David Wadley
- Sound Department
- Additional Crew
- Director
David Wadley is the award-winning author of "The AI Revolution Will Not Be Televised." He received the Literary Titan Gold Book Award for this work on April 4, 2025, a date that holds significance as it marks the 57th anniversary of the assassination of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Additionally, Wadley is the founder and president of The Price Bandit LLC, and he serves as an affiliate partner with CNBC Pro and the CNBC Investing Club. He has also created hundreds of classic R&B music videos on YouTube.
David Wadley is the writer, producer, and director of Dark Angels (1998), available on multiple streaming platforms. Dark Angels (1998) was the first feature film released in what eventually became known as the Hard Faith film genre.
David Wadley, a pioneering African American filmmaker, ignored conventional Hollywood storytelling and broke new ground as the writer, producer, and director of Dark Angels (1998), the first faith-based gangsta film.
In Dark Angels (1998), a pregnant woman faces a choice between her abusive husband and her unborn baby on the way. Their world is full of sex, drugs, money, and power, with violence an ever-present threat. On the mean streets of Atlanta, the expectant mother finds that only spiritual awareness and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse can help her escape the madness.
Dark Angels (1998) cemented its place in cinematic history as the first Hard Faith movie. It was followed by notable additions to the genre, including Shooting Heroin (2020), written and directed by Spencer T. Folmar, and The Affair (2023), directed by Dennis L. Reed II.
Elisha Maldonado of the New York Post describes the relevance of Hard Faith movies in this way:
"Faith is hard. Sometimes faith is messy. And the beauty of our redemption story is that God meets us in our brokenness, frailty, and sweariness. It's his humanity. If we, as humans, can't meet our fellow humans in our shared mess, what are we doing? And if a hot damn or a good old f-bomb moves us closer to meeting others where they are, I swear, it's worth it."
Wadley has worked for Warner Bros. Studios, Sony Pictures, MGM Studios and is a member of the Motion Picture Editors Guild, IATSE Local 700. He was the Supervising Sound Editor on Soul Plane (2004) and a Production Assistant on the Hollywood sets of movies produced by Steven Spielberg, Spike Lee, Robert De Niro, and Melvin Van Peebles.
Wadley wrote, produced, and released "Batman Theme" (1984), an electro cover of the opening theme song from the classic T.V. series "Batman" (1966), shortly after graduating from St. Peter Chanel in Ohio. Watching "Batman" (1966) as a child, Wadley was inspired to produce and release an updated musical recording of the iconic "Batman Theme" in 1984. Five years later, Prince paid homage to Wadley's earlier recording when he released "Batdance" (1989) by using structural elements similar to Wadley's cover of the "Batman Theme." Prince, mirroring Wadley's earlier recording, included a surreal intro, spoken dialogue, a lead guitar solo in the middle of the song, synthesized background vocals of the lyric "Batman," and a conclusive explosion followed by a single word to end the song abruptly; Prince saying "Stop," while Wadley finished his previous version with the phrase, "Hey."
Born on a U.S. military base in Central Europe during the civil rights movement, Wadley later graduated from St. Peter Chanel High School in Cleveland, Ohio. He made the Dean's List as a freshman at Morehouse College. Ernest Tidyman, a journalist and Oscar-winning screenwriter of The French Connection (1971), Shaft (1971), and High Plains Drifter (1973), encouraged him to study film production on the East Coast. Wadley supported himself with jobs at The NY Hilton, The Plaza Hotel, and The Waldorf Astoria, where he interacted with frequent hotel patrons Ella Fitzgerald, James Brown, and Jesse Jackson. As a student at Hunter College, he interned in Harlem's 15th Congressional District under Representative Charles Rangel. Historically, Wadley is the first student invited to participate as a guest panelist on the regionally televised "City of N.Y. Internship Forum." He discussed "Race Relations in America" with local politicians and noted political scientist Dr. Marilyn Gittell. Intrigued by his studies relating to the Civil Rights Movement, Wadley arranged private, face-to-face discussions with both Coretta Scott King and Betty Shabazz, the widows of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. He also worked nights as a runner for Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen, and Katz; the law firm that orchestrated Bank of America's purchase of Merrill Lynch for $50 billion, as well as the hostile takeover of the RJR Nabisco empire which served as the subject of the bestselling novel and film, Barbarians at the Gate (1993).
