
• 2005 - CALEK WRITES, PRODUCES AND DIRECTS HIS FIRST DOCUMENTARY, TITLED "A CLOWN SHORT OF DESTINY", WHICH CHRONICLES HIS BAND'S RIVALRY WITH THE MULTI-PLATINUM METAL BAND SLIPKNOT.
• 2006 - "A CLOWN SHORT OF DESTINY" WINS THE AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD FOR "BEST DOCUMENTARY" AT THE NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL.
• 2006 - "A CLOWN SHORT OF DESTINY" WINS THE DIRECTOR'S CHOICE AWARD FOR "BEST DOCUMENTARY" AT THE PARK CITY FILM AND MUSIC FESTIVAL.
• 2006 - "A CLOWN SHORT OF DESTINY" ARTICLE APPEARS ON MTV NEWS AND ON THE COVER OF REVOLVER MAGAZINE.
• 2005 - CALEK DIRECTS, PRODUCES AND EDITS "ADDICT", WHICH IS THE FIRST SINGLE OFF OF TEARS FOR FEARS VOCALIST CURT SMITH'S SOLO ALBUM.
• 2007 - CALEK DIRECTS THE "SIMPLE SURVIVAL" MUSIC VIDEO FOR METAL LEGENDS MUSHROOMHEAD.
• 2007 - "SIMPLE SURVIVAL" BECOME THE #1 MOST REQUESTED MUSIC VIDEO ON MTV'S HEADBANGER'S BALL.
• 2007 - CALEK DIRECTS, PRODUCES, EDITS AND RELEASES "TERROR NORMAL" (HIS FIRST PARANORMAL DOCUMENTARY) ONLINE FOR FREE. "TERROR NORMAL" GAINS 300,000 YOUTUBE VIEWS IN 90 DAYS.
• 2007 - DREW BARRYMORE PERSONALLY SELECTS CALEK TO APPEAR AS A CAST MEMBER OF THE "VIDEO STAR" PILOT, IN WHICH 12 UP AND COMING MUSIC VIDEO DIRECTORS LIVE TOGETHER AND COMPETE IN MUSIC VIDEO REMAKE CHALLENGES.
• 2007 - OUT OF OVER 100 DIRECTORIAL CANDIDATES, STEVEN SPIELBERG PERSONALLY SELECTS CALEK TO DIRECT, EXECUTIVE PRODUCE AND STAR IN HIS FORTHCOMING ONLINE PARANORMAL INVESTIGATIVE SERIES TITLED "RISING".
• 2008 - CALEK MAKES HIS NATIONAL TELEVISION ON-SCREEN DEBUT AS A GUEST STAR ON THE "GOOD VS. EVIL" EPISODE OF THE SECOND SEASON OF THE A&E'S NETWORK'S HIT REALITY SERIES "PARANORMAL STATE".
• 2009 - AFTER ONLY APPEARING IN THREE EPISODES OF "PARANORMAL STATE", A&E MAKES CALEK THE SECOND HIGHEST PAID CAST MEMBER OF THE SERIES. CALEK WOULD GO ON TO APPEAR IN 28 TOTAL EPISODES OF "PARANORMAL STATE".
• 2010 - CALEK MAKES HIS NATIONAL TELEVISION DIRECTORIAL DEBUT BY DIRECTING THE PARANORMAL STATE "DARKNESS FALLS" EPISODE, WHICH WOULD BECOME ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATED EPISODES IN THE HISTORY OF THE "PARANORMAL STATE" FRANCHISE.
