SLEEPMOVIE Professional member

Bio

Urban Film Werks is the brainchild of Sao Renee, who founded the company in 2004. Its mission is to create the highest quality video productions possibly for members of the television community on a tight budget. Urban Film Werks' initial projects were music videos; (get hype crew/ hustle harder boys/ money is raw ) however, the company quickly expanded to include half hour features for Bronx Net.

Ms. Renee was born in Illinois to interracial parents. An army brat, she traveled the country and was exposed to a broad spectrum of America. Settling in New York City with her two children, Alexus, 8 and Aaliyah, 2, she studied video production at the New York Film Academy (intensive workshop) and Lehman College. Observing the television and film market, Ms. Renee recognized a large gap in the programming of both - and an opportunity. In 2005, she began production of the series Hoodlyfe, a sprawling, multi-ethnic drama of life on the streets of the Bronx as it is really lived, without the artificial gloss of a Hollywood sensibility. Shot on a single camera digital mini-DV, her vision is an urban, gritty representation of what really lies in the heart of the 'hood.

This up and coming African-American writer/director's approach has drawn a wide variety of talents to Urban Film Werks. What began as a one-woman enterprise has rapidly expanded to a company of over twenty people from all five boroughs. Those involved range from actor Noel Davila, an EMT who has seen the worst tolls paid by life in the 'hood to Rebecca Monroe, who stage managed grand opera. Even Ms. Renee's oldest child, Alexus, became involved in the series; inspired by the excitement of the collaborative energy of the Hoodlyfe team, she wanted to play a part and appeared in Muertas Funeral.