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Period: to
African Americans In Film
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First All Black Film Company Opens
William Foster of Chicago starts the first black-owned film company and produces all-black film shorts, THE PULLMAN PORTER: 1910, and THE RAILROAD PORTER: 1912. Distribution and production problems caused Foster to cease operations in 1913. -
Birth of A Nation Released
“Birth” is noted as the first-ever “race film.”Its subject matter would affect the way movies involving blacks would be conceived and produced. Though DW Griffiths’ film had no black stars, it took stereotypes to stratospheric levels. Blacks were depicted by white actors in blackface as slaves run amok: The Ku Klux Klan saved the day! -
1920’s: A ‘Roaring’ Time for Black Filmmakers
Black owned and operated film studios opened in several urban areas. Over 30 percent of film companies making and showing ‘race’ films were black owned: the highest percentage ever for black films. Most of these movies were screen versions of novels and had an uplifting theme. However, the Great Depression and more expensive sound and film technology drove almost all of these companies out of business. Oscar Micheaux’s film company was the lone survivor, producing 44 films before going bankrupt. -
"Race Films" Go White
99 percent of ‘race’ movies are produced by white-owned companies. The focus changed to parodies of Hollywood films and fantasies where blacks lived, ruled and played in “their own world.” Dorothy Dandridge makes her first feature appearance in “4 SHALL DIE.” -
1940’s: The Stereotypes Return: The Music Begins
Hits like “CABIN IN THE SKY” and “STORMY WEATHER” have all-black casts, but exhibit many of the stereotypes seen in “Birth” two decades earlier. Haddie McDaniel becomes the first African American to win an Academy Award for her role in ‘GONE WITH THE WIND.” After WWII, most black films produced feature musical performances. -
1950's: Hollywood is "Inclusive"
Hollywood decides to produce movies in which blacks are protagonists. “PORGY and BESS” and “CARMEN JONES” are among the headliners in this decade. ‘Race’ films diminish as African Americans flock to the movie theaters to see Hollywood produced movies with blacks on the big screen. -
1960's and 70's: Making a Statement
The LA School of Black Filmmakers (UCLA) produces many ambitious and talented writers and actors. This politically charged era produces more than 200 movies with major black characters. Sidney Poitier wins the “Best Actor” award for his role in “LILLIES OF THE FIELD.”(1964). -
1960's and 70's: Making a Statement
By the 70’s, the “Blaxploitation” period begins with “SWEET SWEETBACK’S BAADASSSSSS SONG,” which cost 500 thousand to produce, but earns 10 million at the box office. Hollywood quickly cap -
1984: Eddie Murphy Starts the Boom!
Led by Eddie Murphy, the first African American to make 1 million dollars in his film debut, (“48 HOURS”), African American central casting and all-black films more than hold their own at the box office. -
1990's: Urban Comedies, Dramas and Stars Dominate
The 80's and 90's produces successful directors, like Spike Lee and John Singleton. Dozens of black films crack the top 100 earnings lists, despite often showing on fewer screens than their counterparts. -
2002 to PRESENT: Black Stars Shine, But.......
Halle Berry and Denzel Washington both win Oscars for best actor and actress: an unprecedented feat for African Americans. Others are nominated and win Oscars, but by the mid 2000’s, the numbers of black films produced by Hollywood dwindle. -
2002-PRESENT: Black Stars Shine, But……
Hollywood’s marketing strategy assumes blacks attend ‘only’ black movies and markets films with black casts differently, regardless of genre. At present, few other than Tyler Perry are consistently producing Hollywood films with black casts, and even his successes are not marketed internationally: or to non-black audiences. -
Black Films Aren't Marketed Fairly
His “MADEA WITNESS PROTECTION,” on 2100 screens, earns 26.3 million its first weekend:Impressive numbers by any standard, But TP films are marketed mostly to African American Audiences and almost never to International audiences. -
Killing Potential Audiences like "Beasts"
“BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD,” a critically acclaimed movie with a central black cast, earned 220,000 on just 4 screens. The latter film earned 42,000 per screen, while Perry averaged 11,600. What might BEASTS have done if marketed differently and distributed on more screens? Hollywood is killing black film because of niche marketing and misreading a niche audience that according to a BET 2011 study, buys more movie tickets and watches 40 percent more TV than any other group in America.