• 2010 - A&E OFFERS CALEK HIS OWN TELEVISION SPECIAL, TITLED "THE GHOST PROPHECIES", WHICH CALEK DIRECTS, WRITES, EXECUTIVE PRODUCES AND STARS IN THE SPECIAL.
• 2010 - DESPITE GOING HEAD TO HEAD WITH SEASON 1 OF AMC'S "THE WALKING DEAD", "THE GHOST PROPHECIES" DEBUTS TO 1.4 MILLION VIEWERS.
• 2010 - CALEK BECOMES THE REGULAR SEASON 5 DIRECTOR OF "PARANORMAL STATE". CALEK WOULD GO ON TO DIRECT A TOTAL OF 28 EPISODES BEFORE CHOOSING TO LEAVE THE SERIES AT THE END OF 2010.
• 2011 - CALEK STARS, WRITES, PRODUCES, EXECUTIVE PRODUCES, EDITS AND DIRECTS "AMERICAN GHOST HUNTER", HIS OWN AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL LIFE STORY DOCUMENTARY.
• 2011 - CALEK ANNOUNCES THAT HE AND MANAGER TURNED PARTNER CURT SMITH WILL BE LAUNCHING "AGH TELEVISION", AN ONLINE DISTRIBUTION COMPANY THAT WILL RELEASE CALEK'S FILMS INDEPENDENTLY.
• 2011 - CALEK RELEASES "AMERICAN GHOST HUNTER" VIA "AGH TELEVISION", WHICH TO DATE HAS SOLD OVER 25,000 DVDS TO 18 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, MAKING "AMERICAN GHOST HUNTER" THE TOP SELLING INDEPENDENT PARANORMAL DOCUMENTARY OF ALL TIME.
• 2011 - TALENT AGENCY CAA (J.J. ABRAMS, RON HOWARD, TOM HANKS) SIGNS CALEK AS A DIRECTOR.
• 2011 - CALEK CREATES AND LAUNCHES "AGH: THE TOUR", A SELF-BOOKED AND PROMOTED 66-CITY "AMERICAN GHOST HUNTER" NON-TRADITIONAL THEATRICAL FILM SCREENING TOUR, IN WHICH 75 PERCENT OF THE TOUR DATES SELL OUT.
• 2012 - CALEK WRITES, PRODUCES, DIRECTS AND EDITS "A BLOOD RED SKY", WHICH THE MAJORITY OF PRODUCTION TAKES PLACE IN ALNWICK, ENGLAND'S CHILLINGHAM CASTLE.
* 2012 - UPON COMPLETION OF POST PRODUCTION OF "A BLOOD RED SKY", CALEK LAUNCHES "A BLOOD RED TOUR" IN 77 U.S. AND CANADIAN CITIES. ALL TOUR DATES SELL OUT.
• 2013 - CALEK JOINES FORCES WITH EXECUTIVE PRODUCER/INDEPENDENT INVESTOR THOMAS LEE BOTTOM, WHO BECOMES A PARTNER IN ALL OF CALEK'S VENTURES.
• 2013 - CALEK ANNOUNCES "A BLOOD RED AUSTRALIAN TOUR", WHICH ALL SIX AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES SELL OUT ONE MONTH BEFORE THE TOUR BEGINS.

