African American filmmaker and navy veteran Tevin Everett is living proof that taking a chance on one’s dreams is the most fulfilling way to live life. A growing filmmaker, he wants to show people that there are many different ways to make oneself heard. If there is anything that his film career has taught him so far, it is the realization that one need not conform to society’s standards to find happiness. As an indie filmmaker, Tevin is part of a massive community of original storytellers who want to make their voices heard and their stories told exactly the way they want it.
Hailing from Wilmington, Delaware, and born on October 3, 1991, Tevin Everett spent most of his adult life so far in the navy. There, he served for eight years, from 2010 to 2018. Tevin credits his navy experience for instilling in him the work ethic that he carries today. Tevin finally left his post as an intelligence specialist in 2018 with his mind made up: he was going to pursue his one true dream.
Tevin Everett moved to Los Angeles, dream and determination in tow. There, he wrote his first screenplay called The Helper, which proved to be so brilliant that CBS offered to purchase it. The Helper marked his first successful screenplay sale.
The Helper opened more doors for the growing screenwriter. Tevin was able to practice his writing skills, crafting several screenplays for TV shows and feature films. He quickly made his mark as a credible writer and was often praised for his brilliant writing and trailblazing ideas. This experience inspired him to try his hand at directing films, as he wanted to create projects that were completely his own.
Tevin Everett successfully made his directorial debut in January 2020 with the short film The Don’t Call List. The romantic comedy film follows the story of a man who struggles to deal with his commitment issues on Valentine’s Day. Tevin posted on Instagram that directing the film opened up a whole new world for him and fulfilled his dream of telling a story his way.
His latest project calls out America’s hiring practices when it comes to people of color. Tevin Everett wrote, directed, and produced the web-series Diversity Hires himself. His newest project is a showcase of his talents not only as a brilliant writer but also as a multitalented director. Tevin’s determination to get a frame exactly the way he wants it shows why he deserves his director’s chair.
“My ability to get the job done that I brought with me from the military. No task is too big. Everything can be figured out—especially when it comes to passion projects. When I first started screenwriting, I could see how writers’ works would constantly get watered down. Or told they weren’t good enough. I believed I had a few stories to tell, and I didn’t want to let anyone else tell me how to tell it. So I figured, why not take a shot at it myself?” Tevin said.
Tevin plans to write, direct, and produce several more socially relevant TV shows and films in the future to inspire people like himself to tell their original stories. For the growing filmmaker, no hurdle is too big to keep him from portraying inspiring stories that send a message.
Check out Tevin Everett’s projects on Instagram.
