Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff Knite.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born and raised in Bronx, New York. In the 80’s and early 90’s my dad worked for a big modeling agency called Wilhelmina Models. He would bring me to work a lot, so I got to meet a lot of famous people at the time, like Robin Williams, Eddie Murphy, Sylvester Stallone, Cindy Crawford, Ronald Reagan, just to name a few. To this day, I still have a photo of my Dad play choking Robin Williams (LOL).
Anyway, being around all these celebrities at such a young age got me dreaming about being an actor. It just seems so cool. I would get paid to be a different person all the time. To me, it was awesome. So I began acting in my early 20’s, around 1997. I eventually landed a big role in the film BORICUA’S BOND (2000), co-starring with legendary rapper Big Pun. I then got cast in MANITO (2002), a film that went on to win best film at the Tribeca Film Festival and Special Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. The following year I snagged a role in the critically acclaimed film RAISING VICTOR VARGAS (2003), which was shown at Sundance, Cannes and the Toronto International Film Festival. I stopped auditioning for film projects because I got married and had two kids, which made my available time now very limited. So I decided to become a filmmaker. I figured if I started out making short films. It would allow me to work at my own pace while learning the craft, and I was right… for the most part. You see, being an independent filmmaker is very hard work. Because you’re trying to do something to get noticed in Hollywood, without a Hollywood budget or crew. When you look at the credits on a Hollywood production, it’s like 10 minutes long.
Hundreds of people are helping in making that film a success. When you look at a low to no budget film, the credits are like 2 minutes long, with ten people listed, all having multiple credits. That’s why you see most independent film’s opening credits are… Directed by John Doe, Written by John Doe, Produced by John Doe, Casting by John Doe, Catering by John Doe, etc. The point I’m trying to make is that it’s tough, and it can put a strain on your relationships in life with loved ones and friends. That’s why I have been engaged three times and married twice. Not everyone thinks you’re going to become a Hollywood Star. They just think you’re an a–hole that is using up all their time and money. The good thing is I did have some success over the years. My first short film SOME WOUNDS (2004), premiered at Urbanworld Film Festival, in front of the Tom Cruise/Jamie Foxx film Collateral (2004). It also appeared at the New York International Latino Film Festival that same year, sponsored by HBO. I then made nine more short films that were shown in various film festivals. From 2010 to 2011, I produced and directed 6 Doritos Commercials. I also produced a feature film entitled THE BUSINESSMAN (2014). AMERICAN PIRATES (2017) was the first feature film I directed, WAITING FOR HOWARD STERN (2018) was my second; and I just completed post-production on THE COVID KILLER, a crime horror thriller film, which I also directed and produced.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
This lifestyle can put a strain on your relationships. I lost a lot of friends. I had a failed marriage… And I owe a lot of people money (LOL). I mean, I’ve also acquired a lot of new friendships. People that think like me and are of the same mindset. Almost all of my friends now are actors/actresses, directors, producers, writers, film crew staff, etc. One of the biggest problems I had early on was my name. My birth name is Edgar Jeffrey Asencio. My grandparents are Puerto Rican. I only know a little Spanish, mostly profanity. I have no Spanish accent. I have a Bronx accent. I’m what Puerto Ricans refer to as Nyorican. It’s a term used to insult people like me. Like it’s our fault we were raised in New York and weren’t taught how to speak Spanish. It’s ridiculous and stupid, but whatever. Anyway, I would go on auditions that advertised Latino males in his 20’s. But the problem was when I got to the audition, they didn’t think I looked or sounded Latino enough so I would not get the part. So I decided to audition for Caucasian roles that advertised white males in his 20’s. That went even worse. I never even got an audition because my name sounded too Hispanic. So the Latinos didn’t want me because I wasn’t Spanish enough for them and the white people didn’t want me because my name sounded too Hispanic. Can you believe this sh-t. So… I decided to change my name. I wanted a name that if you heard it, you would not know where the hell I came from. Kind of like Tom Cruise, Vin Diesel or Nicholas Cage. Thus, Jeff Knite was born. This name opened up so many opportunities for me and people just thought it was a cool name. With this ambiguous name, I could do anything. I was king of the world. Or at least my block.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
What sets me apart from others is that I don’t wait, at least not anymore. I’m no spring chicken. If I have an idea, I put it to paper and try to realize that idea as soon as possible, and if I can’t manifest that idea into reality because of financial restraints, then that idea gets stored away until the time comes when I can utilize it. I’m always thinking and writing notes, literally all the time. I’m like a machine. I don’t know if it’s healthy, but it keeps me going. It keeps me on my feet. On my toes. Where I have to be.
FEATURE FILMS
The Covid Killer (2021)
Waiting For Howard Stern (2018)
American Pirates (2017)
The Businessman (2014)
Raising Victor Vargas (2003)
Manito (2002)
Boricua’s Bond (2000)
SHORT FILMS
One New Message (2009)
The Ideal (2009)
Disarray (2009)
To Kill a Clown (2008)
Jason (2007)
Blue Moon (2007)
Texas Hold’em (2007)
Jimmy B. Good (2006)
Sanctified (2004)
Some Wounds (2004), premiered at Urbanworld in front of the Tom Cruise/Jamie Foxx film Collateral (2004), and at the NYILFF that same year, sponsored by HBO.
COMMERCIALS
The Floor Depot Of Westchester (2019)
6 Doritos Commercials (2010 – 2011)
What’s next?
I have a 10-page outline for THE COVID KILLER Franchise. That’s where I plan to spend the next five years of my life.
I have story ideas up to part 5.
After that, I will take a break from THE COVID KILLER and spend some time developing some of those projects I have in the vault.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://thecovidkillermovie.com/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DarkKnitesentertainment
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0038560/
Image Credits:
Tony Diaz Paugh Shadow Dasha Prozorova Jeff Knite Logan Knite Jorge Gautier
