In the wake of his successful Peacock series Bel-Air–the dramatic reimagining of the series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air–triple-threat writer/director/cinematographer Morgan Cooper has joined the roster at London Alley for exclusive commercial, branded content and music video representation in the U.S. He had previously been repped by production house Chromista in the advertising arena.
After purchasing his first camera at the age of 18 from a Best Buy, Cooper saw his obsession with filmmaking take hold; since then, the Kansas City, Missouri native has been on a quest to perfect his craft through immersive self-study and intentional acts of creation.
Cooper infuses his storytelling with a deep sense of meaning and purpose. Within 24 hours of uploading one such project to YouTube in March 2019, a visionary short film entitled Bel-Air, Cooper was contacted by Will and Jada Smith’s production company, Westbrook, Inc., with interest in developing what would become Bel-Air, the breakout hit television series that premiered in February 2022. Amid his recent successes, Cooper remains true to his Midwest roots and values, which resonate throughout his work, lending a distinct voice and a strong vision to his passion for storytelling.
Cooper is a two-time Tribeca X winner for his feature U SHOOT VIDEOS? and the short film for Synchrony Bank, Pay Day, with each film garnering the top prize for their respective categories at the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival. Made in collaboration with Adorama, U SHOOT VIDEOS? follows Moji, a hungry young filmmaker who pursues his dream of being a filmmaker by shooting low budget music videos for local rappers in Kansas City while yearning to take a bold leap forward in his career.
Currently based in Los Angeles, Cooper is in development with Sony Pictures Television for a half hour dramedy titled BLKCOFFEE, a series about a former basketball player from Kansas City who becomes a national barista champion after an injury derails his chances of going pro. He serves as co-creator, director and executive producer alongside showrunner/executive producer Dayna Lynne North (Insecure, The Best Man: Final Chapters) along with Gabrielle Union and her production company, I’ll Have Another. Cooper was recently interviewed for TIME100 Talks, a series that speaks with the most influential leaders in each field, in which he addressed issues of equity, inspiration, and impact, and was featured in Teen Vogue’s New Hollywood cover series, which features eight creatives who are “daring to think about Hollywood differently.”
London Alley executive producer, Sandy Haddad said, “Morgan is that rare creative whose vision is unwavering and matched only by his ability to execute it with sheer perfection. Every detail of the craft is subject to his refined eye, helping him to create new worlds and immersive storytelling experiences.”
Cooper added, “In London Alley, I’ve found a partner who respects my creative process and is deeply committed to bringing that vision to life. They understand who I am as a creator, and together we will break new boundaries. I’m proud to be joining such a talented roster of filmmakers.”
“Heretic” and “Maria” Set As Red Carpet Premieres At AFI Fest
The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced that Heretic, the psychological thriller starring Hugh Grant, and Maria, based on the life of opera singer Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie, will round out the Red Carpet Premieres section at this yearโs AFI Fest. The Heretic Gala Screening will take place on Thursday, October 24, and the Maria Gala Screening will be held on Saturday, October 26. The complete Red Carpet Premieres section includes the world premieres of Music By John Williams, Robert Zemeckisโ Here, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Clint Eastwoodโs Juror #2. All Red Carpet Premieres will take place at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. The full lineup for AFI Fest 2024 will be unveiled on October 1.
โAt the heart of AFI Fest is an unwavering dedication to celebrating the best in global cinema--together,โ said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. โWe look forward to uniting artists and audiences once again to be inspired by the art form in a powerful sense of community.โ
Heretic follows two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (portrayed by Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. The film is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods and produced by Stacey Sher, Beck, Woods, Julia Glausi and Jeanette Volturno. The film will be released nationwide by A24 on November 8.
Directed by Pablo Larraรญn, Maria presents a tumultuous and beautiful depiction of one of the worldโs most renowned artists and reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days in Paris, as Callas (Jolie)... Read More