Draft:DeShon Hardy
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| Submission declined on 1 August 2025 by CNMall41 (talk). This submission's references do not show that the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article—that is, they do not show significant coverage (not just passing mentions) about the subject in published, reliable, secondary sources that are independent of the subject (see the guidelines on the notability of people). Before any resubmission, additional references meeting these criteria should be added (see technical help and learn about mistakes to avoid when addressing this issue). If no additional references exist, the subject is not suitable for Wikipedia.
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This draft has been resubmitted and is currently awaiting re-review. |  |
| Submission declined on 1 August 2025 by AlphaBetaGamma (talk). The content of this submission includes material that does not meet Wikipedia's minimum standard for inline citations. Please cite your sources using footnotes. For instructions on how to do this, please see Referencing for beginners. Thank you. Declined by AlphaBetaGamma 40 hours ago. | |
Comment: I can find the local press but no real significant coverage for him or the films outside of that. I can verify they exist from the BET+ website, but still no significant coverage. I added the years to the films I verified through IMDb so those would need sourced from a better source. CNMall41 (talk) 17:15, 1 August 2025 (UTC)
- Comment: Unsourced birth date, early life, education, and personal life section. AlphaBetaGamma (Talk/report any mistakes here) 09:15, 1 August 2025 (UTC)
DeShon Hardy | |
|---|---|
 DeShon Hardy in 2024 | |
| Born | Neptune, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Massachusetts Amherst New York Film Academy |
| Occupation(s) | Film director, screenwriter, producer |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Notable work | The Lake on Clinton Road, A Message From Brianna, Dear Best Friend, Under His Influence, I Got a Story to Tell, Diamond |
DeShon Hardy is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer known for his work in psychological horror, socially driven thrillers, dramas and culturally resonant storytelling.[1] With a career spanning over 15 years, Hardy has directed and produced films forBET, BET+, Amazon Prime Video, and Tubi. He is best known for A Message From Brianna, Dear Best Friend, Under His Influence, and the BET+ anthology series I Got a Story to Tell. In 2025, he wrote, directed, and produced the emotional drama Diamond, starring Cynthia Bailey and Vernon Davis.[2]
Early life and education
[edit]Hardy is originally from Neptune, New Jersey, and graduated from Neptune High School.[3] He attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he played four years of collegiate football as a quarterback.[4] He earned a bachelor's degree in political economy[5] and later received a screenwriting certificate from the New York Film Academy.
Career
[edit]Hardy began his filmmaking career with the 2014 horror feature The Lake on Clinton Road, which was distributed by Redbox and reviewed by genre outlets.
Hardy began his filmmaking career with the 2014 horror feature The Lake on Clinton Road, which was distributed by Redbox and reviewed by genre outlets.[6] He followed with the thriller Dwellers: The Curse of Pastor Stokes, which secured a worldwide distribution deal with RA Ventures and was covered by genre film critics.[7]
He went on to write, direct, or produce several films and series for BET and BET+.[8]
Hardy also directed and produced five episodes of the business reality show Front Office, executive produced by NBA star Chris Paul and featuring athlete investors like Vernon Davis and Allyson Felix.[9]
In 2025, he completed production on the supernatural sports drama Diamond, starring Cynthia Bailey and Vernon Davis. The project was officially announced in Deadline and received national press coverage.[10]
He is also directing the upcoming sports documentary More Than a Trainer, hosted and executive produced by Vernon Davis, which chronicles the life and legacy of DMV trainer Myron Flowers.[11]
Filmography
[edit]- 2021 – A Message From Brianna – BET original film[12]
- 2021 – Dear Best Friend – BET+ original film
- 2022 – Rene: A Juneteenth Story – BET Her original short
- 2022 – Devon’s Day – BET Her Juneteenth special
- 2022 – I Got a Story to Tell – BET+ anthology series (writer, director, and producer of all episodes)[13]
- 2023 – Under His Influence – BET+ original film[14]
- 2023 – What Lies Under the Tree – released on Tubi and Amazon Prime Video
- 2025 – Diamond – writer, director, producer
Awards and recognition
[edit]Hardy’s work has been featured by the American Black Film Festival (ABFF), including the 2021 official selection for his earlier project A Lake on Clinton Road.[15]
Personal life
[edit]Hardy currently focuses on storytelling that explores culturally resonant and emotionally grounded narratives. He frequently returns to his hometown of Neptune, New Jersey, as a setting and production base for his work.[16]
References
[edit]- ^ Giacomazzo, Bernadette (July 29, 2025). "RHOA Star Cynthia Bailey, NFL's Vernon Davis to Topline 'Diamond'". Complex.
- ^ Giacomazzo, Bernadette (2025-07-23). "Cynthia Bailey & Vernon Davis To Produce And Star In Sports Drama 'Diamond'". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
- ^ "NTHS Alum DeShon Hardy Shoots 'Diamond' in Neptune". TAPinto. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
- ^ "DeShon Hardy: A Triple Threat". UMass Athletics. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
- ^ "DeShon Hardy Recognized for Dedication to Entertainment". 24-7 Press Release. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
- ^ DeFellipo, Michael (17 June 2015). "Review: The Lake on Clinton Road". Horror Society. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
- ^ "Dwellers: The Curse of Pastor Stokes – Review & Overview". Movies & Mania. 21 June 2020. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
- ^ "DeShon Hardy's BET+ Originals". BET. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
- ^ Steinberg, Russell (3 November 2021). "PlayersTV Unveils Release Date, Athlete Panel for Pitch Competition Show \"Front Office\"". Boardroom. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
- ^ Giacomazzo, Bernadette. "Cynthia Bailey & Vernon Davis To Produce And Star In Sports Drama 'Diamond'". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
- ^ Ingleton, Jada (16 July 2025). "Forthcoming Sports Documentary Highlights Myron Flowers as a Catalyst for Change in the DMV". The Washington Informer. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
- ^ "A Message From Brianna Ending Explained". Decider. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
- ^ Smith, Christopher (28 May 2024). "New Tubi Series 'I Got a Story to Tell' Makes Debut". Hip-Hop Wired. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
- ^ "BET Original Film 'Under His Influence' is Now Streaming". Perception. 21 February 2023. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
- ^ "ABFF Announces 2021 Official Film Selections". American Black Film Festival. 2021.
- ^ "NTHS Alum DeShon Hardy Shoots 'Diamond' in Neptune". TAPinto. July 2025.
External links
[edit]- DeShon Hardy at IMDb
- Deadline – Diamond Film Announcement
- Asbury Park Press – Diamond films in Neptune and Asbury Park
- ABFF – 2021 Official Film Selections
- Complex – Cynthia Bailey and Vernon Davis to Topline Diamond
- Reality Tea – Cynthia Bailey joins sports drama Diamond
- EntertainmentNow – Diamond starring Cynthia Bailey and Vernon Davis
- SKJ Bollywood News – Diamond film announcement
- Bravo – Cynthia Bailey cast in Diamond