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Duane Graves
Duane Graves at the 2019 Victoria TX Indie Film Festival.
Born
San Antonio, Texas, United States
Occupation(s)Film director, screenwriter, editor
Years active2000–present

Duane Graves is an American film director, writer, producer, cinematographer and editor who has produced a body of work spanning multiple genres.[1] In 2023, Deadline Hollywood announced he was named one of Coverfly's best up and coming screenwriters.[2] His career began with the documentary Up Syndrome, which premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival in 2001.[3] A portrait of his childhood friend born with Down syndrome,[4] Up Syndrome won numerous awards, including the National Media Award from the National Down Syndrome Congress in 2002,[5] and the Grand Prize at the 2006 Movies Askew Film Festival hosted by Clerks (film) director Kevin Smith.[6] He formed Greeks Films with film school peer, actor and filmmaking partner Justin Meeks in 2001.[7]

Graves then co-wrote/co-directed his first narrative film with Meeks, The Wild Man of the Navidad, a 70's-inspired creature feature based on real-life journals and starring Meeks.[8] The film premiered at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival[9] and later Fantastic Fest,[10] before being released internationally by IFC Films in 2009,[10] and again in 2021 by MPI Media Group.[11]

In 2011, Graves and partner Meeks were two of 26 Austin filmmakers selected - including Jay Duplass, Bob Byington, Ben Steinbauer, David Zellner and others - to remake Richard Linklater's acclaimed 1991 debut feature Slacker (film).[12] Graves and Meeks' segment in the Slacker 2011 anthology was photographed in the same location and with the same actress some twenty years after the original.[13]

Graves' sophomore effort - the cannibal-themed horror Butcher Boys (2012 film) - was written and produced by Kim Henkel, co-creator of the original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), and loosely based on Jonathan Swift's satirical 1729 essay A Modest Proposal.[14] It debuted at the 2012 Fantasia International Film Festival under the original moniker Boneboys,[15] before being released in North America as Butcher Boys by Phase 4 Films in 2013.[16]

Graves then served as editor[17] for the award-winning[18] short film Black Metal, written and directed by Kat Candler.[19] Black Metal, about a husband, father and musician struggling with the guilt and blame of a tragic and senseless murder, premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival,[20] as well as the 2013 SXSW Film Festival.[21]

Also in 2013, Graves co-wrote/co-directed the horror Western Kill or Be Killed (2015 film), also starring partner Meeks and featuring genre icons Michael Berryman, Pepe Serna, Edwin Neal, and Luce Rains.[22][23] Originally titled Red on Yella, Kill a Fella, it premiered at the 2015 Dallas International Film Festival[24] before being acquired by RLJE Films for wide release in 2016.[25]

Most recently, Graves and Meeks served as executive producers of Dane Sears's The Hopewell Haunting, a period ghost story released in 2023 by MPI Media Group/Dark Sky Films.[26][27] In 2024, MPI Media Group also re-released Graves' debut feature Up Syndrome with updated footage for its 25th anniversary.[28][29]

Graves is currently based in Austin, Texas.[7]

Bio

Duane Graves grew up in San Antonio, Texas.[4] He attended The University of Texas at Austin[30] and Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.[10]

Notable filmography (as director, producer, or editor)

