Samad Davis | |
---|---|
![]() Davis on set in 2022 | |
Citizenship | American |
Occupation(s) | Film director, Film producer |
Years active | 2001–present |
Known for | Film, Entrepreneurship, Investment, Mining |
Notable work | Three Can Play That Game, Kings of Jo'burg, Mooz-lum |
Television | Terror Lake Drive |
Samad Davis is an American film producer and director known for directing Three Can Play That Game, Love By Chance[1] and Kings of Jo'burg.[2]
Early life
Samad was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey.[3]
Career
Samad began his journey into film in 2001 with the release of Comedy Only in Da Hood. In 2007, Samad directed Three Can Play That Game, a sequel to the 2002 movie, Two Can Play That Game.[citation needed]
In expanding his work in Africa, he made the first stop in Ghana, where he directed the music video for Becca's "African Woman". His work won the Music Video of the Year at the 2011 4syte Music Video Awards, Ghana.[4]
He also directed the music video for "Dadie Kye" by Samini, a Ghanaian dancehall artiste[5] which won the Most Gifted Ragga Dancehall Video at the Channel O Music Video Awards in 2011.[6]
Samad made his way to South Africa in 2013, where he launched his TV debut, the Top Actor SA (later renamed to Top Actor Africa) as a reality show on the African feed of cable channel BET to discover acting talent from Africa.[7][8]
He directed and released released Love By Chance in 2017.[9][10] featured at the Carthage Film Festival,[11] the Greater Cleveland Film Fest[12] as well as the American Black Film Festival[13] and won the Best International Feature Film at the Urban Mediamakers Film Festival in 2017.[14]
Alongside his business partners creators Shona Ferguson and Connie Ferguson, they launched and Executive Produced Season One of the Kings of Jo'burg franchise, which released December 4, (2020) globally on Netflix.[15] He was later the Executive Producer and served as the series showrunner and Lead Director for Season Two of Kings of Joburg released globally in January(2023) on Netflix.
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Type | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | Three Can Play That Game | Film Director | Film | Sequel to Two Can Play That Game |
2010 | Mooz-lum | Film Producer | Film | Winner of Best Narrative Feature Film at the Urban World Film Festival[16] |
2013 | Top Star SA | Executive Producer | Reality Show | |
2017 | Love By Chance | Film Director | Film | |
2020–2022 | Kings of Jo'burg | Television Series | ||
2020–2022 | Terror Lake Drive | Film Producer | Miniseries |
References
- ^ Dark, Yule (2016-05-24). "South African Actor Jesse Suntele Wins BET's "Top Actor Africa"". Yule Dark. Retrieved 2024-06-15.
- ^ "Samad Davis". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
- ^ Stories, Local (2020-03-12). "Meet Samad Davis – Voyage ATL Magazine | ATL City Guide". voyageatl.com. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
- ^ "2011 Vodafone 4syte Music Video Awards winners". GhanaWeb. 2011-11-20. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
- ^ Ob, GC Staff (2011-11-12). "American Film Maker, Samad Davis Chases 4Syte Music Video Awards After Giving Ghana First Ever Award At Channel O Awards With 'Dadie Kye'!". GhanaCelebrities.Com. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
- ^ "Samini Grabs Channel O Award". GhanaCelebrities.Com. 2011-11-12. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
- ^ Admin (2016-05-10). "BET Top Actor SA Reality Show". RtB. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
- ^ inyese, amaka (2015-11-15). "Entertainment channel reveals cast for "Top Actor Africa" reality show". Pulse Ghana. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
- ^ "Love By Chance – ACI". aci-americancinema.com. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
- ^ Herimbi, Helen (2017-05-05). "Love By Chance: Rom-com with purpose". IOL. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
- ^ "Focus on South Africa – JCC 2017". www.jcctunisie.org. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
- ^ Heaton, Michael (2017-09-18). "Greater Cleveland Urban Film Fest now in sixth year: Event preview". cleveland. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
- ^ "The 2017 American Black Film Festival Announces Films in Competition and Documentary Lineup". American Black Film Festival Miami. 2021-04-21. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
- ^ "Urban Mediamakers Awards 2017" (PDF). Urban Mediamakers Film Festival.
- ^ "'Kings of Jo'burg' (2020) Season 2: A Different Kind of Plot for a Series that Is Not at All Conventional". Martin Cid. 2023-01-27. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
- ^ Burton, Nsenga (2010-09-21). "The 14th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival Winners". The Root. Retrieved 2023-12-29.