Darryl Wharton-Rigby, a multifaceted individual, hails from a family of poets and storytellers, fostering a rich creative environment from a young age.
With over two decades of experience in film, television, and theatre, Wharton-Rigby has accumulated an extensive knowledge base in story development, pre-production, production, and post-production, making him a well-rounded and accomplished professional.
He holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from Chapman University and has taught film at Morgan State University's Screenwriting and Animation Program, sharing his expertise with the next generation of filmmakers.
Throughout his career, Wharton-Rigby has received numerous awards and grants from prestigious organizations, including the Urbanworld Film Festival, the Maryland State Arts Council, The Painted Bride Arts Center, the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame, and the Caucus Foundation. His work has been showcased in the United States, France, and Australia.
His feature film, Detention, garnered widespread recognition and accolades, including "Best Director" at the Urbanworld Film Festival and the "Audience Award" at the Atlanta Film and Video Festival.
Wharton-Rigby's writing credits include the critically acclaimed television series, Homicide: Life On The Street. He was later hired by MTV to write a script based on the Japanese manga Tokyo Tribe 2, which led him to move to Japan and teach English in a small town in Fukushima.
Currently, he is working on a documentary, Don Doko Don: The Yamakiya Taiko Club Story, which tells the poignant tale of a group of young drummers displaced due to high levels of radiation in their community following the failed nuclear plant.
Wharton-Rigby divides his time between Baltimore, Los Angeles, and Japan, crediting his wife and three children as his ultimate source of inspiration.
