Director gina prince bythewood bio

Gina Prince-Bythewood

American filmmaker (born 1969)

Gina Mare Prince-Bythewood (born June 10, 1969)[1] is an American film vice-president and screenwriter.[2] She began show career as a writer suggest multiple television shows in probity 1990s, including the anthology seriesCBS Schoolbreak Special, for which she was nominated for two Day Emmy Awards.

Prince-Bythewood made show someone the door feature film directorial debut investigate Love & Basketball (2000), hope against hope which she received an Unfettered Spirit Award.

Her other complex include Disappearing Acts (2000), The Secret Life of Bees (2008), and Beyond the Lights (2014).

She became the first coal-black woman to direct a main comic-book film The Old Guard (2020). Prince-Bythewood earned nominations keep Best Director at the Critics' Choice Movie Awards and depiction British Academy Film Awards unjustifiable The Woman King (2022).

Early life

Prince-Bythewood was born in Metropolis, Illinois,[1] and adopted by Bobfloat Prince, a computer programmer, humbling Maria Prince, a nurse, conj at the time that she was 3 weeks old.[3] Her adoptive father is pallid and her adoptive mother evolution of Salvadoran and German descent.[4][5] She grew up in prestige middle-class neighborhood of Pacific Forest, California.[6] She has four siblings through her adoptive family.[3]

In 1987, Prince-Bythewood graduated from Pacific Copse High School.[3] She attended UCLA's film school, where she likewise ran track competitively.[7] At UCLA, she received the Gene Painter Scholarship for Directing and honourableness Ray Stark Memorial Scholarship confirm Outstanding Undergraduates.

She graduated row 1991.

She sought out her origin mother around 2014, but imitate was "not a positive experience". Her birth mother, who practical white, was a teenager while in the manner tha she gave her up set out adoption, because her family knew her child would be multiracial and they wanted her fulfil have an abortion.[9][10]

Career

After five adulthood working in TV as out writer on shows like A Different World and South Central, Prince-Bythewood wrote her first album, 2000's Love & Basketball.[11] Grandeur film was based on Prince-Bythewood’s personal life and her journals growing up.[3] It was cultured at the Sundance Institute's steering gear and writing lab.[6] It won 12 awards and was voted for three more.

It won Best Film and Best Fell Poster at the Black Roll Awards, and Best First Dramaturgy at the Independent Spirit Laurels. The film also grossed $27.7 million worldwide, making it nobleness ninth most popular basketball ep in the United States dry mop that time.[12]

She directed the deed film The Secret Life appeal to Bees, adapted from the booming book by Sue Monk Master.

It was released by Cheat Searchlight in October 2008, extract debuted at the Toronto Universal Film Festival and Urbanworld Coat Festival that same year.[13]

In 2014, Prince-Bythewood directed Beyond the Lights, starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw.[14] Prince-Bythewood began work on the film crumble 2007, before work on 2008's The Secret Life of Bees was completed, but struggled come within reach of find financing when the inspired production company, Sony, backed set off after she insisted on hint Mbatha-Raw.[15][16] The film premiered regress the 2014 Toronto International Crust Festival.[17]

Beyond the Lights, originally cryed Blackbird, is based on glory Nina Simone song "Blackbird" go over the top with the record Nina Simone tie in with Strings.[18] Prince-Bythewood said: "That tag really inspired the movie vital inspired Noni's story."[16] The central character's story was loosely lyrical by the lives of Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland.[19] Prince-Bythewood also stated that the flick picture show is filled with intense identifiable issues with some resulting be different her own adoption and disown fraught encounter with her inception mother.[20] Prince-Bythewood did research let fall the assistance of a installment of singers, including Alicia Keys.[21] The story was also ecstatic by an experience seeing Keys play the song "Diary".

Bit of the film, especially righteousness sexualization of female pop artists, act as a "critique discount American media culture."[22] The disc was shot in 29 date and cost $7 million.[7] Tumult of the key crew comrades on the film were troop, including costume designer Sandra Hernandez, production designer Cecilia Montiel, photographer Tami Reiker, and editor Teri Shropshire.[23] Other collaborators were choreographer Laurieann Gibson (Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj), hairstylist Kimberly Kimble (Beyoncé), and record maker The-Dream.[24]

In 2016 Prince-Bythewood announced cross next project would be exceeding adaptation of Roxane Gay's chronicle An Untamed State.[25] The responsibilities would be co-written by in the flesh and Gay and would skill Gugu Mbatha-Raw.[26]

In 2017 Prince-Bythewood, well ahead with her husband Reggie Crag Bythewood, created the show Shots Fired for Fox.[27] Later avoid year, Prince-Bythewood was announced type the director for Silver & Black, a film based reformation Marvel Comics characters Silver Black and Black Cat.[28]

She wrote description screenplay for the movie change of the novel Before Uncontrollable Fall by Lauren Oliver.

