Demetrius Wren, a talented filmmaker, has recently released his narrative feature film, Rehabilitation of the Hill, which delves into the long-term effects of gentrification on a Black community in Pittsburgh through a romantic story reminiscent of You've Got Mail. Wren's journey in the film industry began at the Florida State University (FSU) Film School, where he honed his skills in screenwriting and directing under the guidance of Academy Award-winning director Barry Jenkins.
Prior to Rehabilitation of the Hill, Wren wrote his first play, Legends, Myths and Hieroglyphs, which tells the story of single mother families in rural Black America through the eyes of a young child. The play had a successful run in New York and caught the attention of renowned playwright Christopher Durang, who praised it as one of the most original scripts he had ever read.
Wren's impressive resume includes directing the Emmy Award-winning live-action content for the early seasons of Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. He also directed the independent documentary Streetball, which explores the 2008/2009 South African Homeless World Cup teams and the state of South Africa's homeless population leading up to the country hosting the World Cup. Furthermore, Wren has co-directed VR films for the United Nations and directed the independent features Saudade? and Moon and Sun.
Currently, Wren is developing his screenplay, Heartland, which follows a group of Black kids in a blue-collar town who discover a portal to a magical world. In this mystical realm, they must connect with their lost parents to solve an ancient riddle and save the world as they know it. Along the way, they will face African mythological creatures and spirits and ultimately become the heroes they were destined to be. Heartland combines the elements of Attack the Block and The Chronicles of Narnia, promising an exciting and thrilling adventure.
