Nick Brooks is an award-winning author, filmmaker, and musician from Washington, DC. He’s a 2020 graduate of USC’s MFA Film/TV Production program, with his films earning him both the prestigious George Lucas Scholar Award and the James Bridges and Jack Larson Award for Writing and Directing. His films have been recognized by film festivals across the world, including International Children’s Film Festival, Forbes 30 Under 30 Film Competition and American Black Film Festival (ABFF), to name a few.
In 2022 he published his first middle grade novel, Nothing Interesting Ever Happens To Ethan Fairmont, the first book in a three-book series. and the third and final book released in 2024. His first YA novel, Promise Boys, debuted January 2023 and was the largest Young Adult debut publishing deal in history. The book received critical acclaim including winning the 2024 Odyssey Award and being a 2023 Boston Globe–Horn Book award honoree. His second YA novel, Up In Smoke, releases in May 2025. He’s currently writing an unannounced Marvel graphic novel. In TV/Film, Nick is writing and co-executive producing several projects— Promise Boys, with the Obamas producing, Manifest Atlas, a horror mystery and Redemption Prep, a sci-fi mystery with MGM. Nick is also currently writing on his first video game with Rockstar, GTA 6.
Truly a multi-hyphenate, Nick is also a rapper known by the moniker, Ben Kenobe, and has composed music for films such as NETFLIX’s, They Cloned Tyrone, and HBO’s, The Cypher. Before becoming full-time artist, Nick was an educator working primarily with at-risk youth. During that time he earned his M. Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction while holding his undergraduate degree from Howard University.