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Chris Stokes (filmmaker)

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Christopher Brian Stokes[1] (born July 21, 1969) is an American filmmaker and former record executive. He is the son of actress Irene Stokes and older brother of singer Juanita Stokes. He is perhaps best known for being the founder of The Ultimate Group record label in 2000, whose roster included B2K, Omarion, Jhené Aiko, Marques Houston, IMx and NLT, among others.

Transition to film and television

Stokes first became connected with film and television through the talent he managed. In 1992, Marques Houston made his acting debut in the animated comedy film Bébé's Kids, and received his big break as a regular on Sister, Sister in 1994. All three members of Immature appeared in the film House Party 3 (1994).

His first film credit came in 2001 as the writer and director of House Party 4, which starred Immature, which by then had transitioned to their new name IMx. He is perhaps most well known as the writer and director of the 2004 dance movie You Got Served,[2] starring members of his TUG record label. The cast included Lil' Kim[2] and Marques Houston.[2] The film opened at #1 at the box office during Super Bowl weekend with $16 million grossed in its first week.

He also wrote and directed Somebody Help Me and Somebody Help Me 2, two horror films. The first, Somebody Help Me, was released to DVD on November 13, 2007, and made a television premiere on BET on Halloween 2007.[3] Both were distributed by Vivendi. The company's second feature, No Vacancy, another horror, was completed in 2011 and the first of Stokes' films not star talent from his music career. It was distributed by Grindstone / Lionsgate Home Entertainment.[4]

Also in 2011, Stokes returned to the dance battle genre with the dance-drama Battlefield America, starring Marques Houston, Gary Anthony Sturgis, and Lynn Whitfield. The film follows a young businessman whose community service obligations require him to turn a group of misfit kids into a dance team.

In 2018 it was announced Chris Stokes signed a 3-picture deal with Viacom, "We Belong Together", "Running Out of Time", and "Fall Girls".[5] "We Belong Together" launched BET Network's original movie franchise by premiering simultaneously on BET and BET Her, produced by Chris Stokes' Footage Films production company.[6] In August 2019, BET+ announced a new legal thriller "Sacrifice", to be written, directed, and produced by Chris Stokes through his Footage Films production company, and starring Paula Patton.[7] In May 2020, Stokes' new musical series "Howard High", starring Marques Houston debuts on subscription-based platform UrbanflixTV.[8]

In 2020, BET+ acquired "Trigger", directed by Stokes. It is set to be released this summer as a BET Original on their streaming platform.[9] Also this summer, BET picked up thriller "Always and Forever", directed by Stokes and starring Lauren London, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Deborah Ayorinde, Rocsi Diaz, Wood Harris and Loretta Devine.[10] In September 2020, BET+ announced that it would turn its original film "Sacrifice" into a series, ordering 10 episodes to be written, directed, and produced by Stokes.[11]

Chris Stokes announced in 2021 that Footage Films was greenlit to produce a new series, Foster Law, for the emerging black streaming network UrbanFlix.[12]

Chris Stokes at home in 2020
Chris Stokes, Filmmaker in 2021

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes
2001 House Party 4 Writer, Director Cameo appearance as "Ray Ray"
2004 You Got Served Writer, Director
2007 Somebody Help Me Writer, Director, Producer
2010 Somebody Help Me 2 Writer, Director, Producer
2012 Battlefield America Writer, Director, Producer
The Helpers Writer, Director, Producer
Boogie Town Writer, Director, Producer
2016 Only for One Night Director
Boy Bye Director
2017 'Til Death Do Us Part Writer, Director Filming
2018 Always & 4Ever Writer, Director Filming
2018 We Belong Together Writer, Director BET Television Movie
2018 Running Out Of Time Writer, Director TBA
2019 Fall Girls Writer, Director
2019 Sacrifice Writer, Director BET Original
2020 Howard High Director TV Mini-Series
2020 Trigger Director TV Mini-Series

Christopher Brian Collection

In 2007, Stokes launched a clothing and fashion line,[13] the Christopher Brian Collection, which debuted at Magic (trade show) in Las Vegas February 2007.[14] The line featured Kim Kardashian as the principle spokesmodel and was available at Dash, her Calabassas boutique.[14] Promotional images for the brand featured topless pictures of Kim Kardashian wearing just the Christopher Brian pants.[15]

References

  1. ^ "The birth of Christop Stokes".
  2. ^ a b c Kehr, Dave (January 30, 2004). "You Got Served (2004) FILM REVIEW; A Hip-Hop Dance Team Duels Some Menacing White Boys". The New York Times.
  3. ^ Who Is Chris Stokes. ChrisStokesLife.com. Chrisstokeslife.com Retrieved July 3rd, 2014.
  4. ^ No Vacancy, 2012 on IMDb. Internet Movie Database
  5. ^ Chris Stokes directing 1st of 3-picture deal with Viacom. Rollingout.com, April 2018. [1]. Retrieved April 30th, 2020.
  6. ^ BET Networks kicks-off its original movie franchise with the world premiere of "We Belong Together". BET Press, June 12, 2018. [2]. Retrieved April 30th, 2020.
  7. ^ BET+ press release announces Sacrifice to premiere Thursday, December 19. BET+ Press Room, August 15, 2019. [3]. Retrieved April 30th, 2020.
  8. ^ 'Howard High' Trailer: This inspiring musical drama is going to be this generation's 'Fame'. Hollywoodlife.com, April 17, 2019. [4]. Retrieved April 30th, 2020.
  9. ^ BET to air Chris Stokes directed Trigger this summer. ChrisStokesBlog.com, July 2020. [5]. Retrieved July 13th, 2020.
  10. ^ Chris Stokes directed Always and Forever gets picked up by [BET] on their cable channel and UMC network. July 2020. [6] Retrieved July 13th, 2020.
  11. ^ BET+ Movie ‘Sacrifice’ Starring Paula Patton Picked Up To Series. Deadline.com, September 28, 2019. [7]. Retrieved January 1st, 2021.
  12. ^ UrbanFlix greenlights new series! Footage Films & Director Christopher B. Stokes Continue To Illuminate The Screen With Brian White In The New Series “Foster Law”. September 2021. [8] Retrieved September 27th, 2021.
  13. ^ Christopher Stokes Reveals Plans Behind Clothing Line Debut. Fashion Victim, Dennicas's Place. Dennicasplace.com Retrieved July 3rd, 2014.
  14. ^ a b Take Cover: Kim Kardashian. J'Adore Magazine, November 2007. Jadoremag.com Archived July 14, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 3rd, 2014.
  15. ^ TMZ: Chris Stokes. TMZ. Retrieved July 3rd, 2014.
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