Craig Brewer is a distinctively regional screenwriter and director known for using music to complement his storytelling. Brewer's films capture the complexion and experience of the American South, creating unforgettable characters that manage to both entertain and challenge audiences.
Brewer studied playwriting at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco. His first feature film, “The Poor and the Hungry,” won Best Digital Feature at the Hollywood Film Festival and was acquired by the Independent Film Channel.
Brewer's second film, “Hustle & Flow,” was financed by director John Singleton and produced by Stephanie Allain. Shot in his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, “Hustle & Flow” premiered at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, winning the Audience Award for Best Feature. The film went on to secure a record-breaking acquisition deal by Paramount Pictures and MTV Films, garnered an Academy Award® nomination for lead actor Terrence Howard and winning the Academy Award® for best original song, Three 6 Mafia's “It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp.”
Brewer's third film, “Black Snake Moan,” starred Samuel L. Jackson and Christina Ricci. Driven by a classic and contemporary Blues soundtrack, “Black Snake Moan” is a Southern gothic tale featuring the Brewer hallmarks of sex, sin and redemption. The film premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival and was released by Paramount Vantage in February of the same year.
In 2008 Brewer launched $5 Cover, an online music drama series for MTV he created and dedicated to the Memphis music scene. The series followed a cast of young musicians as they fought for love, inspiration, and money to pay the rent. The success of the Memphis series lead to $5 Cover - Seattle, which Brewer produced.
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