Today we’d like to introduce you to Davar Mcgee.
Hi Davar, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey as a filmmaker began with my love for acting when I was a teenager. In 2009, I acted in my first independent film “The Unattainable”. During the process of acting in front of the camera, I felt intrigued to write my own film. In late 2013, I wrote my first screenplay titled “Trinity High”. From there I found a great passion for writing screenplays and continued writing various plays, features or short films. In 2016 I wrote, produced, and directed my first short film “What A Shame” which is currently available on Amazon Prime Video. In 2017, I wrote, produced, and directed my second short film “Suspect?”. I produced this film with Brian Few Jr and Dennis Harmon Jr. who are also two amazing filmmakers in their own right. Both films were produced with a zero-dollar budget. Suspect has been accepted into 7 different film festivals in the country. We won the Best Short Film Award in the Twin Cities Black Film Festival (Sponsored by HBO) and the Best Shorts Competition Film Festival. I have produced and directed a few other short films, music videos, and documentaries. More recently I have found success in video production at the commercial/vendor level by assisting various corporations with their training videos, online courses and commercials.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I never expected the road to be smooth in this field. There are always challenges that present themselves. Budgeting for a feature film is a challenge that I have come across. With getting into the vendor work I have found ways to supply my own budget for projects more recently.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I love doing anything with video production but I would say I am most passionate about directing and writing. I love storytelling and being able to captivate and move an audience to the emotion of the story. Storytelling through film and being able to create stories with open perspectives that can bring questions or awareness to important aspects of life while also being entertaining to the audience is what I love most about film.
My short film Suspect? is about police brutality. This film was played in multiple states within the country and it was always well received. This film has also won awards for the Best Short Film Award in the Twin Cities Black Film Festival (Sponsored by HBO) and the Best Shorts Competition Film Festival. Another short film that addressed important topics is Trinity High. This film addressed school shootings, teen suicide and school bullying.
Before the pandemic, I started to transition my video production skills to focus on vendor work that could help build my portfolio and create revenue. Since late 2019 my production company Big Var Productions has also worked with companies creating training videos, online modules, documentaries, interviews and outreach videos with the help of my younger brother Demitri McGee who is also an outstanding producer.
What matters most to you? Why?
First and foremost my faith matters most to me. My relationship with God has continued to help me be disciplined in my journey. After that my family matters most to me. Me and my wife have 4 kids, two girls (11 and 9) and two boys (6 and 4). Being a positive black role model for my kids, nieces and nephews means a lot to me. My parents, brothers and sisters are my biggest support system. They’ve encouraged me and pushed me along this journey and having them as support goes a long way. I have a few close friends that have walked this path with me and I have had the pleasure of meeting new lifelong friends along the way.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BigVarProductions
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxns6SjP8HQlCrcwxXmzt3A/featured
