Abdul Malik Abbott

Raised in Harlem, NYC, Abdul Malik Abbott was happy to be a movie lover and comic book fan. Abdul started his journey as an artist at an early age and was a painter, illustrator and animator while attending the High School of Music & Art. He strived to follow in his father’s footsteps as a filmmaker. His father was a teacher at the Studio Museum in Harlem and one of his most notable students was director/writer Julie Dash. At 20 years old, Abdul received his Bachelor’s degree in Film at the School of Visual Arts in NYC. He got his start in the biz working in the sound dept. and earned his creative reputation first as a Music Video editor editing well over 250 music videos for major labels and recording artists. He eventually made his way up the ranks at the helm of music videos, directing all genres of music. Abdul also directed, co-wrote & edited the Platinum-selling, long-form music video starring Jay-Z entitled “Streets is Watching”. It earned a #1 slot in Billboard. Specializing in narrative/story-telling structures with a lot of his music videos, Abdul was hired to direct the scripted hip-hop infused gangster drama entitled “State Property” (Lionsgate) starring Beanie Sigel & Jay-Z. After moving to Los Angeles and joining the Directors Guild of America (DGA), Abdul continued to direct music videos as well as maintaining a career as an editor and Videographer for TV shows, docs and new media projects. Recently Mr. Abbott wrote, directed & edited the award-winning short film entitled “Curse of War”, and the spin off music video from the film by his band B.O.S.S entitled: “Let it all go”. Soon after, Abdul directed and edited the short, erotic, music-driven short fashion film “Balance of Power”, which was awarded the “People’s Telly Award” and “Best Experimental Film” at the Los Angeles Movie Awards and the Flickfair Film Festival. He also Directed, Produced, Edited the dark drama “The Ties That Bind” for Kids in the Spotlight organization. The dark-comedy short film “The Audacity” which Abdul Produced, Wrote & Directed was released on Amazon direct. Recently Abdul served as Producer, Director & Lead Editor for “AAFCA TV Honors” & “The AAFCA Awards” for the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) and is currently in post-production on a documentary feature on famed LA artist Betye Saar. Abdul is also a recent graduate of the DGA’s DDI TV directing Program.