Jerome Hyde, whose credits include the television series Making of The Wizard Girl and music videos for Wale, Johnny Gill and Bugle, has been named January 2016 Filmmaker of the Month by the District of Columbia’s Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment.

The Washington DC-born Hyde, whose parents are from Duhaney Park and Spanish Town, is a co-founder of Unplugged Multimedia. His impressive portfolio also includes television commercials for the Discovery and Travel channels and documentaries.

He spoke to the Sunday Observer about the award and what it means for his career.

“I am overwhelmed with joy. To know that I’ve been recognised by the Motion Film and TV department speaks volumes of who I am and the work I’ve put in. I work hard at my craft and I’m truly honoured to be recognised,” he said.

Hyde has won a few accolades in recent times. These include a regional Emmy Award and a Telly Award for

Making of The Wizard Girl.

He studied film at Howard University and earned a Masters Degree in Visual Effects from Savannah College of Arts and Design in Georgia.

Hyde began working as a production assistant on the hit Martin Lawrence comedy, Big Momma’s House. He was also part of the production crew for the reality series Most Haunted Live and worked as production coordinator for Single Ladies, the VH1 ‘dramedy’.

His current projects include the mini web series Welcome to The Heights, which is done with the Maryland Health Department and Radio One, and the films Any Means and Yawd.

“

Welcome to The Heights is a campaign to help stop the violence [in urban DC/Maryland]. We have teamed up with the Maryland Health Department and Radio One to stop this devastation. The campaign runs until May and the web series will start in March,” he said.

The 31-year-old Hyde attended the inaugural Jamaica Film Festival last year. He makes his acting debut with a small role in Maryland Boyd, a project in post-production.