Keegan DeWitt
Encyclopedia
Keegan DeWitt is a film composer, singer-songwriter and actor raised in Lake Oswego, Oregon
now residing in Brooklyn and Nashville.
. He became interested in studying poetry, music, and screenwriting at an early age and sought out the Pacific Crest Community School in Portland, Oregon
. It was here where he met and became friends with Aaron Katz
and began making a series of short films together. This collaboration continued after high school while Katz attended the North Carolina School of the Arts
and DeWitt attended SUNY Purchase (Film Conservatory) in New York to study directing. After graduating from SUNY Purchase, Keegan then moved to New York City to attend The Atlantic Theater Company (Acting Conservatory), founded by David Mamet
to study acting. Shortly thereafter DeWitt began working with the LABrynth theater company founded by Philip Seymour Hoffman
where he was a young associate.
, The Bowery Hotel, The Waverly, The Lafayette House) under the guidance of Eric Goode
, Sean MacPherson and Graydon Carter. During this time in the city Keegan continued his collaboration with Katz and other independent filmmakers as both a composer and actor. In 2005 Keegan composed the score for New York Times "Critic's Pick" "Dance Party USA" and in 2007 he scored "Quiet City" which was also a NY Times "Critic's Pick" and Independent Spirit Award nominee. Both films are written and directed by Katz, were featured premieres at the South by Southwest Film Festival.
To date, Keegan has scored over ten films. In 2009 the IFC Films
release "Still Walking" featured Keegan's original score in its trailer and DeWitt contributed four original cues to two documentaries directed by Benoit Faiveley that premiered on HDnet. He completed the score for the latest film by Katz entitled "Cold Weather" which premiered at the 2010 South By Southwest film festival and was bought and released by IFC Films. The DVD features a live performance of the score at Nashville, TN's famous Belcourt Theatre
. In 2011, DeWitt scored Cherie Saulter's "No Matter What", Barry Jenkin's "Remigration", as well as projects for Facebook and Rapha Cycling.
, a band featuring his sister Timshel, as well as her husband Skip Matheny and his younger brother Logan Matheny (also of The Rosebuds
) on drums. Also during this time, Keegan started playing shows with Roman Candle as both a solo artist and the group's touring guitarist.
2009 found Keegan releasing his first collection of recordings, "Islands, on Izumi Records
. "Islands" was released in the Fall of 2009 in the US and Europe and was supported by tours throughout the United States and France, beginning the annual tradition of a month long fall French residency, most recently featuring stops at Fargo Records and Le Flèche d'Or.
In 2010, Keegan released "Nothing Shows" under the Daytrotter
label. The title song was featured in Season 6 episode 14 of the TV show How I Met Your Mother
and "Say La La" was featured on the series premiere of ABC's "Revenge". Paste Magazine would go on to name him one of the 10 best Solo Artists of 2010 as well as "Best of What's Next". They would later ask him, along with K-Swiss and Billy Reid, to be part of their South By Southwest
festivities.
Throughout 2011, Keegan toured as part of the Daytrotter
Barnstormer tour with Sondre Lerche
, Guards and others.
Luke and Brie Are on a First Date. He was also part of an off off-Broadway revival of Tom Donaghy's "Down The Shore". DeWitt and his co-star Kate Bayley collaborated with Donaghy to translate the short play to film. The film version was shot on Orcas Island, outside of Seattle, in September 2008, and was directed by Maggie Kiley.
Lake Oswego, Oregon
Lake Oswego is a city located primarily in Clackamas County in the U.S. state of Oregon. Small portions of the city are also located in neighboring Multnomah and Washington counties. Located south of Portland surrounding the Oswego Lake, the town was founded in 1847 and incorporated as Oswego in...
now residing in Brooklyn and Nashville.
Early life
Keegan was born in Bend, OregonBend, Oregon
Bend is a city in and the county seat of Deschutes County, Oregon, United States, and the principal city of the Bend, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bend is Central Oregon's largest city, and, despite its modest size, is the de facto metropolis of the region, owing to the low population...
. He became interested in studying poetry, music, and screenwriting at an early age and sought out the Pacific Crest Community School in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. It was here where he met and became friends with Aaron Katz
Aaron Katz (filmmaker)
Aaron Katz is an award-winning independent American filmmaker from Portland, Oregon.-High school and college:Aaron began his artistic career while attending Pacific Crest Community School in Portland from 1994 to 2000...
and began making a series of short films together. This collaboration continued after high school while Katz attended the North Carolina School of the Arts
North Carolina School of the Arts
The University of North Carolina School of the Arts , formerly the North Carolina School of the Arts, is a public coeducational arts conservatory in Winston-Salem, North Carolina that grants high school, undergraduate and graduate degrees. It is one of the seventeen constituent campuses of the...
and DeWitt attended SUNY Purchase (Film Conservatory) in New York to study directing. After graduating from SUNY Purchase, Keegan then moved to New York City to attend The Atlantic Theater Company (Acting Conservatory), founded by David Mamet
David Mamet
David Alan Mamet is an American playwright, essayist, screenwriter and film director.Best known as a playwright, Mamet won a Pulitzer Prize and received a Tony nomination for Glengarry Glen Ross . He also received a Tony nomination for Speed-the-Plow . As a screenwriter, he received Oscar...
to study acting. Shortly thereafter DeWitt began working with the LABrynth theater company founded by Philip Seymour Hoffman
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Philip Seymour Hoffman is an American actor and director. Hoffman began acting in television in 1991, and the following year started to appear in films...
where he was a young associate.
