" You put down one color and it calls for an answer. You have to look at it like a melody.” - Romare Bearden

THE BEAT a new film by Tewodross M. Williams (current project in preproduction)

The fate of the world rests in the hands of a DJ, her son, and the ancient rhythm that connects us all.

Synopsis: A DJ by night and anthropology student by day, a mother and her tech-savvy teenage son are thrust into a cosmic battle between mystical beings when they’re chosen to protect ancient relics that hold the key to Earth’s impending destruction and its possible redemption.

This film and immersive experience will be produced and shot on location in Prince George's County, Maryland, Washington, DC, and throughout other places in the DMV and will be a feature film produced through the Gateway Media Arts Lab (Gateway CDC). The production is expected to begin in 2027-2028.

A conceptual and proof-of-concept video for the forthcoming film. Learn more

“Butterfly Girl” by DJ Spinna and Eric Roberson. Courtesy of Papa Records.

VISUAL JAZZ
Founded in 2008, Visual Jazz is a collective digital media, film, and animation studio inspired by the artistic legacies of visual artist Romare Bearden and jazz legend Thelonious Monk. Based in the Gateway Media Arts Lab in Mount Rainier, Maryland, at the heart of the Gateway Arts District in Prince George’s County, we are a vibrant community of storytellers, content creators, filmmakers, motion graphic artists, animators, designers, photographers, and visual artists.

At Visual Jazz, we specialize in transforming ideas into motion. Our work centers on developing original content and crafting innovative narratives and visual experiences across film, media, and performance. Committed to both artistic excellence and social impact, we aim to strengthen our creative community and local economy through collaboration and the transformative power of animation, technology, media, and the arts.

Tewodross Melchishua Williams

Creative Director | Consultant | Filmmaker | Animator | Motion Graphics Designer | Projection Designer | Production Designer | Artist

Tewodross “Teo” Melchishua Williams (pronounced Tee-oh-droze Mell-keshu-ah) is an award-winning filmmaker, animator, designer, Afrofuturist, and professor. Born in Washington, DC and raised in Prince George’s County, Maryland, he currently serves as the Creative Director of Visual Jazz, a digital media and film studio collective.

Williams’ creative practice spans narrative and dramatic film, animation, short and long-form video, mini-documentaries, and visual art. His recent work explores themes rooted in science fiction, music, and Black cultural expression. In addition to his cinematic and artistic pursuits, he is active in the fields of motion graphics, animation, visual branding, production design, and projection design, with a strong presence in the DMV region.


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