Rising Stars: Meet Alexander English Jr.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexander English Jr.

Hi Alexander, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My journey as a filmmaker/photographer/world builder began in 2003 when I moved from South Carolina to Los Angeles California. My life had been dominated by basketball and I played collegiately for The College of William and Mary and Winthrop University. I credit the book Dune, by Frank Herbert, with launching me in the direction currently traveling. The actual definitive Dune adaptation remains central to my career objectives. My life as a basketball player blessed my sensibilities such that I thought it necessary to master the entirety of the production skillsets required as well as the work-flow utilized by all the various production and post-production departments. I am very proud of this decision to stack skill sets and stockpile experience and wisdom as opposed to “faking it till you make it.” It was a long hard road, and I did a whole lot of time as an art department production assistant. I was never picky. Any opportunity to get on set and learn I leapt at.

In 2005 I booked my first industry gig as an assistant editor and assistant story editor on a reality show that later became the show Basketball Wives. I was able to move on from that project and direct my first feature-length project, on location in South Carolina; a period piece titled “Lumera.” Upon the film’s completion and screening, I was spectacularly lucky in landing a job as the head of television product placement and branded marketing with the Burbank-based FEATURE THIS PRODUCTIONS. Through this opportunity, I was able to work with Canada Gordon on the HBO show Enterouge as well as The Gilmore Girls and UFO Hunters. The knowledge base acquired working in product placement gave me the proverbial leg up in understanding the many ways one is able to fund a project and generate revenue utilizing branded marketing opportunities embedded within the content.

In 2011 I produced, directed the 2nd Unit, and was a series editor on the 12 episodes, Funny or Die featured comedic web series “A-holes Anonymous.” It was during this time that I formed my production company, Xenomorph Films LLC (xenomorphfilms.net). After forming Xenomorph Films LLC, my team and I set to work pulling together resources and logistics, all in service of our next project; a crime thriller titled “What Would You Do?” Our script was written by A-holes Anonymous creator Veronica Kelly, and the project was directed, edited, and produced by Xenomorph Films founder Alexander English Jr. The film was accepted to “The London Shorts” film festival as well as the “Direct Monthly Online” film festival and is currently streaming on the independent streaming service “THE CRECHE (enterthecreche.com).

2014-17 provided a great many still image capture gigs. In 2015, I shot the lookbook and FW2015 film for New York City-based designer Parker Blue Collection as well as the Jenny Chase Andrew Bernstein showroom. I shot lookbooks and short films for designers: Jaga Dtla, Nove Italy leather, Featheredsoullove Jewelry, Khali Joshi and Harriet Selling Swimwear. In 2015, I also worked on the Annenberg Space for Photography’s show “Life an Evolution.” This show featured the culminated works of famed National Geographic wildlife photographer Frans Lanting. Having been a child raised with his own Nat Geo subscription, this was an especially poignant moment and I cherished the opportunity I had to connect with Frans and his wife.

In 2018, I was offered an opportunity to shoot NBA-related content in mainland China. In September of 2018, I traveled to Beijing China and filmed content at the Heavenly Temple, the Forbidden City, and the Hotung area before heading to Wuqing to film at an NBA China Basketball Academy featuring the top 17 aged and under basketball players in all of China. The success of this project led to my involvement in producing the NBA China reunion special as a part of the NBA All-Star Weekend in Charlotte during the 2019 NBA All-Star Game. The special featured Hall of Famer and NBA all-time leading scorer Kareem Abdul Jabbar, NBA Hall of Famer and 8-time All-Star Alex English Sr, NBA Hall of Famer David Thompson and NBA retired great Mike Bantom.

Off the heels of the pandemic, Xenomorph Films got to work producing multiple content offerings:

In August of 2021 Xenomorph Films produced an hour-long comedy/music special at the world-famous “EL CID” in Silverlake. The special, “Breaking and Entering,” was filmed live in front of a packed house featuring 4 up and coming comics and musical guests Dukalion and Joe Con. The special was filmed live and was directed/edited by Alexander English Jr and produced by Alexander English Jr and award-winning filmmaker Hollis Sherman-Pepe. Breaking and Entering is currently available to be streamed on THE CRECHE (enterthecreche.com).

Food Wisdom is a cooking show featuring Chef/nutrition Coach and author Roxanne Koteles. Food Wisdom is directed and produced by Alexander English Jr and is streaming on the independent streaming service “The Creche.”

The Fix is a surgical docuseries featuring Beverly Hills Board Certified plastic surgeon Dr. Timothy Katzen M.D. The audience is taken into the operating room to observe Dr. Katzen as he performs procedures and repairs botched surgical attempts. The Fix is directed and produced by Alexander English Jr and is currently streaming on THE CRECHE (enterthecreche.com)

Locality News is a news periodical program featuring southern California stories and national ones. Locality News is directed and produced by Alexander English Jr and is currently streaming on THE CRECHE streaming service (enterthecreche.com).

GREENSMART is a docuseries currently in post-production and is directed by Alexander English Jr. Greensmart is a docuseries featuring the Greensmart farm; one of the first South Carolina farms granted a license to grow Cannabis. The series premieres in early 2023 and will be available to stream on THE CRECHE (enterthecreche.com).

OBITUARY is an original horror short film produced by Xenomorph Films, currently in the final stages of post-production. I am the Executive Producer, editor, and supplementary cinematographer.

2022 also marked my return to the branded marketing side of production. I shot the CROCS(stills) and EWC (European Wax Center (short film)) NIL campaign for Naismith Player of the Year, gold medalist, probable WNBA #1 pick 2023, and NCAA Champion Aliyah Boston.

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?
Anything of value requires struggle and sacrifices. Nothing worthwhile is ever easy and yes, there have been obstacles along the way. Being a creative in Los Angeles is its own heavy lift, but keeping the energy levels and enthusiasm high is how one makes a start of it. There have been shady employers and and overflow of suspect characters, but I have always looked at difficulty as an opportunity to exhibit creative problem-solving; an important skill to employ on set.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My mastery of the entire production workflow, both analog and digital, is a distinguishing factor. I come from the James Cameron school of thought where filmmaking is concerned. I am an excellent photographer, cinematographer, and the stories I write are novel and informed by world experience and mistake born wisdom impossible to counterfeit.

I am very proud of the team I have constructed around me. The management of people and personalities is a talent that continues to serve me and my collaborators. We suspect you will be writing about our efforts for many decades to come.

In the meantime, we are dying to work with you on your creative and commercial projects! Please connect with Xenomorph Films. We are more than capable of helping achieve any and all productions and media-related objectives. We capture FAA part 107 certified drone video, still images, and various types of industrial and commercial telemetry and we shoot and process large format motion pictures and still images as well as 360 footage and true Stereoscopic 3D footage.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I see the industry continuing its move towards streamed content and virtual experiences. The ability to “scale beyond a venue” I suspect will be at the heart of the consumer digital experience; allowing people to attend concerts, sporting events, and other live performance-based activities. These sensibilities are at the heart of projects Xenomorph Films is developing.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://xenomorphfilms.net
• Instagram: @alexander_englishjr @xenomorphfilms
• Facebook: @xenomorphfilmsproductioncompany
• Twitter: @xenomorphfilms
• Youtube: @xenomorphfilms
• Other: http://enterthecreche.com