Will Packer

Packer was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida. He graduated from St. Petersburg High School in 1991 and began attending Florida A&M University that fall. In 1996, Packer graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering.{{Cite news |last=Thornton |first=Cedric |date=May 29, 2014 |title=The American Black Film Festival: 10 Facts About Will Packer |work=Black Enterprise Magazine |url=https://www.blackenterprise.com/the-american-black-film-festival-10-facts-about-will-packer/ |access-date=March 28, 2022 |archive-date=August 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809050335/https://www.blackenterprise.com/the-american-black-film-festival-10-facts-about-will-packer/ |url-status=live }} On October 29, 2021, FAMU personally honored Packer by renaming its amphitheater the Will Packer Amphitheater. Packer also received the Meritorious Achievement Award from Florida A&M, the highest honor the university bestows.

It was at FAMU that he started filmmaking with colleague and future business partner Rob Hardy while participating in an internship with veteran producer Warrington Hudlin.{{cite web |last=Jasfly |first=By |url=http://www.eng.fsu.edu/shared/news/article.html?s=will-packer |title=FAMU-FSU College of Engineering :: Will Packer, the Hollywood Hitmaker |publisher=Eng.fsu.edu |access-date=2015-06-08 |archive-date=January 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160118064735/http://www.eng.fsu.edu/shared/news/article.html?s=will-packer |url-status=live }} In 1994, Packer and Hardy produced their first film, Chocolate City,{{Cite web|title=Will Packer|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0655510/|access-date=2021-07-24|website=IMDb|archive-date=February 17, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217080446/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0655510/|url-status=live}} for $20,000 and Packer helped broker a small distribution deal with Blockbuster video.{{cite web |url=http://articles.philly.com/2000-03-14/living/25604884_1_indie-film-rob-hardy-oscar-micheaux |title=Campus Campaign To Sell His Movie Rob Hardy And Buddies From Florida A&m Made The Circuit Of African American Colleges Plugging His Erotic Thriller, "Trois." - philly-archives |publisher=Articles.philly.com |date=2000-03-14 |access-date=2015-06-01 |archive-date=February 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222120603/http://articles.philly.com/2000-03-14/living/25604884_1_indie-film-rob-hardy-oscar-micheaux |url-status=dead }} After graduating, Packer and Hardy moved to Atlanta, Georgia and co-founded Rainforest Films. Packer produced and oversaw the company's studio-financed and self-financed films and distribution projects.{{cite web |url=http://www.rainforestfilms.com/index.html |title=Rainforest Films |publisher=Rainforest Films |access-date=February 2, 2012 |archive-date=February 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208083324/http://www.rainforestfilms.com/index.html |url-status=live }}{{cite press release|url=http://www.seetallahassee.com/news_media/2007/rainforest_films/|title=About The Company|publisher=Rainforest Films|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204161150/http://www.seetallahassee.com/news_media/2007/rainforest_films/ |archive-date=December 4, 2008}} Packer and Hardy's vision was to make films that would appeal to black audiences who hadn't seen genre films starring people like themselves.

In 2000, Trois, Rainforest Film's first movie to be released theatrically, grossed over $1.2 million and became the fastest million-dollar grossing film independently distributed by African Americans. Trois was in the Top 50 Highest Grossing Independent Films of the year, according to Daily Variety,{{cite web |author=Variety Staff |url=https://variety.com/2001/biz/news/limited-release-b-o-winners-2000-1117850357/ |title=Limited release B.O. winners – 2000 |publisher=Variety |date=2001-07-26 |access-date=2015-06-08 |archive-date=April 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411174232/https://variety.com/2001/biz/news/limited-release-b-o-winners-2000-1117850357/ |url-status=live }} and Rainforest Films was at #34 on the list of Top 100 Film Distributors of 2000 listed by The Hollywood Reporter in August 2001. Due to the success of their first film, Packer and Hardy were listed among the "New Establishment" of Black power brokers in Hollywood.{{cite web|url=http://atlanta.bside.com/2007/?view=_filmdetails&filmId=14040493|title=PANEL: A Conversation With Will Packer And Rob Hardy Of Rainforest Films|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708102749/http://atlanta.bside.com/2007/?_view=_filmdetails&filmId=14040493|archive-date=July 8, 2011}}{{cite news|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-oct-10-et-gospel10-story.html|title=Unlikely pair win fans with 'Gospel'|date=October 10, 2005|access-date=April 10, 2018|archive-date=April 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120412005834/http://articles.latimes.com/2005/oct/10/entertainment/et-gospel10|url-status=live}}

