Black Cinema: the Filmmakers Edition
First Black Filmmaker
Oscar Micheaux may not be the namesake of the Oscar award, but he is a legend in the film world. Upon producing The Homesteader in 1919, Micheaux became the first black in America to produce a feature film. Not only was he the first black to produce a feature film, but he was also the first to produce a film to be shown in white-only movie theaters. He used his status as producer to create films to attack the overt racism of other films during his time (such as The Birth of a Nation). During his lifetime, 44 feature-length films were written, produced, and directed by Micheaux. In addition, he authored a national best selling novel, along with 6 other novels. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and in 2010 a commemorative stamp was issued in his honor.[1][2]Other Black Filmmakers
Julie Dash made history in 1991 when she became the first black woman to produce a full-length film--Daughters of the Dust--with a general theatrical release. The movie was filmed in the Gullah dialect and contains some subtitles.[3][4] Steve McQueen, along with Lee Daniels and John Singleton are currently the only blacks to be nominated for the Best Director Oscar.[5] Unfortunately, no one has snagged that award yet. Steve McQueen may not have broken that record, but he did make history when his film, 12 Years a Slave, won Best Picture, making it the first black-directed film to win the award.[6]A Little Extra History on Minorities & The Oscars
Latinos and Hispanics have been breaking records at the Oscars recently, and I thought I'd take a minute to give them a spotlight. For starters, the Oscar might actually be modeled after Emilio Fernandéz, a Mexican director.[7][8] Last year (2014), Alfonso Cuarón became the first Mexican to win an Oscar for Best Director (beating out Steve McQueen--but I'm just happy it went to another minority) for Gravity. This year, Birdman, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, became the first movie directed by a Latino to win Best Picture.[9]Ang Lee became the first Asian (and the first non-European) to win Best Director in 2005 for Brokeback Mountain. He won the award again in 2012 for Life of Pi.[10]
References
- "Oscar Micheaux Biography". IMDB; visited 2015
- Kenji. "Notable Black Directors". Mubi; visited 2015
- "Julie Dash Biography". UCLA Film and Television Archive; visited 2015
- Rita Kempley. "Daughters of the Dust". Washington Post. February 28, 1992
- Andrew Pulver. "Will Steve McQueen Win the Oscar for Best Director?". The Guardian. January 17, 2014
- Jace Jacob. "12 Years A Slave" Wins Best Picture And Makes Oscars History". Buzzfeed. March 3, 2014
- "Should Oscar really be called Emilio? Meet the Mexican model whose physique inspired the famous gold statues". Daily Mail. February 24, 2013
- Shereen Marisol Meraji. Latin Pride Swells For Mystery Model Behind Oscar Statuette". NPR. March 2, 2014
- "Birdman: A Proud Mexican's Spot-On Take On Hollywood Sweeps Oscars". NBC News. February 2015
- "Ang Lee Biography". IMDB; visited 2015
Published on Monday, February 23, 2015
Art, BHM 2015, Black History, Circus of Words, Entertainment, Movies & TV Shows, People
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Art, BHM 2015, Black History, Circus of Words, Entertainment, Movies & TV Shows, People
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