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Men In Love – The Shadow & Act Digital Filmmaker Showcase

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Posted By On Wednesday, 12-21-2011 @ 11:52 pm Under News & Mentioned , , , , , , , , , , , , With 1 Comment Permanent Link to Men In Love – The Shadow & Act Digital Filmmaker ShowcasePermalink

The Shadow & Act film blog is hosting a digital film competition and my short, Men In Love is one of the participants.

I’m like every other filmmaker I know… we don’t really dig these types of things… But I thought it would be a fitting last hurrah for the project and they’ve lined up some interesting shorts.

Go take a look.

And while we’re here I’d also like to publicly thank the entire cast and crew for their work on this film.

It started as a reprieve from the writing I was doing on The American People (I wanted to make something vastly different in story and tone from that project) and I’m grateful for all their prodigious help realizing the film.

Particularly I’d like to thank: Duane Cooper, Benton Greene, Bianca LaVerne Jones, Adepero Oduye, Janice Ahn, Blair Doroshwalther, Darius Clark Monroe, Daniel Patterson, Justin Staley and Nicky Woo.

Go HERE to VOTE and watch the other films.

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‘Off The Page’ – Work-In-Progress Reading of “The American People”

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Posted By On Tuesday, 12-13-2011 @ 12:47 am Under News & Mentioned , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , With 1 Comment Permanent Link to ‘Off The Page’ – Work-In-Progress Reading of “The American People”Permalink

I’ve taken a few days to catch up on sleep so sorry for the delay in posting some pics and a few thoughts from the reading held about a week ago at the 52nd Street Project.

The Sundance Institute asked me to write up a blog post about it (which they’ll post soon on their blog) but I’m going to include it here below as my wrap-up of the event.

Despite the unyielding stress to get the script ready for it I’m so glad they encouraged me to do it now. It was hard, trust me. But I’m happy with what I learned about the script from hearing it with an audience and also thrilled with the work the actors did on the night.

The script is close!!

I’ll continue to write but the real next step is going to producers and talent (for financing) and then on to pre-production.

Stay tuned!

The audience

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You’re invited – American People Reading

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Posted By On Wednesday, 11-23-2011 @ 11:46 pm Under News & Mentioned , , , , With 2 Comments Permanent Link to You’re invited – American People ReadingPermalink

I’d like to invite you to a work-in-progress reading of my debut feature writing/directing effort, “The American People”.

The Sundance Institute along with the Writers Guild of America, West are sponsoring the reading with a dessert reception following.

Monday, December 5th at 7:30 pm
The 52nd Street Project
789 Tenth Avenue, New York, NY

RSVP required – email: sundancersvp@sundance.org – (seating is first come, first served)

Updated: Working with Actors from the 2011 Directors Labs

Posted By On Thursday, 09-29-2011 @ 08:25 am Under News & Mentioned , , , , , , , , , , , , , , With No Comments Permanent Link to Updated: Working with Actors from the 2011 Directors LabsPermalink

The Sundance Institute recently posted this great video featuring several of the fellows, advisers and actors from this summer’s 2011 Directors Labs and I thought I’d share it here with you.

I have to admit I watched it with a huge smile on my face because for me it was like seeing a photo album from a really cool family reunion you just came from and really really wishing you could go back… such a great place to take risks, learn and grow.

*Shout out to Sasha Freedman (producer, cameraman and editor on the video) for putting it all together… great stuff man.

Teaching at NYU Graduate Film – Directing Actors

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Posted By On Wednesday, 09-28-2011 @ 11:52 pm Under News & Mentioned , , , , , , , , With No Comments Permanent Link to Teaching at NYU Graduate Film – Directing ActorsPermalink

You may have noticed my posting has eased up a bit this month. My apologies.

When September came around I resumed my normal duties teaching a few editing courses in the undergraduate film department at NYU.

Additionally, this year I was asked to join the graduate film department teaching a “Directing Actors” class for the 2nd year directing students. Check out who else I’m joining this year on the faculty here.

Soooo…. with my writing on the feature, life and other work I’ve been a bit swamped.

