I acknowledge the enormous responsibility this signifies to produce movies that matter as well as being popular with audiences, as the only African American recognized on this list." "I look forward to continuing to support images that have not historically been pushed by mainstream Hollywood," says Packer in a further statement.
Packer has also received recognition on a number of prestigious lists, including Black Enterprise Magazine's "Most Powerful Players Under 40," Jet Magazine's "Who's Hot to Watch in 2008," and Giant Magazine's "The Giant 100." Packer and Rob Hardy were recognized by Black Enterprise as two of the "Top 25 Money Makers in Hollywood" in March 2008.
Oprah Winfrey, Will Smith, Eddie Murphy, Denzel Washington, Queen Latifah, Chris Tucker, and Tyler Perry were among the other awardees. Packer is in charge of creating and managing Rainforest Films' studio-financed and independently-financed films as well as the firm's distribution initiatives. Packer is the co-founder and chairman of the Atlanta-based production company.
While both were engineering students at Florida A&M University in the summer of 1994, he and his colleague Rob Hardy co-founded Rainforest Films. After earning a B.S. in Electrical Engineering Magna Cum laude in 1996, Packer chose to forgo lucrative employment offers in the industry in order to pursue his passion for filmmaking and entrepreneurialism.
The company's debut theatrical release motion picture, Trois, which earned $1.2 million and became the quickest African-American-distributed movie to reach the million-dollar mark, was made possible by his relentless and innovative leadership.
Packer arranged for a successful collaboration between Rainforest Films and Sony's Screen Gems to develop and distribute urban films in light of the company's success as an independent distributor.
As a result of this collaboration, Packer also had the responsibility of managing the production and distribution costs for a number of urban-themed albums, such as Trois: The Escort, Motives, and the independent breakout smash The Gospel.
Before returning to Atlanta to work on the company's largest project to date, Stomp the Yard, which held the top spot at the box office for two weekends in January 2007 and won the 2007 Movie of the Year award from the BET Hip Hop Awards, Packer arranged a deal to produce actor Mekhi Phifer's feature film directorial debut, Puff Puff Pass.
Shortly after, Packer saw success with his 2007 holiday movie This Christmas, starring Chris Brown, Columbus Short, Loretta Devine, Delroy Lindo, Mekhi Phifer, and Regina King, which debuted at #2 at the box office during Thanksgiving weekend.
While many directors struggle to get top talent in their movies, Packer's films have a cast list that reads like a "who's who" of musicians and entertainers. Obsessed, a femme-fatal thriller starring Beyonce Knowles, Idris Elba, and Ali Larter, was released in theatres around the country in April 2009.
In 2010, Matt Dillon, Idris Elba, Paul Walker, Hayden Christensen, TI, Chris Brown, Michael Ealy, Jay Hernandez, and Zoe Saldana starred in the action movie Takers.
In addition, Packer is working on a number of upcoming projects, such as the urban adaptation of the classic movie The Big Chill, which will feature Regina King and start production in 2009, and the untitled Kemba Smith narrative, for whom Packer just acquired the life rights.
The Kemba Smith tale is a gripping account of a little girl who gained notoriety after President Bill Clinton commuted her 24.5-year sentence for cocaine conspiracy. Other well-known filmmakers have shown a lot of interest in this riveting narrative, but Kemba Smith picked Packer to tell her story. The creative team for this project is being sought after by Packer.
Packer is a dynamic and inspirational speaker who addresses industry groups, as well as youth and community organizations around the country, with remarks that are both instructive and inspirational. Will Packer Day has been declared in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and he has been presented with the key to the city of St. Petersburg, Florida.
The highest distinction given by Florida A&M University, the Meritorious Achievement Award, was also given to Packer by his alma university.
