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'''William Packer''' is an American film producer, writer, and actor of films such as ''[[The Gospel]]'', ''Pandora's Box'', and ''Trois''. |
'''William Packer''' is an American film producer, writer, and actor of films such as ''[[The Gospel]]'', ''Pandora's Box'', and ''Trois''. |
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== Biography== |
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Producer Will Packer has officially taken the film industry by storm. Having produced two box office hits in one year has propelled him to the top of his game. In September of 2007, Daily Variety magazine was on the right track when they selected Packer as one of their “10 Producers to Watch.” Packer states, “Receiving this honor was great validation for my burgeoning work in Hollywood. As the only African-American honored on this list, I accept the tremendous responsibility that this represents to make movies that matter as well as have commercial appeal. I look forward to continuing to promote imagery that has not traditionally been pushed by mainstream Hollywood.” Subsequently, Packer was acknowledged on several high profile lists including; Giant magazine’s “The Giant 100”, Jet magazine’s “Who’s Hot To Watch in 2008 and Black Enterprise’s “Most Powerful Players Under 40.” |
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Packer is Co-founder and Chairman of the Atlanta based production company, Rainforest Films. Earlier this year, Packer and his business partner Rob Hardy were honored by Black Enterprise as one of the “Top 25 Money Makers in Hollywood.” Other honorees included Oprah Winfrey, Will Smith, Eddie Murphy, Denzel Washington, Queen Latifah, Chris Tucker and Tyler Perry to name a few. |
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As Co-Founder and Chairman of Rainforest Films, Packer is responsible for producing and overseeing the company’s studio financed and self-financed films and distribution projects. He co-founded Rainforest Films with his partner Rob Hardy in the summer of 1994 while both were engineering students at Florida A & M University. After graduating magna cum laude from Florida A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical engineering in 1996, Packer decided to forego lucrative job offers in the field of engineering to capitalize on his entrepreneurial instincts and his passion for filmmaking. His tenacious and visionary leadership fueled the production and led to the successful independent distribution of the company’s first theatrically released motion picture Trois. Trois grossed $1.2 million dollars and became the fastest million dollar grossing film distributed by African Americans. Based on the company’s success as an independent distributor, Packer brokered a profitable partnership in 2001 between Rainforest Films and Sony’s Columbia Tri-Star to produce and distribute urban films. This partnership has also resulted in Packer overseeing production and distribution budgets of numerous urban-themed releases including Trois: The Escort, Motives and the independent breakout hit film, The Gospel. Next, Will brokered a deal to produce Mekhi Phifer’s feature film directorial debut, Puff Puff Pass, in Los Angeles, before returning to Atlanta to produce the company’s largest project to date, 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 honors from the BET Hip Hop Awards. Packer enjoyed the success of This Christmas, which starred Regina King, Loretta Devine, Delroy Lindo, Mekhi Phifer, Columbus Short and Chris Brown, which opened a strong #2 at the box office on Thanksgiving weekend in 2007. Packer continues his rise with one successful film after another. In the first half of 2009, Packer has two films releasing nationwide; Phenom, a basketball drama starring Vanessa L. Williams and R&B superstar Chris Brown, and Obsessed, a the thriller starring Beyonce Knowles, Idris Elba and Ali Larter. |
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Packer recently wrapped production on the action movie Bone Deep, starring Matt Dillon, Idris Elba, Paul Walker, Hayden Christensen, TI, Chris Brown, Michael Ealy, Jay Hernandez and Zoe Saldana, which is slated to release in 2010. Packer is also preparing to put an urban spin on a remake of the classic film The Big Chill, which will star Regina King and is set to begin production in 2009. |
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Early last year, Packer picked up the life rights to the dramatic story of Kemba Smith, a young girl who made headlines after President Bill Clinton granted her clemency from a 24.5-year prison sentence for conspiracy to sell drugs. This compelling story is one that other high profile filmmakers have pursued with great interest, yet Kemba Smith chose Packer to tell her story. Packer is currently working on securing the creative team for this project. |
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Mr. Packer is a dynamic and inspiring speaker who has delivered educational and motivational speeches to industry groups, as well as youth and community groups nationwide. Packer serves on the Board of Directors of IMAGE Film and Video, an Atlanta non-profit organization that exists as a support system for independent film and video artists. |
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He also lends a substantial amount of his time as a volunteer fundraiser for Readers Make Leaders, Inc., a nonprofit organization that encourages urban teens to read. He has been honored with the key to the city of St. Petersburg, FL, and “Will Packer Day” has been proclaimed in the cities of Chattanooga, TN and Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Packer will be honored by the Tallahassee Film Festival with the Emerging Talent Award in May 2008. Additionally, Packer recently received the Meritorious Achievement Award from his alma mater Florida A&M University, the highest honor the University bestows. |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
Revision as of 03:37, 10 February 2009
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William Packer is an American film producer, writer, and actor of films such as The Gospel, Pandora's Box, and Trois.
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