Jeffrey Delano Davis
- Director
- Writer
- Actor
Jeffrey spent his college years studying drama and literature at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, before relocating to New York City, where he settled into the East Village.
While in the East Village, he managed a coffee shop during the day and performed in Shakespeare plays at downtown theaters at night. Ironically, he learned as much about art-making from the cafe as he did the theater. A cross-section of humanity flowed through the coffee bar where he worked, and experiences with tweaked 90s ravers, idealistic students, prominent filmmakers, drag queens, reformed drug addicts, politicians, the unhoused, you name it, profoundly influenced his understanding of empathy, character, and narrative.
Feeling the need to expand his horizons, Jeffrey auditioned for the Rutgers University MFA Acting program, was accepted, and spent three years studying under William Esper. Upon graduating, Jeffrey acted in numerous plays in NYC, including "Much Ado About Nothing" at the Harlem Arts Center, "The Pavilion" directed by Michael Kostroff ("The Wire," "The Black List"), and Ken Greller's play "Troll" at The Secret Theater.
Jeffrey lives in Red Bank, New Jersey, with his wife (and producing partner) Maria and his daughters. In 2018, Jeffrey penned and directed a short film called "Three Sonnets" based on a dilemma he faced when his wife was pregnant with their first daughter, which became a surprise hit. The film played multiple festivals and received television distribution through Shorts TV on five continents.
Feeling the need to respond to the Coronavirus Epidemic, Jeffrey recorded interviews with numerous members of his community who struggled with the epidemic. Two films came out of those interviews; "Breathing Room," a searing portrait of a nursing home on the verge of collapse told from the vantage point of a speech pathologist, and "The Art of Catastrophe," an intimate portrait of his family life during quarantine.
"The Art of Catastrophe" was an official selection of The New Filmmakers New York Film Festival, the Overcome Film Festival, the Idyllwild Film Festival, and the Show Low Film Festival in Arizona. It was nominated for a Jury Prize at The Overcome Film Festival and won "Best Documentary Featurette" at Show Low and the "Humanitarian Award" at Idyllwild.
"Breathing Room" is an official selection of the Film Girl Film Festival and the North Virginia International Film Festival. The Monmouth County Historical Society in New Jersey selected it for future preservation.
While in the East Village, he managed a coffee shop during the day and performed in Shakespeare plays at downtown theaters at night. Ironically, he learned as much about art-making from the cafe as he did the theater. A cross-section of humanity flowed through the coffee bar where he worked, and experiences with tweaked 90s ravers, idealistic students, prominent filmmakers, drag queens, reformed drug addicts, politicians, the unhoused, you name it, profoundly influenced his understanding of empathy, character, and narrative.
Feeling the need to expand his horizons, Jeffrey auditioned for the Rutgers University MFA Acting program, was accepted, and spent three years studying under William Esper. Upon graduating, Jeffrey acted in numerous plays in NYC, including "Much Ado About Nothing" at the Harlem Arts Center, "The Pavilion" directed by Michael Kostroff ("The Wire," "The Black List"), and Ken Greller's play "Troll" at The Secret Theater.
Jeffrey lives in Red Bank, New Jersey, with his wife (and producing partner) Maria and his daughters. In 2018, Jeffrey penned and directed a short film called "Three Sonnets" based on a dilemma he faced when his wife was pregnant with their first daughter, which became a surprise hit. The film played multiple festivals and received television distribution through Shorts TV on five continents.
Feeling the need to respond to the Coronavirus Epidemic, Jeffrey recorded interviews with numerous members of his community who struggled with the epidemic. Two films came out of those interviews; "Breathing Room," a searing portrait of a nursing home on the verge of collapse told from the vantage point of a speech pathologist, and "The Art of Catastrophe," an intimate portrait of his family life during quarantine.
"The Art of Catastrophe" was an official selection of The New Filmmakers New York Film Festival, the Overcome Film Festival, the Idyllwild Film Festival, and the Show Low Film Festival in Arizona. It was nominated for a Jury Prize at The Overcome Film Festival and won "Best Documentary Featurette" at Show Low and the "Humanitarian Award" at Idyllwild.
"Breathing Room" is an official selection of the Film Girl Film Festival and the North Virginia International Film Festival. The Monmouth County Historical Society in New Jersey selected it for future preservation.