Colleen Gardner also known as Colbie Fray, is an American director, cinematographer and photographer, from Charlotte, NC now residing in Atlanta, GA. Having started her journey in elementary school, Colbie first picked up a camera at 9 years old when she was selected to be on the media team. At such an early age, she served as writer, videographer and anchor. Later in life she went to college for journalism and branched out to become an entertainment news reporter. She used this opportunity to shine a light on under-represented artists in her local North Carolina town.
Soon Colbie gained the opportunity to work behind the camera as the director of a film, and enjoyed it. After directing films for a couple years, she discovered her true passion in cinematography. Soon a self-taught editor, director and cinematographer, Colbie improved her skills at The Director’s Workshop with Carrie Schrader, and volunteered at the Atlanta Film Festival to learn even more and connect with other creatives.
Pursuing her passion for film, she has since worked tirelessly in partnering with others in the film community and independently to foster creativity in the visual arts. A lover of everything “dope” and “artistic”, she began her film company Dope Artistic Focus Films (Dope AF Films) in 2017. Her new rising film company is a brand that produces original content such as narratives, music videos, and commercials. Her latest achievement has been her film “Under” being featured in the 2018’s Bronze Film Festival. This film speaks to Colbie’s artistic imprint with a focus on black women, women empowerment and the display of beauty outside of circumstances. She is self-taught and continues to learn new ways of storytelling through lighting and composition.
Since then her work has been featured in Oz Magazine, Vibe Magazine, Museum of Comtempary Art Georgia, and Auburn Avenue Research Library.
