Christian Epps
Christian Epps is the Founder/CEO Of Lights, Camera, Diaspora!, a Los Angeles, based social
enterprise nonprofit that bridges the gap between the African and African-Diaspora entertainment industries. His career as a lighting designer has spanned more than three decades covering the range from major motion pictures, broadcast television, commercials, live theater, dance, music videos and special events. Directors include Ava DuVernay, Spike Lee, Hype Williams, Andrew Dosunmu. Talent include 1st Lady Michelle Obama, Pres. Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, Nick Cannon, and Kevin Hart. He served as the gaffer for the critically acclaimed award winning film, "Selma", featuring Oprah Winfrey, lensed by Director Of Photography Bradford Young.
In 2006 Christian was hired to design the THISDAY! Festival, which led to multiple concert and
television projects every year in Nigeria. Christian spent several years working on concerts and
television in Nigeria, always sharing the skills that he had acquired across the US and across the globe. By 2012 Christian was so inspired by the vast creativity he found in Nigeria he knew there was an opportunity to create synergies between Africa and the Diaspora. Mr. Epps wanted to create more connections and strengthen the behind-the-scenes production worlds of the African Continent and the Diaspora. He wanted to institutionalize the process which required a long range vision. In 2014, inspired by the vast creativity he found in Nigeria and the opportunity to create synergies between the U.S and Africa, he, along with the assistance of others, created Lights, Camera, Diaspora! to serve as a sustainable connection in this growing industry. Since 2015, LCD! has conducted over 25 technical workshops and masterclasses contributing knowledge and skills to more than 500 practitioners, from those that are highly skilled to those just starting out.
2017 saw Mr. Epps receive Africa Diaspora Awards’ Creative Person Of The Year Award. MNET, the largest broadcaster in Africa, is partnering with Mr. Epps at their Magic In Motion Academy in South Africa, and at their new Multichoice Talent Factory Academies in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and Zambia. He also completed the new Jordon Peele/J.J. Abrams HBO show LOVECRAFT COUNTRY.
On the Continent, Christian’s most recent projects include NETFLIX’s first Original African production, QUEEN SONO’ currently shooting in Johannessburg and Akin Omotoso’s most recent Lagos shot film, Ghosts I The House Of Truth. AFRIFF Film Festival, films for leading Nollywood producer Emem Isong, and the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards. Ultima Studios, House On The Rock, and Daystar Christian Center are also collaborators. He has collaborated on the THISDAY! Festival shows, The Headies Awards, Starquest and Martina Dance All for Nigerian Breweries.
Christian Epps is the Founder/CEO Of Lights, Camera, Diaspora!, a Los Angeles, based social
enterprise nonprofit that bridges the gap between the African and African-Diaspora entertainment industries. His career as a lighting designer has spanned more than three decades covering the range from major motion pictures, broadcast television, commercials, live theater, dance, music videos and special events. Directors include Ava DuVernay, Spike Lee, Hype Williams, Andrew Dosunmu. Talent include 1st Lady Michelle Obama, Pres. Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, Nick Cannon, and Kevin Hart. He served as the gaffer for the critically acclaimed award winning film, "Selma", featuring Oprah Winfrey, lensed by Director Of Photography Bradford Young.
In 2006 Christian was hired to design the THISDAY! Festival, which led to multiple concert and
television projects every year in Nigeria. Christian spent several years working on concerts and
television in Nigeria, always sharing the skills that he had acquired across the US and across the globe. By 2012 Christian was so inspired by the vast creativity he found in Nigeria he knew there was an opportunity to create synergies between Africa and the Diaspora. Mr. Epps wanted to create more connections and strengthen the behind-the-scenes production worlds of the African Continent and the Diaspora. He wanted to institutionalize the process which required a long range vision. In 2014, inspired by the vast creativity he found in Nigeria and the opportunity to create synergies between the U.S and Africa, he, along with the assistance of others, created Lights, Camera, Diaspora! to serve as a sustainable connection in this growing industry. Since 2015, LCD! has conducted over 25 technical workshops and masterclasses contributing knowledge and skills to more than 500 practitioners, from those that are highly skilled to those just starting out.
2017 saw Mr. Epps receive Africa Diaspora Awards’ Creative Person Of The Year Award. MNET, the largest broadcaster in Africa, is partnering with Mr. Epps at their Magic In Motion Academy in South Africa, and at their new Multichoice Talent Factory Academies in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and Zambia. He also completed the new Jordon Peele/J.J. Abrams HBO show LOVECRAFT COUNTRY.
On the Continent, Christian’s most recent projects include NETFLIX’s first Original African production, QUEEN SONO’ currently shooting in Johannessburg and Akin Omotoso’s most recent Lagos shot film, Ghosts I The House Of Truth. AFRIFF Film Festival, films for leading Nollywood producer Emem Isong, and the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards. Ultima Studios, House On The Rock, and Daystar Christian Center are also collaborators. He has collaborated on the THISDAY! Festival shows, The Headies Awards, Starquest and Martina Dance All for Nigerian Breweries.