Washington, DC – The District of Columbia Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment (OCTFME) is pleased to recognize BREE WEST as the March 2022 Filmmaker of the Month.
Bree West is a film and music video producer, writer, and showrunner whose work has been broadcasted on BET, BET+, TVOne, Lifetime, and ALLBLK networks. Bree started her film career in 2015 when she Co-Executive Produced "The Real MVP: The Wanda Durant Story" with Flavor Unit Productions, a production company owned by Queen Latifah and Shakim Compere. Bree was instrumental in structuring the deal that led to the film’s development and ultimate production. After that project premiered, Bree was hooked. She began developing and producing film content, then with her now-husband and producing partner Chuck West established OCTET Productions, a full-service film, television, and event production company in 2015.
“Words fail to convey how honored I am to be recognized as OCTFME's Filmmaker of the Month, especially during Women's Month. It is a genuine privilege to be recognized for excelling, while pursuing your passion and leaving a legacy for those who will follow,” said Bree West.
Today, Bree is currently the Creative Producer and COO of OCTET Productions. OCTET’s first creative efforts focused on producing and filming theatrical plays for broadcast, digital, and home entertainment distribution. Those projects included: “You Can’t Hurry Love” (2016), starring LaTarsha Rose, Essence Atkins, Richard Brooks, and Victoria Rowell and "Addicted To You” (2016) starring Letoya Luckett, Brely Evans, and Thomas Q. Jones. Bree and OCTET next produced "Couples’ Night” starring Charles Malik Whitfield, Regan Gomez, Denise Boutte, Tony Rock, and Clifton Powell. Those productions were broadcast on the Urban Movie Channel (Now ALLBLK) and distributed in the United Kingdom as well as the continent of Africa. OCTET went on to produce “The Lost Soul’s Café” (2017) for TVOne starring Loretta Devine, Christian Keyes, Kiki Haynes, Ernest Thomas, and Major.
In September 2019, OCTET produced its first scripted film, “Angrily Ever After," a romantic comedy starring Jasmine Burke, Ta'Rhonda Jones, Tyrone Marshall Brown, Terayle Hill, and directed by Terri J. Vaughn. Angrily Ever After premiered on BET and BETHer. On December 7, 2019, OCTET’s next film, “’Twas The Chaos Before Christmas” starring Cynthia Kaye McWilliams, Sherri Shepherd, Affion Crockett, and Victoria Rowell, premiered on BET and BETHer. The film was a ratings hit, viewed by 1.2 million homes on premiere night, making it the highest-rated holiday film in BET Networks history.
In 2020, Bree produced “Love on A Two Way Street," a special theatrical production that premiered first on ABFF Play, the American Black Film Festival’s new OnDemand portal. Love on a Two Way Street starred Erica Ash, Vanessa Williams, Dorien Wilson, KeKe Hayne, and Tony Rock. After its premiere, the film aired on ALLBLK.
During the Biden-Harris Presidential Inauguration of 2021, OCTET produced a virtual gospel concert event, "The 2021 Inaugural Gospel Celebration,” hosted by Anthony Anderson with special appearances by Taraji P. Henson, Morris Chestnut, Lamman Rucker, and Pastor Shirley Caesar. During this amazing celebration, viewers were entertained by gospel greats like Fred Hammond, Hezekiah Walker, Deitrick Haddon, Keke Wyatt, and many more.
Bree’s most recent release, “American Gangster Presents: Big 50 - The Delrhonda Hood Story,” a biopic starring Remy Ma, Durrell "Tank" Babbs, TaRhonda Jones, Pretty Vee, and Debbi Morgan, was directed by Russ Parr and yielded outstanding viewership for BET+. Later in 2021, Bree wrote and produced and filmed a family centered Christmas-themed project, "A Wesley Christmas." This film stars film and TV icons Jasmine Guy, Dorien Wilson, TC Carsons, and rising stars Loren Lott, Terayle Hill, KeKe Haynes, Kevin Savage, Rolonda Rochelle, and Sydney Mitchell.
Bree West is excited about 2022. She has two upcoming projects in production, including a suspense thriller feature film set to premiere this fall, entitled "Stalked Within," and a sensual, suspense thriller series set to premiere this fall entitled "HUSH." In the meantime, Bree is writing the sequel to her most recent Christmas film entitled, “A Wesley Christmas Wedding.”
