Today we’d like to introduce you to Dakarai Akil.
Hi Dakarai, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started acting as a child. My parents remind me of crawling around tv finding a way to get inside. As a child actor, I started getting feet wet in stage plays such as the creditable Ensemble Theater, church and school plays. After putting pause on acting for basketball, I picked back up after earning full scholarship to Sam Houston University in Huntsville where I was a full-time student-athlete in daily but also very active off court. Even though I was an all-conference player and still hold the all-time leading 3pt shooting record in school history, my passion for film grew every time I stepped off the court every year.
An upperclassman who was in major-specific classes before I was while being a freshman and him. A JR came to me with an idea for a horror film to write since I expressed interest. He needed 4-5 pages and I ended up writing 50 that same night. 😅 From 2014 on, since then, I wrote, directed, produced, and acted in over 20 films in college alone. I also edited most of my projects. I held several small gatherings and showings for student body, as well as pulling those interested into films to incorporate for film series.
After graduation, I had my first film premiere February 28, 2018, for the film “Wake Up,” my first and only featurette. From then I put a pause on production with 3D Productionz for about two years while taking acting classes, opportunities to be extra and PA on set for experience, and just build my resume while working full-time several jobs before landing Enterprise.
After leaving enterprise after almost three years in July 2020 during pandemic, I went on to release three films in 3 months which all earned film festival recognition. “FAMILY Tithes,” a crime mob thriller, “Choices,” a black Panther-inspired film based off true events of aftermath of Fred Hampton’s death, and America which follows a cop who’s partner murdered his family while on duty. That film won multiple awards, including best drama short in the Europe film festival. I ended up having a premiere for Family tithes, America and my sole directorial debut, “Molly’s diary,” February 28, 2021, 3 years after my initial first official premiere. The event sold out both shows in less than a month!
As of now, I am solely building credentials as primarily an actor, being in as recent as five short and feature films outside of my productions to build connects and more experiences and resources to be able to have the right backed funding for future productions. (You can view everything from 3D Productionz at 3dprodz.com or recent films on SGA TV network on Roku, Apple TV or Amazon fire stick “Next Lifetime” & The Szn” are the titles of the films I’m in)
The recent streaming films had a sold-out premiere July 17 in front of almost 300+ people and received great reviews, especially the range of acting and different portrayals of characters I played in both films.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It has been anything but smooth being an independent filmmaker. Not having the proper funding can take a toll on tour pockets, and I never had a true mentor in the industry either so making certain botch decisions thinking it will work out was a cause of many hiccups along the way. One thing I will say, I never gave up. I just kept learning from others, read, watched documentaries, informational, even the masterclasses, and continued to shapeshift and mold accordingly. Never give up, you are further along than when you started; never forget that, and there’s no growth without pain or losses.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about 3D Productionz?
3D Productionz is a non-profit film production company with a mission to help put creatives with little to no resources on quality platforms. I originally founded the company in college and solidified the 501 (c) in 2020. I am the President, founder and wear a lot of hats with company. Outside of filming films, I also hold programs, shoot regular gig videos, shows, commercials and more to build financing for company. What sets us apart is the diversity in talent as well as the dedication behind the work. We are more so hooked on making quality in our own backyard and not having to travel to Atl, LA NY to expose our talent, yet exposing it right here.
Most proud of our impact on the community and the amount of people always growing to want to be a part of the productions we put out. My first casting had maybe 2/3 responses. My latest had almost 90. Seeing the company slowly but surely grow is a blessing and you never know who you are touching. You can support the brand by visiting website (3dprodz.com) and purchasing/renting films, buying clothing or donating to our non-profit cash app, Venmo or pay to help us for future productions.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Nothing lasts forever except a finished product, so finish what you start.
Pricing:
- $200 videos starting price
Contact Info:
- Email: Official3dproductionz@gmail.com
- Website: 3dprodz.com
- Instagram: Dakarai3d (@3dprodz company)
- Facebook: Dakarai Akil
- Twitter: dakarai3d
- Youtube: 3DPRODUCTIONZ
