Duane Graves

Summary

Duane Graves is an American film director, writer, producer, cinematographer and editor who has produced a body of work spanning multiple genres.[1] In 2023, Deadline Hollywood announced he was named one of Coverfly's best up and coming screenwriters.[2] His career began with the documentary Up Syndrome, which premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival in 2001.[3] A portrait of his childhood friend born with Down syndrome,[4] Up Syndrome won numerous awards, including the National Media Award from the National Down Syndrome Congress in 2002,[5] and the Grand Prize at the 2006 Movies Askew Film Festival hosted by Clerks (film) director Kevin Smith.[6] He formed Greeks Films with film school peer, actor and filmmaking partner Justin Meeks in 2001.[7]

Duane Graves
Duane Graves at the 2019 Victoria TX Indie Film Festival.
Born
San Antonio, Texas, United States
Occupation(s)Film director, screenwriter, editor
Years active2000–present

Graves then co-wrote/co-directed his first narrative film with Meeks, The Wild Man of the Navidad, a 70's-inspired creature feature based on real-life journals and starring Meeks.[8] The film premiered at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival[9] and later Fantastic Fest,[10] before being released internationally by IFC Films in 2009,[10] and again in 2021 by MPI Media Group.[11]

In 2011, Graves and partner Meeks were two of 26 Austin filmmakers selected - including Jay Duplass, Bob Byington, Ben Steinbauer, David Zellner and others - to remake Richard Linklater's acclaimed 1991 debut feature Slacker (film).[12] Graves and Meeks' segment in the Slacker 2011 anthology was photographed in the same location and with the same actress some twenty years after the original.[13]

Graves' sophomore effort - the cannibal-themed horror Butcher Boys (2012 film) - was written and produced by Kim Henkel, co-creator of the original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), and loosely based on Jonathan Swift's satirical 1729 essay A Modest Proposal.[14] It debuted at the 2012 Fantasia International Film Festival under the original moniker Boneboys,[15] before being released in North America as Butcher Boys by Phase 4 Films in 2013.[16]

Graves then served as editor[17] for the award-winning[18] short film Black Metal, written and directed by Kat Candler.[19] Black Metal, about a husband, father and musician struggling with the guilt and blame of a tragic and senseless murder, premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival,[20] as well as the 2013 SXSW Film Festival.[21]

Also in 2013, Graves co-wrote/co-directed the horror Western Kill or Be Killed (2015 film), also starring partner Meeks and featuring genre icons Michael Berryman, Pepe Serna, Edwin Neal, and Luce Rains.[22][23] Originally titled Red on Yella, Kill a Fella, it premiered at the 2015 Dallas International Film Festival[24] before being acquired by RLJE Films for wide release in 2016.[25]

Most recently, Graves and Meeks served as executive producers of Dane Sears's The Hopewell Haunting, a period ghost story released in 2023 by MPI Media Group/Dark Sky Films.[26][27]

Graves is currently based in Austin, Texas.[7]

Bio edit

Duane Graves grew up in San Antonio, Texas.[4] He attended The University of Texas at Austin[28] and Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.[10]