Bree and her husband/production partner Chuck are also committed to giving back and mentoring the next generation for filmmakers. Bree and Chuck have have given lectures to students at American University and developed a partnership with Bowie State University to help advance the careers of young aspiring filmmakers. Bree truly embraces a responsibility to support developing filmmakers by giving them access to hands-on experiences and opportunities they otherwise would not have. Bree is determined to keep producing great content because she looks at filmmakers as historians and documentarians.
“Our films tell the stories of our cultural experiences during the time periods that they capture. They will be used, in the future, as tools that convey how we lived. It is our obligation to tell our authentic stories."
Bree West is extremely honored and grateful to be celebrated as OCTFME MARCH 2022 FILMMAKER OF THE MONTH and looks forward to producing many more meaningful films in the future.
Bree's Future Projects:
Bree is currently in pre-production for three upcoming projects that she plans to produce in 2022:
Stalked Within - a suspense thriller filmed for release in fall 2022. Producer, EP;
Hush - Suspense Thriller Episodic series - 8 episodes - release in Fall 2022, Producer, EP, Co-show runner;
A Wesley Christmas Wedding - the second film in a three-part franchise. Writer, Producer, EP;
Bree's Film Credits:
Bree's Social Media Handles:
###
BREE WEST DC RADIO INTERVIEW
Want to learn more about Bree West and her work? Click HERE to listen to her DC Radio interview.
###
About FILMMAKER OF THE MONTH
The Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment (OCTFME) launched the “Filmmaker of the Month” initiative as a vehicle for highlighting the talents and creative contributions of filmmakers that make the District of Columbia their home. The “Filmmaker of the Month” initiative is part of OCTFME’s mission to elevate the national and international profile of the District’s talented filmmakers.
***If you know of a filmmaker that would make a great future “Filmmaker of the Month,” you can send OCTFME your recommendations using this nomination form.
###
About OCTFME
The Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment (OCTFME) produces and broadcasts programming for the District of Columbia’s public, educational, and government access (PEG) cable television channels and digital radio station; regulates the District of Columbia’s cable television service providers; provides customer service for cable subscribers; and supports a sustainable film, music, and entertainment creative economy and labor market in the District of Columbia.
OCTFME award-winning content provides resourceful information on government activity, education, current events, history, music, arts, and entertainment. OCTFME operates and manages the District’s government television access channels: the District Council Channel (DCC), the District of Columbia Network (DCN), and the District Knowledge Network (DKN).
OCTFME manages, operates, and programs the District of Columbia Entertainment Network (DCE). This 24-hour on-demand streaming network delivers diverse and inclusive – FREE – lifestyle, music, live events, sports, arts, variety shows, talk shows, educational and entertainment programming from the nation’s capital into homes via ROKU, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV as well as iPhone and Android mobile devices by downloading the DCE Network App or at DCENetwork.com.
OCTFME also operates, manages, and programs DC Radio 96.3 HD4 digital radio station, the District of Columbia’s first government radio station, in partnership with Howard University’s WHUR. It is one of only two full-power, city-managed and programmed radio stations in the country.
OCTFME provides production support services that advance film, television, video, entertainment, interactive, multimedia, and digital media content creators. These services include permitting, location scouting, production support; job placement assistance; workforce development; and the DC Film, Television, and Entertainment Rebate Fund.
OCTFME provides additional support to the Creative community through the Creative Affairs Office (CAO), and the Mayor Muriel Bowser Presents: 202Creates initiative. CAO showcases and preserves the District of Columbia’s rich creative communities throughout all 8 Wards. CAO builds sustainability in the creative community through policy, programming, and education, further expanding the middle-class pathway for the creative workforce. CAO coordinates public, private, and community partners to accomplish all goals and create equitable and inclusive opportunities for the District’s creatives. Mayor Muriel Bowser Presents: 202Creates initiative, administers programs that support the growth and sustainability of the creative industries throughout the District.
For more information, contact the Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment at (202) 671-0066, visit us online at: entertainment.dc.gov, and follow us on Facebook.com/entertaindc, Instagram.com/entertain_dc, and Twitter.com/entertain_dc.
###