References

  1. ^ "Duane Graves: Biofilmografía". Amazon.
  2. ^ White, Peter (December 8, 2023). "Coverfly Releases List Of Lists To Highlight Up and Coming Screenwriting Talent". Deadline.
  3. ^ Hundley, Jessica (January 27, 2001). "PARK CITY 2001: Slamdance Movin' On Up; Alternafests Form United Front". IndieWire.
  4. ^ a b Martinez, Kiko (May 1, 2020). "Lifelong Friendship: Local filmmaker Duane Graves Looks Back 20 Years on His Directorial Debut Up Syndrome". San Antonio Current.
  5. ^ "National Down Syndrome Congress Award Recipients" (PDF). National Down Syndrome Congress.
  6. ^ Smith, Kevin (December 1, 2010). My Boring-Ass Life (Revised Edition): The Uncomfortably Candid Diary of Kevin Smith. Titan Books (US, CA). ISBN 9781848569409 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ a b "About Duane Graves and Justin Meeks". Greeks Films Official Site.
  8. ^ Anderson, Joe (25 April 2008). "The Wild Man of the Navidad". Variety.
  9. ^ "The Wild Man of the Navidad | 2008 Tribeca Festival". 2008 Tribeca Film Festival.
  10. ^ a b c O'Connell, Joe (September 19, 2008). "Beware: Bigfoot Ahead". The Austin Chronicle.
  11. ^ Gingold, Michael (15 November 2021). "TEXAS TERROR "THE WILD MAN OF THE NAVIDAD" RETURNS ON DVD; NEW TRAILER & ART". Rue Morgue.
  12. ^ a b Goldberg, Matt (3 May 2011). "23 Austin Filmmakers to Remake Richard Linklater's SLACKER in Honor of Film's 20th Anniversary". Collider.
  13. ^ Kernion, Jette (23 August 2011). "Slacker 2011: Duane Graves Swelters at the G/M Steakhouse". Slackerwood.
  14. ^ O'Connell, Joe (October 8, 2013). "A 'Texas Chain Saw' Pedigree". The Austin Chronicle.
  15. ^ Barton, Steve (August 3, 2012). "Fantasia 2012: Trailer for Original Texas Chain Saw Massacre Producer's New Urban Massacre Flick Boneboys". Dread Central.
  16. ^ Turek, Ryan (August 9, 2013). "Phase 4 Takes On the Butcher Boys". ComingSoon.net.
  17. ^ Mitchell, Corey (December 5, 2012). "BLACK METAL Accepted to Sundance!!". Metalsucks.
  18. ^ Whittaker, Richard (June 9, 2013). "Black Celebration for Kat Candler". The Austin Chronicle.
  19. ^ Whittaker, Richard (May 19, 2020). "Now Streaming In Austin: "Black Metal"". The Austin Chronicle.
  20. ^ "Kat Candler Sundance Collab". Sundance Collab.
  21. ^ "Black Metal SXSW Schedule". 2013 SXSW Film Festival. March 9, 2013.
  22. ^ O'Connell, Joe (December 7, 2012). "Two Gorehounds Go West". The Austin Chronicle.
  23. ^ Whittaker, Richard (March 25, 2016). "DVDanger: Kill or Be Killed". The Austin Chronicle.
  24. ^ "Today at the Dallas International Film Festival (4/11/15)". dmagazine.com. April 11, 2015.
  25. ^ Miska, Brad (November 20, 2015). "'Kill or Be Killed' Poster Hopes to Outrun the Devil (Exclusive)". Bloody Disgusting.
  26. ^ "THE HOPEWELL HAUNTING Comes To VOD/Digital On June 13th". Horror Society. May 23, 2023.
  27. ^ a b Gingold, Michael (June 5, 2023). "EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS AND COMMENTS, PLUS TRAILER: SOUTHERN GHOST STORY "THE HOPEWELL HAUNTING," COMING NEXT WEEK". Rue Morgue.
  28. ^ "Up Syndrome Review by PappyFilmBuff". Letterboxd. July 10, 2024.
  29. ^ "Up Syndrome on YouTube Movies & TV". YouTube Movies & TV. June 25, 2024.
  30. ^ "UP SYNDROME by Duane Graves @ Brooklyn Film Festival". 2001 Brooklyn Film Festival.
  31. ^ Baumgarten, Marjorie (March 19, 2002). "Movie Review: Up Syndrome". The Austin Chronicle.
  32. ^ Baumgarten, Marjorie (March 19, 2002). "Movie Review: "Headcheese"". The Austin Chronicle.
  33. ^ "Horror Interview by The Gravedigger". Buried.com. December 15, 2007.
  34. ^ Bertrand, Merle (March 5, 2005). "Rio Peligroso: A Day in the Life of a Legendary Coyote". Film Threat.
  35. ^ Garberina, Billy. "Feeding the Masses". Amazon.
  36. ^ "The Wild Man of the Navidad". Turner Classic Movies.
  37. ^ "Ver Butcher Boys | Prime Video". Amazon.
  38. ^ "KAT CANDLER's New Short Film Black Metal to Screen at 2013 Sundance Film Festival". Bravewords. December 4, 2012.
  39. ^ "Vudu - Watch Movies". Kill or Be Killed.
  40. ^ Falcon, Meagon (January 24, 2020). "International filmmakers featured at South Texas Underground Film Festival 2020". Caller Times.
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