ABOUT THE FILMMAKER
Gregory Everett, Producer, Writer, Director, 41st & CENTRAL: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE L.A. BLACK PANTHERS
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Gregory is a child of the 70s and showed an affinity and talent for show business early on. Having directed his first film at the age of nine, he pursued a strong interest in art, drama, and history. He received professional training in drama, film, and video at the famous Ebony Showcase Theatre and Brock Peter’s Communications’ Bridge before attending film school at Los Angeles City College.
Heavily involved in the evolution of West Coast hip hop culture, Gregory launched a dance promotions company named Ultra Wave Promotions that produced popular dances and talent shows throughout Los Angeles. In addition, he worked as a freelance producer for Kevin Biles Design, an industrial film company in Venice, California. His accomplishments include the Hondo Moto Scooter’s “Just Breakin” ad campaign of 1983 where he wrote the rhymes, cast the breaker dancers, and oversaw the wardrobe and art design. He was then picked up by one of the early pioneers of non-linear editing, Alan Kozlowski, where he became an assistant editor on the early rap movie “Krushgroove.”
Gregory was also the owner of two small recording studios Studio Skid Row and Fat Rat Entertainment, which featured hip hop artists and producers.
During the 1992 civil unrest in L.A., Gregory worked as a freelance writer and correspondent for Rap Pages and Source Magazine. He also appeared in the documentary “Censorship in America” providing commentary on the censorship of Black urban sentiments in hip hop music.
Gregory co-wrote and produced three films while attending U.C.L.A. that won the “Spotlight Award,” the college equivalent of the Academy Award. During this time he also served over two hundred days as assistant director on various music videos working with such directors as Paul Hunter, Chris Robinson, Darren Grant, and most notably, Dave Meyers. He served as the second unit director for Meyers’ debut feature film “Foolish.” In 1998, he produced the documentary “Eazy Duz It” about the late rapper Eazy E for Ruthless Records. It later went on to air on B.E.T.
Gregory is married to his business partner Lorean Everett. They have two sons, Gregory Jr. and Jeffrey and live in Los Angeles.
