Preston A. Whitmore II

Preston Alexander Whitmore II (born June 26, 1962) is an American film director, film producer, and screenwriter. He is best known for his 2007 comedy-drama This Christmas, garnered an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Directing in 2008. Early life Whitmore was born in 1962 in Detroit, the third and youngest child of Shirley and Preston Alexander Whitmore, Sr. After dropping out of high school, he enlisted in the Marine Corps where he acquired his GED and began taking college courses focusing on law enforcement and criminal procedure. After being discharged from the Marines, he settled in California and went to Los Angeles City College, where he received his associates degree. He subsequently transferred to California State University, Northridge where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. After graduating from CSUN, Whitmore attended the University of La Verne College of Law, where he won the American Jurisprudence Award. Film Whitmore entered the entertainment industry first as a rapper and lyricist for Brian and Eddie Holland of Motown fame. He turned his attention to screenwriting when Motown lyricist and recording artist, Angelo Bond, told him his stories were too big for a three-minute song. Following Bond's advice, Whitmore made two short films, This End of The Couch, starring Lewis Dix, Charles Holman and comedian Reynaldo Rey and No Reply starring Giancarlo Esposito and Darryl Sivad. Whitmore sold a number of high-profile spec scripts and was named by Fade-In Magazine one of Hollywood's "Hottest Young Writers". Whitmore made his film-making debut by writing and directing The Walking Dead (1995), chronicling the lives and mission of four African-American soldiers in Vietnam, which drew on his experiences in the Marine Corps. It starred Allen Payne, Eddie Griffin, Joe Morton, Vonte Sweet, and Bernie Mac. Thereafter he wrote and executive-produced Fled (1996), an action picture starring Laurence Fishburne and Stephen Baldwin as two prisoners on the lam to find a hidden cache of cash and incriminating computer evidence that would bring down the Cuban Mafia.