Reginald Hudlin Explained

Reginald Hudlin
Birth Date:15 December 1961
Birth Place:Centreville, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation:Film director, writer, producer
Years Active:1983–present
Known For:House Party
Django Unchained
Boomerang
Children:7
Relatives:Warrington Hudlin (brother)

Reginald Alan Hudlin[1] (born December 15, 1961) is an American director, screenwriter, and producer. Along with his older brother Warrington Hudlin, he is known as one of the Hudlin Brothers.[2] From 2005 to 2008, Hudlin was President of Entertainment for Black Entertainment Television (BET). Hudlin has also written numerous graphic novels. He co-produced the 88th Academy Awards ceremony in 2016 as well as other TV specials.

Hudlin's breakout film was 1990's House Party.[3] He also directed the 1992 film Boomerang. Alongside Warrington, he executive produced the 1994 anthology television film Cosmic Slop, and directed the first of the film's three segments, "Space Traders". Hudlin worked as a producer on the 2012 film Django Unchained, directed by Quentin Tarantino, which received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.

Early life

Hudlin was born in Centreville, Illinois, the son of two teachers.[4] Hudlin's older brother, Warrington Hudlin, is also a film director, as well as an actor and producer.

The Hudlins grew up in East St. Louis, Illinois, where the family had deep roots.[5] The Hudlin Brothers are paternal great-great-grandsons of Peter and Nancy Hudlin, who were part of the Underground Railroad. Their great uncle was tennis instructor Richard A. Hudlin, who mentored Arthur Ashe and Althea Gibson.[6]

The Hudlins attended Katherine Dunham's Center for the Performing Arts, an experimental school, Warrington for high school and Reginald for after school martial arts classes.[7] Hudlin has said that the experience was formative, and led to his older brother attending Yale University, and his attending Harvard University. In 1979, Hudlin graduated from Assumption Catholic High School in East St. Louis.[8]

While an undergraduate at Harvard University, Hudlin directed his thesis project, a short film called House Party, which received numerous awards including first place at the Black American Cinema Society Awards.[9] The film was inspired by his experience growing up in East St. Louis. In 1983, Hudlin graduated magna cum laude from Harvard with a B.A. in Visual and Environmental Studies.[10] His short film thesis was the basis for his first feature film, House Party.[11]

Career

After college, Hudlin and his brother formed a production company and made music videos for such artists as Heavy D, Jamaica Boys, and others.[4] They additionally created the "Hey Love" 1980s TV commercial for a various-artists compilation record, that played regularly on late night TV.[12] [13]

Hudlin directed—with older brother Warrington producing—his first feature-length film, 1990's low-budget teen hip-hop comedy House Party, which starred Kid 'n Play. One of the messages of the film was its promotion of safe sex. The film, distributed by New Line Cinema, was, according to Variety, one of the most profitable films of the decade.[14] New Line wanted to make sequels, but the Hudlins did not feel the compensation or deals were adequate.[15]

Hudlin directed 1992's Boomerang, again with older brother Warrington producing. The film was a big-budget romantic comedy that starred Eddie Murphy, who had a term deal at Paramount Pictures and hired the Hudlin Brothers because he liked House Party. It starred an all-black cast that included Robin Givens, Halle Berry, Martin Lawrence, David Alan Grier, and Chris Rock.[16] Boomerang was based on an original idea by Murphy and was written by Saturday Night Live writers Barry W. Blaustein and David Sheffield.[17]

A celebration of the 25th anniversary of Boomerang's release was held on July 1, 2017, at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., with a conversation between Hudlin and producer George Alexander.[18] [19]

In 1992, while making Boomerang, Hudlin wrote the animated film, Bebe's Kids, which was championed by Paramount's Brandon Tartikoff, and was made in memory of comedian Robin Harris, who had died in 1990.

