Spotlight On: DJ DON BRANDO
Want to know the Key to Success? Versatility.
Brandon Smith learned this lesson early. Graduating from one of the City of Atlanta’s Top Performing and Fine Arts High Schools, North Atlanta, Brandon went on to attend Clark Atlanta University where he would meet another young rising star to watch, Faron Manuel, a graduate of the nearby Mays High School. Brandon, now a junior at Georgia State University, he continues to perfect his craft. Whether it be composing and producing music, writing short stories and screenplays, directing his next film project, or deejaying under the moniker “DJ Don Brando”, Brandon has always had the makings of the next big media mogul. At age 12, he was an assistant cameraman for a locally televised teen dance show co-hosted by Lil Jon’s BME Recording’s Sabrina Montgomery.
As two of the upcoming pioneers of the Atlanta's Independent film scene, Brandon and Faron hopes to make a big splash in the upcoming months. Through his collaboration with Faron, who remained in attendance at Clark Atlanta University, they plan to release a full length film in the near future. Speaking on the project, Brandon says.
"The first film is a horror film, shot in the first person style. Similar to paranormal activity but I found a way to give the story more of a realistic feel. I don't want to release too much information about though making the movie more intense. But I wrote it, did the music, and directed it. The actors have also been picked and we begin filming Nov1st."
Brandon and Faron also plan to continue with an collaboration efforts, releasing a suspenseful web series this Fall. Faron has been an instrumental part of this collaboration, lending his talents to editing, talent scouting in addition to acting performance skills.
Creativity is not Brandon's only strong point; he is a progressive businessman as well. Onineteen, Brandon's brainchild, has the potential to be one of the largest production companies in the Atlanta area. Onineteen, the name deriving from "only 19" - the age at which Brandon founded the company, is primarily a film production company, with a crossover into the music industry, managing the careers up and coming music artist, Quay and music producer, J Wood, whom both he met in his years at North Atlanta High School. J Wood also attends Georgia State University.
Follow DJ Don Brando on Twitter @DJDONBRANDO