My grandfather was a photographer, and I can remember as a kid the very first time I held a heavy camera in my hands. Looking through the eyepiece, bringing something into focus with the lens- it had an immediate effect on me that I have trouble putting into words.

I love people. I love trying to do them justice on camera, telling their stories through film. To get to know someone, and then to feel like you were able to capture some of that thing, their essence, on camera, is incredibly rewarding.

As fragmented and departmentalized as the act of filmmaking is, I've always looked at it as a singular holistic process. What matters is the finished piece you get to sit down and watch- like a painting on the wall, or a book on the shelf.

I spent my childhood in the urban inner-city of Houston, but around middle school my family relocated to a small town in Tennessee. Coming of age in the rural South as an outsider to the culture, instilled in me a real fascination with people, and sub-culture in general. It also gave me a southern accent that I’m afraid is permanent.

I made camcorder stop-animation movies with clay and action figures (and firecrackers) as an adolescent, in high school I was constantly filming my friends (mostly incriminating nonsense), which led to attempts at scripted short films in college (hard to watch now).

In 2004, I found a way on to my first professional film set, working as an intern production assistant on a small movie shooting near Nashville- Daltry Calhoun [Johnny Knoxville, Juliette Lewis, Elizabeth Banks]. That cracked opened the door to this wacky industry and I never looked back. I spent several years as a trusty PA, and then worked through positions in camera and grip & electric. Always trying to demystify the craft from the inside out. Always happy to be on set and be paying rent.

I have directed several ADDY award winning broadcast campaigns for Goodwill, and have directed content for companies such as Patagonia, Vanderbilt, Sony Music, and Fox Sports. A tourism campaign for Gatlinburg (a popular destination in the Smoky Mountains) picked up Emmy awards in 2023. Music videos for Chris Young and Kane Brown garnered CMT Collaborative Video of The Year, and Breakthrough Video of The Year nominations, respectively. I have directed music videos for many artists, including Trace Adkins, Alabama, Brian Welch [of Korn], and Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors.

In addition to and alongside my directorial efforts, I am a passionate cinematographer- which in some seasons is the majority of my professional work. I love teaming up with other filmmakers and concentrating on the visuals, the craft of light and lens that hooked me from the start. I have served as Director of Photography for many national broadcast campaigns, award-winning music videos, network promos, several independent films, television series, network docu-series, and too much other content to shake a stick at.

Beginning in 2019 I developed, wrote, directed, and shot (alongside a terrific team) a series of national spots and a brand film for Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, starring Emmy award-winning, Academy Award nominated, actor Jeffrey Wright [Westworld, The Batman, American Fiction, No Time to Die, Basquiat].

In 2021, I directed Spirit Halloween: The Movie, a PG Halloween-adventure movie starring the legendary Christopher Lloyd, Rachel Leigh Cook, and Marla Gibbs. Written by Billie Bates, produced by Hideout Pictures, and Particular Crowd.

In 2024 I developed, wrote, directed, and shot a brand film for a new cognac venture, again with Jeffrey Wright in the lead, filmed entirely in France. This film is yet to be released due to a delayed launch of the brand.

This is the most collaborative of art forms. Working alongside talented and inspired people is an elevating privilege. 

Thanks for reading,
David