Biography
A member of the Writers Guild of America, west, Screen Actors Guild, and the Former Vice-President and Newsletter Editor-In-Chief for the Organization of Black Screenwriters, Christopher first became interested in Film & Television as a college dropout from Morehouse College, the alma mater of Spike Lee. In Atlanta, Chris lived in a hospital for three months with his dying roommate. While his roommate was preparing for his death, Chris was preparing for the rest of his life. It was then when Chris saw the light and it was the light of the camera. He was to be in show business.
While in Atlanta, Chris worked as a writer for the sketch comedy show “The Pfhar Side” on Georgia Cable Television and was the Vice-Chairperson of the Cinéfest Film Theater on the campus of Georgia State University. Chris applied for 4 consecutive years for the Master of Fine Arts Program in Screenwriting at UCLA before he was finally admitted. While at UCLA, he took classes with Scott Kosar the screenwriter and Felicia Henderson, a showrunner for the television series Soul Food. He used to sing in the Unity Choir at the infamous First African American Episcopal (Fame) Church in Los Angeles, California.
Somewhere along the way, while taking a Swing dance lesson at the world famous Derby in Hollywood, California during the national modern Swing craze, the room parted and “Big Town Chris” was born. Chris became a professional Swing dancer, performing in the background of films and television programs (including “The Ellen Show”, “Gilmore Girls”, “Pacific Blue”, “Sister, Sister”), performing across the state, and even performing for President Bill Clinton at a Democratic Party Fundraiser at the Century Hotel, in Century City, California. Performing Swing opened up a bevy of opportunities to perform other partner dances. And while auditioning to dance in the off-off-Broadway production of the 40’s musical “Make Mine 3-6-9”, Chris landed one of the principal roles, singing, dancing and acting.
Winner of several writing and filmmaking awards, Chris has directed, produced, written and edited several projects for film, television and stage.
In 2003, Chris completed the feature documentary How To Make It In Hollywood Before You Make, on which Chris worked as the producer, director, writer and editor. What started out as a $500 movie, wound up becoming a $5,000 investment. The documentary received a “Great” review from Chris Gore’s Film Threat, was named an Official Selection of the Hollywood Black Film Festival and The Roxbury International Film Festival and was picked up for distribution by Tapeworm Video Distributors.
Currently, Chris is writing, directing, and producing a slate of Hi-Def low-budget Faith-based features, the first being The 23rd Psalm, slated for theatrical release in 2007.
Read more about this topic: Christopher C. Odom
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