BLKWOOD
by jsun-359-774303 | created - 6 months ago | updated - 6 months ago | Public
1. Nia DaCosta
Writer | Candyman
Nia DaCosta was born on November 8, 1989 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. She is a writer and producer, known for Candyman (2021), Little Woods (2018) and The Marvels (2023).
2. Nida Manzoor
Writer | We Are Lady Parts
Nida Manzoor is known for We Are Lady Parts (2021), Polite Society (2023) and Enterprice (2017).
3. Akela Cooper
Writer | Malignant
Akela Cooper is known for Malignant (2021), M3GAN (2022) and Luke Cage (2016).
4. Kimberly Steward
Producer | Manchester by the Sea
Kimberly Steward is known for Manchester by the Sea (2016), Suspiria (2018) and Independent Lens (1999).
5. Shonda Rhimes
Producer | Grey's Anatomy
Shonda Lynn Rhimes is an African-American producer, author and screenwriter. She is known for working on the Britney Spears and Zoe Saldana film Crossroads, Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, Private Practice, the Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews film The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement and the Halle ...
6. Sidra Smith
Casting_director | A Luv Tale
Sidra Smith was born on February 28, 1971 in Camden, New Jersey, USA. She is a producer and writer, known for A Luv Tale (1999), Daredevil (2003) and Free Angela and All Political Prisoners (2012).
7. David E. Talbert
Writer | Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
Renown playwright, filmmaker, author, and influencer, David E. Talbert has contributed indelibly to the landscape of the performing and visual arts for nearly three decades. Characterized by a faith-inspired spirit, Talbert's work champions diverse creative advocacy, serving as an inspiration to ...
8. Lyn Sisson-Talbert
Producer | Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
Lyn Sisson-Talbert stands tall as one of the most accomplished female producers in Hollywood and the guiding force behind original projects for film, stage, and books.
Announced by Variety as one of 2021's top emerging producers, Sisson-Talbert is developing numerous film and television projects, ...
9. Katori Hall
Writer | P-Valley
Katori Hall is a television creator/producer hailing from Memphis, Tennessee. She is currently the showrunner and Executive Producer of the Starz drama series, P-VALLEY, which she adapted from her stage play Pussy Valley. The critically acclaimed and record-breaking series returned for its second ...
10. Tananarive Due
Writer | The Twilight Zone
Tananarive Due is known for The Twilight Zone (2019), Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror (2019) and The Good House. She has been married to Steven Barnes since August 1, 1998. They have one child.
11. Christal Henry
Writer | Watchmen
Christal Henry is known for Watchmen (2019), The First (2018) and The Chicago Code (2011).
12. Stacy Osei-Kuffour
Writer | The Bear
Stacy Osei-Kuffour is known for The Bear (2022), Watchmen (2019) and The Morning Show (2019).
13. Misha Green
Writer | Lovecraft Country
Misha Green was born on September 22, 1984 in Sacramento, California, USA. She is a writer and producer, known for Lovecraft Country (2020), The Mother (2023) and Underground (2016).
14. Shaka King
Director | Judas and the Black Messiah
Shaka King was born on March 7, 1980 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. He is a director and writer, known for Judas and the Black Messiah (2021), Newlyweeds (2013) and Mulignans (2015).
15. Tim Story
Director | Fantastic Four
Timothy Kevin Story was born on March 13, 1970 in Los Angeles, California. Attended Westchester High School in Los Angeles, California with jazz pianist Eric Reed and actresses Regina King and Nia Long. Graduated from USC film school.
16. Dime Davis
Producer | A Black Lady Sketch Show
Dime Davis is known for A Black Lady Sketch Show (2019), Boomerang (2019) and Wild Wild West: A Beautiful Rant by Mark Bradford (2018).
17. Travon Free
Writer | Two Distant Strangers
Travon Free is an Academy Award and five time Emmy Award winning writer, director, producer and comedian. Travon wrote and co-directed his first short film TWO DISTANT STRANGERS, which won him the Oscar for Best Live Action Short in 2021. Most recently, Travon co-directed the HBO documentary BS ...
