The Badger 5th October 2020
Arts • Film & Television
18 What’s on
Celebrating Black History in Film Yazz James Film & TV Editor October marks Black History Month in the UK. Whilst many of us are aware of the lack of diversity within these
creatives.
Early Filmmakers
Walt Disney Television
In 1910, William D. Foster Best Director at the Oscars. The
an all-Black cast and director. Oscar Micheaux is said to have been the most successful Black centred around race and served been interpreted as a response to The Birth of a Nation (1915).
or actress to win the triple crown
Rocks dir. Sarah Gavron
Widows, an opportunity she referred to as a “gift” from the director – “it was just a woman in the middle of a narrative who was facing personal challenges”. Davis is continually vocal about her views on the treatment of
are often still erased from history, hidden or ignored. The following piece aims to highlight the achievements of those who have helped to pave the way
was set up with the intention to correct harmful representations that were seen as the norm and led to the production of Railroad Porter (1913), which is
won an Oscar, an Emmy, a Tony,
column is focused on promoting cinema and television telling Black stories.
with his 1991 coming-of-age Singleton broke records and also became the youngest nominee in the category ever. Nobody younger has been nominated since. Lee Daniels was next to earn a nomination with his
yet raw portrayal of a young abusive household.
story won three: Best Picture,
passed away. Boseman played
in a Supporting Role and Best away from many stereotypes nominations with Regina King winning for her role as the warm and loving, Sharon Rivers. Jenkins has been recognised as one of the most talented storytellers of the century and is currently working on his series, The Underground Railroad. nominated for his horrifying Get Out which he produced,
also involved as an actress and worked as a producer on some of his later work. Tressie Souders and Maria P. Williams are recognised
television industries and should be regarded as an inspiration to all women pursuing careers in the creative arts.
he missed out on Best Picture and Best Director wins, he was awarded with Best Original
Black culture. Marvel initially Boseman refused, arguing that it would give the impression of Wakanda being colonised; instead the actor worked with dialect coaches to perfect his accent and speak Xhosa. The his craft are also demonstrated through his role as James Brown in Get On Up.
The First Winner
Black
Oscar
Hattie McDaniel, won for her performance as “Mammy” in Gone with the Wind (1939). segregated hotel, she ignored the speech written for her by producers: “I sincerely hope I shall always be a credit to my race and to the motion picture for perpetuating stereotypes, her less conventional portrayal of the maid character won her praise from the group later on in her career.
Best Director Nominees colour have been nominated for
Juneteenth, a mother-daughter portrait of a former beauty queen and her rebellious an incredible debut feature from Peoples and has been described as “warm and empathetic…full of hauntingly affectionate images”.
Black
Hollywood: They’ve Gotta Have Us
docuseries
explores
Black
by Simon Frederick, the episodes celebrate legends, to the future of the industry. Featuring conversations with cast and crew, it highlights some of key artists of the current
The Last Dance
Dance. The 10-part-docuseries follows Michael Jordan and the
with the well-loved, Spike Lee. him to earn a nomination in
for her depiction of Black life. Maria P. Williams was also multi-talented; as producer, distributor and an actor in her Prior to this, she was an activist and writer and also worked with her husband who managed a theatre.
Miss Juneteenth dir. Channing Godfrey Peoples
Whilst most were bingewatching Tiger King, some of us
producer has since grown, with directed, produced and wrote
is centred around teenager, Rocks (Bukky Bakray), as she is left with the responsibility of caring for herself and her younger brother. The story of friendship and resilience is showing in cinemas and available
timeline, providing a down-toearth portrait.
Pixabay Receiving a Best Picture win and the Golden Globe for Best a Slave director Steve McQueen
industry had ignored slavery and felt it necessary to depict the six-part
anthology
series
is
community between the sixties and eighties. It is set to release next year with some instalments being shown at London Film Festival this month. One of the most uncomfortable situations in awards show history led to one of the most joyous moments of writer-
array of genres and has seen him cut through the indie scene to become one of the most ground-breaking directors of all time.
Gage Skidmore
Other Achievements
woman to: win Best Director at Sundance Film Festival, be nominated for Best Director at the Golden Globes, direct a
grossing Black woman director Her work includes the historical When They See Us as well as the documentary 13th. Duvernay
Runnings Dir. Turteltaub
Jon
the story of a Jamaican bobsleigh team as they work to compete
21st Century ‘Firsts’ producer and distributor was
Cool
by an out Black lesbian, The Watermelon Woman (1996) cinematographer nominated for
Chewing Gum fourth-wall-breaking,
comedy
Quincy Jones & Bob Russell
Song Black female composer to be
religious Tracey Gordon as she tries to navigate life in her midtwenties.
The Black Power Mixtape 1967 - 1975 dir. Göran Olsson available on MUBI and explores the evolution of the Black Power movement, featuring a wealth of interviews, images and archive footage.