I’m really enjoying all the teaching though. It always forces me to reexamine what I think I know when I have to explain it to someone else.

The directing actors course is especially gratifying because for me acting is where this life of storytelling began… It’s really wonderful to combine the two disciplines I love the most – Acting and Directing.

8 Films – A Little IndieWire Love

Posted By On Friday, 09-16-2011 @ 04:06 am Under News & Mentioned , , With No Comments Permanent Link to 8 Films – A Little IndieWire LovePermalink

Today “Men In Love” will begin a run at Urbanworld Film Festival here in New York City. I’m hoping to check out several films this weekend (including mine).

Indiewire put together a nice little preview of “Must See” films at this years festival. I was really honored to have MNL mentioned with such a exciting group of features and shorts.

Checkout the article here.

One of the shorts mentioned was from classmate, collaborator and emerging writer/director Nikyatu Jusu which I’m really excited to see. I’ve embedded her trailer above.

Come check us out this weekend!

UPDATED: Men In Love – Urbanworld Film Festival – 2011 – NYC

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Posted By On Thursday, 08-25-2011 @ 05:37 pm Under News & Mentioned , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , With No Comments Permanent Link to UPDATED: Men In Love – Urbanworld Film Festival – 2011 – NYCPermalink

“Men In Love” will be screening next month at the 2011 Urbanworld Film Festival. The festival runs between September 14-18 in midtown Manhattan at the AMC 34th Street cinemas.

I’m looking forward to the festival for a few reasons… First, I’ll actually be able to attend this one… See I’ve been particularly busy since the Labs so I haven’t had a chance to see “Men…” screen yet formally. (So come out and join me!)

UPDATE: Screening Times/Locations

Friday, September 16 @ 11am, Theater 9
Saturday, September 17 @ 1:30pm Theater 11

Secondly, in the shorts program I’ll be screening alongside former NYU classmates and cinematic collaborators Nikyatu Jusu (“Black Swan Theory”) and Randy Wilkins (“Homage to Bela, A Prelude”).

Check out their trailers below…

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Men In Love

Posted By On Wednesday, 07-20-2011 @ 09:48 am Under News & Mentioned , , , , , , , , , , , With 2 Comments Permanent Link to Men In LovePermalink

I’ve decided to release my latest short film online. The film is currently in the middle of a festival run and I hope my releasing it here doesn’t deter the current or future fests from screening the project. It really was meant to be seen on a big screen after all.

But as I said earlier I was inspired when a good friend of mine released his film at the beginning of its festival run. For many of us what’s most important is that the work is seen by as many people as possible… and right now that’s the web.

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‘Men In Love’ Screenings – Roxbury and Martha’s Vineyard

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Posted By On Tuesday, 07-19-2011 @ 04:08 am Under News & Mentioned , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , With 2 Comments Permanent Link to ‘Men In Love’ Screenings – Roxbury and Martha’s VineyardPermalink


If you’re in the New England area please come join us for our screening at the 13th Annual Roxbury Film Festival.

Date: Saturday, 7-30-2011
Time: 5:00 pm
Place: Wentworth Institute of Technology – Blount

Our film will be playing alongside the new feature film “The Tested” starring Aunjanue Ellis and directed by Russell Costanzo.
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‘Men In Love’ Screening – Crossing the Bridge In Cinema

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Posted By On Monday, 07-11-2011 @ 06:00 am Under News & Mentioned , , , , , , , , , , With No Comments Permanent Link to ‘Men In Love’ Screening – Crossing the Bridge In CinemaPermalink

I wanted to announce an upcoming screening of my short film “Men In Love” in Brooklyn:

Thursday, July 14 · 6:30pm – 10:00pm
Waterstreet Restaurant and Lounge in Dumbo.

Three film events combine to present:
Crossing the Bridge In Cinema featuring a night of Black, Latino, & Asian themed films.