In 1994, the Hudlin Brothers produced the HBO anthology television film Cosmic Slop, of which Hudlin directed the segment "Space Traders". The segment is an adaptation of the short story "The Space Traders" by Derrick Bell, found in Bell's book Faces at the Bottom of the Well: The Permanence of Racism.[20] [21]

He then directed The Great White Hype, The Ladies Man, Serving Sara (2002), two episodes of the TV series Modern Family, an episode of The Office, an episode of The Middle, and several episodes of Outsourced. He was also a recurring producer and director of The Bernie Mac Show for three years.

From 2005 to 2008, Hudlin was the President of Entertainment for BET. Notable shows shepherded by Hudlin at that time included the documentary series American Gangster and Sunday Best, a gospel-music singing-competition show. Hudlin created The BET Honors and the BET Hip Hop Awards.

Hudlin wrote the Marvel Comics series Black Panther from 2005 to 2008, including the 2006 storyline "Bride of the Panther," which saw the character marry X-Men leader Storm.

Hudlin was a producer of Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained, starring Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, Christoph Waltz, Kerry Washington, and Samuel L. Jackson. On January 10, 2013, Hudlin received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture for the film.[22]

Since 2013, Hudlin has been executive producer of the NAACP Image Awards.

In 2014, Hudlin produced the Black Movie Soundtrack celebration of Black music in movies, held at Los Angeles' Hollywood Bowl and hosted by Craig Robinson. Black Movie Soundtrack II, also hosted by Robinson, was held in 2016.[23]

In 2015, DC Comics announced that Hudlin and artists Denys Cowan and Derek Dingle would be part of the relaunch of the publisher's Milestone Media imprint, founded by Cowan, Dingle and Dwayne McDuffie.[24] [25] The comic line returned in September 2020 with the Hudlin-penned Milestone Returns #0.[26]

In 2015, Hudlin joined the board of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, a non-profit organization founded in 1986 chartered to protect the First Amendment rights of the comics community.[27]

By June 2017, Hudlin had been hired to direct a movie based on the comic Shadowman.[28] That October, Hudlin's film Marshall, about Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American U.S. Supreme Court justice, starring Chadwick Boseman, was released.[29]

Hudlin contributed a story to the Black Panther Annual #1, released in February 2018.[30] By July the following year, Hudlin had been hired to direct the Walt Disney Pictures film Safety for Disney+.[31]

In June 2021, the French website LivresHebdo said Reginald Hudlin is to direct a movie based on the comics, written by Yves Sente and drawn by .[32]

On July 12, 2021, it was announced that Hudlin along with Ian Stewart will the executive producers for the 73rd Emmy Awards which will have a live audience on September 19, 2021 on CBS.[33] [34]

Personal life

In 2002, Hudlin married Chrisette Hudlin (née Suter), a public relations consultant, in Montego Bay, Jamaica.[35] [36] They have two children.[37]

Reginald Hudlin's lawyer at the time was Doug Emhoff.[38] In 2013, Chrisette Hudlin set up Emhoff on a blind date with then-Attorney General of California and future Vice-President, Kamala Harris.[38] [39]

Filmography

Feature films

YearTitlewidth=65Directorwidth=65Producerwidth=65WriterNotes
1990House Party
1992Boomerang
Bebe's Kids Also song writer ("I Ain't Havin' It", "Freedom Song", "Straight Jackin'")
1996The Great White Hype
2000 The Ladies Man
2002Serving Sara
2017Marshall
2019The Black GodfatherDocumentary
2020Safety
2022SidneyDocumentary
2023Candy Cane Lane

Producer only

Acting roles

YearTitleRole
1986She's Gotta Have ItDog 4
1990House Party Burglar #1
1992Boomerang Street Hustler
1993Posse Reporter 31
1996Joe's ApartmentRodney Roach (voice)
2000The Ladies ManAloysius

Documentary Appearances

Short films

YearTitleDirectorWriter
1983House Party
1985Reggie's World of Soul
1986The Kold Waves

