Addison Henderson

The Journey From the dark hallways of Michigan Street Baptist Church in Buffalo, New York (once a place of refuge for runaway slaves on the Underground Railroad) to the rugged streets of Newark, New Jersey, the award-winning director, writer and actor Addison Henderson emerged. Growing up in these crime infested and poverty-stricken areas, Henderson was exposed to the bitter realities of the urban environment that surrounded him. However, being raised by a local historian and politician allowed him to occasionally escape this backdrop. While spending summers abroad and in other cities throughout the U.S., Henderson learned early on about the plight of people from various cultures. But it was on the streets of Newark, during food drives, where Henderson began to learn the stories of broken souls. He became introspective at an early age and longed to express what he was feeling. This led Henderson to discover his passion for acting, and he began to perform in church plays. Henderson went on to attend Alfred State College on a football scholarship, but still kept his passion for the arts. However, it was not until he experienced the painful tragedy of losing his best friend to gun violence that Henderson realized he had to stop taking life for granted. He knew it was time to pursue his dream of becoming an actor and filmmaker. In 2001, he began formal training as an actor at HB Studios in New York City, where he studied with world-renowned instructors Edward Morehouse, Austin Pendleton and Eleanor Harris. He also appeared in several stage productions. After relocating to Los Angeles in 2003, Henderson continued to hone his acting skills and studied with noted acting coach Tom Todoroff. A year later, he interned at Eriq LaSalle's Humble Journey Films where he was able expand his creativity as an artist. Henderson's experience as a director began with the stage. Notably, he directed Blood Knot, a two-man play about South African brothers, in which he also starred. In 2005, Henderson formed his own production company, Night Owl Republic Films (formerly Knuckle City Films). It was then that he stepped behind the camera to direct his first film, A Step Away from A Note, in which he played the lead role. Later that pivotal year, Henderson went on to co-direct the award-winning documentary, The Forgotten City, which was a product of all the stories and images he absorbed while growing up in the inner city. The soul-binding film contained groundbreaking footage and chronicled the murder of his best friend. The film found a home on Free Speech TV, reaching millions of homes and changing the lives of many. In 2008, Henderson completed The Experience, an inspirational documentary about finding identity. The film, shot in Ghana, West Africa, was distributed on The Africa Channel. After spending years holed up in creative heaven writing pilots and feature films, 2012 would prove to be another great year for Henderson. It was then that he co-created and directed the acclaimed web-series, The Q&A Show - a raw and hilarious sketch comedy show. Henderson collaborated with Film Life Inc. on The Pro Hollywood Boot Camp, Friday's innovative project that brought pro football players together to learn the trade of filmmaking and complete a short film in forty-eight hours. Henderson scouted locations, produced production crews, and facilitated script development. It was also in 2012 that Henderson began The Sunder, a high-concept science fiction disaster series - a piece that would spend years in development. During this time, Henderson directed six more short films. He also began working with actor Chadwick Boseman, and he joined Boseman's team as an advisor and strength and conditioning coach. While continuing his work in the film industry, Henderson also reconnected with Buffalo native, Kevin Polowy, the senior correspondent for Yahoo Entertainment. The two came together to create The Healer, a television series dealing in the supernatural realm. Currently, Henderson is busy pitching his television shows. However, having never been the type to abandon his independent roots, he is also set to release his mind-bending web-series, Mind Shadows - a show invented from Henderson's years of watching The Twilight Zone. Since Night Owl Republic Films' inception, Henderson has written, produced, and directed two feature documentaries, eight short films, and several commercials and cutting edge music videos. Through his passion for telling heartfelt stories, Henderson has motivated and touched many people. He is frequently asked to speak to inner city youth and college students, not only about issues facing young people, but also the film industry. The future is proving to be a bright one as Henderson continues to forge his path ahead by creating artistic and meaningful work for the masses.