Wadley's desire to work in the film industry eventually led him to the West Coast, where he landed positions at Panavision and Technicolor. The former Firefighter/EMT also worked as a Production Assistant on several films produced by Steven Spielberg, Spike Lee, Robert De Niro, and blaxploitation pioneer Melvin Van Peebles. Wadley worked on Panther (1995), Tales from the Hood (1995), To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar (1995), and Minority Report (2002). These films allowed him to work with noted actors such as Angela Bassett, Tom Cruise, Robin Williams, Patrick Swayze, Chris Rock, and Wesley Snipes. Wadley then wrote, produced, and directed a feature film entitled Dark Angels (1998) for Stray Filmworks/Maverick Entertainment. Following the release of Dark Angels (1998), he wrote several feature-length screenplays, including "Always and Forever," "Yang," and "Notorious."
As a Postproduction Supervisor at Sony Pictures Studios, he worked on the international versions of television programs such as The King of Queens (1998), The Steve Harvey Show (1996), Just Shoot Me! (1997), and Dawson's Creek (1998). Wadley also served in a similar capacity for Warner Bros. Studios, where he assisted the M&E Supervisor on more than a dozen television programs, including ER (1994), The West Wing (1999), Third Watch (1999), Smallville (2001), Gilmore Girls (2000), The Bernie Mac Show (2001), The Drew Carey Show (1995), Friends (1994), and the feature films Training Day (2001), Scooby-Doo (2002), and White Oleander (2002). While at Warner Bros., he also edited sound effects for Where's Angelo? (2003) and supervised the postproduction sound crew on Condemned (2002), which went on to win Best Short Film at the Ankara International Film Festival.
Wadley then started his own company and supervised postproduction sound teams on several projects produced by the American Film Institute, as well as MGM's Soul Plane (2004), which showcased Kevin Hart in his first starring role and featured Oscar winner Mo'Nique, Sofía Vergara, and Snoop Dogg. Soul Plane (2004) is historically noted as the first motion picture to utilize Eastman Kodak Co.'s new method of storing the soundtrack on a thin layer of cyan dye in the film instead of a magnetic or optical track.
Immediately following the film's release, Wadley flew to Hong Kong and the Philippines, where he met with the chairpersons and studio executives of Viva Films, Star Cinema Productions, and Regal Films. He returned to the United States to restore both sound and picture on three Filipino classics, Sinasamba kita (1982), Bakit bughaw ang langit? (1981), and P.S. I Love You (1981), for both television and DVD release.
Wadley later worked in Nevada for several years at Caesars Palace, MGM Grand and joined the Surveillance Division of Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in November of 2006, several days before Prince opened his nightclub, Club 3121, in the lower level of the Rio to present nightly performances for patrons. Wadley noticed an overall lack of cultural activities on the gambling strip, leading him to create a film society club that offered monthly screenings of restored 35mm film prints such as West Side Story (1961) and Raging Bull (1980). This innovative film series was presented at the Regal Cinemas Theater in Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa. He also visited elementary schools and senior citizen groups to promote appreciation for classic films and invite residents to the screenings.
In 2008, Wadley secured a position with the U.S. federal government during the transfer of Executive Branch control from President George W. Bush to President Barack Obama. In addition to performing his duties as a public servant with the U.S. government, he created a website, All Women Are Beautiful (AWAB), to provide public service information related to cultural diversity and inner beauty. Wadley utilized AWAB to assist in the preproduction, fundraising, and promotion of a film project, which inspired the film's producers to acknowledge him with "Special Thanks" in the closing credits of The Invisible War (2012), an investigative documentary about the epidemic of rape within the U.S. military.