In 2001, Packer helped broker a deal with Sony to produce and distribute urban films including Trois{{'}}s sequel, Trois: The Escort, and Motives.{{cite web|url=http://www.rainforestproductions.com/wow/area.cfm?xcr=pr|title=Rainforest Films|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081230041858/http://www.rainforestproductions.com/wow/area.cfm?xcr=pr|archive-date=December 30, 2008}} The film Lockdown, released on home video under this Rainforest-Sony collaboration. In 2005, Rainforest Films released The Gospel. At this time, Packer started using the shortened moniker "Will Packer".

Packer and Hardy wanted Rainforest's films to include established actors and actresses as well as those who are up and coming. 2007's This Christmas, a film about a middle-class family that reunites at Christmas time for the first time in many years, stars veteran actresses Loretta Devine and Regina King as well as R&B superstar Chris Brown in his feature film debut.{{cite web |url=http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/movies/title/0,,4001565,00.html |title=This Christmas (2007) |publisher=Artistdirect.com |access-date=February 2, 2012 |archive-date=June 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605172659/http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/movies/title/0,,4001565,00.html |url-status=live }} Packer produced five #1 films with Rainforest, Stomp the Yard, Obsessed, Takers, Think like a Man and Ride Along. His biggest hits with Rainforest have been Think like a Man, which grossed over $96 million worldwide after being released in April 2012,{{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=thinklikeaman.htm |title=Think Like a Man (2012) |publisher=Box Office Mojo |date=2012-07-08 |access-date=2015-06-08 |archive-date=July 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705193513/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=thinklikeaman.htm |url-status=live }} and Ride Along, which brought in box office receipts totaling nearly $150 million as of April 2014.{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=ridealong.htm |title=Ride Along (2014) |publisher=Box Office Mojo |access-date=2015-06-08 |archive-date=July 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706210936/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=ridealong.htm |url-status=live }}

In television, Packer, along with Andrew Young, Martin Luther King III, and Rainforest Films partner Rob Hardy, are co-founders of Bounce TV, a United States television network airing on digital terrestrial television stations. Promoted as "the first 24/7 digital multicast broadcast network created exclusively for African Americans," Bounce TV launched on September 26, 2011, and features programming geared toward blacks and African Americans in the 25–54 age range.{{cite web |first=Tim |last=Molloy |url=https://www.thewrap.com/tv/article/bounce-begins-network-looks-quality-movies-search-african-american-audiences-31274 |title=Black-Oriented Bounce TV Begins, Betting on Classic Movies |publisher=Thewrap.com |date=2011-09-25 |access-date=2015-06-08 |archive-date=October 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026201558/https://www.thewrap.com/tv/article/bounce-begins-network-looks-quality-movies-search-african-american-audiences-31274/ |url-status=live }}

In June 2014, Packer and Hardy dissolved Rainforest Films. The pair were included in a lawsuit brought by former business partner Bernard Bronner in late June 2014.{{cite web |url=http://www.eurweb.com/2014/06/eur-exclusive-think-like-a-man-too-producers-sued-for-gross-mismanagement-abuse-of-control/ |title=EUR Exclusive: 'Think Like a Man Too' Producers Sued for Gross Mismanagement, Abuse of Control |publisher=Eurweb.com |date=2014-04-25 |access-date=2015-06-01 |archive-date=May 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524085851/http://www.eurweb.com/2014/06/eur-exclusive-think-like-a-man-too-producers-sued-for-gross-mismanagement-abuse-of-control/ |url-status=live }}