Q&A to follow.
Suggested Donation: $8

Featuring the work of:
Aldo Romero
Keith Davis
Jalissa Cruz
Sonia Gonzalez-Martinez
Jeremy Taylor
Gerry Balasta
Solim Lee
Issa Rae
Marquis Smalls

What I Remember – Sundance Labs 2011

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Posted By On Saturday, 07-2-2011 @ 12:13 pm Under News & Mentioned , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , With 1 Comment Permanent Link to What I Remember – Sundance Labs 2011Permalink

Here’s my final post for the Sundance Institute Blog:

Today is our last full day of the Screenwriters Lab. I have about an hour before I have to head down the mountain for breakfast and a screening (of mine and other Fellows short films). Then I have a final Creative Advisor meeting about my script, a few meetings about next steps for the project, dinner (followed by a goodbye party/dinner), and then sleep before I return to Brooklyn tomorrow.

Photo by Fred Hayes.

Wait a minute. What happened here?

Really, I’m asking. I need to know. It’s over and it feels like it just got started. Actually, that’s not true. I’ve been here a month. My body and mind feel it, but man, I don’t want it to end… not yet.

Here’s what I remember:
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Behind the Scenes – Directing Labs 2011

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Posted By On Thursday, 06-23-2011 @ 08:48 pm Under News & Mentioned , , , , , With No Comments Permanent Link to Behind the Scenes – Directing Labs 2011Permalink
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These are some candid pics I took of life outside of production while at the labs. If you’re interested in a more moment by moment update of how life has been here then search #sundancelabs2011 on twitter.

To see more behind the scenes pics Click Here.

Impossible Me – Sundance Directors Labs 2011

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Posted By On Wednesday, 06-22-2011 @ 08:42 pm Under News & Mentioned , , , , With No Comments Permanent Link to Impossible Me – Sundance Directors Labs 2011Permalink

I’ve found it really hard to post since I’ve been in Utah at the Directors Labs working on “The American People”. I thought I’d write more about the experience. I guess I’ve been too busy having the experience, if you know what I mean.

If you’ve been following me on twitter or happen to be on instagram (and seen my pics) then you have a better idea what the last three weeks have been like for me.

Yolonda Ross - Visions Scene

To see more production pics Click Here.

It’s been a transformative experience. I’ve met so many talented people and made good friendships. I’ve also (I believe) grown as a director.

Sundance asked me to blog about the experience and so I’m publishing what I wrote for their blog here below. It sums up the experience so far…

Let me know what you think.

Writer/Director Keith Davis and Editor Harry Yoon - Photo by Fred Hayes.

From the Sundance Institute Blog:

Writer/director Keith Davis is currently at the Sundance Resort in Utah, developing his screenplay The American People as one of eight fellows at this year’s Directors Lab. Each fellow has the opportunity to rehearse, shoot and edit selected scenes from his or her screenplay in a workshop environment, where the focus is completely on creative exploration and discovery. We’ve asked Keith to share a glimpse into his process at the Lab in a couple of blog pieces, the first of which is below.

I’ve been staring at my laptop for about 20 minutes now.

I sat down here to encapsulate what this experience is like. Above all else, I’d like to be brutally honest with you. But I can’t. Not so much because of what happens at the Directors Labs itself, but rather because of what seems to happen to you at the Directors Labs. You change. Immediately. And it’s difficult to nail down without maybe sounding muddy or like you’ve “drank the kool-aid.” (Disclaimer: I drank the kool-aid.)

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The Mountain Is Almost Holy

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Posted By On Wednesday, 06-22-2011 @ 05:59 pm Under News & Mentioned , , , With No Comments Permanent Link to The Mountain Is Almost HolyPermalink

I’ve been in Utah the last three weeks. I’ve had the chance to meet and work with an amazing group of people and one of them was Kasi Lemmons (Eve’s Bayou, Talk to Me, The Caveman’s Valentine). She and I talked about my film and the directing process (especially her directing work on Eve’s Bayou). She posted an account of her time at the Labs which I really enjoyed reading…

here’s an excerpt:

“It’s challenging to put into words an almost magical experience, but I’ll try. I’m here at the Sundance Filmmaker’s Lab. I’ve been here since Sunday. I’m happy and energized and exhausted. The feeling is familiar. I always experience it on the mountain. The mountain to me is Sundance and Sundance is the mountain. The mountain is always magical.

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