Douglas Seok never envisioned that a photography class at Naperville North High School would one day lead him to produce the highly-anticipated summer blockbuster “Twisters.” A 2002 graduate who also attended Beebe Elementary and Jefferson Junior High, Seok credits this high school experience as pivotal in his journey toward becoming a filmmaker, cinematographer, and producer.

Reflecting on those formative years, Seok vividly recalls the moments spent immersed in the darkroom. “I remember being completely absorbed in the process,” he says. One particular class that stood out was a state-of-the-art digital art course, where he first encountered Photoshop. This class, he believes, laid the groundwork for his future endeavors. “Looking back, I feel incredibly grateful for attending a school that offered such advanced programs.”

Even during middle school, Seok’s fascination with film was apparent. He and his friends crafted a James Bond spoof using Adobe Premiere, thanks to software provided by his friend’s art teacher father. “Watching editing for the first time felt like magic,” he reminisces.

Seok’s journey continued at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he initially enrolled as an art major. Uncertain of his career path, he began with a digital art class that delved into both the technical and artistic facets of digital production. “It was in college that I realized filmmaking could be an actual career,” he says. “I didn’t know the specifics of how to get there, but I knew it was the path I wanted to pursue.”

During his college years, Seok delved into various aspects of film, from award-winning blockbusters to indie and foreign films. Asian cinema particularly resonated with him. “As a Korean-American, seeing faces that looked like mine on screen was invigorating and inspiring,” he explains.

A significant turning point came during a Christmas break while studying abroad in North Korea. Seok attended a screening of So Yong Kim’s “In Between Days” at the Gene Siskel Film Center. The film had premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was showing just once in Chicago. The experience left a profound impression on him. “I couldn’t stop thinking about it,” he recalls.

Compelled to reach out, Seok found Kim’s email address and sent her a note expressing his admiration for the film. To his surprise, she replied, sharing that she was working on her next film in Korea and that his email had reinvigorated her efforts. Seok offered his assistance, leading to his first significant break as a production assistant on Kim’s “Treeless Mountain.” Due to the small crew size, he gained hands-on experience in all facets of production.

Impressed by his work, Kim and her creative partner, director Bradley Rust Gray, hired Seok for Gray’s next film, “The Exploding Girl.” This opportunity led to another recommendation, this time to filmmaker Lee Isaac Chung. Seok subsequently worked as an assistant director on several of Chung’s projects, including “Lucky Life” (2010), “Abigail Harm” (2012), and the critically acclaimed “Minari” (2020).

“This one email opened the door to my education in the production world,” Seok reflects. Meanwhile, he completed his degree in international studies and earned a master’s in digital cinema from DePaul University in Chicago.

Seok’s aspirations to write and direct culminated in his first feature film, “Turn Left Turn Right,” which premiered at the Torino Film Festival in Italy in 2016—a dream come true for him. While working on his next feature, Chung sent him the script for “Minari.” “I believed in Isaac,” Seok says. The film quickly gained traction, leading them to Oklahoma in the summer of 2019 for production. “Every day felt like a miracle,” he recalls. The film went on to win the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize and the U.S. Dramatic Audience Award at Sundance.

This success prompted Seok’s move to Los Angeles and opened doors for further collaborations with Chung. One such project was “Twisters.” By January 2023, they were deep into pre-production. “It’s been a whirlwind journey spanning 15 to 20 years,” Seok notes.

As an associate producer on “Twisters,” Seok played a crucial role alongside Chung. Having seen the original “Twister” film as a child, he felt a responsibility to honor its legacy while bringing a fresh perspective to the new generation. “We aimed to connect it to the original while creating something that would evoke the same thrills and humor,” he explains.

With involvement from Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment, Universal Pictures, and Warner Brothers Pictures, Seok helped oversee the visual effects—a demanding yet rewarding experience. In post-production, he watched the film repeatedly, always hoping it would resonate with audiences. “We put everything into it,” he says.

“Twisters” exceeded expectations by grossing $81.3 million on its opening weekend and surpassing $349 million overall. Positive word-of-mouth and social media buzz around lead actor Glen Powell contributed significantly to its success.

“The perfect storm of charismatic actors and impeccable timing made it the summer movie to see,” Seok remarks. With an open-ended conclusion, a sequel remains a possibility. “We wanted audiences to feel that the adventure continues,” he adds.

Now residing in Pasadena, California with his wife, Seok fondly acknowledges his roots in Naperville as the launchpad for his dreams. “Though much has changed since I last visited, it’s still Naperville—a place I’m blessed to have grown up in,” he concludes.