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Mark is a self-taught filmmaker. His movies have come out to major distributor and he's self-distributed many of his earlier films and sold hundred of thousands copies in US and overseas. Mark was born and raised in the Englewood community of Chicago. The same community Bermic Mac, Jennifer Hudson, Lorraine Hansberry, Janet Hubert and Derek Rose are from. Mark is the Founder of 1555Filmworks a film production company that produces feature films and he's the Founder of the Englewood International Film Festival. Englewood is known as one of the most dangerous places to live in the United States. The crime rate, although reported most frequently, can not overshadow the hope for the future of this Chicago area.The goal of The Englewood International Film Festival is to change the imaging and condition of the people in Englewood.- Director
- Actor
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- Producer
- Writer
- Producer
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Washington, DC. Native Christel Gibson began her film career as a teenager working as a Production Assistant. She wrote her very first screenplay A Trail of Tears at the age of 20 which received offers from Warner Bros and Disney. Disney also offered her a scholarship to their Writer's Program. She went on to write 3 self-published novels under the pen name Crystal Michaels. Her second Novel ranked #1 on Amazon in its genre for 8 weeks. Her radio show the Crystal Michaels show with co-host , comedienne and actress Queen Aisha ran from 2012-2014. She was a Red-Carpet correspondent for Mad Flava TV from 2012-2015. Christel went on to Direct Music Videos and became the CEO and founding member of Keletiv Films INC, where she concentrated on Writing and Directing her own short films, to include The Birthday Wish and Jay's Truth which brought awareness to Domestic Violence. Her other short films include Professional Habit, Jomo & Mimi, and A Trail Of Tears. After leaving Kelektiv Films INC, her passion for Writing and Directing was noticed by Producers who gave her the platform to Write and Direct BETHER's first Original Film; Her Only Choice. It's a heartfelt story about a woman faced with the decision of receiving treatment for Breast Cancer or forgoing it to ensure the safety of her unborn child. Her film was loved so much by the audience that it was then premiered on BET. Christel is also an Associate Producer on the upcoming BET film Angrily Ever After. She has volunteered with the charity My GirlFriend's House in Washington, DC where she assists young girls in the inner city with writing, acting and directing their own stage plays for the community. Christel is a mother who is dedicated to her children, one of whom is special needs. She believes that God gave every person a specific talent and its up to them to nourish it.
Christel gives credit to Dr. Maya Angelou who inspired her to believe that she could be a dedicated Mother and still fulfill her dreams as a writer. She wrote this poem in honor of Dr. Angelou on the day of her death.
My Ode to Maya By: Christel Gibson
More than the words she wrote, Dr. Maya Angelou gave me hope. She taught me to believe that which is for me, I would receive. Even though there were kids to tend, and clothes to mend. Rise up you phenomenal woman she said, don't you quiver or dare bend. Stand up straight, unlock the gate. You hold the key, let them all see. Your beauty unfold, you've broken the mold. Of the Mother, the Sister, the Woman, the Listener. The Daughter, the Lover unparalleled to any other. Do not hide your face, or your curvy shape. Your kinky hair, wear it with flair. Walk the walk and talk the talk. Jump higher than expected, grace was resurrected. Just for you and all you do. When the storm comes, you will face the conundrum. For the free bird leaps, and the caged bird weeps. You are no imprisoned Canary, you are extraordinary. Pick up your pen, write from within. Put the babies down for a spell, you have a story to tell. And dear child, when you tell it, you tell it well. When it comes down to the truth, I am the proof. Of a life changed by the eloquent Maya. And for that I aspire to reach higher. Rest in peace beloved one, It's my turn to run. Pass me the baton, and I will carry on. Spreading the good words of hope, on the air I will float. I will rise, I will sing, I will never forget a thing. I will always remember, Dr. Maya Angelou in all her beauty and splendor!- Director
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Rob Hardy, who is a recent nominee of the HBO Director to Watch Award, broke into network television with his January 2007 directorial debut of the Emmy Award winning show ER. Soon after, Black Enterprise Magazine listed him among the Top 40 Entertainers under 40 for the year 2008. Since recently wrapping production on Stomp the Yard: Homecoming for Sony Pictures, Hardy has returned to television with a directing stint on the CBS series Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior starring Oscar winner Forest Whitaker.
Hardy began his career as a high school Senior, with the camcorder-shot movie G-Man. While pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering at Florida A & M University, he made the leap to film with the low-budget motion picture Chocolate City. This experience earned him the institution's highest honor, the Bernard Hendricks Student Leadership Award, and launched his company Rainforest Films. The underground buzz on the project soon led to his controversial film Trois. Hardy not only directed and co-wrote the thriller, he was also instrumental in self-distributing the project to be the fastest Independent African American film to pass the $1million dollar mark. In 2003, after directing the critically acclaimed thriller Pandora's Box, he added the role of "Producer" to his credits by collaborating with business partner Will Packer (they co-founded Rainforest Films), to produce Motives. 2004 saw Hardy Executive Producing Trois: The Escort, and penning an "untitled Usher" project for MTV Films. Hardy then wrote and directed the spiritually themed drama entitled The Gospel, and produced the companion Gospel Live!. Executive producing Mekhi Phifer's directorial film debut Puff Puff Pass, soon followed, before serving as Executive Producer of Stomp The Yard, which held the #1 position at the box office for two weekends in January of 2007 and received the 2007 Movie of the Year Award from the BET Hip Hop awards. Afterwards came Motives: Retribution and Three Can Play that Game. His hard-earned success has garnered a 2006 "Best Screenplay" (Black Movie Awards) nomination for The Gospel. The Hollywood Reporter (December 2002) listed him amongst the New Establishment of Black Power Brokers. Florida A&M University awarded him with the Meritorious Achievement Award, which is the highest honor bestowed on an alumnus. After which he received the inaugural Woody Strode / Paul Robeson Award of Excellence from his fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
His company Rainforest Films, was listed as one of the Top 25 Money Makers in Entertainment (2007) by Black Enterprise Magazine and has gone on to produce feature films including: This Christmas, Obsessed and Takers. Most recently Hardy has continued his network episodic directing with stints on The Vampire Diaries, Bones, 90210, Criminal Minds and NBC's Heroes (the webisodes). With several studio projects in development Hardy has also broken into reality television with his creating Sprite Step Off for MTV2. Additionally, Hardy completed studies at the New York Film Academy, and has begun directing commercial projects for clients, including: CNN, TBS (Turner Broadcasting), American Honda, Coca-Cola, Georgia Lottery and The National Cancer Institute. He serves on the Advisory Board for the International Feature Project (IFP) Film Lab series. He resides in Atlanta, GA with his wife and son.