DeMane Davis

DeMane Davis (born ) is an American film and television director and producer.

Originally from Roxbury, Massachusetts, Davis's first production was 1997's ''Black & White & Red All Over'', which she co-wrote with Khari Streeter.

''Lift'' (2001)

In 2001, Davis and Streeter worked together again, co-directing the crime-thriller ''Lift'', which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. ''Lift'' starred Kerry Washington as a young woman who works in a department store but who is also a professional shoplifter—a so-called "booster". Davis says that she based the character on real-life boosters in her hometown, including her sister-in-law. Rapper Sticky Fingaz also appeared in the film.

Davis and Streeter received a $250,000 grant from Sundance to produce the film, and found a small production company in Boston which provided the remainder of the $3 million budget. ''Lift'' was later broadcast on Showtime and BET and won the Grand Jury prize at the 2001 Urbanworld Film Festival.

Television (2018–present)

Although her first two films found some success, she was unable to find enough work in the field, so moved from Boston to New York, where she worked for an agency writing and directing advertisements. Davis finally got the opportunity to direct longer pieces again when Ava DuVernay asked her to direct an episode of DuVernay's 2016–2022 television drama, ''Queen Sugar''. This opportunity led to her producing and directing for other episodic television productions, including ''How to Get Away With Murder'', ''Station 19'', ''The Red Line'', and ''You''. She also directed two of the four episodes of the Netflix limited series '' Self Made'' about the life of Madam C. J. Walker.

In 2021 Davis signed a multi-year, exclusive deal with Warner Bros. Television Group which will see her act as co-executive producer with DuVernay on the superhero drama, ''Naomi''. In 2022 it was announced that she would direct the pilot of NBC's ''Found''.

References

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Davis, Demane
Living people
1967 births
African-American film directors
African-American film producers
African-American screenwriters
African-American television directors
African-American television producers
American television directors
American women film directors
American women film producers
American women screenwriters
Film directors from Massachusetts
Film producers from Massachusetts
Television people from Boston
Screenwriters from Massachusetts
Television producers from Massachusetts
American women television directors
American women television producers
American women television writers
Writers from Boston
American television writers
20th-century African-American people
20th-century African-American women
21st-century African-American women writers
21st-century American women writers
21st-century African-American writers
African-American women screenwriters