After many years as an independent film producer and producer of hundreds of music videos and commercials, H. M. Coakley made his feature directorial debut a few years ago with the horror-comedy HOLLA which he co-wrote and directed. HOLLA was later acquired by Lionsgate Films, became one of their top selling urban horror titles and helped launch the career of rising star Kali Hawk (BRIDESMAIDS, COUPLES RETREAT). He's also coming off a successful festival run with his award winning comedy short THE SLAP which is currently being featured on funnyordie.com.As a producer, Coakley co-created and executive produced MECCA, an hour long drama series for HBO Original Programming, as well as produced the acclaimed independent films TEN BENNY and RESTAURANT which helped to launched the careers of Academy Award winner Adrien Brody and Emmy Winner Simon Baker. TEN BENNY, which was Coakley's MFA thesis film, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and both films have garnered rave reviews, with RESTAURANT also being nominated for an Independent Spirit Award.Coakley recently completed HOLLA II, the sequel to HOLLA, which he wrote and directed as well as the urban comedy, CLEAVER FAMILY REUNION for The Asylum. Coakley was tapped by the partners of The Asylum to write and direct their first urban film. Both CLEAVER FAMILY REUNION and HOLLA II were released in theaters last spring, making Coakley the first African-American filmmaker to have two indie films in theaters at the same time.Coakley recently completed AVOUTERIE, his forth feature as writer-director-producer. His awarding winning screenplay, THE JUMBIE was one of only four finalist at the 2014 Urban World Film Festival Screenplay Contest.H.M. Coakley is a magna cum-laude graduate from Howard University with a B.S. degree in Physics and an honors graduate of Columbia University School of the Arts with a Master of Fine Arts degree in Screenwriting and Producing.He also works periodically as an UPM, Line Producer and Production Supervisor.