18. Ziwe
Writer | Dickinson
Ziwe was born on February 27, 1992 in Lawrence, Massachusetts, USA. She is a writer and actress, known for Dickinson (2019), Shell and Succession (2018).
19. Barry Jenkins
Producer | If Beale Street Could Talk
Barry Jenkins was born on November 19, 1979 in Miami, Florida, USA. He is a producer and director, known for If Beale Street Could Talk (2018), Moonlight (2016) and Aftersun (2022).
20. Jeymes Samuel
Soundtrack | The Harder They Fall
Jeymes Samuel, also known as The Bullitts, is an English writer, director, singer-songwriter and music producer from London.
In 2013 Jeymes worked alongside Baz Luhrmann and Jay Z on the music for the blockbuster The Great Gatsby. Jeymes served as the film's Executive Music Consultant.
2013 also saw ...
21. Tracy Oliver
Writer | Girls Trip
Tracy Oliver is known for Girls Trip (2017), First Wives Club (2019) and Harlem (2021).
22. A'Ziah King
Writer | Zola
A'Ziah King is known for Zola (2020), The IMDb Studio at Sundance (2015) and Tamron Hall (2019).
23. Issa Rae
Producer | Insecure
Jo-Issa Rae Diop credited professionally as Issa Rae, is an American actress, writer, producer, and comedian. Rae first garnered attention for her work on the YouTube web series Awkward Black Girl. Since 2011, Rae has continued to develop her YouTube channel, which features various short films, web...
25. Stella Meghie
Director | Jean of the Joneses
Stella Meghie is known for Jean of the Joneses (2016), The Weekend (2018) and The Photograph (2020).
26. Phil Augusta Jackson
Writer | Insecure
Phil Augusta Jackson is known for Insecure (2016), Grand Crew (2021) and Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013).
27. Grace Edwards
Producer | Insecure
Grace Edwards is known for Insecure (2016), Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015) and Survival of the Thickest (2023).
28. Dayna Lynne North
Writer | Insecure
Dayna Lynne North is a native of Kansas City, Missouri, and a graduate of the USC School of Cinematic Arts. She began her writing career with a freelance episode for the critically acclaimed Lifetime drama Any Day Now (1998), and joined the writing staff during the third season. Dayna then joined ...
29. Prentice Penny
Producer | Insecure
Prentice Penny is known for Insecure (2016), Happy Endings (2011) and Girlfriends (2000).
30. Amy Aniobi
Producer | Insecure
Amy Aniobi is known for Insecure (2016), Silicon Valley (2014) and Lisa and Amy Are Black (2014).
32. Lena Waithe
Producer | Master of None
Lena Waithe was born on May 17, 1984 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She is a producer and writer, known for Master of None (2015), Ready Player One (2018) and Queen & Slim (2019). She has been married to Alana Mayo since November 2019.
33. Deonte Staats
Writer | À La Carte
Deonte' Staats, a Philly native raised in Baltimore, pens gritty, secret laced, character-driven one-hour TV dramas and satirical half-hour dramedies. Staats, who identifies as bisexual, is a proud "Blerd" that sprinkles his love for sci-fi and comics into his storytelling. He attended North ...
34. Sylvia L. Jones
Writer | The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel
Sylvia L. Jones is a writer and producer whose work includes Starz's Power Book IV: Force, Showtime's The Chi, and Ava DuVernay's Cherish the Day on OWN. She also developed and penned the script to the Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige and Missy Elliott produced television biopic, The Clark Sisters: ...
35. Mike Flynn
Producer | East New York
Mike Flynn was born on March 6, 1982 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. Mike is a producer and writer, known for East New York (2022), Power Book III: Raising Kanan (2021) and Big Sky (2020).
36. Rasheed Newson
Writer | Bel-Air
Rasheed Newson is known for Bel-Air (2022), Narcos (2015) and The 100 (2014).
37. J. David Shanks
Writer | Seven Seconds
J. David Shanks is known for Seven Seconds (2018), Parish (2024) and 61st Street (2022).
38. Adam Glass
Producer | In from the Cold
Adam Glass was born in Decatur, Georgia, USA. Adam is a producer and writer, known for In from the Cold (2022), Supernatural (2005) and The Equalizer (2021).