In 2013, Packer launched Will Packer Productions. In July 2013, he signed a two-year deal with Universal Television to develop new projects for the studio.{{cite web |author=Lesley Goldberg |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/film-producer-will-packer-inks-582345 |title=Film Producer Will Packer Inks Overall Deal With Universal TV |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=2013-07-09 |access-date=2015-06-08 |archive-date=December 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213070705/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/film-producer-will-packer-inks-582345 |url-status=live }} Later that year, he signed a three-year deal with Universal Pictures.{{cite web |last=Fleming |first=Mike |url=https://deadline.com/2013/10/universal-makes-first-look-feature-pact-with-hitmaking-producer-will-packer-624505/ |title=Universal Makes First-Look Feature Pact With Hitmaking Producer Will Packer |publisher=Deadline |date=2013-10-31 |access-date=2015-06-08 |archive-date=July 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140724003559/http://www.deadline.com/2013/10/universal-makes-first-look-feature-pact-with-hitmaking-producer-will-packer/ |url-status=live }} Packer-produced films under the Will Packer Productions banner include #1 box office openers Ride Along 2, No Good Deed and Think Like a Man Too along with The Wedding Ringer and Girls Trip. Girls Trip was the highest grossing live action comedy of 2017{{Cite news|url=https://www.refinery29.com/2017/08/168762/girls-trip-first-comedy-100-million-2017|title="Girls Trip" Just Broke A Major Milestone & The Timing Couldn't Be More Perfect|access-date=2018-06-25|language=en|archive-date=June 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625213527/https://www.refinery29.com/2017/08/168762/girls-trip-first-comedy-100-million-2017|url-status=live}} and the first film written, directed, produced, and starring African-Americans to gross over $100 million.{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/girls-trip-box-office-100-million-1202532566/|title='Girls Trip' Crosses $100 Million at Domestic Box Office|access-date=2018-06-25|language=en|archive-date=June 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625213329/https://variety.com/2017/film/news/girls-trip-box-office-100-million-1202532566/|url-status=live}} The film went on to gross $140 million on a $19 million budget. Packer also served as executive producer on NWA biopic Straight Outta Compton and on 2016 television mini-series Roots.

He has produced the comedies Night School (2018), starring Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish, What Men Want (2019), starring Taraji P. Henson, and Little (2019), starring Marsai Martin and Regina Hall, The Photograph (2020), starring Issa Rae{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2018/05/issa-rae-little-movie-universal-will-packer-productions-1202382072/|title=Issa Rae Joins 'Black-ish' Star Marsai Martin In 'Little' From Universal & Will Packer Productions|last=N'Duka|first=Amanda|date=2018-05-03|work=Deadline|access-date=2018-06-25|language=en-US|archive-date=June 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625213837/https://deadline.com/2018/05/issa-rae-little-movie-universal-will-packer-productions-1202382072/|url-status=live}} and LaKeith Stanfield, and Beast (2022), starring Idris Elba.  Packer has been included in several high-profile lists, including The Hollywood Reporter's "40(ish) Most Powerful People in Comedy",{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/40ish-powerful-people-comedy-1118017|title=The 40(ish) Most Powerful People in Comedy|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=2018-06-25|language=en|archive-date=June 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615065813/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/40ish-powerful-people-comedy-1118017|url-status=live}} GIANT magazine's "The GIANT 100", Jet magazine's "Who's Hot To Watch in 2008" and Black Enterprise{{'}}s "Most Powerful Players Under 40."{{cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EjsDAAAAMBAJ&q=jet+jan+14%2C+2008 |title=Jet - Google Books |date=2008-01-14 |publisher=Johnson Publishing Company |access-date=2015-06-08 |archive-date=August 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230825104234/https://books.google.com/books?id=EjsDAAAAMBAJ&q=jet+jan+14%2C+2008 |url-status=live }}

