One of the most prolific independent producers in film and television, Datari Turner is crafting a career like no other. As founder of Datari Turner Productions in 2010, he has produced 30 feature films, including six (6) films that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival: A Boy. A Girl. A Dream(2018); Gook (winner of the NEXT Audience Award in 2017), Ten Thousand Saints (2015), Luv (2012), Another Happy Day (2011) and Salvation Boulevard (2011). All told, his films have earned 98 festival award nominations.

 

Datari has worked with 4 Academy Award winners (Jennifer Connolly, Common, Marisa Tomei and Ellen Burstyn) and 13 Academy Award nominees, including Ethan Hawke, James Franco, and Ruby Dee.Possessing a keen eye for talent, Turner gave actors Ryan Destiny ("Star") and Michael Rainey Jr ("Power") their big screen debuts and cast rapper Common in his first lead film role (Luv).

 

On the television side, Datari has produced 100 hours of original programming for networks such as WE tv, BET, TV One, Starz and Oxygen. Datari is creator of the hit WE tv franchise "Growing Up Hip Hop," currently in its 4th season and the network's highest-rated program.

 

In 2015, Datari signed a first-look deal with CodeBlack/Lionsgate Films. In 2016, he signed a  first-look deal with Entertainment One to produce original, unscripted programming for the studio. He is currently executive producing a new Showtime series about the NBA Draft with Lebron James.

 

A native of Oakland, CA, Datari attended the University of Oklahoma on a full football scholarship and later became a model for top brands such as Banana Republic, Tommy Hilfiger and Sean John. An alum of the ABC/Disney program, Datari resides in Beverly Hills and sits on the board of The Blackhouse Foundation. He is repped by CAA.