Two days after watching this groundbreaking film, former CIA Director and U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta directed military commanders to hand over all sexual assault investigations to a higher-ranking colonel and announced that each branch of the United States Armed Forces would establish a Special Victims Unit. The Invisible War (2012) received a nomination for Best Documentary Feature at The Oscars (2013) (T.V.). It was lauded by advocates, lawmakers, and journalists for its influence on government policies to reduce the prevalence of rape in the U.S. Armed Forces.
David Wadley is the writer, producer, and director of Dark Angels (1998), available on multiple streaming platforms. Dark Angels (1998) was the first feature film released in what eventually became known as the Hard Faith film genre.
David Wadley, a pioneering African American filmmaker, ignored conventional Hollywood storytelling and broke new ground as the writer, producer, and director of Dark Angels (1998), the first faith-based gangsta film.
In Dark Angels (1998), a pregnant woman faces a choice between her abusive husband and her unborn baby on the way. Their world is full of sex, drugs, money, and power, with violence an ever-present threat. On the mean streets of Atlanta, the expectant mother finds that only spiritual awareness and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse can help her escape the madness.
Dark Angels (1998) cemented its place in cinematic history as the first Hard Faith movie. It was followed by notable additions to the genre, including Shooting Heroin (2020), written and directed by Spencer T. Folmar, and The Affair (2023), directed by Dennis L. Reed II.
Elisha Maldonado of the New York Post describes the relevance of Hard Faith movies in this way:
"Faith is hard. Sometimes faith is messy. And the beauty of our redemption story is that God meets us in our brokenness, frailty, and sweariness. It's his humanity. If we, as humans, can't meet our fellow humans in our shared mess, what are we doing? And if a hot damn or a good old f-bomb moves us closer to meeting others where they are, I swear, it's worth it."
Wadley has worked for Warner Bros. Studios, Sony Pictures, MGM Studios and is a member of the Motion Picture Editors Guild, IATSE Local 700. He was the Supervising Sound Editor on Soul Plane (2004) and a Production Assistant on the Hollywood sets of movies produced by Steven Spielberg, Spike Lee, Robert De Niro, and Melvin Van Peebles.
Wadley wrote, produced, and released "Batman Theme" (1984), an electro cover of the opening theme song from the classic T.V. series "Batman" (1966), shortly after graduating from St. Peter Chanel in Ohio. Watching "Batman" (1966) as a child, Wadley was inspired to produce and release an updated musical recording of the iconic "Batman Theme" in 1984. Five years later, Prince paid homage to Wadley's earlier recording when he released "Batdance" (1989) by using structural elements similar to Wadley's cover of the "Batman Theme." Prince, mirroring Wadley's earlier recording, included a surreal intro, spoken dialogue, a lead guitar solo in the middle of the song, synthesized background vocals of the lyric "Batman," and a conclusive explosion followed by a single word to end the song abruptly; Prince saying "Stop," while Wadley finished his previous version with the phrase, "Hey."
Born on a U.S. military base in Central Europe during the civil rights movement, Wadley later graduated from St. Peter Chanel High School in Cleveland, Ohio. He made the Dean's List as a freshman at Morehouse College. Ernest Tidyman, a journalist and Oscar-winning screenwriter of The French Connection (1971), Shaft (1971), and High Plains Drifter (1973), encouraged him to study film production on the East Coast. Wadley supported himself with jobs at The NY Hilton, The Plaza Hotel, and The Waldorf Astoria, where he interacted with frequent hotel patrons Ella Fitzgerald, James Brown, and Jesse Jackson. As a student at Hunter College, he interned in Harlem's 15th Congressional District under Representative Charles Rangel. Historically, Wadley is the first student invited to participate as a guest panelist on the regionally televised "City of N.Y. Internship Forum." He discussed "Race Relations in America" with local politicians and noted political scientist Dr. Marilyn Gittell. Intrigued by his studies relating to the Civil Rights Movement, Wadley arranged private, face-to-face discussions with both Coretta Scott King and Betty Shabazz, the widows of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. He also worked nights as a runner for Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen, and Katz; the law firm that orchestrated Bank of America's purchase of Merrill Lynch for $50 billion, as well as the hostile takeover of the RJR Nabisco empire which served as the subject of the bestselling novel and film, Barbarians at the Gate (1993).
