Experiencing Interruptions?

Thea Camara

Thea Camara clip from Before I do.

  • Kimberly Conner
    Director
    Before I Do
  • Kimberly Conner
    Writer
    Before I do
  • Sunday Akinyemi
    Producer
    Before I do
  • Jensen Atwood
    Key Cast
    The Transplanters, The Kicks, Noah Arc.
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Runtime:
    58 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 17, 2016
  • Production Budget:
    100,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    red
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Kimberly Conner

About Predestined

An honors graduate of Eastern Illinois University, Kimberly D. Conner is a self-published author, screenwriter and independent filmmaker. She has placed as a finalist in several screenwriting competitions including the Hollywood Black Film Festival Screenplay Competition, the Urban Media Makers Short Film Competition, the University of Southern California - Guy A. Hanks and Marvin H. Miller Screenwriting Program, and semi-finalist in Creative Screenwriting Magazine AAA Screenwriting Competition.

Kimberly launched Predestined Arts & Entertainment in 2005, a creative voice for people of color, focusing on films by women. The company produces books, films, art, photography, and other creative works, generating dialog about key issues and raising awareness in the community.

In 2006, she self-published the book, “Naked Poetics – Poetry, Expression and Illustrations”, a thought-provoking look at life through the eyes of two sisters, written by Kimberly and her sister, Candice. Candid in nature, the book tackles topics relative to life through the art of expression. The book delves into areas some would deem politically incorrect and controversial, yet stimulating and entertaining, available at Barnes and Noble online.

In 2007, Predestined Arts & Entertainment produced Real Brothers Wear Pink, a Male Calendar, honoring breast cancer survivors with a focus on raising awareness about the disease. The calendar featured an array of young men from the Midwest. The company donated a portion of the proceeds to the American Cancer Society.

Kimberly’s debut film, which she wrote, directed, and produced, “This Life Ain’t Pretty” premiered December 1st, 2009, on World AIDS Day, at the University of Illinois at Springfield. The socially conscious short film challenges the stereotypical beliefs associated with HIV/AIDS (awareness video) in young, Black, heterosexual America. Backed by sobering statistics, the film is based on a true story. The film was named in the Top 5 Best Short Films of the Year.

Her feature film, “Jump In” The Movie, premiered in 2013, and is currently available in 832 stores nationwide, including Wal-Mart and Best Buy, Amazon, Vudu, and Flixster. “Jump In” is a drama about a single mother that returns to her hometown to finish law school and start her own practice, when she is blindsided by the unthinkable, pushing family ties to the limit.

​In 2016, Kimberly released the film, Before ‘I Do’, a story of two Firefighters. The film is an Official Selection in the 2016 Roxbury International Film Festival and will premiere in Boston, MA. The film is based on an award-winning script.

Kimberly is a spokesperson for breast cancer awareness, a two-time breast cancer survivor and volunteer with the American Cancer Society.

She is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

An honors graduate of Eastern Illinois University, Kimberly D. Conner is a self-published author, and independent filmmaker. She has placed as finalist in several screenwriting competitions including the Hollywood Black Film Festival Storyteller Competition, the Urban Media Makers Short Film Competition in Atlanta, and the University of Southern California, Guy A. Hanks and Marvin H. Miller Screenwriting Program. She was a semi-finalist in Creative Screenwriting Magazine's AAA Screenwriting Competition.

Kimberly launched Predestined Arts & Entertainment in 2005. A company that cultivates artistic endeavors, it serves as a creative voice for people of color. The company develops independent projects and other creative works, the goal, to encourage and enlighten, while generating dialog about key issues and raising awareness in our communities, through the arts.

The book, "Naked Poetics - Poetry, Expression and Illustrations", takes a thought-provoking look at life through the eyes of two sisters, written by Kimberly and her sister, and co-author, Candice, released in 2006. Candid in nature, the book tackles topics relative to life through the art of expression. The book delves into deep topics, "politically incorrect", it takes on controversial, societal matters, both stimulating and entertaining to readers.

In 2007, Predestined Arts & Entertainment produced Real Brothers Wear Pink, a Male Calendar honoring breast cancer survivors, an effort to raise awareness about the disease. The calendar featured 12 Brothers from the Midwest. A portion of the proceeds were donated, to fight breast cancer.

Her debut film, which she wrote, directed, and produced, "This Life Ain't Pretty" premiered in 2009, on World AIDS Day, at the University of Illinois at Springfield. The socially conscious short film challenges the stereotypical beliefs associated with HIV/AIDS in young, Black, heterosexual America. Backed by sobering statistics, the film is based on a true story. The film was named Top 5 Best Short Film of the Year in 2009.

In 2013, Kimberly completed her next film, a feature, titled, "Jump In". The film will be released nationwide on DVD in 2015, available at Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Amazon.com, Flixster, Vudu, and Family Video. In the film, lead, Troy Alexander, returns to her roots armed with an air tight plan to pass the Bar exam. The family is complete again, but not perfect, not by a long shot. Blindsided by the unthinkable, family ties are pushed to the limits and astounding revelations unfold. "Jump In" is a romantic comedy-drama about taking risks in life and love, forgiveness, and destiny.

The film, "Before 'I Do'", is currently in Post-Production, a story about a firefighter on a path to define his passion when he finds love. The film is expected to be released in 2015, in theaters.

Kim is a two-time breast cancer survivor, an advocate and spokesperson. She volunteers with the American Cancer Society. Kim is a staff writer with Capital City Courier Newspaper. She is a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: Kimberly Conner