who am I?
Hello! My name is Donté Larry. I’m a filmmaker passionate about helping to tell the stories and experiences of those living in the margins of society, whose voices have been silenced, suppressed, underrepresented, or misrepresented. This passion is informed by a variety of life experiences, education, and training. Thanks for stopping by. Please let me know how I can help bring your vision to life. —Donté
early life and education
Donté was born in Washington state to a black father and white mother and was raised in rural Tennessee, spending his life split between geographical areas that were socially and politically polar opposites. In college, he studied Sociology with a focus in gender and race theory, and their intersection with crime and policing. This interdisciplinary education and exposure to unfamiliar perspectives helped him begin to deconstruct prior biases and analyze his worldview more critically.
leadership and project management
Following graduation, Donté commissioned in the United States Marine Corps, serving eight years on active duty as a Logistics Officer. His training and experiences were crucial to the development of his leadership, organization, and team management skills. It also helped develop his professionalism, adaptability, and strong work ethic. During this time, he earned the Project Management Professional certification, demonstrating a mastery of project management concepts, tasks, and techniques that are applicable across virtually any industry. However, Donté began to realize that he had unique qualities and creative abilities that he could best use to contribute to the world from outside of military service. So, he decided to leave active duty.
filmmaking
Following his transition from the military, Donté went back to school, completing certificate programs in Filmmaking and Cinematography. He continues to explore theories of race and society as he progresses in his career. Not only does he enjoy using film as a medium to share his creative and personal analysis with the world, but his mixed-race heritage and formal education have given him a unique lens through which to perceive our shared human experiences. This has inspired him to create films that speak to people who may not see themselves in their surroundings, those whose voices need most to be heard.
Education
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B.A., Sociology
University of Washington
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Project Management Professional (PMP)®
Project Management Institute
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Filmmaking Certificate
New York Film Academy
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Cinematography Certificate
New York Film Academy