2016 (Production)

2016-09-24 (Production)

English (Original)

Interviewee: John Singleton
Interviewer: Jacqueline Stewart

Moving image

Professional production

Director John Singleton is interviewed by Jacqueline Stewart at the Nomad Hotel in New York in 2016. This is a co-production with the Television Academy’s Archive of American Television and AMPAS Visual History Program. The interview focuses on Singleton’s earliest influences, his transition from feature filmmaking to television, as well as his sources of personal inspiration. The interview touches on his relationships with collaborators, including Tupac Shakur, Ice Cube and Tyrese Gibson. Singleton discusses films spanning from his first feature BOYZ N THE HOOD (1991) to FOUR BROTHERS (2005).

Director John Singleton is interviewed by Jacqueline Stewart at the Nomad Hotel in New York City on September 24, 2016. This is a co-production with the Television Academy’s Archive of American Television and AMPAS Visual History Program. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Singleton talks about his childhood upbringing, describing this experience as idyllic, and recounts how it later informed his work. He reflects on the ways his parents encouraged both his artistic formation and formal education. Elaborating on his filmmaking influences, he conveys his particular fondness for STAR WARS (1977) and releases from independent studio American International Pictures.
He recounts his undergraduate studies in USC’s Film Writing Program, where he wrote his first feature film screenplay before enrolling in the university’s MFA production program. Singleton goes on to discuss how the script developed into BOYZ N THE HOOD (1991) and shares anecdotes on the struggles faced in making his directorial debut. He speaks on the production of the film, particularly highlighting his insistence on hiring crew members from neighborhoods in South Los Angeles. Singleton espouses his philosophy on being a “voice for the voiceless” and role as a quintessential Los Angeles filmmaker. Singleton reminisces on the scope and nature of his second film POETIC JUSTICE (1993), musing on working with the film’s co-star and friend Tupac Shakur. He explains his approach on directing the ensemble cast in HIGHER LEARNING (1995) and shares memories of working on the period piece ROSEWOOD (1997) and the remake SHAFT (2000).
Singleton credits Hip Hop culture as greatly influencing his directorial style, paralleling his improvisational approach with freestyle rap techniques. Singleton discusses his collaborations with Tyrese Gibson (BABY BOY, 2001; 2 FAST 2 FURIOUS, 2003) and experiences as producer (HUSTLE & FLOW, 2005; BLACK SNAKE MOAN, 2006). He talks about his entrance into television, directing episodes for EMPIRE (2015) and THE PEOPLE V. O.J. SIMPSON: AMERICAN CRIME STORY (2016), with the former earning an Emmy nomination for Best Director. The interview ends with Singleton conveying his thoughts on the current state of African American cinema, his responsibilities as a socially conscious filmmaker, and reflections on his artistic achievements.

John Singleton (1968-2019) was an Academy Award-nominated director best known for BOYZ N THE HOOD (1991), ROSEWOOD (1997) and his television series SNOWFALL (2017 -2019). Singleton’s work was often marked by a characteristic personal style paralleling idyllic themes of African American communities with dark surrealism and the implications of inner-city violence. He was also recognized for his collaborations with notable musicians-turned-actors Janet Jackson, Tupac Shakur and Ice Cube. Singleton was born and raised in South Los Angeles. He attended the Film Writing Program at USC and later received an MFA in production from the university’s film school. While studying there, he wrote the screenplay for BOYZ N THE HOOD, which was optioned by Columbia Pictures and marked his directorial debut. Singleton earned Oscar nominations for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay, becoming the first African American and youngest person to receive a nod in the former category. Based on the film’s success, Michael Jackson hired Singleton to direct the “Remember the Time” (1992) music video. He would go on to direct the next films of his “South Central trilogy” (POETIC JUSTICE, 1993; BABY BOY, 2001) and bring together an ensemble cast in the acclaimed HIGHER LEARNING (1995). Singleton’s other works include the drama ROSEWOOD (1997) in addition to action films, such as SHAFT (2000), 2 FAST 2 FURIOUS (2003), and FOUR BROTHERS (2005). Having branched into the medium of television, Singleton directed episodes of EMPIRE (2015) and THE PEOPLE V. O.J. SIMPSON: AMERICAN CRIME STORY (2016), with the former earning an Emmy nomination for Best Director.

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