With the 2023 Oscars in the book, Hollywood has submitted its final critique on the previous years’ films. None of that matters in Detroit. Recent films lauded by Hollywood, don’t carry much weight in Detroit–their glitz and glamor a far cry from the gritty realities of Detroit. In a city known for playing by its own rules, the Oscars mean little — producers, directors, actors the city over are too busy wrapping their latest project or developing their next. Enter DeJuan Ford, Detroit Native Son and key player in the city’s cinematic explosion in recent years.
When DeJuan Ford graduated from Eastern Michigan University, a successful career was certain, and a prolific career in film anything but. It wasn’t until his first foray into the industry with McGraw Ave that DeJuan truly caught the bug. “I remember being on set, and seeing everyone move with such determination and purpose. It was organized chaos, and I was hooked.” With his first role in the books, the next step was producing. “There’s an excitement to the early days of every production, and promise in every meeting, it wasn’t until I assisted in producing that I realized how much work is needed to make a project successful. Beyond that, there are so many talented individuals needed. Despite not being a traditional film hub, I saw a great deal of talent in Detroit. My goal is to cultivate that talent. I want the city to flourish creatively.” Oscar Micheaux opened the first Black owned studio in 1919 before going on to direct or produce over 42 films, with his content classified as ‘race film,’ a Jim Crow era genre of movies made for, and consumed by, Black people. 100 years later, DeJuan Ford continues that legacy by creating opportunities for local actors and filmmakers, all while growing Detroit’s imprint on independent film.
New York, Los Angeles, and in recent years, Atlanta, have traditionally led the way in market share where American film is concerned. However, with the advent of direct-to-consumer streaming platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Peacock
and, in particular, Tubi–Detroit has seen a wave of prolific content creators. At the forefront of that wave is DeJuan Ford, who despite 6 years of experience has over 24 credits to his name, both as an actor and producer. DeJuan has executive produced films such as Tina & Lor, Paper Heart, Black Strait Blues, Red Flagz and tackled numerous roles in productions such as The Dirty D, Ultimate Betrayal, Make it Out & Karma.
It’s not just about soaking up all the shine for himself — filmmaking is a collaborative art form, and one doesn’t create as much content as Mr. Ford without working with others — he puts just as much effort in his partnerships with Plush Productions, Mula Films, DR2 Productions as he does on his own. “My goal is to create opportunities for individuals looking to get into the independent film industry, writers, directors, actors, and crew.” With 24 productions to his name and a full slate through 2023 — that goal seems well in reach.
Connect with DeJaun Ford by following him on IMdB and Instagram.
