Elmo King
Growing up in the East Village in its golden age, I was raised by a diverse community of artists, activists and mentors who gifted me with an array of perspectives, community events, ways to celebrate life, and exposure to all of the arts from around the world. These experiences continue to influence me and how I approach my work.
I was introduced to filmmaking at an afterschool program when I was eight years old (you can watch the first show I edited here with a cameo at 6:30 haha).
I directed a couple music videos for underground hip hop artists between high school and eventually college. I decided to go back to school after I took a documentary workshop in Slovenia led by Želimir Žilnik which is where I saw how film could combine all of my artistic and political passions.
I now have eight years professional experience as a producer, director, cinematographer, and editor on numerous documentaries, commercials, corporate promos, political campaigns, artist profiles, and music videos. My undergrad thesis "My Family Reunion" was accepted by DOC NYC U in 2019.
Current Career Pursuit
Nothing gives me greater joy than connecting people.
If you want a personable producer who understands the needs of every department, who prioritizes clear, honest, and timely communication to alleviate unnecessary stresses throughout your timeline, who can quickly think up creative and practical solutions when external forces throw a wrench in the gears...
you know who to call ;)
I've produced for Atomized Studios and Navigo Productions to create a plethora of projects including an internationally shot promotional documentary for Founders Factory Africa, a commercial for The Apollo and Joyce Theaters and an episode for Angie Martinez's IRL Podcast interviewing Mike Tyson.
Current Projects
NYC HOUSING
I'm developing research that will explore and explain the impacts of the housing crisis in NYC from an economic democracy standpoint. My goal with my research is to turn my findings into a sustainable legal framework for the city to operate under that works for residential and commercial renters as well as property owners. A documentary that humanizes the data may develop alongside this project in order to reach and galvanize more people behind the proposal.
If you have insight on this kind of research you'd like to share, I'd be grateful to hop on the phone or meet for coffee in any of our five beautiful boroughs.
DARK SIDE HIP HOP GROUP
I'm helping produce and shoot a documentary about a '90s hip hop group from Newburgh, NY called Da Original Dark Side that was as big to the Tri-state area as the Wu-Tang Clan was to NYC. They performed on the same stages as Jay-Z, Biggie Smalls, Beyonce, and many other prominent artists from that time, and got a special shout out from the Wu-Tang Clan saying they were the only other group exhibiting the same values as them.
First & Lander will share the story of the Dark Side's rise in hip hop as well as their fall due to drug selling activities, and how the power vacuum created by their incarceration has been filled by youth gun violence.