In 2017, Packer launched Will Packer Media, a branded content and digital production company, in partnership with Discovery Communications and Universal Pictures.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/25/business/will-packer-production-company-discovery-universal.html|title=Will Packer Starting Production Company With Backing From Discovery and Universal|work=The New York Times|date=July 25, 2017|access-date=2018-06-25|language=en|last1=Maidenberg|first1=Micah|archive-date=June 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625220944/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/25/business/will-packer-production-company-discovery-universal.html|url-status=live}} As part of the launch, the company acquired digital ad firm Narrative_{{Cite news|url=http://www.thedrum.com/news/2017/07/25/newly-launched-will-packer-media-acquires-creative-and-tech-agency-narrative|title=Newly launched Will Packer Media acquires creative and tech agency Narrative|work=The Drum|access-date=2018-06-25|language=en|archive-date=June 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625213628/http://www.thedrum.com/news/2017/07/25/newly-launched-will-packer-media-acquires-creative-and-tech-agency-narrative|url-status=live}} to serve as the new venture's branded content arm, WP Narrative. In 2018, Will Packer Media acquired women's lifestyle site xoNecole.{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/will-packer-xonecole-necole-kane-1202668051/|title=Will Packer Media Acquires Women's Lifestyle Site xoNecole|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=2018-01-18|work=Variety|access-date=2018-06-25|language=en-US|archive-date=June 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625213453/https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/will-packer-xonecole-necole-kane-1202668051/|url-status=live}}

Will Packer Media produces episodic scripted and unscripted series across television and digital platforms, as well as content for brand clients and short-form digital content for millennial audiences. Current productions include Ready to Love and Put a Ring On It for OWN, and That Girl Lay Lay for Nickelodeon. Will Packer Media also produces scripted and unscripted podcasts with iHeart Media including Fight Night and The Lower Bottoms.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

Packer served as the executive producer of the remake of Roots, for which he received an Emmy Award nomination. The company's WP Narrative_ division was a 2018 Webby Award Winner{{Cite news|url=https://www.webbyawards.com/winners/2018/film-video/branded-entertainment/public-service-activism-branded/take-a-knee/|title=Take A Knee {{!}} The Webby Awards|access-date=2018-06-25|archive-date=June 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625213517/https://www.webbyawards.com/winners/2018/film-video/branded-entertainment/public-service-activism-branded/take-a-knee/|url-status=live}} and 10th Annual Shorty Award winner{{Cite web|url=http://shortyawards.com/10th/take-a-knee-2|title=#TakeAKnee - The Shorty Awards|website=goo.gl|access-date=2018-06-25}} for its work producing video short #TakeAKnee. WP Narrative was also honored for its #BackedByAxe campaign created for Showtime's Billions, winning at the Clio Entertainment awards,{{Cite news|url=https://clios.com/entertainment/winner/24698|title=Billions - #BackedByAxe|work=Clios|access-date=2018-06-25|language=en-US|archive-date=June 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625214146/https://clios.com/entertainment/winner/24698|url-status=live}} 10th Annual Shorty Awards{{Cite web|url=http://shortyawards.com/10th/backedbyaxe-4|title=#BackedByAxe - The Shorty Awards|website=shortyawards.com|access-date=2018-06-25|archive-date=June 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626001441/http://shortyawards.com/10th/backedbyaxe-4|url-status=live}} and 2018 D&AD Awards.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dandad.org/awards/professional/2018/digital-marketing/26786/backedbyaxe/|title=#BackedByAxe WP Narrative_ {{!}}SHOWTIME Networks {{!}}D&AD Awards 2018 Pencil Winner {{!}}Use of Social Media|website=DandAD|language=en|access-date=2018-06-25|archive-date=June 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625213704/https://www.dandad.org/awards/professional/2018/digital-marketing/26786/backedbyaxe/|url-status=live}}

Central Ave, an entertainment magazine series, debuted November 4, 2019 on Fox television stations.{{cite journal|title=Fox Prepares to Step Out on Central Ave|last=Albiniak|first=Paige|journal=Broadcasting & Cable|volume=149|issue=10|date=October 28, 2019|page=19}}

Packer was named the Producer of the 94th Annual Academy Awards which aired on March 27, 2022. This marked his first "live" television production credit for a major show on a major television network (ABC) and was televised in more than 200 territories worldwide. The 94th Oscars was the highest-rated entertainment special in primetime on any network in two years in both total viewers (16.6 million) and adults 18-49 (3.8/28). Kelly Lawler of USA Today wrote of the ceremony, "It was equal parts boring and terrifying, cringe-worthy and interminable."{{cite news |last1=Lawler |first1=Kelly |title=A Slap, A Dog and Chaos: The Oscars Were a Train Wreck We Couldn't Look Away From |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2022/03/28/oscars-2022-were-train-wreck-we-couldnt-look-away/7187062001/ |access-date=June 15, 2022 |work=USA Today |date=March 28, 2022 |archive-date=March 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330031657/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2022/03/28/oscars-2022-were-train-wreck-we-couldnt-look-away/7187062001/ |url-status=live}}

