ERIC LOCKLEY is a Harlem-based writer, actor and producer. As a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts with a double Major in Africana studies, Eric is most passionate about creating and supporting work that explores the complexity of identity through the lens of the often under-represented.

A native of Baltimore, Maryland Eric’s plays and solo shows have been seen on stages in New York, DC, Maryland, North Carolina, Chicago and even Johannesburg, South Africa. Eric’s plays include Blacken the Bubble, an “affirmative action comedy” that examines identity politics in the workplace, and Without Trace, a conspiracy theory thriller about an inner city family experiencing apocalyptic America. As writer and performer Eric has garnered success with his two solo shows: Last Laugh which explores what happens when two black performers begin to confuse performance and reality, and Asking For More a high-energy educational show encouraging healthy nutrition and fitness habits in urban communities.

In 2013 Eric had an opportunity to see his work on-screen when the non-profit organization Caring Across Generations commissioned Lockley to write a PSA. Eric’s contribution entitled, “My Harlem” was performed by legendary Tony nominated actress/writer Micki Grant and directed by Tanya Wexler.

As an actor Lockley has been on both stage and screen, featured in plays by Tarrell Alvin McCraney, Marcus Gardley and Idris Goodwin, and in films by Michael Brown, Stacey Holman, Jamal Hodge and Darius Monroe (the ABFF Official Selection, “Midway”). In 2015 Eric’s voiceover work was featured in the Sundance and NAACP award-winning documentary, “The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution”. An upcoming film project is “Assisted Living” directed by Diane Dreyer and featuring Olympia Dukakis and Macy Gray.

Eric Lockley has been producing theater in New York City for over 8 years with his two Harlem-based organizations The Movement Theatre Company [TMTC] and Harlem9 [H9]. Lockley oversees, creates and produces the artistic programming of both organizations with his team of collaborators. While Lockley operated as Lead Producer on TMTC’s Bintou, a world premiere production of internationally renowned Francophone playwright Koffi Kwahule, the company received acclaim from The New York Times, showcasing TMTC’s emergence as one of the premiere organizations for artists of color in NYC.

Harlem9’s annual one-of-a-kind short play festival 48Hours in . . . Harlem features 30 black artists collaborating to create new work in 48 Hours. The festival was recognized with a 2014 OBIE Award for its contribution to diversifying the theater landscape. During his time with these organizations, Lockley has produced a number of promotional videos including TMTC’s highly anticipated “Holiday Videos”. Around the holiday season, TMTC changes the lyrics to a song so that it promotes TMTC’s work, and then a high-quality music video is shot, edited and posted online for consumption.

These videos have been highly popular. The most recent video was an Empireinspired medley that garnered attention from Essence and Ebony magazines online, and the praise of Empire co-creator, Danny Strong. With his first foray into filmmaking Lockley has written and produced, “The Jump”, a short film exploring a young boy’s complicated relationship with the water. In all of his work, Eric seeks to push boundaries and inspire audiences while emphasizing the varied stories that exist within communities of color.

Emerging from New York's inner-city and a childhood spotted with poverty and homelessness, in 1999 Jamal Hodge burst onto the independent film scene with his first film, ‘An African-American in Russia’. This exploratory documentary earned numerous awards, introducing Hodge to the film circuit as a daring and insightful artist. As a young filmmaker, Hodge's works have been featured in the renowned Sundance Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, and the San Francisco International Film Festival. Hodge has worked on the Emmy Award-winning documentary, Bullets in the Hood as a cinematographer, and on Discovery Channel's Dupont award winning Series 'OFF To War' as an assistant editor. Jamal has been recognized with a citation award from the Hague Appeal for Peace for his brilliant directorial work in 'The Zapatista Dream 5 Years Later.' He has received various other accolades and awards including a Gold Spire Award from the San Francisco International Film Festival and the Alumnus Award from Tribeca/Urban Visionaries.

Not one to shy away from the organic pull of the New York City Theater, Jamal Hodge has worked as an assistant director on the off-Broadway play, Prayers for the Ghetto, and as a casting agent for Clifton King and Michael Horne for the sketch comedy show 'Something Outrageous'. Recently Hodge has performed as an actor opposite theatre legend Patrik Baldauff in the short film 'Patrik' (2016) and in the Feature film Wild Men (2016) as the film's main antagonist.

Jamal Hodge's first Narrative feature film as a director, ‘Threading Needles’, a gritty drama that explores the current state of American racism, the bonds of family and the fragile but unbreakable bonds of love, was one of two runner-ups at the Hollywood Black Film Festival’s 2011 feature film competition. Hodge is currently in Post-production on a slew of projects, such as ‘Modern Grace’, a faith based Documentary-series and ‘The Last Doctor’ a medical series that highlights the current state of health culture through the eyes of a 77 year old Jewish-Italian Knight. He will release 3 narrative films in 2016 ‘The Jump’ (an inspirational drama), ‘Knockout Game’ (an urban thriller), and ‘The Kind Ones’ (a horror film) which has recently become a selection in the 2016 Cannes Film festival’s short film Corner.

Having worked in the commercial world for companies such as Black Berry and Teachscape, Hodge has directed the corporate videos for the Harlem Children's Zone's Healthy Harlem Initiative from 2012-2015. An avid believer in education and an advocate for 'paying it forward', Hodge has also taught filmmaking to literally hundreds of kids from various walks of life, at the Japan Society, Keio Academy, Big Brothers-Big Sisters, The Pro-Tv Program, TRUCE, The COVE, and Mythic Bridge. Despite his humble beginnings, Hodge has risen to become one of film's most promising and dynamic new visionaries. His history of mentoring youth in underprivileged communities speaks to his depth of character and his work abroad sheds light on his ability to cross barriers and explore issues that have long remained undiscovered. As a director, writer, and producer, Jamal Hodge has only just begun to carve out his name into film history.