39. Shaye Ogbonna
Writer | Lowlife
Shaye Ogbonna is known for Lowlife (2017), God's Country (2022) and The Chi (2018).
40. Nambi E. Kelley
Writer | Lady in the Lake
Nambi E. Kelley was born in New York City on a Monday to Don and Carol Kelley. Leaving New York at the age of 3, Nambi's family moved to Chicago where Nambi grew up across the street from Chicago's Ida B. Wells housing projects. An excellent student, Nambi excelled, and won a full scholarship to ...
41. Marcus Gardley
Producer | The Chi
Marcus Gardley is known for The Chi (2018), Foundation (2021) and The Color Purple (2023).
42. Blitz Bazawule
Director | The Color Purple
Blitz Bazawule is a Filmmaker and Musician born in Ghana and based in New York. Blitz's feature directorial debut 'The Burial Of Kojo' premiered on Netflix in 2019 via array. He co-directed Beyoncé's Black Is King which earned him a Grammy nomination in 2020. Blitz is directing 'The Color Purple ...
43. Gandja Monteiro
Director | Wednesday
Gandja Monteiro is known for Wednesday (2022), Brand New Cherry Flavor (2021) and Control/Option/Escape (2018).
44. Deondray Gossfield
Producer | The Chi
Deondray Gossfield was born on May 20, 1973 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is a director and producer, known for The Chi (2018), The Chadwick Journals (2011) and Legendary (2020). He has been married to Quincy LeNear Gossfield since 2014.
45. Darren Grant
Director | Billions
Darren Grant is an award winning director with an extensive career spanning music videos, commercials, TV and feature film.
A Seattle native, Grant grew up behind the camera studying his mother's artistry as she made her mark as an indie filmmaker. After graduating film school, Grant took the ...
46. Tanya Hamilton
Director | Night Catches Us
Tanya Hamilton is known for Night Catches Us (2010), The Chi (2018) and Queen Sugar (2016).
47. Rashaad Ernesto Green
Director | Premature
Rashaad Ernesto Green was born on August 19, 1978 in Bronx, New York, USA. He is a director and producer, known for Premature (2019), Gun Hill Road (2011) and Premature (2008). He was previously married to Maryse Tricia Karunaratne.
48. Marvin Lemus
Writer | Gentefied
Marvin Lemus is an award-winning director, co-creator, co-showrunner, and executive producer of Netflix's hit series, "Gentefied". The half-hour series was adapted from the digital series directed by Lemus, produced by Macro Studios and America Ferrera after premiering at the 2017 Sundance Film ...
49. Samantha Bailey
Director | You're So Talented
Samantha Bailey is known for You're So Talented (2015), Brown Girls (2017) and Dear White People (2017).
50. Cheryl Dunye
Director | The Watermelon Woman
Cheryl Dunye was born on May 13, 1966 in Liberia. She is a director and producer, known for The Watermelon Woman (1996), The Owls (2010) and Mommy Is Coming (2012).
51. Salli Richardson-Whitfield
Actress | Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid
Salli Richardson-Whitfield is a 30-year industry veteran. She has been featured in 20+ major motion pictures and has starred opposite a number of Hollywood's top actors, including Samuel L. Jackson in 'The Great White Hype', Denzel Washington in 'Antwone Fisher', and Will Smith in 'I Am Legend'. On...
52. Melina Matsoukas
Director | Queen & Slim
Melina Matsoukas was born on January 14, 1981. She is a director and producer, known for Queen & Slim (2019), Insecure (2016) and Beyoncé: Formation (2016).
53. Nijla Mumin
Writer | Jinn
Nijla Mumin is known for Jinn (2018), Swagger (2021) and Jessica's Mom (or the Science of Triangles) (2012).
54. Juel Taylor
Writer | They Cloned Tyrone
Juel Taylor was born on May 1, 1987 in Tuskegee, Alabama, USA. He is a writer and director, known for They Cloned Tyrone (2023), Creed II (2018) and Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021).
