REGINALD HUDLIN (Director) grew up in East Saint Louis, Illinois, which he describes as "the blackest city in America." His home was two doors to the left of Ike and Tina Turner's and two doors to the right of legendary gospel singer Brother Joe May, plac ing him halfway between sin and salvation every day of his life. At Harvard University, Hudlin wrote and direct ed a 20-minute thesis film, which formed the basis for his first feature, "House Party." Released by New Line Cinema in 1990, "House Party" was both a critical and commercial hit. The film won glowing reviews in The New York Times, Time, Newsweek, USA Today and from "Siskel and Ebert." It took the Filmmakers Trophy and the Best Cinematography Award at the Sundance Film Festival, and audiences loved it too. The $2.5 million feature grossed $27 million at the box office and created a franchise, with two sequels, a Saturday-morning car toon and a comic book.
Hudlin and Eddie Murphy joined forces in 1992 on "Boomerang," with Martin Lawrence, David Alan Grier, Chris Rock, Geoffrey Holder, Robin Givens, Grace Jones, Eartha Kitt and Halle Berry. The film grossed $130 million worldwide and again expanded the film genre with a breakthrough depiction of the black middle class, a perspective that remains enormously popular and profitable.
In 1995, Hudlin segued into television production, creating and co-executive producing "Cosmic Slop," a funk-inspired, "Twilight Zone"-style anthology special hosted by Dr. Funkenstein himself, George Clinton. Hudlin won the Best Dramatic/Theatrical Special CableACE Award for "Space Traders," the episode he directed, and Paula Jai Parker won a CableACE Award for her performance in the episode "Tang," which Hudlin co-produced.
In 1998, Hudlin co-produced the feature "Ride," a musical comedy starring Malik Yoba, which was writ ten and directed by first-time director Millicent Shelton.
Movie Database
In Theaters
(37 votes)
(28 votes)
(11 votes)
(4 votes)
(11 votes)