Greg Carter

Greg Carter is a native of Houston, Texas and a graduate of Texas A&M University.  After studying under Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Charles Gordone, he went on to earn a Master's Degree in Fine Arts in Filmmaking Studies at Rice University.   
    His first independent feature "Fifth Ward", which he wrote, produced, edited, and directed, was shot on 35mm.  It was the Best Feature Winner at the 1997 New Orleans Black Film Festival and picked up awards for Best Director and Feature at the 1998 30th Parallel Film Festival in Austin.  "Fifth Ward" was also officially selected into the 1998 SXSW Film Festival in Austin.  The movie was acquired by York/Maverick Entertainment and released nationwide in March of 2000 to Blockbuster and Hollywood Videos and later ran on BET Action PPV.  It aired on Black Starz Encore via Urban Entertainment.  Greg's sophomore studio film, "Thug Life", was financed and  distributed by York/Maverick Entertainment.  It had a limited theatrical run followed by a national release to video in March of 2001.  “Thug Life” premiered on Showtime Extreme during the month of April 2002.  On “Diamonds from the Bantus”, Greg’s third feature project which wrapped production in March 2002, he served as co-writer and producer.  The cast featured Michael and Janet Jackson’s father, Joe Jackson, and Todd Bridges, star of the hit television series “Diff’rent Strokes”.
    Greg has been featured in the following national publications: THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, DETAILS, THE SOURCE, BILLBOARD MAGAZINE, and SCRIPT MAGAZINE, along with other regional and local magazines and newspapers, such as TEXAS MONTHLY.    
    His body of work includes numerous shorts and music videos.  In January of 2002 he completed the 35mm short "The Martini Shot", which he wrote and directed.  Greg's first music video "Smile" won the Best Music Video award at the 1992 Access Houston Cable Excellence Awards.  He recently completed shooting his eighth and ninth music videos, "Ring the Alarm" for Universal Records' recording artist The Warden and “Tuyo” for EMI Latin’s recording group Grupo Kache, respectively.
    In February of 2002, Greg inked a deal with Michael Jenkinson of Urban Entertainment to write and produce the first interactive role-playing, Flash-animated web series.  Based upon and named after his second feature “Thug Life”, ten episodes are scheduled to appear on Urban’s website beginning January of 2003.
     When his schedule permits, Greg enjoys teaching filmmaking.  He founded the Fifth Ward Young Filmmaker's Project in 1992.  Through the program, Greg instructed over a hundred youths from 1992 to 1996.  In 1995, Houston Mayor Bob Lanier and Council Member Michael Yarbrough awarded him citations for his service, involvement, and contribution to the Fifth Ward community.  In association with Southwest Alternate Media Project (SWAMP), he recently taught a filmmaking class at Project Row Houses for underprivileged youths to give them the opportunity to learn the craft and art of storytelling through film.
    Greg served as producer and director on “Survival of the Illest”, his fourth feature, which wrapped production on August the 5th of 2002. The film was released via Lion's Gate/Artisan Entertainment in the summer of 2004.  The movie is based on the story that Greg co-wrote with Wreckshop Records’ CEO Derrick “D-Reck” Dixon.  The film features Def Jam South’s multi-platinum recording artist Scarface, E-40, Lil’ Troy, BET Comic View legend Reynaldo Rey, rapper Big Moe, and other members of the Wreckshop Records’ family.  
Mr. Carter served as Executive Producer on the feature film “Hustletown Mobbin’” and the Latin hip-hop documentary, “What’s Really”, which featured rap recording artists Fat Joe, Baby Beesch, Kid Frost, and others. “What’s Really” was released in June of 2003 via Simmons-Lathan Media.  “Hustletown Mobbin’” features Sony/Columbia’s platinum recording artist Lil’ Flip as well as South Park Mexican and Lil’ Troy.  Greg also served as Associate Producer on the Maverick Entertainment/Sleeping Giant feature film, “Diggin’ for Dollars”. Both features, “Diggin’ for Dollars” and “Hustletown Mobbin’” were released by Maverick Entertainment in the summer of 2003.
    On the Break-Away Films’ romantic comedy, “My Big Phat Hip Hop Family”, Greg served as the film’s co-writer, co-producer and director. Production wrapped in the fall of 2003 in Miami, Florida.  He served as director/producer on “Treasure N Tha ‘Hood”, which wrapped in New Orleans in February of 2004 and was released by Warner Home Video on June 28th 2005.
    Greg’s next feature, the drama “Resurrection: The J.R. Richard Story”, wrapped production in June of 2004 and starred David Ramsey and Charles Durning. The movie premiered at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, February of 2005. “Resurrection” won the Gold Remi Award for best feature at the 2005 Worldfest Houston International film Festival.
     Greg’s sixth feature, the drama “Hurricane Katina and the project named Desire”, wrapped production December 2005. Greg served as the film’s co-writer, producer and director. “Katrina” premiered at the Urban World Film Festival in New York City, June of  2006  and most recently won Best Docu-drama at  the San Diego Black Film Festival in February of 2007.  It also won the Gold Remi for Best Docu-drama at Worldfest Houston International Film Festival in April 2007. The movie was acquired by Maverick Entertainment and released on DVD nationwide in May of 2007.
     Greg recently served in the capacity of producer and co-director on the Warner Brother’s feature “American Dream”.  Based on the ascent of the multi-platinum artist Mike Jones, American Dream stays true to its name as it dictates the story of an idealistic, aspiring rapper growing up in the formidable streets of Houston.  Despite the challenges of growing up in the rough streets of Houston, Mike’s determination and dedication leads him from a guy flipping burgers to the discovery of a new path in life through his music. Greg also produced to feature length documentaries
     Greg was presented the Independent Sprit Award and inducted into the Texas Filmmakers Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the 2006 Spindletop Film Festival at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas.  Other inductees included writer Bill Witliff and actress Irma P. Hall. Greg also screened two feature length documentaries he produced in 2006, “Borderline Houston: The Hand We’ve Been Dealt” and “Gus and Rose: Reflections of the Big Easy and Hurricane Katrina” in 2007.
Mr. Carter is currently posting his latest feature, “Elbows & Vogues”, a black/latino themed retelling of William Shakespeare’s “Romeo & Juliet”.  The film stars A.J. Lamas as “Romano”, Reagan Gomez as “Julia”, as well as veterans actors Carlos Cervantes and Gary Sturgis. Greg wrote, produced and directed the movie which filmed in Houston and San Antonio last fall. Described as “True Romance” meets “Westside Story”, the movie also stars Texas stalwarts Lew Temple, Brandon Smith and Junie Hoang.
 
Greg signed with the Don Buchwald and Associates in the Fall of 2006 and is represented by Gayla Nethercott. Greg’s manager is Peter Miller of PMA Literary & Film Management, Inc.