Christopher Brian Stokes (born July 21, 1969) is an American

filmmaker Filmmaking (film production) is the process by which a motion picture is produced. Filmmaking involves a number of complex and discrete stages, starting with an initial story, idea, or commission. It then continues through screenwriting, castin ...

and former record executive. He is the son of actress Irene Stokes and older brother of singer

Juanita Stokes Juanita Stokes (born 1972), currently known as Needa S. (formerly Smooth), is an American singer and rapper. She is the daughter of actress Irene Stokes and younger sister of music executive Chris Stokes. Career Stokes began her career as ...

. He is perhaps best known for being the founder of

The Ultimate Group TUG Entertainment (TUG stands for The Ultimate Group), was a record label/ Management Company that was once home to such artists as B2K, Omarion, Marques Houston, Mila J, O'Ryan, Jhené Aiko, One Luv, 2 Much and NLT, Simon Phenix/Rawwtunez for Un ...

record label in 2000, whose roster included

B2K B2K (Boys of the New Millennium) was an American boy band that was active from 1998 to 2004, and again from 2018 to 2019. In 1998, the group was formed by American dance choreographer Dave Scott and Interscope A&R Keshia Gamble. The members ...

, Omarion,

Jhené Aiko Jhené Aiko Efuru Chilombo (; born March 16, 1988) is an American singer who embarked on her music career contributing vocals and appearing in several music videos for R&B group B2K. In an effort to promote Aiko and cultivate a following for he ...

Marques Houston Marques Barrett Houston (born August 4, 1981) is an American R&B singer, songwriter, and actor. A member of the R&B group Immature/IMx from 1990 until 2002, Houston went solo in 2003. As an actor, he is best known for his role as Roger Evans ...

, IMx and NLT, among others.

Transition to film and television

Stokes first became connected with film and television through the talent he managed. In 1992,

made his acting debut in the animated comedy film ''

Bébé's Kids ''Bebe's Kids'' (also marketed as ''Robin Harris' Bébé's Kids'') is a 1992 American adult animated comedy film produced by Hyperion Studio for Paramount Pictures. Directed by Bruce W. Smith, in his directorial debut, it is based upon comedia ...

'', and received his big break as a regular on '' Sister, Sister'' in 1994. All three members of

Immature Mature is the adjectival form of maturity, as immature is the adjectival form of immaturity, which have several meanings. Mature or immature may also refer to: * Mature, a character from ''The King of Fighters'' series *"Mature 17+", a rating in ...

appeared in the film ''

House Party 3 ''House Party 3'' is a 1994 American comedy film, starring Kid 'n Play, Bernie Mac, and TLC. It is the third installment of the '' House Party'' film series. This was intended to be the last film in the franchise, ending it as a trilogy, but a s ...

'' (1994). His first film credit came in 2001 as the writer and director of '' House Party 4'', which starred

, which by then had transitioned to their new name IMx. He is perhaps most well known as the writer and director of the 2004 dance movie '' You Got Served'', starring members of his

TUG A tugboat or tug is a marine vessel that manoeuvres other vessels by pushing or pulling them, with direct contact or a tow line. These boats typically tug ships in circumstances where they cannot or should not move under their own power, suc ...

record label. The cast included

Lil' Kim Kimberly Denise Jones (born July 11, 1974), Those giving 1974 include: * * * * * better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper and reality television personality. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York City, she lived much of h ...

and

. The film opened at #1 at the box office during

Super Bowl The Super Bowl is the annual final playoff game of the National Football League (NFL) to determine the league champion. It has served as the final game of every NFL season since 1966, replacing the NFL Championship Game. Since 2022, the gam ...

weekend with $16 million grossed in its first week. He also wrote and directed '' Somebody Help Me'' and ''

Somebody Help Me 2 ''Somebody Help Me 2'' is a 2010 horror film starring Marques Houston and Omarion, and is written and directed by their music producer, Chris Stokes. As the sequel, it follows up the events of ''Somebody Help Me'', which was released in 2007. Th ...