Film composing career
Upon first moving to New York City, Keegan supported himself in New York by helping open numerous hotels and restaurants (The Maritime HotelMaritime Hotel
__notoc__The Maritime Hotel is a luxury boutique hotel located at 363 West 16th Street at Ninth Avenue in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, close to the Meatpacking District...
, The Bowery Hotel, The Waverly, The Lafayette House) under the guidance of Eric Goode
Eric Goode
Eric Goode is an American hotelier, restaurateur, artist, filmmaker, and conservationist. He is best known as the creator of the nightclub Area and B Bar in New York City, and more recently of the Bowery Hotel.-Biography:...
, Sean MacPherson and Graydon Carter. During this time in the city Keegan continued his collaboration with Katz and other independent filmmakers as both a composer and actor. In 2005 Keegan composed the score for New York Times "Critic's Pick" "Dance Party USA" and in 2007 he scored "Quiet City" which was also a NY Times "Critic's Pick" and Independent Spirit Award nominee. Both films are written and directed by Katz, were featured premieres at the South by Southwest Film Festival.
To date, Keegan has scored over ten films. In 2009 the IFC Films
IFC Films
IFC Films is an American film distribution company based in New York, owned by AMC Networks. It distributes independent films and documentaries under the IFC Films, Sundance Selects and IFC Midnight. It operates the IFC Center....
release "Still Walking" featured Keegan's original score in its trailer and DeWitt contributed four original cues to two documentaries directed by Benoit Faiveley that premiered on HDnet. He completed the score for the latest film by Katz entitled "Cold Weather" which premiered at the 2010 South By Southwest film festival and was bought and released by IFC Films. The DVD features a live performance of the score at Nashville, TN's famous Belcourt Theatre
Belcourt Theatre
The Belcourt Theatre is a 2-cinema theater operating in Nashville's Hillsboro Village district. It is operating by a non-profit organization, and features independent films, as well as live performances.- History :...
. In 2011, DeWitt scored Cherie Saulter's "No Matter What", Barry Jenkin's "Remigration", as well as projects for Facebook and Rapha Cycling.
Recording career
While working as an actor and composer in New York, Keegan also began developing his talents as a performing songwriter in New York's Lower East Side. During this time he was developing demos and recording regularly with Roman CandleRoman Candle (band)
Roman Candle is an indie rock band from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, composed of Skip, Logan and Timshel Matheny. They have released three studio albums, several touring EP's, toured extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe, and played in various other bands / live acts. Roman Candle was founded...
, a band featuring his sister Timshel, as well as her husband Skip Matheny and his younger brother Logan Matheny (also of The Rosebuds
The Rosebuds
The Rosebuds are an indie rock band from Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Its current members are Ivan Howard and Kelly Crisp...
) on drums. Also during this time, Keegan started playing shows with Roman Candle as both a solo artist and the group's touring guitarist.
2009 found Keegan releasing his first collection of recordings, "Islands, on Izumi Records
Izumi Records
Izumi Records is an independent record label based in Brighton, England. It was founded by record producer Dave Lynch. Originally a vinyl-only label, Izumi was one of the first record labels to include artist-specific comic books with its releases....
. "Islands" was released in the Fall of 2009 in the US and Europe and was supported by tours throughout the United States and France, beginning the annual tradition of a month long fall French residency, most recently featuring stops at Fargo Records and Le Flèche d'Or.
In 2010, Keegan released "Nothing Shows" under the Daytrotter
Daytrotter
Daytrotter is a website for the recording studio Horseshack, which hosts recording sessions with many popular and typically upcoming indie music acts, although it works with local bands in the Illinois area as well. The sessions can be compared to that of a radio station's lounge recordings, where...
label. The title song was featured in Season 6 episode 14 of the TV show How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother is an American sitcom that premiered on CBS on September 19, 2005, created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays.As a framing device, the main character, Ted Mosby with narration by Bob Saget, in the year 2030 recounts to his son and daughter the events that led to his meeting...
and "Say La La" was featured on the series premiere of ABC's "Revenge". Paste Magazine would go on to name him one of the 10 best Solo Artists of 2010 as well as "Best of What's Next". They would later ask him, along with K-Swiss and Billy Reid, to be part of their South By Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
festivities.
Throughout 2011, Keegan toured as part of the Daytrotter
Daytrotter
Daytrotter is a website for the recording studio Horseshack, which hosts recording sessions with many popular and typically upcoming indie music acts, although it works with local bands in the Illinois area as well. The sessions can be compared to that of a radio station's lounge recordings, where...
Barnstormer tour with Sondre Lerche
Sondre Lerche
-Career:Sondre Lerche was born in Bergen, Norway. Growing up, Lerche was heavily influenced by the '80s pop that emanated from his older siblings' rooms. Compelled by a defining fascination for bands such as The Beatles, A-ha, the Beach Boys, and Prefab Sprout, Lerche began formal guitar...
, Guards and others.
Acting career
Keegan has appeared in numerous films including Quiet City and the upcoming independent filmIndependent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
Luke and Brie Are on a First Date. He was also part of an off off-Broadway revival of Tom Donaghy's "Down The Shore". DeWitt and his co-star Kate Bayley collaborated with Donaghy to translate the short play to film. The film version was shot on Orcas Island, outside of Seattle, in September 2008, and was directed by Maggie Kiley.