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Chris Stokes (filmmaker)

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Chris Stokes
Stokes in 2020
NationalityAmerican
Occupations
  • Record executive
  • talent manager
  • film producer
  • director
  • screenwriter
Years active1995–present
Labels
Websitewww.chrisstokesent.com

Chris Stokes is an American filmmaker and former record executive. He founded the record label the Ultimate Group (or TUG Entertainment) in 1997, whose roster included B2K, Omarion, Jhené Aiko, Marques Houston, IMx and NLT, among others. He has also directed the 2004 dance drama film You Got Served, as well as the direct-to-TV films House Party 4 (2001) and Somebody Help Me (2007).[1]

Career

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Stokes first became connected with film and television through the talent of whom he managed. In 1992, Marques Houston made his acting debut in the animated comedy film Bebe's Kids, and received his big break as a regular on Sister, Sister in 1994. All three members of Immature appeared in the film House Party 3 (1994).

Stokes' first film credit came in 2001 as the writer and director of House Party 4, which starred Immature, which by then had transitioned to their new name IMx. He then served as the writer and director of the 2004 dance film You Got Served,[2][3] which was commercially successful and starred members of his TUG label; The cast included Houston, as well as rapper Lil' Kim.[2]

In 2007 Stokes launched a clothing and fashion line,[4] the Christopher Brian Collection, which debuted at Magic in Las Vegas February 2007.[5] The line featured Kim Kardashian as the principal spokesmodel and was available at Dash, her Calabasas boutique.[5] Promotional images for the brand featured topless pictures of Kim Kardashian wearing just the Christopher Brian pants.[6]

He also wrote and directed the horror films Somebody Help Me and Somebody Help Me 2. The first of which made a television premiere on BET on Halloween 2007, and released to DVD the following November.[7] Both were distributed by Vivendi. The company's second feature, No Vacancy, another horror, was completed in 2011 and the first of Stokes' films not star talent from his musical career. It was distributed by Grindstone / Lionsgate Home Entertainment.[8]

Also in 2011, Stokes returned to the dance battle genre with the dance-drama Battlefield America, starring Houston, Gary Anthony Sturgis, and Lynn Whitfield. The film follows a young businessman whose community service obligations require him to turn a group of misfit kids into a dance team.

In 2018, Stokes signed a 3-picture deal with Viacom for his films We Belong Together, Running Out of Time, and Fall Girls.[9] The former launched BET Network's original movie franchise by premiering simultaneously on BET and BET Her, produced by Chris Stokes' Footage Films production company.[10] In August 2019, BET+ announced their legal thriller, Sacrifice to be written, directed, and produced by Stokes, and to star Paula Patton.[11] In May 2020, Stokes' new musical series "Howard High", starring Marques Houston debuts on subscription-based platform UrbanflixTV.[12]

In 2020, BET+ acquired Trigger, directed by Stokes. It is set to be released this summer as a BET Original on their streaming platform.[13] That same year, the company released Always and Forever, directed by Stokes and starring Lauren London, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Deborah Ayorinde, Rocsi Diaz, Wood Harris and Loretta Devine.[14] In September 2020, BET+ launched Sacrifice into a television series, ordering 10 episodes to be written, directed, and produced by Stokes.[15]

Stokes announced in 2021 that Footage Films was greenlit to produce a new series, Foster Law, for the Black streaming network UrbanFlix.[16] In 2023, Stokes released the third installment of The Stepmother, marking the first three-movie franchise in Tubi's history. Each film follows Elizabeth Carter (Erica Mena)'s escapades to find the perfect family and stars recurring Stokes cast members, including Houston.[17] Tubi then released four new original Black cinema thrillers by Stokes in 2023: The Assistant, Best Friend, You’re Not Alone and No Way Out.[18]

Sexual assault allegations

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In December 2007, Stokes was accused of sexual assault by his cousin, B2K member DeMario "Raz-B" Thornton, alleged to have happened while Stokes was managing the group and Thornton was eleven or twelve years old.[19][20][21] B2K group member Omarion defended Stokes, calling the allegations untrue.[19] Stokes denied any wrongdoing, calling the accusation "ridiculous" and saying "all the allegations they made are false."[19] The following day, Thornton retracted the allegation and apologized to Stokes, though Thornton's brother Ricardo implied the retraction was coerced and that Thornton will "come back around."[22]

In July 2008, Vibe magazine published an article in which singer Quindon Tarver, once signed to Stokes' TUG label, alleged he had been sexually abused by Stokes for four years, beginning at age twelve. Stokes called the accusations from both Thornton and Tarver "a cry for attention" and denied the allegations.[23]

