John Singleton: InterviewsCraigh Barboza John Singleton (1968-2019) rocketed from obscurity to the top ranks of Hollywood directors in 1991, when he released his debut film Boyz N the Hood. The poignant coming-of-age story, set in the streets of south central Los Angeles, where Singleton grew up amid gang violence and hip-hop music, earned him Oscar nominations for best original screenplay and best directing. Only twenty-three at the time, he was hailed as a wunderkind and compared to the young Orson Welles. Some have credited him with the mainstreaming of hip-hop music and style in cinema. John Singleton: Interviews spans his transformation from USC film school sensation to seasoned director and producer. The collection includes lengthy interviews, in-depth profiles, and up-close glimpses of Singleton filming on location. Since his auspicious debut, Singleton has continued to make gritty, character-driven "hood movies" that still speak to a mainstream audience. He has made films in a variety of genres, including romance (Poetic Justice), satire (Baby Boy), action (Shaft, 2 Fast 2 Furious), revenge drama (Four Brothers), and historical drama (Rosewood). |
Contents
His New Hood Is Hollywood | 3 |
Singletons Street Noises | 22 |
John Singleton Returns with Justice | 42 |
AFI Harold Lloyd Master Seminar | 57 |
Ashes and Embers | 79 |
John Singleton Searches for Justice in Rosewood | 94 |
The Shafting of John Singleton | 112 |
Singleton Returns to the Hood for Baby Boy | 125 |
An Interview with John Singleton | 142 |
An Interview with John Singleton | 163 |
His Name and Money at Stake Director Takes Producers Risk | 175 |
In the Mouth of Jaws | 190 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Academy Award actors African American audience Baby Boy Best Director black film black filmmakers box office Boyz Brothers camera cast Central Los Angeles character Columbia Pictures cool crew Cuba Gooding Jr debut direct executive Fast 2 Furious father feel film school film's friends fucking gang going gonna Higher Learning hip-hop Hollywood Hood Hustle & Flow Ice Cube Janet Jackson Jody John Singleton kids laughs look million mother movie neighborhood never nominated Oscar played Poetic Justice producer rapper Reprinted by permission Rosewood Roundtree scene Scott Rudin screen screenplay script Shaft shit shooting shot Singleton says Spielberg Spike Lee star story street studio stuff talk Taraji tell theater there's thing told trying Tupac Shakur Tyrese Gibson Ving Rhames violence watch what's whole women write Yeah young black