Chris Stokes (filmmaker) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chris Stokes
Stokes in 2020
Born	1969/1970 (age 55–56)
Nationality	American
Occupation	Record executive talent manager film producer director screenwriter
Years active	1995–present
Label(s)	TUG Universal

Christopher B. Stokes is an American filmmaker and a former music executive. He started a music company called The Ultimate Group (TUG Entertainment) in 1997. This company helped launch the careers of music groups and artists like B2K, Omarion, Jhené Aiko, Marques Houston, IMx, and NLT. Chris Stokes also directed popular movies such as the dance film You Got Served (2004). He also directed TV movies like House Party 4 (2001) and Somebody Help Me (2007).

Chris Stokes' Work and Projects

Chris Stokes first got involved with movies and TV through the talented people he managed. In 1992, Marques Houston started acting in the animated movie Bebe's Kids. He then became a regular on the TV show Sister, Sister in 1994. All three members of the group Immature also appeared in the film House Party 3 (1994).

Directing and Writing Films

Stokes' first movie as a writer and director was House Party 4 in 2001. This film starred the group IMx, which had changed its name from Immature. He then wrote and directed the 2004 dance movie You Got Served. This movie was very successful. It starred members of his TUG music company, including Marques Houston and rapper Lil' Kim.

In 2007, Stokes started his own clothing line called the Christopher Brian Collection. It was shown for the first time in Las Vegas in February 2007. The famous model Kim Kardashian was the main face for this clothing line. The clothes were sold at her store, Dash, in Calabasas.

He also wrote and directed the horror movies Somebody Help Me and Somebody Help Me 2. The first movie was shown on TV on BET in October 2007. It was released on DVD the next month. Both movies were distributed by Vivendi. His company's next horror movie, No Vacancy, was finished in 2011. This was the first of Stokes' films that did not star artists from his music career. It was distributed by Grindstone and Lionsgate Home Entertainment.

In 2011, Stokes returned to making dance movies with Battlefield America. This film starred Marques Houston, Gary Anthony Sturgis, and Lynn Whitfield. The story is about a young businessman. He has to do community service, which means he must turn a group of kids into a dance team.

Recent Film and TV Projects

In 2018, Chris Stokes made a deal with Viacom for three movies. These films were We Belong Together, Running Out of Time, and Fall Girls. We Belong Together was the first to launch BET Network's original movie series. It was shown on both BET and BET Her at the same time. Stokes' company, Footage Films, produced it.

In August 2019, BET+ announced a legal thriller called Sacrifice. Chris Stokes wrote, directed, and produced this show. It starred Paula Patton. In May 2020, Stokes' new musical series "Howard High" was released. It starred Marques Houston and debuted on the UrbanflixTV streaming platform.

In 2020, BET+ bought the movie Trigger, which Stokes directed. It was released as a BET Original on their streaming platform. That same year, his company released Always and Forever. Stokes directed this film, which starred Lauren London, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Deborah Ayorinde, Rocsi Diaz, Wood Harris, and Loretta Devine. In September 2020, BET+ turned Sacrifice into a TV series. They ordered 10 episodes, which Stokes wrote, directed, and produced.

In 2021, Stokes announced that Footage Films was approved to produce a new series. This series, called Foster Law, is for the Black streaming network UrbanFlix. In 2023, Stokes released the third movie in The Stepmother series. This was the first time Tubi had a three-movie series. Each film follows Elizabeth Carter (Erica Mena) as she tries to find the perfect family. It also stars actors who often work with Stokes, like Marques Houston. Tubi then released four more original thrillers by Stokes in 2023. These were The Assistant, Best Friend, You’re Not Alone, and No Way Out.

Filmography