Notable filmography (as director, producer, or editor) edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Duane Graves: Biofilmografía". Amazon.
  2. ^ White, Peter (December 8, 2023). "Coverfly Releases List Of Lists To Highlight Up and Coming Screenwriting Talent". Deadline.
  3. ^ Hundley, Jessica (January 27, 2001). "PARK CITY 2001: Slamdance Movin' On Up; Alternafests Form United Front". IndieWire.
  4. ^ a b Martinez, Kiko (May 1, 2020). "Lifelong Friendship: Local filmmaker Duane Graves Looks Back 20 Years on His Directorial Debut Up Syndrome". San Antonio Current.
  5. ^ "National Down Syndrome Congress Award Recipients" (PDF). National Down Syndrome Congress.
  6. ^ Smith, Kevin (December 1, 2010). My Boring-Ass Life (Revised Edition): The Uncomfortably Candid Diary of Kevin Smith. Titan Books (US, CA). ISBN 9781848569409 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ a b "About Duane Graves and Justin Meeks". Greeks Films Official Site.
  8. ^ Anderson, Joe (25 April 2008). "The Wild Man of the Navidad". Variety.
  9. ^ "The Wild Man of the Navidad | 2008 Tribeca Festival". 2008 Tribeca Film Festival.
  10. ^ a b c O'Connell, Joe (September 19, 2008). "Beware: Bigfoot Ahead". The Austin Chronicle.
  11. ^ Gingold, Michael (15 November 2021). "TEXAS TERROR "THE WILD MAN OF THE NAVIDAD" RETURNS ON DVD; NEW TRAILER & ART". Rue Morgue.
  12. ^ a b Goldberg, Matt (3 May 2011). "23 Austin Filmmakers to Remake Richard Linklater's SLACKER in Honor of Film's 20th Anniversary". Collider.
  13. ^ Kernion, Jette (23 August 2011). "Slacker 2011: Duane Graves Swelters at the G/M Steakhouse". Slackerwood.
  14. ^ O'Connell, Joe (October 8, 2013). "A 'Texas Chain Saw' Pedigree". The Austin Chronicle.
  15. ^ Barton, Steve (August 3, 2012). "Fantasia 2012: Trailer for Original Texas Chain Saw Massacre Producer's New Urban Massacre Flick Boneboys". Dread Central.
  16. ^ Turek, Ryan (August 9, 2013). "Phase 4 Takes On the Butcher Boys". ComingSoon.net.
  17. ^ Mitchell, Corey (December 5, 2012). "BLACK METAL Accepted to Sundance!!". Metalsucks.
  18. ^ Whittaker, Richard (June 9, 2013). "Black Celebration for Kat Candler". The Austin Chronicle.
  19. ^ Whittaker, Richard (May 19, 2020). "Now Streaming In Austin: "Black Metal"". The Austin Chronicle.
  20. ^ "Kat Candler Sundance Collab". Sundance Collab.
  21. ^ "Black Metal SXSW Schedule". 2013 SXSW Film Festival. March 9, 2013.
  22. ^ O'Connell, Joe (December 7, 2012). "Two Gorehounds Go West". The Austin Chronicle.
  23. ^ Whittaker, Richard (March 25, 2016). "DVDanger: Kill or Be Killed". The Austin Chronicle.
  24. ^ "Today at the Dallas International Film Festival (4/11/15)". dmagazine.com. April 11, 2015.
  25. ^ Miska, Brad (November 20, 2015). "'Kill or Be Killed' Poster Hopes to Outrun the Devil (Exclusive)". Bloody Disgusting.
  26. ^ "THE HOPEWELL HAUNTING Comes To VOD/Digital On June 13th". Horror Society. May 23, 2023.
  27. ^ a b Gingold, Michael (June 5, 2023). "EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS AND COMMENTS, PLUS TRAILER: SOUTHERN GHOST STORY "THE HOPEWELL HAUNTING," COMING NEXT WEEK". Rue Morgue.
  28. ^ "UP SYNDROME by Duane Graves @ Brooklyn Film Festival". 2001 Brooklyn Film Festival.
  29. ^ Baumgarten, Marjorie (March 19, 2002). "Movie Review: Up Syndrome". The Austin Chronicle.
  30. ^ Baumgarten, Marjorie (March 19, 2002). "Movie Review: "Headcheese"". The Austin Chronicle.
  31. ^ "Horror Interview by The Gravedigger". Buried.com. December 15, 2007.
  32. ^ Bertrand, Merle (March 5, 2005). "Rio Peligroso: A Day in the Life of a Legendary Coyote". Film Threat.
  33. ^ Garberina, Billy. "Feeding the Masses". Amazon.
  34. ^ "The Wild Man of the Navidad". Turner Classic Movies.
  35. ^ "Ver Butcher Boys | Prime Video". Amazon.
  36. ^ "KAT CANDLER's New Short Film Black Metal to Screen at 2013 Sundance Film Festival". Bravewords. December 4, 2012.
  37. ^ "Vudu - Watch Movies". Kill or Be Killed.
  38. ^ Falcon, Meagon (January 24, 2020). "International filmmakers featured at South Texas Underground Film Festival 2020". Caller Times.