Darren Grant’s name has graced the bottom left hand corner of the openings and closings of music videos for artists such as Brian McKnight, Destiny’s Child, Aaliyah, Jermaine Dupri, Monica, Ginuwine, Kirk Franklin, Chante Moore, Deborah Cox, and many others. His “Survivor” video for Destiny’s Child won a 2001 MTV Video Music Award. Darren also directed the posthumous star-studded tribute video of “Miss You” for the late Aaliyah. Grant has been credited with re-defining the image of Brian McKnight and Deborah Cox, helping create their crossover appeal.
Darren Grant’s directing style is visually appealing and memorable. With an impressive list of over 130 music video directing credits under his belt, Grant’s transition into feature films was inevitable.
Grant was born and raised in the Seattle, Washington area. His mother was a vital part of the Seattle film scene and had written and directed several award-winning short films.
After high school he moved to San Diego for six years where he attended community college. He then migrated north, landing at California State University, Northridge where he graduated from the film production program in 1995.
His feature film debut was a triumphant one, the critically acclaimed Diary of a Mad Black Woman, which was released through Lions Gate Films on February 25, 2005. The film melds comedy, drama, and a love story into one complex narrative. This mixing of genres may, promisingly, begin a new trend in urban movie making.
Diary of a Mad Black Woman, which cost $5 million to make, opened as the number one box office draw in theaters across the country, earning over $22 million in the first weekend.
Credits
Make It Happen (2008)
Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005)
... aka Tyler Perry's Diary of a Mad Black Woman (USA: complete title)
... aka Tyler Perry's Diary of a Mad Black Woman: The Movie (USA: DVD box title)
