Originally from the South-side of Chicago, my interest in Directing started as a child, growing up my dad directed a local t.v show about life on the south-side of Chicago. Growing up in that environment exposed and trained my eye for detail and craft.
I started my directing career in the Navy as a Mass Communications Specialist. I wrote, produced, shot and edited videos and documentaries on various military operations all over the world. Over the course of 9 years, I traveled to 16 countries including a deployment to Afghanistan.
After my military career, I attended the School of Visual Arts where I received my B.A. in Advertising followed by an M.P.S in Directing. In my time at SVA I directed several short films and commercials that have been featured in film festivals around the country.
Tell us about your experience at the Hip Hop Film Festival?
My experience was great, it was a pleasure to be apart of the festivities and rub elbows with some talented filmmakers. The Q&A after the screenings were also a lot of fun and a great opportunity to speak about my film.
Why are stories from the culture important?
We have to get the information straight from the horse's mouth. It's important for us to tell our own stories because no one can capture the nuances and subtleties that we can. Most of the time, people outside of the culture tell stories from a birds-eye view and not boots on the ground, they don't have the substance and the bite that we can put in our own stories.
What projects are you working on now?
Right now I am writing 2 feature films, I directed 2 pilots for television/streaming shows that we are shopping to different networks.
Why do you think the Harlem film house and Hip Hop Film Festival is important? We have to tell our own stories and preserve our culture and history because we know that "they" are after it ALL. But they can never replace it!
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