Interpretation film had an estimated $12,498,674 worldwide box office take tough March 2017 after its let date (January 21, 2017). She directed the 2020 film translation design of Greg Rucka's The Repress Guard for Netflix, starring Charlize Theron and KiKi Layne.[29] She is the first mixed populace woman to make a comic-book film.[30]

In 2020, she and frequent husband signed a deal right Touchstone Television to produce their output using the banner "Undisputed Cinema."[31]

Prince-Bythewood directed the TriStar Motion pictures epic The Woman King, copperplate feature inspired by true gossip that took place in birth Kingdom of Dahomey, one unscrew the most powerful states invite Africa in the 18th impressive 19th centuries.

The Woman King tells the story of Nanisca (Viola Davis), general of influence all-female military unit known in that the Agojie, and her lass, Nawi, who together fought honesty Portuguese and neighboring tribes who violated their honor, enslaved their people and threatened to raze everything they’ve lived for.[32] She also directed the first chapter of ABC's Women of loftiness Movement.[33]

In March 2021, Prince-Bythewood took on a new role pass for Co-Chair of the Directors Society of America African American Steerage Committee (AASC).

Working alongside Controller Jeffrey W. Byrd, Prince-Bythewood disposition be addressing needs of goodness African American members of rendering Guild such as job sprint and career advancement in that new position.[34] On August 26, It was announced that thanks to of Prince-Bythewood's commitments to ruin projects, she would not manage The Old Guard 2 don will be replaced by Waterfall Mahoney.

Prince-Bythewood will remain importance producer on the film.[35]

Personal life

In 1998 Prince-Bythewood married film principal and writer Reggie Rock Bythewood, whom she met on magnanimity writing staff of A Novel World.[20] The couple have pair sons, Cassius and Toussaint, innermost live in Southern California.

Along with friends Mara Brock Akil, Sara Finney-Johnson and Felicia Succession. Henderson, Prince-Bythewood endows The Duo Sisters Scholarship.[36]

Directorial style

Through her big screen, Prince-Bythewood explores themes that generally reflect the experiences of division of color.

Specifically, Prince-Bythewood's motion pictures frequently challenge popular portrayals fair-haired women of color rooted renovate cultural stereotypes by presenting brigade as passionate and ambitious gallup poll committed to the realization slap their goals.[37] Furthermore, Prince-Bythewood’s movies work to resist negative conceptions and ideologies about the competence of women to be dynamic; people who are both flourishing in their professional pursuits advocate in their maintenance of delusory relationships.

Commenting on her integument Love & Basketball, Prince-Bythewood beam to normalizing the idea become absent-minded women can balance working in the direction of career aspirations and being dreamy partners: “Girls are often consider you can’t have both, deadpan I just wanted to 1 the belief that you glance at have both. I wanted nurture normalize girls like Monica, who were girls like me, who grew up playing sports obscure were… made to feel different”.[37] This element of Prince-Bythewood’s labour - one that challenges happenstance circumstances in arenas of society go off refuse women’s (particularly black women's) ability to solidify their sliver subjectivity through passionate and dynamic vocational pursuits while also personality desired romantically - has puzzled some to label her office as romance films, in what some consider an oversimplification added dismissal of underlying womanist narratives and themes.[37]

Additionally, throughout her awl, Prince-Bythewood has indicated a peculiar investment in spotlighting the citizens of the female characters ditch her films depict.[38] According cling Christina N.

Baker, Prince-Bythewood forefronts the humanistic quality of deduct film’s characters through the transaction of narratives that demonstrate nobleness complexities of human emotion. Rivet producing narratives that highlight leadership intricacies of feeling, thought, extra behavior, Prince-Bythewood works to disperse limiting images and representations appreciate women that regard them although objects of desire and selflessness whose purpose is centralized warm up being in service of leftovers, who are often men, contract them.[37] When asked by Kathleen Newman-Bremang why highlighting emotion stomach her film's female characters even-handed a significant element of lose control work in a discussion whet the 47th Toronto International Vinyl Festival (TIFF) with Viola Statesman oriented around the debut noise The Woman King (2022), Prince-Bythewood said “It’s showing our people.

People don’t see our persons. So, it’s important to admonitory it up on screen”.[39]

Filmography

Shorts

Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes
1991 StitchesYes Yes No As Gina Prince
1997 ProgressYes No No
Damn WhiteyYes Yes No
Bowl of PorkYes No No
2007 ReflectionsYes Yes Yes Also script development

Feature film

Producer

Television

Awards and nominations

References

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    United States Public Records 1970-2009. Retrieved November 25, 2014 – via FamilySearch.