55. Tony Rettenmaier
Writer | They Cloned Tyrone
Tony Rettenmaier is known for They Cloned Tyrone (2023), The Light Thief (2015) and Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021).
56. Janine Nabers
Producer | Swarm
A New Yorker.
Also a playwright and librettist.
Was a two time Lila Acheson Wallace fellow at The Juilliard School from 2011-2013.
In 2014 she was the winner of the Yale Drama Series Prize for her play "Serial Black Face."
A writer for Bravo's first scripted series: Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce.
57. Courtney A. Kemp
Producer | Power Book II: Ghost
Courtney A. Kemp was born on May 4, 1977 in Westport, Connecticut, USA. She is a producer and writer, known for Power Book II: Ghost (2020), The Good Wife (2009) and Power (2014).
58. Rob Hardy
Director | Trois
Rob Hardy, who is a recent nominee of the HBO Director to Watch Award, broke into network television with his January 2007 directorial debut of the Emmy Award winning show ER. Soon after, Black Enterprise Magazine listed him among the Top 40 Entertainers under 40 for the year 2008. Since recently ...
59. Anthony Hemingway
Director | Red Tails
Anthony Hemingway is known for Red Tails (2012), Underground (2016) and American Crime Story (2016).
60. George Tillman Jr.
Producer | The Hate U Give
After seeing the films, COOLEY HIGH and TAXI DRIVER, Milwaukee, Wisconsin native George Tillman, Jr. became inspired to make films of his own. In 1994, George wrote and directed his first feature film, SCENES FOR THE SOUL. It was shot entirely in Chicago, using local talent and resources. The film,...
61. Mario Van Peebles
Actor | How to Get the Man's Foot Outta Your Ass
Mario Van Peebles is a highly regarded director, actor, producer and writer. His directorial skills can be seen in the retelling of the epic mini-series "Roots" starring Forest Whitaker and Matthew Goode. Van Peebles has directed award-winning shows such as the recent hit "Empire" and "The Last ...
62. Theo Travers
Producer | Billions
Theo Travers is known for Billions (2016), House of Lies (2012) and Power (2014).
63. Eif Rivera
Director | For Life
Eif Rivera is known for For Life (2020), FBI (2018) and Power Book III: Raising Kanan (2021).
64. Tasha Smith
Actress | The Whole Ten Yards
Tasha Smith is a multifaceted actress and director whose work brings style and intensity to the projects she works on, whether in front of or behind the camera. From her roles as "Carol" on Fox's hit drama Empire, "Brenda" in Netflix's Running Out Of Time, to her critically-acclaimed portrayal of ...
65. Dawn Wilkinson
Director | Power Book II: Ghost
Dawn Wilkinson is an award-winning director and screenwriter born in Montreal and raised in Toronto. She is an alumni of the 'Norman Jewison' Canadian Film Centre and a graduate of the University of Toronto.
Wilkinson combined comedy, fantasy and scathing social satire in her visually stylized short...
66. Keesha Sharp
Actress | Lethal Weapon
Award-nominated actress, writer, and director Keesha Sharp has become known in the entertainment industry for her innate ability to bring complex characters to life on screen, her steadfast professionalism, and her irrefutable beauty, inside and out. Keesha can be seen on season 3 of "Power Book II...
67. Stacey Muhammad
Director | The Best Man: The Final Chapters
New Orleans native Stacey Muhammad is a visionary filmmaker and episodic director who has captivated audiences with her compelling storytelling and distinctive style. With a passion for exploring the human experience and shedding light on important social issues, Stacey's work stands at the ...
68. Sylvain White
Director | Stomp the Yard
Filmmaker Sylvain White was born and raised in Paris, France. After attending La Sorbonne University, he earned a scholarship at Pomona College in Los Angeles. Upon graduating with honors in both film production and media studies, a series of award-winning short films led him to direct a spectrum ...
69. Morgan Cooper
Writer | Bel-Air
Morgan Cooper is known for Bel-Air (2022), U Shoot Videos? (2019) and Black Boy Joy (2019).
