Duane Graves Explained

Birth Place:San Antonio, Texas, United States
Occupation:Film director, screenwriter, editor
Years Active:2000–present

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]

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, 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

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.

Notable filmography (as director, producer, or editor)

Notes and References

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

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