Wadley's desire to work in the film industry eventually led him to the West Coast, where he landed positions at Panavision and Technicolor. The former Firefighter/EMT also worked as a Production Assistant on several films produced by Steven Spielberg, Spike Lee, Robert De Niro, and blaxploitation pioneer Melvin Van Peebles. Wadley worked on Panther (1995), Tales from the Hood (1995), To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar (1995), and Minority Report (2002). These films allowed him to work with noted actors such as Angela Bassett, Tom Cruise, Robin Williams, Patrick Swayze, Chris Rock, and Wesley Snipes. Wadley then wrote, produced, and directed a feature film entitled Dark Angels (1998) for Stray Filmworks/Maverick Entertainment. Following the release of Dark Angels (1998), he wrote several feature-length screenplays, including "Always and Forever," "Yang," and "Notorious."
As a Postproduction Supervisor at Sony Pictures Studios, he worked on the international versions of television programs such as The King of Queens (1998), The Steve Harvey Show (1996), Just Shoot Me! (1997), and Dawson's Creek (1998). Wadley also served in a similar capacity for Warner Bros. Studios, where he assisted the M&E Supervisor on more than a dozen television programs, including ER (1994), The West Wing (1999), Third Watch (1999), Smallville (2001), Gilmore Girls (2000), The Bernie Mac Show (2001), The Drew Carey Show (1995), Friends (1994), and the feature films Training Day (2001), Scooby-Doo (2002), and White Oleander (2002). While at Warner Bros., he also edited sound effects for Where's Angelo? (2003) and supervised the postproduction sound crew on Condemned (2002), which went on to win Best Short Film at the Ankara International Film Festival.
Wadley then started his own company and supervised postproduction sound teams on several projects produced by the American Film Institute, as well as MGM's Soul Plane (2004), which showcased Kevin Hart in his first starring role and featured Oscar winner Mo'Nique, Sofía Vergara, and Snoop Dogg. Soul Plane (2004) is historically noted as the first motion picture to utilize Eastman Kodak Co.'s new method of storing the soundtrack on a thin layer of cyan dye in the film instead of a magnetic or optical track.
Immediately following the film's release, Wadley flew to Hong Kong and the Philippines, where he met with the chairpersons and studio executives of Viva Films, Star Cinema Productions, and Regal Films. He returned to the United States to restore both sound and picture on three Filipino classics, Sinasamba kita (1982), Bakit bughaw ang langit? (1981), and P.S. I Love You (1981), for both television and DVD release.
Wadley later worked in Nevada for several years at Caesars Palace, MGM Grand and joined the Surveillance Division of Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in November of 2006, several days before Prince opened his nightclub, Club 3121, in the lower level of the Rio to present nightly performances for patrons. Wadley noticed an overall lack of cultural activities on the gambling strip, leading him to create a film society club that offered monthly screenings of restored 35mm film prints such as West Side Story (1961) and Raging Bull (1980). This innovative film series was presented at the Regal Cinemas Theater in Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa. He also visited elementary schools and senior citizen groups to promote appreciation for classic films and invite residents to the screenings.
In 2008, Wadley secured a position with the U.S. federal government during the transfer of Executive Branch control from President George W. Bush to President Barack Obama. In addition to performing his duties as a public servant with the U.S. government, he created a website, All Women Are Beautiful (AWAB), to provide public service information related to cultural diversity and inner beauty. Wadley utilized AWAB to assist in the preproduction, fundraising, and promotion of a film project, which inspired the film's producers to acknowledge him with "Special Thanks" in the closing credits of The Invisible War (2012), an investigative documentary about the epidemic of rape within the U.S. military.
Two days after watching this groundbreaking film, former CIA Director and U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta directed military commanders to hand over all sexual assault investigations to a higher-ranking colonel and announced that each branch of the United States Armed Forces would establish a Special Victims Unit. The Invisible War (2012) received a nomination for Best Documentary Feature at The Oscars (2013) (T.V.). It was lauded by advocates, lawmakers, and journalists for its influence on government policies to reduce the prevalence of rape in the U.S. Armed Forces.
