Andre Gaines (MSJ01)

Director/Producer – Cinemation Studios

Tell us about your career path. How did you get where you are today?

I had an unusual career path, having graduated from Northwestern with a dual-degree in Journalism and Advanced Chemistry. I deferred my acceptance into medical school, and the same year that deferment ran out is the year I got into NYU Tisch School of the Arts to study screenwriting and film. I worked as an intern for two years between undergrad and grad school, first at Universal Studios and then Sony. Having some real-world work experience in Hollywood, a new set of skills as a filmmaker, and a degrees from Northwestern and NYU, I was able to navigate a career path through my network and great mentorship.

What are your main responsibilities in your current role?

As Producer and financier, I’m responsible for pulling together all the best talent necessary to make a great film, including actors, writers, directors and crew. I’m also responsible for raising money, including my own investment in the film. As Director, I’m responsible for the vision of the film, especially the look, tone and steering the dramatic choices of the actors.

What is one of your proudest career accomplishments?

One of my proudest career accomplishments if when I made my directorial debut with a film called The One and Only Dick Gregory, about renowned comedian/activist Dick Gregory. The film took 6 years to make from start of principal photography to release. However, over the course of twenty-five years, 3 major directors attempted to make a film about Dick Gregory but did not succeed. The One and Only Dick Gregory proudly premiered as the closing film at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 19, 2021 and on Showtime on July 4, 2021, and garnered me my first Emmy nomination.

What does Black History Month mean to you?

Black History Month is all year for me. I built my company, Cinemation Studios, with the stated purpose of honoring our history and putting people of color in genre films. The month of February simply offers us all an opportunity to concentrate on the legacies and accomplishment of ancestors in this country and pay homage to the culture they gave us.

How can your industry be more inclusive and representative of society?

The entertainment industry was built on exclusion rather than inclusion. So it’s important that we as artists are constantly pushing boundaries by challenging the status quo, telling untold stories that deserve an audience and being intentional about hiring people of color in key roles. Film and television are two of the most powerful propaganda tools every invented, and it is our job to promote diverse voices in a positive light.

How have your identities influenced the way you navigate your professional career?

I am a proud Black man, and one of few Black producer/financiers. My identity guides my principles, my way of life and how I approach storytelling in every way. It allows me to have an open mind about stories or projects that might otherwise get overlooked, such as The Lady and the Dale, a show I executive produced on HBO that shed light on the LGBTQ+ community in a humanizing and entertaining way.

What advice do you have for someone considering Medill?

I credit Medill with teaching me how to write. When you learn how to write, you’re equipped to take on almost any career path, expect medicine and engineering. Embrace failure as a path to incredible growth, not shame. And use the resources and faculty to learn everything you can about the real world.