The show was overshadowed by Will Smith walking on stage and slapping host Chris Rock after he made a joke about Smith's wife's, Jada Pinkett Smith's, hair.{{Cite news |last=Juneau |first=Jen |date=March 27, 2022 |title=Will Smith Smacks Chris Rock in the Face at 2022 Oscars After Rock Jokes About Jada Pinkett's Hair |work=People Magazine |url=https://people.com/movies/oscars-2022-will-smith-slaps-chris-rock-jada-pinkett-smith-hair-joke-gi-jane/ |access-date=March 28, 2022 |archive-date=March 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328025624/https://people.com/movies/oscars-2022-will-smith-slaps-chris-rock-jada-pinkett-smith-hair-joke-gi-jane/ |url-status=live }} Packer immediately tweeted, "Welp... I said it wouldn't be boring", before deleting the tweet after criticism that he was being smug. He later tweeted that it was "a very painful moment for me".{{cite news | newspaper=Irish Examiner | url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/celebrity/arid-40839008.html | title=Oscars-showrunner says Will Smith altercation was 'a very painful moment for me' | first=Mike | last=Bedigan | date=28 March 2022 | accessdate=31 March 2022 | archive-date=March 31, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331172056/https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/celebrity/arid-40839008.html | url-status=live }} Variety reported that Packer "was the key to Smith remaining in his seat".{{cite magazine | magazine=Variety | url=https://variety.com/2022/awards/news/will-smith-asked-to-leave-oscars-slap-chris-rock-1235219478/ | title=Will Smith Was Not Formally Asked to Leave Oscars Following Chris Rock Slap, Sources Claim | first1= Brent |last1=Lang | first2=Matt |last2=Donnelly | first3=Clayton | last3=Davis | date=31 March 2022 | accessdate=31 March 2022}} Academy Board of Governors member Whoopi Goldberg defended Packer's decision to carry on with the show saying, "And the reason they didn't go and take him out is because that would have been another 15-, 20-minute explanation of why we're taking the Black man out five seconds before they're about to decide whether he's won an Oscar or not."{{cite news | newspaper=Los Angeles Times | url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2022-03-29/will-smith-apology-whoopi-goldberg-academy-consequences | title=Film academy governor Whoopi Goldberg: 'Nobody is OK with what happened' with Smith | first=Nardine | last=Sand | date=29 March 2022 | accessdate=31 March 2022 | archive-date=March 31, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331010936/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2022-03-29/will-smith-apology-whoopi-goldberg-academy-consequences | url-status=live }}

