Akoben Cinema is a team of creatives and storytellers committed to producing thought-provoking cinema across film, television and digital platforms. Our art centers narratives that are boundary-pushing, visually compelling, and dignity affirming. WE MAKE CINEMA.
The principals are
Lasana O. Hotep, CVO and
James Calhoun, CCO (Chief Creative Officer)
Lasana Omar Hotep is an educator, filmmaker and entrepreneur committed to eradicating inequities in society.
As an educator, Lasana has taught at the primary level and has served as an administrator at the community college and university levels. As an essayist and writer, he has contributed to several publications including Be A Father to Your Child: Real Talk from Black Men of the Hiphop Generation (Soft Skull 2008), The Black Male Handbook: A Blueprint for Life (Atira 2008), and Icon of Black America (Greenwood 2011). He is also the co-author of Minding the Obligation Gap in Community Colleges and Beyond (Peter Lang 2020) and co-editor of the White Educators Guide to Equity (Peter Lang 2023).
As a filmmaker he has executive produced several projects illuminating Black life throughout the diaspora. Hotep has served as the executive producer of the award-winning short, White Mirror, directed by Taj Kokayi and the forthcoming He Looked Like A Postcard starring jessica care moore and directed by Qasim Basir. He has also served as an executive producer of Basir’s To Live and Die and Live which premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Hotep is also producing the documentary Ghana: We Are Here directed by Charles Opong chronicling a African-American educators summit hosted in Cape Coast, Ghana in 2022.
Lasana is the founder and executive director of Hotep Consultants, a full service educational consulting firm and principal/Chief Visionary Officer (CVO) of Akoben Cinema. He believes that art has the ability to be transformative and should spark our imaginations to fashion a more just and dignity-affirming world. Hotep is a native of Los Angeles, California and currently resides in Dallas, Texas.
Jay D. Calhoun is a seasoned cinematographer, producer, editor and director dedicated to telling stories that make a difference.
His passion for filmmaking and storytelling can be seen in award winning documentaries, timeless and compelling feature films and a host of television magazine and talk shows. As a cinematographer he has filmed professional sports (formerly Oakland Raiders), episodic streaming shows (Craig Ross’ Monogamy – AMC, Urban Eats and Treats – LOL Network/Peacock). He’s also directed and produced live holiday parades seen by over 170 million people.
He has had the good fortune to work along side Mario Van Peebles (‘BAADASSSSS!’ – Sony Classics) Delroy Lindo, Laura Lazin (‘TUPAC:RESURRECTION’ Paramount) and many more. His work has been seen and/or featured on Fox, CBS, NBC, PBS, AMC, Amazon and HULU.
Jay is a multi-dimensional, multi-hyphenated creative. Utilizing every talent available to compose frames or help provide direction and vision.
Leading to his role as Chief Creative Officer for Akoben Cinema.
Social: @jaydcalhoun
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