Cast Forward

Cast Forward

How Chris Dane Owens Built a Multi-Platform Career—and a Fantasy Empire

From Emmy nominations to award-winning fantasy films, Chris Dane Owens shares the art and business of building your own legacy — and what every actor and creator must know to succeed.

Christine Solomon's avatar
Christine Solomon
Dec 05, 2025
∙ Paid

👋 Hey, I’m Christine. I’m an award-winning actress, industry consultant, and entertainment insider with decades of experience in global film, TV, and theater. My work has been featured by major networks like HBO, Disney, and Ubisoft, and I’ve built a career helping actors gain visibility, land roles, and position themselves for long-term success.

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Born into one of Hollywood’s most iconic entertainment families, Chris Dane Owens was destined to leave his own mark, and he has done so with unmistakable force. The son of legendary broadcaster and voice actor Gary Owens — a household name from Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In, Space Ghost, and Batman, whose career earned him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame — Chris grew up surrounded by storytelling giants. His brother, Scott Owens, continued the tradition, becoming an Emmy Award-winning producer behind powerhouse shows like The Amazing Race, America’s Next Top Model, and America’s Most Wanted.

But Chris Dane Owens didn’t just inherit a legacy — he built one of his own. An Emmy-nominated television creator and executive producer, Owens has developed, and sold over 80 original television formats for powerhouse studios and networks like Fox, Lionsgate, Warner Bros., Animal Planet, Lifetime, and E! Networks. His hit show Instant Beauty Pageant became the #1 rated original series on E!’s Style Network, while his debut reality special Who Gets the Dog? set new records for Animal Planet’s advertising draws. Over the years, his company Biederman/Owens Entertainment — co-founded with best-selling author Jerry Biederman — has become a creative force, delivering over 300 original concepts and securing high-profile deals across Hollywood and abroad.

As a musician, Owens has left his mark on the global stage. Recording for Sony Japan, he contributed the title track to the cult-hit Cipher anime soundtrack — a work that remains iconic across Asia. His solo music career exploded with the release of Shine On Me, a high-fantasy music video that drew millions of views worldwide and earned praise from Rolling Stone, LA Times, and The New Yorker, which crowned it “The Best Video of the Year.” His fantasy music trilogy, featuring Shine On Me, Light Speed, and Do You Believe in Miracles?, blurred the lines between music and cinema, ultimately evolving into the award-winning feature film Empire Queen: The Golden Age of Magic.

Empire Queen was a triumph of independent filmmaking — shot over 100 days across Oregon and California, scored with a 70-piece orchestra recorded in Budapest, and recognized with multiple awards including Best Feature Film, Best Cinematography, and Best Score on the international festival circuit. With its sweeping scope and imaginative storytelling, the film stands as a testament to Owens’ ability to build entire worlds from vision to execution.

Beyond the accolades, Owens has mastered the rare art of longevity. Whether selling TV formats, producing award-winning films, or performing as a musician, he has navigated the ever-shifting entertainment industry with both creative integrity and business acumen.

In this Cast Forward exclusive, Chris Dane Owens reveals the architecture and strategy behind his multi-faceted career, offering actors, filmmakers, and creators insight into the mindset and decisions that shaped his success across music, television, and film.

For actors and creators serious about their craft, this interview is more than a conversation. It’s an inside look at the strategy behind a lasting career.


INTERVIEW WITH CHRIS DANE OWENS

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