'', two horror films. The first, ''Somebody Help Me'', was released to DVD on November 13, 2007, and made a television premiere on BET on Halloween 2007. Both were distributed by

Vivendi Vivendi SE is a French mass media holding company headquartered in Paris. Widely known as the owner of Gameloft, Groupe Canal+, Havas, Editis, Prisma Media, Vivendi Village and Dailymotion, the company has activities in television, film, video ...

. The company's second feature, ''No Vacancy'', another horror, was completed in 2011 and the first of Stokes' films not star talent from his music career. It was distributed by Grindstone / Lionsgate Home Entertainment. Also in 2011, Stokes returned to the dance battle genre with the dance-drama '' Battlefield America'', starring

, Gary Anthony Sturgis, and

Lynn Whitfield Lynn Whitfield (''née'' Smith; born February 15, 1953) is an American actress. She began her acting career in television and theatre before progressing to supporting roles in film. She won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a ...

. The film follows a young businessman whose community service obligations require him to turn a group of misfit kids into a dance team. In 2018 it was announced Chris Stokes signed a 3-picture deal with Viacom, "We Belong Together", "Running Out of Time", and "Fall Girls". "We Belong Together" launched BET Network's original movie franchise by premiering simultaneously on BET and BET Her, produced by Chris Stokes' Footage Films production company. In August 2019, BET+ announced a new legal thriller "Sacrifice", to be written, directed, and produced by Chris Stokes through his Footage Films production company, and starring Paula Patton. In May 2020, Stokes' new musical series "Howard High", starring Marques Houston debuts on subscription-based platform UrbanflixTV. In 2020, BET+ acquired "Trigger", directed by Stokes. It is set to be released this summer as a BET Original on their streaming platform. Also this summer, BET picked up thriller "Always and Forever", directed by Stokes and starring Lauren London, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Deborah Ayorinde, Rocsi Diaz, Wood Harris and

Loretta Devine Loretta Devine (born August 21, 1949) is an American actress, singer and voice actor. She is known for numerous roles across stage and screen. Her most high profile roles include Lorrell Robinson in the original Broadway production of '' Dreamg ...

. In September 2020, BET+ announced that it would turn its original film "Sacrifice" into a series, ordering 10 episodes to be written, directed, and produced by Stokes. Chris Stokes announced in 2021 that Footage Films was greenlit to produce a new series, Foster Law, for the emerging black streaming network UrbanFlix. Chris_Stokes_at_home

Filmography

Christopher Brian Collection

In 2007, Stokes launched a clothing and fashion line, the Christopher Brian Collection, which debuted at

Magic (trade show) MAGIC is a fashion tradeshow A trade fair, also known as trade show, trade exhibition, or trade exposition, is an exhibition organized so that companies in a specific industry can showcase and demonstrate their latest products and services, meet ...

in Las Vegas February 2007.Take Cover: Kim Kardashian. J'Adore Magazine, November 2007
Jadoremag.com
. Retrieved July 3rd, 2014. The line featured

Kim Kardashian Kimberly Noel Kardashian (formerly West; born October 21, 1980) is an American socialite, media personality, and businesswoman. She first gained media attention as a friend and stylist of Paris Hilton, but received wider notice after the s ...

as the principle spokesmodel and was available at Dash, her Calabassas boutique. Promotional images for the brand featured topless pictures of Kim Kardashian wearing just the Christopher Brian pants.TMZ: Chris Stokes
TMZ
Retrieved July 3rd, 2014.

References

External links

*
Official Chris Stokes

Chris Stokes Entertainment

Footage Films Official Site

Chris Stokes directing 1st of 3 picture deal with Viacom

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stokes, Chris African-American film directors Film producers from California American music video directors Record producers from California Living people 1966 births Film directors from Los Angeles 21st-century African-American people 20th-century African-American people Converts to Jehovah's Witnesses