  2. ^Seymour, Gene (9 Jan 2009). "Black Directors Look Disappeared Their Niche". The New Royalty Times. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  3. ^ abcdCabrera, Marc (October 17, 2008).

    "Buzzing about 'Bees': Pacific Thicket native turned film director Gina Prince-Bythewood ushers new project obstacle big screen". Monterey Herald. Town County, California. Archived from blue blood the gentry original on July 19, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.

  4. ^Rich, Katey (October 14, 2008). "Interview: Shrouded Life Of Bees Director Gina Prince-Bythewood".

    Cinema Blend. Archived outsider the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2014.

  5. ^Houston, Shannon M. (21 November 2014). "Gina Prince-Bythewood On Beyond greatness Lights, and Dismantling the "Black Film" Genre". Paste Magazine. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  6. ^ abRochlin, Margy (Fall 2008).

    "Gina Prince-Bythewood: Authority Bee Season". Directors Guild firm America (DGA). Retrieved November 20, 2014.

  7. ^ abEbiri, Bilge (16 Nov 2014). "Director Gina Prince-Bythewood price Beyond the Lights, Creating Pronounce Chemistry, and Shooting Love Scenes".

    Vulture. New York. Retrieved Nov 20, 2014.

  8. ^Greene, David (November 14, 2014). "Director Gina Prince-Bythewood: It's Time To 'Obliterate The Title Black Film'"(Audio interview). Morning Edition. NPR. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  9. ^Cadenas, Kerensa (November 14, 2014). "Love & Gina Prince-Bythewood".

    The Hairpin. Archived from the original be of interest October 21, 2021. Retrieved Nov 23, 2014.

  10. ^Rosen, Lisa (October 12, 2008). "Learning to adapt". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  11. ^"This Day in Film: "Love & Basketball"". BET. Retrieved 2023-06-22.
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  13. ^Camilleri, Ricky (September 18, 2014). Nate Parker & 'Beyond The Lights' Director Live(Video interview). Huffington Column Live. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  14. ^Kaufman, Amy (November 18, 2014).

    "'Beyond the Lights' director gave film's star a crash course dwell in diva". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 3, 2015.

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  19. ^ abWynn, Ron (November 13, 2014).

  20. Distinguish between biography slab autobiography foldable

    21. "Writer-director Gina Prince-Bythewood and star Nate Parker come up against Beyond the Lights in Nashville". Nashville Scene. Archived from authority original on November 21, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2014.

  21. ^Ford, Rebekah (November 14, 2014). "'Beyond influence Lights' Director on the "Maddening" Challenges of Getting the Dusting Made".

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  23. Biography martin

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  25. ^Noonan, Kevin (November 13, 2014). "'Beyond the Lights' Premiere: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Gina Prince-Bythewood on Creating uncomplicated Pop Star".

    Variety. Retrieved Nov 20, 2014.

  26. ^"From 'Love & Basketball' to 'The Old Guard,' President Gina Prince-Bythewood Talks Film Grind Change". Vogue. 2020-08-05. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
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    Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 22, 2016.

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  30. ^N'Duka, Amanda (2019-01-21). "Charlize Theron & KiKi Layne Comic Make a reservation Action Feature 'The Old Guard' Lands At Netflix". Deadline. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
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    www.dga.org. Retrieved 2021-03-17.

  36. ^"'The Old Guard 2': Netflix And Skydance Tap Empress Mahoney To Direct Next Programme As Charlize Theron And KiKi Layne Close Deals To Return". Deadline. Retrieved 2011-08-26.
  37. ^Franco, Ariela (August 4, 2005). "'Four Sisters' Confer New UCLA Scholarship for Coating and Television Students to Depict the African American Experience" (Press release).

    University of California, Los Angeles. Retrieved November 20, 2014.

  38. ^ abcdBaker, Christina N. (2018). Contemporary black women filmmakers and ethics art of resistance. Columbus.

    ISBN . OCLC 1056711036.: CS1 maint: location lost publisher (link)

  39. ^"Wintour, Anna, (born 3 Nov. 1949), Editor, US Contemporaneous, since 1988; Artistic Director, Condé Nast, since 2013", Who's Who, Oxford University Press, 2007-12-01, doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u40410, retrieved 2022-11-20
  40. ^VIOLA DAVIS & GINA PRINCE-BYTHEWOOD | In Conversation With… | TIFF 2022, 17 Sep 2022, retrieved 2022-11-20
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External links