Filmography

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Year Film Role Notes
2001 House Party 4 Writer, Director Cameo appearance as "Ray Ray"
2004 You Got Served Writer, Director
2007 Somebody Help Me Writer, Director, Producer
2010 Somebody Help Me 2 Writer, Director, Producer
2012 Battlefield America Writer, Director, Producer
The Helpers Writer, Director, Producer
Boogie Town Writer, Director, Producer
2016 Only for One Night Director
Boy Bye Director
2017 'Til Death Do Us Part Writer, Director
2018 Always & 4Ever Writer, Director
We Belong Together Writer, Director BET Television Movie
Running Out Of Time Writer, Director
2019 Fall Girls Writer, Director
Sacrifice Writer, Director BET+ Original
2020 Howard High Director TV Mini-Series
Trigger Director TV Mini-Series
Always and Forever Writer, Director BET Television Movie
2022 The Stepmother Writer, Director Tubi Original
The Stepmother 2 Writer, Director Tubi Original
2023 The Assistant Writer, Director Tubi Original
Best Friend Writer, Director Tubi Original
You're Not Alone Writer, Director Tubi Original
No Way Out Writer, Director Tubi Original
The Stepmother 3 Writer, Director Tubi Original
Picture Me Dead Writer, Director Tubi Original
Rock the Boat Writer, Director Tubi Original
Vicious Affair Writer, Director Tubi Original
Still Here Writer, Director Tubi Original
I Hate You to Death Writer, Director Tubi Original
Forever Us Writer, Director Tubi Original
2024 The Stepdaughter Writer, Director Tubi Original
Snatched Writer, Director Tubi Original
Rock the Boat 2 Writer, Director Tubi Original
Robbin Writer, Director Tubi Original
The Assistant 2 Writer, Director Tubi Original

References

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  1. ^ "Chris Stokes Retains Tobin & Associates as The Ultimate Group Prepares to Explode". PRWeb. July 26, 2002. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Kehr, Dave (January 30, 2004). "You Got Served (2004) FILM REVIEW; A Hip-Hop Dance Team Duels Some Menacing White Boys". The New York Times.
  3. ^ Bailey, Samantha (February 2, 2017). "Director Chris Stokes joins cause for film/television industry change". rollingout.com.
  4. ^ Christopher Stokes Reveals Plans Behind Clothing Line Debut. Fashion Victim, Dennicas's Place. Dennicasplace.com Retrieved July 3rd, 2014.
  5. ^ a b Take Cover: Kim Kardashian. J'Adore Magazine, November 2007. Jadoremag.com Archived July 14, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 3rd, 2014.
  6. ^ "Kim drops top, hopes you shop". EHM Productions. June 2, 2007. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  7. ^ Who Is Chris Stokes. ChrisStokesLife.com. Chrisstokeslife.com Retrieved July 3rd, 2014.
  8. ^ No Vacancy, 2012 on IMDb. Internet Movie Database
  9. ^ Chris Stokes directing 1st of 3-picture deal with Viacom. Rollingout.com, April 2018. [1]. Retrieved April 30th, 2020.
  10. ^ BET Networks kicks-off its original movie franchise with the world premiere of "We Belong Together". BET Press, June 12, 2018. [2]. Retrieved April 30th, 2020.
  11. ^ BET+ press release announces Sacrifice to premiere Thursday, December 19. BET+ Press Room, August 15, 2019. [3]. Retrieved April 30th, 2020.
  12. ^ 'Howard High' Trailer: This inspiring musical drama is going to be this generation's 'Fame'. Hollywoodlife.com, April 17, 2019. [4]. Retrieved April 30th, 2020.
  13. ^ BET to air Chris Stokes directed Trigger this summer. ChrisStokesBlog.com, July 2020. [5]. Retrieved July 13th, 2020.
  14. ^ Chris Stokes directed Always and Forever gets picked up by [BET] on their cable channel and UMC network. July 2020. [6] Retrieved July 13th, 2020.
  15. ^ BET+ Movie ‘Sacrifice’ Starring Paula Patton Picked Up To Series. Deadline.com, September 28, 2019. [7]. Retrieved January 1st, 2021.
  16. ^ UrbanFlix greenlights new series! Footage Films & Director Christopher B. Stokes Continue To Illuminate The Screen With Brian White In The New Series “Foster Law”. September 2021. [8] Retrieved September 27th, 2021.
  17. ^ bandsaboutmovies (June 9, 2023). "TUBI ORIGINAL: The Stepmother 3 (2023)". B&S About Movies. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  18. ^ Zee, Michaela (June 9, 2023). "Tubi to Launch Four New Original Black Cinema Thrillers From Footage Films (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  19. ^ a b c Kaufman, Gil (December 26, 2007). "B2K Ex-Manager and Group Member Omarion Speak Out on Allegations". MTV.com. Archived from the original on August 9, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  20. ^ Carroll, Shirea L. (October 29, 2020). "Sound Off: Marques Houston Molestation Allegations". Essence. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  21. ^ Bowser, Martie (September 15, 2022). "Omarion Supports Raz B But Says It's Time to 'Speak Up, Take Accountability and Do the Work'". Yahoo!. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  22. ^ Kaufman, Gil (December 27, 2007). "Raz-B Retracts Abuse Allegations Against Former B2K Manager in New Video". MTV.com. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  23. ^ Hobbs, Linda (July 2008). "Stoked". Vibe. pp. 84–86.
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