70. Matthew A. Cherry
Producer | Hair Love
Matthew A. Cherry was born in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Matthew A. is a director and writer, known for Hair Love (2019), Young Love (2023) and Swagger (2021). Matthew A. has been married to Candice Wilson since 2020.
71. Ephraim Salaam
Producer | Fatale
Ephraim is known for his Executive Producing of Dead Tone and Associate producer of Supremacy. He has also known for Co Executive Producer of the film The Intruder and Consulting Producer on the Film Fatale. Alone with his extensive work as on air talent across multiple sports platforms. He has ...
72. Henry 'Hank' Jones
Writer | Will Trent
Henry 'Hank' Jones is known for Will Trent (2023), Truth Be Told (2019) and Turn Here (2015).
73. Carla Banks-Waddles
Producer | Bel-Air
A native Detroiter, Carla Banks Waddles has been working as a television writer in Los Angeles since 2000. She has written and produced such TV shows as For Your Love (Warner Bros.), That's So Raven (Disney), Half & Half (UPN), The Bill Engvall Show (TBS), Sonny With A Chance (Disney), Let's Stay ...
74. Anthony Sparks
Producer | Queen Sugar
Anthony Sparks is a television showrunner and writer-producer originally from Chicago's south side. A former cast member of Broadway hit 'Stomp', he holds three degrees from USC (BFA, MA, and Ph.D.), where he studied Theatre, Film, Anthropology, and American History. While at USC he received the ...
75. Eric Amadio
Writer | Snowfall
Eric Amadio is an Italian-American writer, director, and producer, known for Snowfall (2017), After Sex (2007) and Stuntmen (2009). Born in Southeast Los Angeles and raised during the height of violence in the crack-fueled 80's and 90's, Eric had his first essay published at the age of 10, went on ...
76. Scott Wilson
Producer | Parasite
Scott Wilson is known for Parasite (2022), Fargo (2014) and Snowfall (2017).
77. Natalia Guled
Producer | Snowfall
Natalia Guled is known for Snowfall (2017), Orphan Black (2013) and Utopia Falls (2020).
78. Amin Joseph
Actor | Snowfall
Amin Joseph - The award nominated, multi-hyphenate actor and producer returns to Sundance in 2023 with two bold films in competition. Joseph is lead and producer of "To Live and Die and Live," a gripping story about loss and addiction. Amin also shines in the short film "We Were Meant To," a ...
79. John Ridley
Producer | 12 Years a Slave
John Ridley is the author of seven published novels, the most recent, What Fire Cannot Burn from Warner Books and The Drift from Knopf. His first novel, Stray Dogs, was made into the feature film U Turn (1997) directed by Oliver Stone and starring Sean Penn, Jennifer Lopez, and Nick Nolte. ...
80. Laurence Andries
Producer | How to Get Away with Murder
Laurence Andries is known for How to Get Away with Murder (2014), Godfather of Harlem (2019) and The Pacific (2010).
81. Moise Verneau
Writer | Godfather of Harlem
Brooklyn, NY is where writer/director/ Moise Verneau spent his formative years. His first work as a filmmaker was "Money & Violence". A gritty urban episodic drama that burst onto the digital space via Youtube, and became a viral phenomenon. Moise wrote, directed and edited this production, which ...
82. Chris Brancato
Writer | Godfather of Harlem
Chris Brancato was born on July 1, 1962 in Teaneck, New Jersey, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for Godfather of Harlem (2019), Species II (1998) and First Wave (1998).
83. Lee Daniels
Producer | Precious
Lee Daniels gave his parents an early Christmas present when he entered the world on December 24, 1959; unfortunately, the Philadelphia native was to have a difficult relationship with his police officer father who later reacted violently to his son's sexuality. Despite the brutality of his ...
84. Joshua Allen
Producer | The Morning Show
Joshua Allen is known for The Morning Show (2019), From Scratch (2022) and Empire (2015).
85. Cameron Johnson
Writer | Tom Swift
Cameron Johnson is known for Tom Swift (2022), Found (2023) and Try This Instead (2014).
