THE LAB MAGAZINE - Vol. 2

COVER STORY

TEWODROSS MELCHISHUA WILLIAMS

Filmmaker, animator, designer, producer, and professor

For over 30 years, Prince George's county based filmmaker Tewodross Melchishua Williams has collaborated with local producers, artists and creatives. Now "Teo" as he is known to his friends, is currently wrapping up a script for a feature-length film called The Beat. The film, 10 years in the making, will showcase Teo's signature visual effects and animation, but notably will feature a dynamic soundtrack. The Beat will be the sci-fi and rhythmic journey of a mother and anthropologist teaching at an HBCU, who is is given ancient artifacts and, along with her young son, the opportunity to save the world from impending doom.

Most of the film will be shot in Prince George’s County and specifically on location in the Gateway Arts District. The afrofuturist film and multimedia experience will be produced through the Gateway Media Arts Lab with support from the Prince George's Arts and Humanities Council and Prince George's Film Office. Teo will soon begin financing and pre-production with production expected to begin in 2025.

"The soundtrack and music will be a huge part of this project or experience. I want to show some love to some of my favorite local artists, DJs and producers who create hip-hop, gogo, soul, house, afrobeat and reggae music."

Founded in 2008 to "put ideas into motion", Visual Jazz is the creative brainchild of Tewodross aka “Teo”. The moniker, Visual Jazz, pays homage to visual artist Romare Bearden and musician Thelonious Monk.

This unique collective is home to visual storytellers who use their artistry and technology prowess to produce digital content for film, media and live performance. The collective is also committed to “ building our creative community and local economy through collaboration and the use of film, animation, technology and media arts.”

In addition to being a filmmaker and artist, Teo is an afrofuturist. He's been teaching the genre in his visual culture and cinematography courses for some time at Bowie State. He' s also an authority on speculative fiction, horror, fantasy and topics including images of African Americans and the Black Diaspora. " The subject also coincides with my courses and minor in hip-hop studies and visual culture. I have been very excited about the possibilities for infinite stories that have yet to be told."

"Most recently I worked with the amazing Tressa Azarel Smallwood of Megamind Media-- responsible for the opening titles and motion graphics on “The Available Wife”. (ALL BLK network and BET).

IN HIS OWN WORDS

On Prince George' s County - " We have one of the largest and bustling communities of African Americans and others from the African Diaspora as well as Latinix and Hispanic demographics. These and other international communities only add to the flavor of the county. We have yet to fully tap into our potential. It is beyond time for Prince George’ s County to be recognized as a center for entertainment and production. My goal is to continue to contribute to the filmmaking, animation, and media arts industry."

On the Gateway Arts District - "The Gateway Arts District is creating a central location in Prince George’ s County, for film, animation, design, production and digital media and really for the entertainment industry as a whole. We are centrally located, close to DC, Baltimore and Annapolis, and can be that “ hub” to develop, produce, edit and hopefully, market and distribute various film, television and animation productions. There are so many dope creatives here and I see it quickly becoming a center for entertainment and film/media production.

On the Gateway Media Arts Lab - The Lab has been great for my career and as an entrepreneur. It has allowed me to have a central place or hub to work as a creative and specifically in the Gateway Arts District. This has led to greater networking and ways to collaborate with other artists and businesses in the Lab and within this community. The Lab is also next to DPARK 3311 which expands capabilities to include fashion and costume design, wardrobe, sound and design production and services. There are also meeting spaces for clients and customers. Partnerships with the City of Mount Rainier, Prince George’ s County Arts and Humanities Council, the Prince George' s Film Office and Gateway CDC provide us great access to the local studios, businesses and companies and add to the creative economy."