Greg Carter, President/CEO Nexus Entertainment

Greg is a native of Houston, Texas and a graduate of Texas A&M University.  After studying under Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Charles Gordone, he went on to earn a Master's Degree in Fine Arts in Filmmaking Studies at Rice University.  

            His first independent feature "Fifth Ward", which he wrote, produced, edited, and directed, was shot on 35mm.  It was the Best Feature Winner at the 1997 New Orleans Black Film Festival and picked up awards for Best Director and Feature at the 1998 30th Parallel Film Festival in Austin.  "Fifth Ward" was also officially selected into the 1998 SXSW Film Festival in Austin.  The movie was acquired by York/Maverick Entertainment and released nationwide in March of 2000 to Blockbuster and Hollywood Videos and later ran on BET Action PPV.  It is currently airing on Black Starz Encore via Urban Entertainment.  Greg's sophomore studio film, "Thug Life", is financed and also distributed by York/Maverick Entertainment.  It had a limited theatrical run followed by a national release to video in March of 2001.  “Thug Life” premiered on Showtime Extreme during the month of April 2002.  On “Diamonds from the Bantus”, Greg’s third feature project which wrapped production in March 2002, he served as co-writer and producer.  The cast featured Michael and Janet Jackson’s father, Joe Jackson, and Todd Bridges, star of the hit television series “Diff’rent Strokes”.   The film is scheduled for release later this year via EMI Home Video.

            Greg has been featured in the following national publications:  THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, DETAILS, THE SOURCE, BILLBOARD MAGAZINE, and SCRIPT MAGAZINE, along with other regional and local magazines and newspapers, such as TEXAS MONTHLY.   He has been offered a multi-picture deal with York/Maverick Entertainment to write, direct, and produce feature films under their label and also acquired a separate deal to produce and direct three pictures to be executive-produced by Riot Entertainment and distributed through Jeff Clanagan’s Ventura UrbanWorks banner.

            His body of work includes numerous shorts and music videos.  In January he completed the 35mm short "The Martini Shot", which he wrote and directed.  Greg's first music video "Smile" won the Best Music Video award at the 1992 Access Houston Cable Excellence Awards.  He recently completed shooting his eighth and ninth music videos, "Ring the Alarm" for Universal Records' recording artist The Warden and “Tuyo” for EMI Latin’s recording group Grupo Kache, respectively.

            In February of this year, Greg inked a deal with Michael Jenkinson of Urban Entertainment to write and produce the first interactive role-playing, Flash-animated web series.  Based upon and named after his second feature “Thug Life”, ten episodes are scheduled to appear on Urban’s website beginning January of 2003.

            When his schedule permits, Greg enjoys teaching filmmaking.  He founded the Fifth Ward Young Filmmaker's Project in 1992.  Through the program, Greg instructed over a hundred youths from 1992 to 1996.  In 1995, Houston Mayor Bob Lanier and Council Member Michael Yarbrough awarded him citations for his service, involvement, and contribution to the Fifth Ward community.  In association with Southwest Alternate Media Project (SWAMP), he recently taught a filmmaking class at Project Row Houses for underprivileged youths to give them the opportunity to learn the craft and art of storytelling through film.

            Greg served as producer and director on “The Dirty Third II: Home Sweet Home” , his fourth feature, which wrapped production on August 5^th  of 2002, The film is being released via Artisan Entertainment in July of this Year.  The movie is based on the story that Greg co-wrote with Wreckshop Records’ CEO Derrick “D-Reck” Dixon.  The film features Def Jam South’s multi-platinum recording artist Scarface, E-40, Lil Troy, BET Comic View legend Renaldo Rey, rapper Big Moe, and other members of the Wreckshop Records’ family.  The soundtrack will be available via Priority/Capitol Records.

Most recently he served as Executive Producer on the feature film Hustletown Mobbin’ and the latin hip hop documentary,What’s Really, which features rap recording artists Fat Joe, Baby Beesch, Kid Frost, and others. What’s Really  is scheduled for first release, June of  2003 via Simmons-Lathan Media.  Hustletown Mobbin’ features Sony/Columbia platinum recording artist Lil Flip as well as South Park Mexican and Lil Troy.  Greg also served as Associate Producer on the Maverick Entertainment/Sleeping Giant feature film, Diggin’ for Dollars. Both features, Diggin for Dollars and Hustletown Mobbin’ are being released by Maverick Entertainment summer 2003.   

