The New York Times takes notice of the new wave of black filmmakers releasing movies this year. What remains to be seen is how the critics, then the industry voters (the majority of whom are white) will receive these films. What defines “good” to white audiences might not translate to black audiences and vice-versa. For women directors the idea is “make a movie like a man would.” So does it follow that for black directors it’s “make a movie like a white director would?” Is that too simplistic of a take? Fruitvale Station tells a good story, period. I suppose that watching that film you might not even know the cultural or racial background of its director. Does that mean it will be “universal” and not audience-specific? Either way, it bodes well for the future, that doors seem to be opening.
After years of complaint and self-criticism about the shortage of prominent movies by and about black Americans, film companies are poised to release an extraordinary cluster of them across an array of genres in the last five months of 2013.
At least 10 new films will be released, including several awards contenders, from both independent and major distributors, like the Weinstein Company, Fox Searchlight and Universal Pictures.
Even some of those who made this year’s movies have been caught by surprise.
“You tell me!” said the director and screenwriter Lee Daniels, when asked how so many black-driven films had materialized at once. His historical drama “The Butler” — based on a real-life White House butler who served eight presidents — is to be released by Weinstein on Aug. 16.
“I’m working in my own bubble, I come up for air, and there they are,” Mr. Daniels said.
Black filmmakers say the wave of 2013 releases was built in large part on the creativity that has flourished on the independent-film circuit, which has become a laboratory of sorts for more prominent African-American-themed productions. Writers and directors have been sharpening their skills on indie films the last several years while waiting for big distributors to regain interest.
Studio executives also say there is a growing audience with more multicultural tastes that gives these films a broader appeal. “There’s a genre audience out there, but it’s no longer quite so segregated,” said Stephen Gilula, a president of Fox Searchlight. African-American-themed films, when they do find mainstream distributors, are often playing at more theaters in more cities than in the past, Mr. Gilula said.
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