• 2014 - CALEK SIGNS WITH LEGENDARY PRODUCER DAVID DINERSTEIN TO OBTAIN A MAJOR DISTRIBUTION DEAL FOR “AMERICAN GHOST HUNTER”. 

• 2014 - CALEK SIGNS MAJOR DISTRIBUTION DEAL WITH GRAVITAS VENTURES TO DISTRIBUTE “AMERICAN GHOST HUNTER” WORLDWIDE.

• 2015 - “AMERICAN GHOST HUNTER” IS RELEASED TO CRITICAL ACCLAIM AFTER QUICKLY TAKING OVER THE #1 CHARTING SPOT ON HULU’S DOCUMENTARY CHART, WHERE IT REMAINED FOR 13 WEEKS.

• 2015 - CALEK SIGNS A WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION DEAL WITH GRAVITAS VENTURES FOR "A BLOOD RED SKY", WHICH REACHES #2 ON THE ITUNES DOCUMENTARY CHARTS.
* 2016 - CALEK AND THOMAS LEE BOTTOM DIRECT AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCE “SIR NOFACE”, WHICH WAS FILMED ON LOCATION IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA.
• 2017 - CALEK SIGNS WITH THE GERSH AGENCY AND LICE NATION TO LAUNCH THE 36-CITY UNITED STATES “SIR NOFACE LIVES” TOUR, WHICH WOULD BECOME THE LARGEST AGH TELEVISION TOUR TO DATE, WITH THE LARGEST LIVE SHOW AUDIENCE REACHING 1,800 ATTENDEES, WHILE SELLING OUT SUCH MAJOR EVENT CENTERS AS THE TOBIN EVENT CENTER IN SAN ANTONIO, TX, STEVE AOKI’S DIM MAK STUDIO IN LOS ANGELES, CA, THE COUNT BASIE THEATER IN RED BANK, NJ, THE HOUSE OF BLUES IN BOTH DALLAS AND HOUSTON, TX, AND COUNTLESS OTHERS!   
• 2018 - TO DISCUSS “SIR NOFACE”, CALEK MAKES COUNTLESS MAJOR PRESS AND MEDIA APPEARANCES ON SUCH SHOWS AS THE JIM NORTON AND SAM ROBERTS SIRIUS RADIO SHOW, MANCOW IN THE MORNING, WAKE UP NEW YORK AND MORE, WHILE ALSO BEING INTERVIEWED BY THE WASHINGTON POST, THE SEATTLE TIMES, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS AND MORE.

• 2018 - CALEK SIGNS A FIVE-PICTURE DISTRIBUTION DEAL WITH GRAVITAS VENTURES, THUS REALIZING THE COMPANY'S DREAM OF TRANSCENDING AGH TELEVISION FROM AN INDIE PRODUCTION COMPANY TO A LEGITIMATE INDEPENDENT FILM STUDIO WITH MAJOR WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION!   

• 2019 - GRAVITAS VENTURES RELEASES “SIR NOFACE” TO CRITICAL ACCLAIM, IN WHICH “SIR NOFACE” DEBUTS AT #1 ON THE ITUNES SALES CHARTS.

* 2020 - GRAVITAS VENTURES RELEASES CALEK’S “TWO FACE: THE GREY” AND “PHANTOM RIDER” WORLDWIDE, WHICH RECEIVE CRITICAL ACCLAIM, AS CALEK IS INVITED TWICE TO APPEAR ON THE LEGENDARY "COAST TO COAST AM” TALK SHOW FOR BACK-TO-BACK THREE HOUR SEGMENTS TO ANSWER FAN CALLS AND QUESTIONS ABOUT THE “SIR NOFACE” DOCUSERIES.

• 2020 - BASED ON THE SUCCESS OF THE CALEK-DIRECTED AGH FILM CATALOG, DISCOVERY PLUS NEGOTIATES A FIVE-PICTURE DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT WITH GRAVITAS VENTURES TO RELEASE AMERICAN GHOST HUNTER, A BLOOD RED SKY, SIR NOFACE, TWO FACE: THE GREY AND PHANTOM RIDER!  ALL FIVE FILMS IMMEDIATELY TAKE OVER THE #1 CHART POSITION ON THE DISCOVER PLUS “TRENDING” AND “MOST WATCHED” CHARTS.   
• 2021 - CHAD CALEK EXECUTIVE PRODUCES AND CO-STARS IN THE “GHOSTED” REALITY SERIES PRODUCED BY HEARST DIGITAL MEDIA, VERIZON AND ELI ROTH’S CRYPT TV. THE SERIES, WHICH ALSO COSTARS STARS SYFY CHANNEL STAR AND INFLUENCER LEANNA VAMP, IS RELEASED ON BOTH VERIZON O90 AND THE ROKU NETWORK. 