            His future projects include “Open All Night” and “The Black Man’s Guide to Understanding Black Women”, which are slated to begin pre-production by the end of the year.

John Sherman, VP of Production & Development, Nexus Entertainment

John began his career in cinema as a production assistant on many music videos for RAP A LOT records in the early 90’s. Following that period he began working with Greg Carter on numerous music videos and short film’s. John also worked as a 1^st ac, 1^st and on numerous local indie films in the mid 90’s. I worked as a pa, camera assistant driver and extra on the motion picture Jason’s Lyric. Since that time John has served  as a Co-Producer and Production Manager worked on 5^Th Ward, Thug Life, The Dirty Third & Dirty Third II: Home Sweet Home, The Charmer, and Diamonds of the Bantu.

Attorney Jalene Mack, Esq., Legal Affairs,  Nexus Entertainment

In looking at African‑American women emerging as leaders to the national forefront, Attorney Jalene M. Mack will not be overlooked. Mack has successfully integrated the demanding roles of wife/mother, business owner and community organizer by keeping the focus on her long‑term goal to "make a positive difference."Born on January 10, 1968 in Kansas City, MO, Mack was raised from the age of seven in the City of New Orleans where Mack's sense of family was established and nurtured through collective community celebration. Now based in Houston, TX, Mack is "the force" behind many of Texas' new, widely popular cultural events and literature: The Original Houston Crawfish Festival, The Original Beaumont Crawfish Festival, Louisiana/Texas Zydeco Extravaganza and Clipper's Crawfish Festival: and the novels, "Pecan Candy and Huck‑a‑bucks", "Sweeter Than Candy" and "fhree Times Sweeter: Home, Family and Love" by Rhodesia Jackson. Super‑dynamic and energetic, you have to wear running shoes to keep pace with Mack who starts her day at 6 o'clock to have breakfast with her husband Architect Jermayn Mack and to attend to their ‑year old daughter Sydney Elise Mack.  Operating her own practice, The Law Office of Jalene M. Mack, Mack provides clients with competent service, affordable fees and quick response in such matters as Real Estate Transactions, Personal Injury/Auto Accident, Entertainment, Contract Disputes/Negotiations, Child Support/Custody, Divorces and Small Business. Her clientele list reads like an all‑star line up: Former Houston Rockets star guard Kenny Smith and his wife Dawn; Former Comets' two‑time, champion forward Yolanda Moore; Former host of Soul Train Mystro Clark; Former football Great Broderick Thomas and Tennessee Titan Steve Jackson; and a professional host of doctors, entertainers, business leaders and other individuals.Destined to be either a political reporter or a politician, Mack majored in Political Science and minored in Mass Communications ‑‑ receiving her Bachelor of Art's degree from Xavier University of New Orleans in 1990, She received her Juris Doctorate from Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University in May, 1993 and was admitted to the bar thereafter. Since, Mack has built a solid career record and an outstanding professional reputation: Booker T. Morris, III & Associates, P.C., Houston, TX (1993‑1998); Chicago Title Insurance Co. ‑ Escrow Officer (1996‑1998); Gulf Coast Legal Foundation, Law Clerk (1992); and acquired ample experience as an intern with the Dept. of Justice U.S. Trustee's Office and the now New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial. She is listed among Who's Who In America's Colleges & Universities and has received academic honors such as dean's list merit and The James M. Douglas ‑ Board of Advocates awards. Mack has been involved in various capacities with Brentwood Baptist Church, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Houston's Lawyers Association, The National Bar Association, political fund‑raisers for candidates such as the current Councilmen‑at‑Large Carroll Robinson, speaking to teen mothers about child support and paternity, conducting legal seminars, Motivational Speaker, Former Radio Talk Show Host, Style Magazine's Legal Columnist, and producing film projects as well as acting roles.