Rob Hardy

Writer-director Rob Hardy is a versatile filmmaker and industry executive who produced some of the most financially successful independent films of the 2000s, including the 2007 step-dancing drama "Stomp the Yard." He has flexed his directorial muscles working in multiple genres, from the musical drama of "The Gospel" to the love-triangle thriller franchise "Trois." A move to television in 2007 led to gigs directing episodes of the forensic detective series "Bones," the medical drama "E.R.," and the 2008 mini-series "Heroes: The Recruit," a tie-in that provided the back-story to writer-producer Tim Kring's successful, super-powered 2006-2010 series, "Heroes." In 2011, Hardy directed a series of episodes of "Criminal Minds." One of these, "The Bittersweet Science," reunited him with actress Kelsey Scott, who had co-starred in Hardy's first feature, 1994's "Chocolate City" and scripted both installments of his "Motives" thriller franchise. Hardy's career-long collaboration with producer Will Packer began when they met as undergraduate engineering students at Florida A&M University. In 1994, the duo co-founded would-be indie powerhouse Rainforest Films, which--along with the 2006 launch of Tyler Perry Studios--would do more than anyone since perhaps Ted Turner to boost Atlanta's film industry clout. In 2011, Hardy launched Bounce TV, a broadcast network marketed toward African-Americans.