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MUSIC
35 INCH MUDDER (1995-2001)
• 1995 - CALEK JOINS 35 INCH MUDDER IN 1995 IN AMES, IA, AS A BASS PLAYER.
• 1995 - CALEK BORROWS $400 TO RECORD THE "35 INCH MUDDER" SELF-TITLED ALBUM AN PRESS 100 SELF BURNED COMPACT DISCS.
• 1996 - THE FIRST SINGLE FROM 35 INCH MUDDER, TITLED "IT ALL COMES BACK TO ME", BECOMES THE #1 REQUESTED SINGLE ON DES MOINES, IA'S COMMERCIAL ROCK STATION, LAZER 103.3 FM.
• 1997 - THE 35 INCH MUDDER DEBUT CD, TITLED "DEFINITION OF PURPOSE", GAINS DISTRIBUTION THROUGH BEST BUY IN SIX MIDWEST STATES.
• 1998 - 35 INCH MUDDER OPENS UP FOR THE DEFTONES, LIMP BIZKIT, STAIND, SYSTEM OF A DOWN, MOTLEY CRUE, THE FLAMING LIPS, THE CRYSTAL METHOD, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS, DISTURBED, INCUBUS, PAPA ROACH, SLIPKNOT AND MORE.
• 1998 - LEGENDARY "TEARS FOR FEARS" VOCALIST CURT SMITH SIGNS 35 INCH MUDDER TO A MANAGEMENT CONTRACT.
• 1999 - 35 INCH MUDDER RECEIVES RAVE REVIEWS AND NATIONAL PRESS IN SPIN MAGAZINE AND HITZ MAGAZINE.
• 1999 - 35 INCH MUDDER'S SINGLE "FULL SCALE WAR" OFF THEIR SOPHOMORE "STAINED" CD BECOMES THE #9 SINGLE IN THE UNITED STATES AT METAL AND COLLEGE RADIO.
• 1999 - 35 INCH MUDDER'S "STAINED" CD BECOMES THE #1 SELLING CD IN DES MOINES, IA.
• 2000 - 35 INCH MUDDER'S "PREVENTIVE REACTION" SINGLE BECOMES THE #1 "MOST ADDED" SINGLE IN THE UNITED STATES AT METAL AND COLLEGE RADIO.
• 2001 - CALEK MOVES TO LOS ANGELES TO PURSUE A CAREER IN THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS.
• 2008 - CALEK BEGINS WRITING FOR HIS OWN SOLO, ACOUSTIC PROJECT CALLED "IN A CROWDED ROOM", IN WHICH CALEKS SINGS AND PLAYS ALL INSTRUMENTS ON THE "IN A CROWDED ROOM" RECORDINGS.
• 2008 - CALEK IS INVITED TO COVER SOUNDGARDEN'S "SLAVES AND BULLDOZERS" ON THE "DARK DAYS: A SOUNDGARDEN TRIBUTE" ALBUM, WHICH IS DISTRIBUTED NATIONWIDE VIA BEST BUY.
• 2012 - AFTER YEARS OF WRITING, RECORDING AND RELEASING FREE DEMOS, CALEK RELEASES THE "IN A CROWDED ROOM: CAN YOUR FEEL THIS?" DEMO CD ON AMAZON.COM, WHICH BECOME THE #13 TOP SELLING CD IN THE "ACOUSTIC ROCK" CATEGORY.
 

PROFESSIONAL SPEAKING
• 2010 - CALEK SIGNS WITH THE WOLFMAN AGENCY, ONE OF THE TOP LECTURE BOOKING AGENCIES IN THE UNITED STATES THAT REPRESENTS EVERYONE FROM MAJOR TELEVISION STARS TO FORMER U.S. PRESIDENTS.
• 2011 - 2012 - CALEK QUICKLY BECOMES ONE OF THE TOP BOOKED LECTURERS ON THE WOLFMAN ROSTER, IN WHICH CALEK BOOKS OVER 30 SPEAKING EVENTS IN THE U.S. AND CANADA, INCLUDING SOLD OUT EVENTS AT THE VIRGINIA TECH INSTITUTE, OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY, THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT, THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, TEXAS A&M, KANSAS UNIVERSITY, CENTRAL FLORIDA UNIVERSITY, OTTAWA UNIVERSITY AND MORE, INCLUDING CALEK'S BIGGEST DRAW EVER, WHICH WAS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT LINCOLN, IN WHICH OVER 1,100 STUDENTS WERE IN ATTENDANCE FOR CALEK'S PRESENTATION.