What is and is not a Black film?

[valet]

Was listening to this podcast and it hot me to thinking. Whats your definition of a black film? Is it a Black writer or producer? Can it be white directed but be about Black people. Can it have different races (i.e. Do the Right Thing) but still be Black.

 

[Ziggiy]

Black Creator/Black Writer/Black Director (Spike Lee. Ryan Coogler, ect)

80% Black Cast

OR

If the movie is about a black historical figure and is filmed from that figures point of view regarding the black community and/or his/her place within the world. (Dolemite Is My Name. The Color Purple)

 

[valet]

Black Writer/Black Writer (Spike Lee. Ryan Coogler, ect)

80% Black Cast

OR

If the movie is about a black historical figure and is filmed from that figures point of view regarding the black community and/or his/her place within the world. (Dolemite Is My Name. The Color Purple)

So Coming to America is not a Black film with this definition. Ok.

 

[Ziggiy]

So Coming to America is not a Black film with this definition. Ok.

Coming To America DEFINITELY has an 80% black cast and Eddie Murphy created the Story.

 

[valet]

Coming To America DEFINITELY has an 80% black cast and Eddie Murphy created the Story.

Ok, i thought you meant it had to had both black writer and 80% cast. Gotchs now.

 

[WaveCapsByOscorp™]

A majority of the production and creative team in a film must be Black. To me, a film doesn’t even have to focus on “black issues”, per say, to be that. Although, given our struggles and place in time, we often create material that reflects our experiences and issues within society.

This leads to people considering only certain ideas and stories as “black related”. It’s self fulfilling.

 

[Neuromancer]

House party.

 

[manyfaces]

Was listening to this podcast and it hot me to thinking. Whats your definition of a black film? Is it a Black writer or producer? Can it be white directed but be about Black people. Can it have different races (i.e. Do the Right Thing) but still be Black.

I was listening to that this week too and wished there was a way to chime in cause I definitely disagreed with some of their criteria. Just cause a movie has a black lead doesn't make it a black movie. But a majority black cast telling black people story certainly is a factor. A black director helps in keeping focus on the black voice and authenticity, along with black writers.

 

[manyfaces]

Black Creator/Black Writer/Black Director (Spike Lee. Ryan Coogler, ect)

80% Black Cast

OR

If the movie is about a black historical figure and is filmed from that figures point of view regarding the black community and/or his/her place within the world. (Dolemite Is My Name. The Color Purple)

Pretty much where I fall on this one.

 

[phillycavsfan]

Black Creator/Black Writer/Black Director (Spike Lee. Ryan Coogler, ect)

80% Black Cast

OR

If the movie is about a black historical figure and is filmed from that figures point of view regarding the black community and/or his/her place within the world. (Dolemite Is My Name. The Color Purple)

I'm curious if you think Blood Diamond is a black film.

 

[Neuromancer]

I'm curious if you think Blood Diamond is a black film.

Good question.

 

[Neuromancer]

Is Bad Boys a black film?

 

[KingCesar]

In most cases, I’d say it’s either a film with a predominately black cast and/or one centered around the black experience in some way. But I’m sure there are exceptions.

 

[Ziggiy]

I'm curious if you think Blood Diamond is a black film.

No.


Good movie though

 

[manyfaces]

Is Bad Boys a black film?

Not imo. It's one of the films that sparked the discussion on the pod, and a lot of them said yes because it had 2 black leads. I disagree. I know it's a movie black folks love, but there's nothing black about it except the lead actors. The story isn't unique to our experience, the cast isn't majority black, nor the writing or directing. It's as black as any other movie with a black main character, just happens to be a buddy cop joint with 2 of them in that one