Packer is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity (inducted into the Beta Nu chapter at FAMU).{{cite web |url=http://www.famu.edu/index.cfm?a=headlines&p=display&news=645&archive |title=News Headlines – Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University 2012 |publisher=Famu.edu |date=December 7, 2006 |access-date=February 2, 2012 |archive-date=January 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124154326/http://www.famu.edu/index.cfm?a=headlines&p=display&news=645&archive |url-status=live }}[http://www.famu.edu/index.cfm?a=headlines&p=display&news=848&archive "FAMU's Beta Nu Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Receives College Chapter of the Year Award"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527094035/http://www.famu.edu/index.cfm?a=headlines&p=display&news=848&archive |date=May 27, 2010 }}, July 25, 2008. Accessed May 3, 2009. Packer married his first wife Nina Packer (general manager of Bryant Management and Dir. Of Operations for Blueprint Group, the artist management firm for Lil' Wayne and his YMCMB label from 2007 to 2014). The Packer family is made up of Packer's son Dominique, and two daughters, Maya and Nija, from his previous relationship and Zion with Heather Hayslett.{{cite web | url=https://www.essence.com/news/exclusive-first-look-will-packer-marries-surprise-wedding-georgia/ | title=EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK: Will Packer Marries in Surprise Wedding in Georgia | date=October 27, 2020 }} They were divorced in February 2009.{{cite web |url=http://straightfromthea.com/2013/07/09/producer-will-packer-proposes-during-essence-music-festival-photos-video/ |title=Producer Will Packer Proposes During Essence Music Festival... [PHOTOS + VIDEO] |date=July 9, 2013 |publisher=Straightfromthea.com |access-date=2015-06-08 |archive-date=July 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709070921/http://straightfromthea.com/2013/07/09/producer-will-packer-proposes-during-essence-music-festival-photos-video/ |url-status=live }} Packer proposed to his fiancé Heather Hayslett live on stage at the 2013 Essence Music Festival.{{cite web |url=http://www.essence.com/2013/07/06/will-packer-proposes-live-2013-essence-festival |title=Will Packer Proposes Live at the 2013 ESSENCE Festival |publisher=Essence.com |access-date=2016-05-19 |archive-date=August 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230825104251/https://www.essence.com/news/will-packer-proposes-live-2013-essence-festival/ |url-status=live }} They were married in August 2015 in Georgia.{{cite web |url=http://theybf.com/2015/08/30/just-married-hollywood-producer-will-packer-heather-hayslett-tie-the-knot-in-surprise |title=JUST MARRIED: Hollywood Producer Will Packer & Heather Hayslett Tie The Knot In Surprise Backyard Wedding! | The Young, Black, and Fabulous® |publisher=Theybf.com |date=2015-08-30 |access-date=2016-05-19 |archive-date=September 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150901034141/http://theybf.com/2015/08/30/just-married-hollywood-producer-will-packer-heather-hayslett-tie-the-knot-in-surprise |url-status=live }}

Producer

{{colbegin|colwidth=22em}}

• Chocolate City (1994)
• Trois (2000) (also writer)
• Trois 2: Pandora's Box (2002) (also story writer)
• Motives (2004)
• The Gospel (2005)
• Puff, Puff, Pass (2006)
• Stomp the Yard (2007)
• Motives 2 (2007)
• This Christmas (2007)
• Three Can Play That Game (2008)
• Obsessed (2009)
• Takers (2010)
• Stomp the Yard: Homecoming (2010)
• Think Like a Man (2012) (also cameo appearance)
• Ride Along (2014)
• About Last Night (2014)
• Think Like a Man Too (2014) (also cameo appearance)
• No Good Deed (2014)
• The Wedding Ringer (2015)
• Ride Along 2 (2016)
• Almost Christmas (2016)
• Girls Trip (2017)
• Breaking In (2018)
• Night School (2018)
• What Men Want (2019)
• Little (2019)
• Jacob's Ladder (2019)
• The Photograph (2020)
• That Girl Lay Lay (2021)
• Beast (2022)
• 94th Academy Awards (2022)
• Praise This (2023)
• Oracle (2023)
• Dashing Through the Snow (2023)
• Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist (2024)

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Executive producer

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• Trois: The Escort (2004)
• The Gospel Live (2005)
• Alpha Man: The Brotherhood of MLK (2011)
• Battle of the Year (2013)
• Straight Outta Compton (2015)
• Truth Be Told (2015)
• Roots (2016)
• Uncle Buck (2016)
• Being Mary Jane (2017–2019)
• The Quad (2017–2018)
• Ready to Love (2018)
• Put a Ring on It (2019)
• Ambitions (2019)
• The Atlanta Child Murders (2019)
• The Disappearance of the Millbrook Twins (2019)
• Bigger (2019–2021)
• The Return (2022)

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{{reflist}}

• {{IMDb name|0655510}}
• [https://www.willpacker.com/home Official website]

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Category:1974 births

Category:20th-century American businesspeople

Category:21st-century American businesspeople

Category:African-American film producers

Category:Film producers from Florida

Category:Film producers from Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:Florida A&M University alumni

Category:Living people

Category:People from St. Petersburg, Florida

Category:St. Petersburg High School alumni

Category:20th-century African-American businesspeople

Category:21st-century African-American businesspeople