Bio:

Mykwain A. Gainey is a filmmaker & photographer from the Bronx, NY. In 2005, Mykwain graduated Morehouse College with a B.A. degree in English, Spanish, & Leadership Studies. While at Morehouse, Mykwain received the coveted Oprah Winfrey academic scholarship, which allowed him to complete his education. Soon afterwards, Mykwain garnered a still photography internship on Spike Lee’s “Inside Man,” & he is now pursuing his Master of Fine Arts degree in Film Production from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.

While at NYU, Mykwain created a variety of projects including profiling hip-hop duo “Kidz in the Hall” for Cisco Systems & directing a tourism video on nightlife in Madrid for the Madrid Film Commission. Also an avid photographer, Mykwain has shot for Warner Music Group, Atlantic Records, Elektra Records, Roc Nation, Rocawear, Artful Dodger, The Economist, VIBE/ Pulse Magazine, UPTOWN Magazine, CRISISMagazine & fashion designer Wenlan Chia. 

In 2009, Mykwain photographed musical legends Patti LaBelle, Questlove, Aretha Franklin, & the late Teddy Pendergrass, amongst other notables, for the VH1 Rock doc. “Soul Train: The Hippest Trip In America.” Mykwain’s work has been featured on CNN.com, EbonyJet.com, DrJays.com, HuffPost.com, OKmagazine.com, Roc4Life.com, & countless other blogs & websites.Most recently Mykwain was the official documentary photographer for R&B superstar Trey Songz’s sold-out 2011 “Love Faces” tour in New York, DC, Detroit, & Chicago.

Now fusing his filmmaking & photography experiences, Mykwain is preparing for his thesis film, “Miss Understood,” a satire on modern celebrity culture & the obsession with infamy over fame, as portrayed by an aspiring fashion model, Papri’Ka.

Contact: mykwain@mykwain.com