BIOGRAPHY
"As a filmmaker...in everything I create visually, I attempt to bring a myriad of life experiences to the big and small screen. Through my eyes I allow people to bear witness to and take part in situations they may not ordinarily encounter in their everyday lives, says Brooklyn-born and raised writer/director Shawn Baker from his New York City office."
The talented actor turned director started his career in the entertainment business on off-Broadway stages (Town Hall and Newark Symphony Hall) and that is where his passion for bringing multi-dimensional characters to life began. After co-starring in plays, Thomas Jefferson, For the Love of My Black Woman and Who Stole My Husband? his urge to express story that hit him close to the heart had to be satisfied.
So, after he paid his dues by working as a production assistant for 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks co-founder Monty Ross, he began writing the urban street classic 4TGT. This cool piece introduces Chris Eric Williams Streets is Watching as a guy in search of red-light bump and grind parties, hot and steamy sex with beautiful women, and drugs to alleviate distress. This film was distributed domestically through Urban Entertainment and was licensed to BET.
While co-producing the Monty Ross directed documentary entitled Morehouse 20 Years Later, he managed to write The Tale of Willie Brown, a poignant film currently in development. His latest cinematic foray delves into the lives of people who, after going toe to toe with tragedy, turmoil and tribulation, realize that tomorrow will bring something they thought had been lost long ago: hope. Also, Mr. Baker recently penned and directed an exciting new project titled The Eddie Black Story. It is inspired by a true story about a notorious Brooklyn street gang who terrorized New York City high schools and urban communities for nearly almost a decade. The film stars Fredro Starr, newcomer Daniel Phillips, Chyna Layne, Mike Lubik, Aja Robinson, Tasha Perri and Roc La Familia artist Tru-Life, and is expected to be released 2nd quarter of 2009.
Currently, he's in post-production of the slick and witty
comedy Peanut and Bang, a remix of his first flick 4TGT and the highly anticipated docu-drama
tentatively titled Conspiracy X. This feature measures the fairness of the United States judicial system. Shot in HD, on location in New York with Executive Producer Timothy “Lance” Pretty and Clawtown producer Mick Reed, this highly
anticipated docu-drama stars Kellita
Smith (Bernie Mac Show), Al Thompson (Love Don’t Cost
A Thing), R&B Songstress Olivia
Longott, Juliette Farley (M.O.N.Y.) and Tyson Hall (Kiss of Chaos). The film blends compelling dramatizations
along with captivating and thought-provoking footage, concurrently revealing
interviews from real victims, prosecutors and high-profile political figures. “It's intriguing to me how you can be convicted of a
crime or crimes, in which you allegedly intended to commit even with a person
or person(s) you haven't even met or came in contact with...Conspiracy X will
reveal the truth in detail, with cold-hard facts”, says
writer/director Shawn Baker from his
In addition, he wrote and intends to direct the blazing gangster pic Snoopafly a.k.a Born Hustler starring West Coast King Snoop Dogg, he is refraining from commenting. "That's in development and I legally can't make an announcement about it yet," said Baker.
