We recently connected with Damarrus Grant and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Damarrus thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I took a risk when I decided to make a feature film without having the money or necessary resources readily available. Even more intimidating, I had no blueprint for completing a full-length film, as my experience up to that point had only been in short films. But the idea—creating a horror story about a property manager who terrorizes her tenants—felt timely and relatable, especially living in Los Angeles, where many people I knew shared amusing but frustrating stories about their own experiences.
I knew I could finish a script, but producing a feature was uncharted territory. I thought I could rely on my apartment complex and my relationships with neighbors to bring the project to life. But after leaving for vacation for a week, life happened—my apartment flooded, the roof was destroyed, and I was forced to move back to Sacramento for nine months to get back on my feet.
Despite the setback, I used the time to complete a final draft of my script. When I returned to L.A., I moved into an old industrial-style building in downtown, immediately recognizing the potential it had as a set for the film. I didn’t have the funds for permits, so I knew my film would need to have a guerrilla-style approach. I made up my mind: I’d befriend the property manager, the security guards, the maintenance team, and the residents, and get them to help me bring my vision to life. As long as I was paying rent, I was in production! And this is exactly what happened!
Slowly, my plan started coming together. I called my friend Allen, who had some camera equipment and agreed to be my Director of Photography. My mother and sister pitched in to buy me a cinema camera for $2,000 on Amazon. I posted a casting call online, found a lead actress, and reached out to friends and working actors to fill in the supporting roles. Along the way, I also connected with a makeup artist and other people willing to help.
It wasn’t easy. For the first 3-5 months, nothing we shot was usable. In fact, it was terrible! Not because we weren’t capable, but we hadn’t prepared properly. I lost footage, my hard drives failed, and my computers crashed. Yet, through the chaos, I was able to salvage bits and pieces of the story. Some actors even traveled from out of town, staying in nearby hotels where we’d film in their rooms, hallways, and stairwells in the middle of the night—just having fun and not taking ourselves too seriously.
Eventually, a new property manager was hired at my building, and we became friends. She admired what we were doing and granted us access to different parts of the building, including vacant apartments, the basement, and the parking lot. Filming became a collaborative adventure, and we finally completed the film after two years of production.
After a year of post-production, we submitted the film to festivals, where it made a great splash. We had strong turnouts at screenings, picked up a few awards along the way, and then independently submitted the film for distribution. Before long, it landed on Prime Video, Apple TV, and Tubi.
All of this came from taking a risk—and I’m so glad I did!

Damarrus, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I came into the creative arts naturally. My father, a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, had a deep passion for films and often made home movies with our family. I inherited many of his talents. From an early age, I loved music and films, participating in school and church productions where I could sing and act. Eventually, I developed an interest in creating my own music and stories. This passion grew into music production, singing, songwriting, engineering, and independent distribution.

When I say I’m a filmmaker, I mean I wear many hats: actor, screenwriter, director, producer, editor, colorist, and composer. I’m inspired by great artists who have managed to incorporate all of their talents into a medium that brings joy to others. I relate to people like Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Lady Gaga, Robert Downey Jr., Donald Glover, and Jennifer Lopez, who are not only outstanding musicians and vocalists but also exceptional actors.

My mission is to serve my generation with original stories and music that reflect society, while also bringing joy and inspiration.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist, for me, is the freedom to create something original and unique that resonates with others. The ideas and concepts born from my own thoughts and dreams allow me to leave a lasting imprint on the minds of those who connect with my work. When people relate to your ideas, it empowers you to fully be yourself. Originality is what sets you apart from the crowd. Dreams and ideas are gifts, and through my work, I share those gifts with the people who appreciate and enjoy them.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Society can best support artists and creatives by keeping an open mind to fresh ideas and concepts that have the power to unite and bring people together. Even if a work of art is polarizing or controversial, if it sparks meaningful conversations that move us forward, it deserves support. Art’s ability to encourage dialogue and reflection is essential for progress.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://shopdamarrus.com
• Instagram: damarrusgrant
• Facebook: Damarrus Grant
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damarrusgrant/
• Twitter: Damarrus
• Youtube: Damarrus or Damarrus Grant

Image Credits

All images taken by Dwight Taylor
IG: @arthouse_afterdarhk