Michael Elliot Biography

Fast Facts

• Wrote his first film, "Carmen: A Hip Hopera" starring Beyoncé Knowles and Mekhi Phifer, in 2001
• Began his career in film as an executive producer for the Source Hip-Hop Music Awards in 2000
• Started out as a radio show host and on-air personality for Q102 FM in Philadelphia in 1991
• Quote: "(On Tyler Perry): "What Hollywood cares about is profit․ Whether or not you appreciate his films, whenever a black movie makes money, all of a sudden studios are much more open to talking to you about doing a film with African Americans in it․""
• Best known as a screenwriter who created "Like Mike," "Brown Sugar," and "Just Wright․"
• Is the founder and president of the company Hammer & Nails
• Appeared on the reality series "Shark Tank" to promote his business Hammer & Nails in 2014
• The screenplay for "Brown Sugar" was inspired by the Mary J․ Blige song "Seven Days," which was the original title of the film