ABOUT US

Dante James  is an award-winning independent filmmaker, President and owner of DMD Films, LLC and assistant director of the African American Cultural Center at North Carolina State University.. In 2006, James won a National Emmy for his work as series producer of the critically acclaimed PBS documentary series, "Slavery and the Making of America." He received a total of three nominations. He is also the recipient of two Washington, DC region Emmy awards. His most recent documentary “Harlem in Montmartre: A Paris jazz Story” has screened at film festivals in Paris and Biarritz, France and was awarded best documentary at the 2010 Pan African International Film Festival in Cannes, France.

In 2008 under the auspices of his company DMD Films, LLC he wrote, produced and directed the critically acclaimed dramatic short film “The Doll” the screenplay is based on a short story by Charles W. Chesnutt.  The Doll received numerous awards including the best dramatic short film award at the 2008 Hollywood Black Film Festival. In 2003, for Blackside Films in Boston, Massachusetts he executive produced the PBS series, "This Far by Faith." Earlier in his career, James made several films for his friend and mentor, the late Henry Hampton (1940-1998).  Hampton was founder and executive producer of Blackside Films, which is best known for the PBS series Eyes on The Prize. James’ Blackside films include, Given a Chance, the second hour of the PBS series, America's War on Poverty.  The series received a 1995 Silver Baton, Alfred I. duPont Columbia Award, and the 1995 Erik Barnouw Award.  James also produced and directed New Deal/New York and Mean Things Happening.  Both films were part of the PBS series, The Great Depression, which also won the 1994 Silver Baton, Alfred I. duPont Columbia Award.  James has produced or executive produced over eighteen hours of PBS programming.

Dante James has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Grand Valley State University and a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from Duke University. The master’s program included studying creative writing at Oxford University in England.  In 2008 he was awarded an honorary PhD, a Doctorate of Humane Letters by Grand Valley State University. During the summer of 2010 he served as a guest lecturer at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. He plans to return to Cape Town next year to make a film with a black South African resident of the Khayelitshia Township.

James is currently developing an independent feature film that will be shot in North Carolina in 2012. He is also developing a documentary on the Black Panther Party with David Hilliard founding member and leader of the Party and current executive director of the Huey P.  Newton Foundation in Oakland, CA.  James is a member of the directors and writers guilds of America.

Leroy Jenkins is the Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel for DMD Films, LLC.  In that capacity, he administers all legal aspects of the company and oversees employment and labor matters.  He is also the Deputy General Counsel for Employment and Labor Relations at Howard University in Washington, D.C.  He joined Howard University in 1996.  Prior to his tenure with Howard University, he was the Assistant General Counsel with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Washington, D.C.  Subsequent to that position, he was a general practitioner and the Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Robin Services, Inc., a Washington, D.C. based Pest Control Company.  Mr. Jenkins has represented Mr. James on numerous professional contracts throughout Mr. James’ career.