86. Indira G. Wilson
Actress | The Perfect Host
Indira G. Wilson was born on June 27, 1973 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. She is an actress and writer, known for The Perfect Host (2010), NCIS: Los Angeles (2009) and JAG (1995).
87. Diane Ademu-John
Producer | The Haunting of Bly Manor
Diane Ademu-John is known for The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020), Empire (2015) and The Originals (2013).
88. Dianne Houston
Writer | Take the Lead
Born and raised in Washington DC, Houston left home at age 16 to work in experimental theater in New York City. Her early work and study was with such theater greats as Liz Swados, Joseph Papp, Joe Chaikin, Peter Brook, La Mama, Woody King, and Ntozake Shange. It was this diverse background that ...
89. Felicia D. Henderson
Producer | Fringe
Felicia's writing career started with getting into the Warner Bros. Writers Workshop. One of eight children, Felicia was born and raised in Pasadena, California, where she continues to live. However, she feels "southern in her soul" due to her mother's strong Missippi roots. In addition to her ...
90. Wendy Calhoun
Producer | Justified
Peabody-award-winning Wendy Calhoun's unique career spans one-hour dramas, unscripted series, VR, and gaming. Her scripted drama credits include writing and producing the historic blockbuster first season of Fox's Empire and debut seasons of The Rookie Feds, Prodigal Son, Station 19, Nashville, ...
91. Bille Woodruff
Director | Yellowjackets
Bille Woodruff has worked with some of the biggest names in entertainment. Raised in Virginia, Bille attended University of Maryland, College Park, as a National Merit Scholar on a full academic scholarship with plans of becoming an anthropologist. Things took an unexpected twist once he began an ...
92. Millicent Shelton
Director | 30 Rock
Millicent Shelton was born on January 29, 1966 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. She is a director and writer, known for 30 Rock (2006), The Night Agent (2023) and Titans (2018). She has been married to Donald Samuel since June 10, 1995. They have two children.
93. Clement Virgo
Producer | Greenleaf
Clement Virgo is one of Canada's foremost film directors. In 2015 he directed and co-wrote a six part miniseries adaptation of the Lawrence Hill novel The Book of Negroes (2015) which debuted to record-breaking numbers on the CBC in Canada and on BET in the U.S. and won twelve Canadian Screen ...
94. Geary McLeod
Camera_department | Lethal Weapon
Geary McLeod is known for Lethal Weapon (1987), Money Train (1995) and Small Soldiers (1998).
95. Dee Rees
Director | Mudbound
Writer/Director Dee Rees is an alumna of New York University's graduate film program and a Sundance Screenwriting & Directing Lab Fellow.
In 2018, Dee became the first Black woman nominated for an Oscar in the Best Adapted Screenplay category for her highly-acclaimed film Mudbound (2017). The film, ...
96. Hanelle M. Culpepper
Director | Within
Selected for the inaugural class of 2019 ReFrame Rise directors, Hanelle M. Culpepper is an energetic and unflappable award-winning director whose television credits range from superhero action adventures to thrillers and genre films to character-driven dramas. In 2019, she was chosen to direct the...
97. Benny Boom
Director | Next Day Air
Benny Boom is known for Next Day Air (2009), The Equalizer (2021) and Chicago P.D. (2014).
98. Ryan Coogler
Director | Black Panther
Ryan Kyle Coogler is an African-American filmmaker and producer who is from Oakland, California. He is known for directing the Black Panther film series, Creed, a Rocky spin-off and Fruitvale Station. He frequently casts Michael B. Jordan in his works. He produced the Creed sequels, Judas and the ...
99. Malcolm D. Lee
Director | Girls Trip
Malcolm D. Lee was born on January 11, 1970 in the USA. He is a writer and director, known for Girls Trip (2017), The Best Man (1999) and The Best Man: The Final Chapters (2022). He has been married to Camilla Banks since 2000. They have three children.
100. Keenan Coogler
Writer | Creed III
Keenan Coogler is known for Creed III (2023), Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021) and Black Panther (2018).
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