Meet Kareem McMichael: Filmmaker and Multimedia Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kareem McMichael and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kareem, what do you want people to remember about you?
What is the most important factor behind your success / the success of your brand?

What do you want your legacy to be? What do you want people to remember about you?

I am still building my legacy but currently at this point I want my legacy to be that the bodies of work that I have produced and leave behind. Hopefully not only will some of my films, documentary films and writings be entertaining but I hope some of them will open up the minds of the viewers watching about different topics, people and subjects.

To have my legacy to be what it is today there were several key factors to this success. My family being one. My mom, dad, brother and aunties and uncles. My friends along the way are all a part of the building of this legacy and I am grateful to them forever for not only their support but their business. They are a rich part of my growth and development.

Serving on various committees including the Southeast regional Emmys Board of Governors, The city of Savannah’s Film Commissions and Cultural Affairs Commissions, Savannah Technical College Film Board, Future Minds Adult Education Literacy Board, FAAA, Savannah State University and more are a part of the legacy I have. Helping enrich the people that benefit from these organizations is huge.

My clients who have pushed me to grow and my business Karmac Productions to grow and have helped me rise to the next level are key to my success and legacy. When I think about some of the projects I have gotten to produce and some of the people I’ve gotten to meet over the years I am glad for those connections.

I am glad that they are helping me become more successful and reach new levels. The road has not always been easy but surrounding myself with great people has been super helpful.

I definitely want to be remembered as someone who is ambitious, creative, and a hard worker who also helped those around me and those coming up in the film and television industry behind me to to grow and build their careers. I want to not only be an inspiration but someone who can bridge the gap for those in the next generation or others who do not have access to get started.

Also hopefully I will be remembered as someone who was about business but fun and amazing to work with as I do enjoy what I do and want others to enjoy the creative process and journey as well.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Karmac Production is a multimedia production company that produces movies, documentaries, news/informative pieces, commercials, and graphic design work. We also do photography and public relations work.

Karmac Productions specializes in various forms of communications and producing provoking documentaries. We are known for our documentaries and comedy films that are full of sharp wit.

I am most proud of the opportunities my company has had over the years. I have been able to work with various groups and people to tell a variety of stories from so many people in different walks of life. Stories that when people see them it gives them hope or makes them feel good that someone is telling a story that represents them and their walk of life.

What sets me and my company apart from others is that I am not afraid of taking on various subjects and topics. I have produced projects that talked about recidivism, other social justice pieces including affordable housing and homelessness, LGBTQ themed projects, and even police brutality. I directed ‘MLK JR. BLVD.’, a short film written by Chad Penchion, which deals with policing in black communities and I had an older Caucasian woman try to change the narrative of the film because she could not relate to the aspect of a black man perspective so I find myself in a position of telling these stories that people want to change or not wanting to tell.

Proudest career moments: I have been fortunate that there have been so many proud moments but I think the top ones have been having the documentary I produced Feed the Hungry: the Vision, the Outreach, the Community Changer screened in theaters and having my family, friends, and colleagues attend the screening and having the work my friend and colleague William Martin did on this documentary recognized at the state capitol in Atlanta in House Resolution 661. Also seeing how inspiring and impactful the Gilliard family and their Feed the Hungry organization has been to people in many communities throughout Georgia.

I also feel that is it wonderful that I am at a point where I can share my knowledge with others through workshops about different film-related subjects and occasionally, I get to speak to middle school, high school, and college students about the media profession and give them guidance and serve as a mentor.

Another proud moment was being elected to the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Southeast Emmy chapter Board of Governors. This moment was made really special when I found out one of the other board members worked and 13WMAZ and was the general manager during the time I was a kid admiring and watching the station. It was like a full circle moment because I am on the board and working with someone who shaped the station I grew up watching and that was really special to me.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
A lot of the places around Buckhead and the Lindbergh Center Station and Atlantic Station or some other areas in Mid-town. Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I really have to thank my mom Annette McMichael, I LOVE YOU!, because a lot of what I am today and where I am today is because of her not only believing in my dreams and what I wanted to do but also being very supportive of me and my work over the years. She was my first editor, read all of my materials and gave me feedback. She even had me write a poem to help me feel more pride and confidence in myself during some rough times as a kid. She shows up at every event she is able to attend, I love her for that.

I have to thank my dad Charlie McMichael for teaching me to be the best at what I do, teaching me about having work ethic and I really watched how he interacted with clients through his painting company and I learned a lot about business and interacting with people through working with him and watching him. I think I get a lot of my drive from my dad. My brother Akeem McMichael has always been a huge support for me and even working me on some of my productions and listening to me when doing with certain situations. My brother really has taught me to be bold. My brother is there with me at many of my events and has even helped produced or managed some of them. He’s somehow always working behind the scenes to make sure everything goes well. I greatly appreciate him for that. I love my family!

To all my aunties, uncles, cousins and friends (Eleanor, Somiki and more) who constantly support me and company and even use my services and referring me to people, I thank you all and love you all. Thank you Eleanor for all of the late night talks and early morning talks and working with me as well on various projects, it is greatly appreciated.

My friends from Central High in Macon and Savannah State in Savannah, I love you all as well!

I really appreciate all of the love and cheers over the years!

Website: https://kmcmichael.weebly.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karmac_ent1/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kareem-mcmichael-20886539/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/karmacrex

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarmacKAM

Other: IG: @karmac_rex Twitter: @karmacent and @KarmacRex

Image Credits
Johnathon Jenrette Kareem McMichael Susanna Deal Photography