Photo Credit: Johnny Jones
Keith L. Craig is a decorated combat Veteran, Entertainment Executive, Philanthropist and Author. Transcending his childhood dreams, he has amassed unimaginable success in the Armed Forces, European Football League, Entertainment Industry, and now as an International Bestselling Author.
Mr. Craig is an award-winning entertainment executive currently 2021, working in Burbank, California, at Walt Disney Studios managing Central Division theatrical sales and distribution for Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures in 20 theatrical demographic market areas, and is part of the team who worked on the execution of the distribution strategy for all titles including Marvel, Lucasfilms, Pixar, etc. It was that overall strategy that led Disney to an industry domestic record of $3.7billion in 2019, propelled by Avengers: Endgame ($858.3M), The Lion King ($543.6M), Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker ($515.2M) among many other franchise titles, as well as setting previous $3 billion annual domestic B.O. records two previous times including 2018. Craig’s theatrical distribution career at Disney also includes him booking the Oscar-winning movie COCO, as well as Black Panther who was nominated for seven Academy Awards winning three.
In the context of his extraordinary homeless to Hollywood story Sgt. Major examines in his book, “Serving to Lead,” his experience with a range of leadership styles and facilitates the aspiring leader-reader’s adoption and practice of one which fits. Sgt. Major’s analysis of individual behavior within the scope of mission and landscape of vision serves to clarify the values which successful leaders share and the ultimate path to leadership success.
FMM: Sergeant Major Keith L. Craig, thank you for your service. Please tell us about your earlier challenges in your life that made you resilient.
Thank you! I appreciate the acknowledgement. Well, I was born and raised by a single mom in a small, southern country town, and narrowly escaped poverty and trouble. I was absolutely driven by the desire to build a better life for me and my mom and sought a much better life than living on the cusp of homelessness, which I experienced in my childhood. Initially foregoing the dream of a football scholarship and career, I joined the ranks of the armed forces, to create that new life. The challenges that came with the life of being a soldier made my way hard and un bearable at times, but didn’t stop me from staying the course and seeing my path to the end. Also, having to overcome the traumas of life and conquering my struggle with PTSD, years later was probably the most difficult, but I was determined. Deciding I wanted better, walking through faith, and taking action is what made me resilient.
FMM: You had a successful football career. When did you decide to switch gears and aim for entertainment?
Well, as a professional athlete, you have the understanding that we are in the entertainment industry. As you are gathering, football was just one of my many careers and passions. I was one of three athletes that was ever authorized to sign a pro contract while serving in the military. The others were David Robinson, and Napoleon McCallum. Though I was a professional football player whose career spanned over a decade, I did it while serving in the Army. It is overwhelming to think about it now, but at the time it was exciting. I was somewhere in my tenure, serving 32 years and obtaining 52 awards and decorations, during which time I played in three leagues, in three different countries, in the same season, for more than 10 years, winning 6 championships. After military retirement, I seemingly entered into my fourth career and transitioned into entertainment—in Leadership at Walt Disney Studios.
Photo Credit: Johnny Jones
FMM: While working at Walt Disney Studios you were part of a team that worked on the distribution strategy that led Disney to an industry domestic record of $3.7 billion. What did you learn from this experience?
First and foremost, coming from leadership in combat and the gridiron into a corporate structure, I immediately learned that there are different kinds of leaders, and learned ways to make leadership work—not only for myself personally, but more importantly for the people I had to lead. By this time, I had worked in many facets of leadership and had drawn from all of my wins and losses. The industry, specifically, taught me the importance of strategy and attention to fine details. These factors can make or break box office success.
FMM: Tell us about your best-selling book, “Serving to Lead.”
In my multiple careers in the Armed Forces, European Football League, and Entertainment, I triumphed over many obstacles and achieved vast amounts of success. I fought for, relished in the experiences of, and mastered his life and have been uniquely positioned to guide others. With my book, I’m intentional about motivating others to be their best selves and wrote it to ignite passion in them and propel their as inspirations into fruition. It enables readers, with leadership in their sights to scale the heights of their unique visions and shows them how to achieve success by keeping the needs of their teams in mind.
FMM: Who is the book for?
Serving to Lead is definitely for curious and ambitious leaders. It allows many to realize their leadership dream and will uncover the leader lying dormant inside of many others. It empowers so many in between to achieve their own desired levels of success and additionally provides executive coaching and training to influence tomorrows’ leadership pool. It really guides those who seek wisdom and tools for becoming a great leader. No matter their positioning, leaders; either natural born, appointed or made, have got the same things in common–the ability, timing and will to unleash their courage, determination, and passion to render a desired outcome. Serving to Lead, pays homage to the pioneers who led us here through times of war, economic downturns, environmental challenges, technological fallouts, and even medical scares. It also salutes the leaders standing before us, with conviction, owness, responsibility, and most specifically the willingness to carry the torch.
FMM: What has been the greatest lesson you have learned?
I have learned the significance of continually operating in a spirit of humility. I honestly attribute my attainment of my many positions and honors, to hard work, having respect for authority and taking personal accountability.
Photo Credit Johnny Jones
FMM: Porter + Craig Film and Media Distribution has made a monumental impact on both indie and studio film releasing over the past decade. Please tell us about your current projects.
April 1, 2023, we will be releasing 50 VOD films worldwide. We are also in talks with various filmmaker and movie house, wrap ping up major deals, but have recently released, The Blacklight, Iris, The Vagabonds, and Pink is in. The Blacklight: Despite trying to leave behind a life of crime, Danny reluctantly teams with naïve rich kid Liam and wildcard drug dealer, Kit Viper for a robbery that leaves them in possession of a mysterious supernatural artifact with immense power. Iris: Depicts a woman, Iris who lives like any other typical woman in her early 20s in Brooklyn, New York although she is far beyond her years at heart. Struggling with the imminent death of Adelaide, her last and closest family member who is in hospice. The Vagabonds: A middle aged woman with a preference for younger partners, mainly men in their 20s, searches for a genuine human connection while faced with societal double standards, prejudice and toxic masculinity. Pink Is In: This comedic series follows the antics of the inmates and staff of Chatsworth, a dysfunctional women’s prison.
FMM: What do you look for in a project?
In an effort to meet the mandates of our distribution partners, we are looking for unique projects. We design custom distribution strategies, so there’s no one size fits all model. We will entertain fully pack aged, post-production submissions—from Docs, dramas, to comedy and horror. We support major studios and Exhaust AVOD, VOD Options such as Netflix, Hulu, Peacock. We also Identify Transactional Sales Options, like iTunes, Google, YouTube. We attend domestic and international Film Markets to solicit the best deals and provide marketing, promotions, media, full and limited theatri cal releases.
FMM: Share your vision for Porter + Craig Film and Media Distribution for 2023.
Porter+Craig is a worldwide film and television sales organization specializing in the financing, production, and distribution of commercial feature films; it also rep resents worldwide sales for both its own slate of films and third-party content with an annual slate of 50 to 100 films. We are a firm dedicated to connecting, sup porting and facilitating introductory talent from diverse and underrepresented communities in their entertainment careers. Expanding our inclusionary global partnerships dedicated to catapulting women, independent films and television programming for domestic, Nollywood, Bollywood, and Canadian movie makers. Providing advocacy for the independent filmmakers who struggle with gaining success with studio executives. Porter + Craig is excited about the future, as it pertains to the freshest content, unique and colorful storytelling.