Television

YearTitlewidth=65Directorwidth=65Producerwidth=65WriterNotes
1994Cosmic SlopTV movie;
segment: "Space Traders"
2000City of Angels Episode: "When Worlds Colitis"
2002–2005The Bernie Mac Show11 episodes
2005 Documentary film
Everybody Hates ChrisEpisode: "Everybody Hates the Pilot"
2007Wifey TV movie
2009Raising the Bar Episode: "Making Up Is Hard to Do"
The Middle Episode: "Christmas"
The OfficeEpisode: "Koi Pond"
2009–2010Modern FamilyEpisodes: "Fears", "Come Fly with Me"
2010Better Off Ted Episode: "The Great Repression"
Sons of Tucson Episode: "Father's Day"
Marvel's Black Panther Also developer;
actor as President (voice) in episode "To the End"
2010–2011Outsourced Episodes: "Temporary Monsanity", "The Todd Couple"
2010–2012Psych Episodes: "Ferry Tale" and "True Grits"
2011Friends with Benefits Episode: "The Benefit of Being Shallow"
2012Are We There Yet? Episodes: "The Expensive Purse Episode",
"The Master of Ceremonies Episode", "The Quarantine Episode"
2013Bones Episode: "The Party in the Pants"
How to Live with Your Parents
(For the Rest of Your Life) 		Episode: "How to Run the Show"
2014–2015Bad Judge Episodes: "Knife to a Gunfight", "Lockdown"
Marry Me Episodes: "Stand by Me", "Change Me"
Murder in the First Episodes: "Punch Drunk", "State of the Union", "Bruja Blanca"
2015Weird Loners Episode: "Weird Knight"
New Girl Episode: "Panty Gate"
Telenovela Episode: "Evil Twin"
2016Heartbeat Episode: "Backwards"
Angel from Hell Episode: "Angel Appreciation Day"
Uncle BuckEpisodes: "I Got This", "Going to Jail Party"
2019Black Monday Episodes: "295", "243"
The Last O.G. Episodes: "Criminal Minded", "Your Mom's in My Business", "Fight the Power"

Executive producer only

YearTitleNotes
2005–2008The Boondocks 31 episodes
2006Somebodies Executive in charge of co-productions
2008Brothers to Brutha Network executive
2017Blue & Green TV movie

TV specials

YearTitleRole
1994The Last Days of RussellCo-executive producer, director, writer
2006Bring That Year Back 2006: Laugh Now, Cry Later Network executive producer
BET Hip Hop AwardsExecutive in charge of production
2008The BET HonorsExecutive in charge of production
2010Burr and Hart Director
2013–presentNAACP Image AwardsExecutive producer
2014Governors Awards
201688th Academy AwardsProducer
Showtime at the ApolloExecutive producer
2020–2022Primetime Emmy Awards

Awards

2021: Recipient of (Miami University of Ohio) Miami's Summer of ‘64 Award for his contributions in bringing the Black image to screen.

Leadership and membership

Works and publications

Comics

Selected writing

See also

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Otfinoski, Steven. African Americans in the Visual Arts. 2014. 9781438107776. Facts On File. 99.
  2. Hudlin. Reginald. Hudlin. Warrington. Glicksman. Marlaine. They Gotta Have It. Film Comment. May 1990. 26. 3. 65–69. 43454842.
  3. Hudlin. Reginald. Hudlin. Warrington. Kantor. Michael. Tearing the Roof Off the Sucker: An Interview with Reginald and Warrington Hudlin. Cinéaste. 1990. 18. 1. 22–23. 41687018.
  4. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=9ZAQAQAAQBAJ&dq=reginald+hudlin+born&pg=PA234. Donalson. Melvin Burke. Black Directors in Hollywood. 2003. University of Texas Press. Austin. 978-0-292-79875-5. Chapter 9: Not Without Laughter: Directors of Comedy and Romance, Chapter 10: Off the Hook: Comedy and Romance with a Hip-Hop Flavor. 55731956.
  5. News: Greenberg. James. In Hollywood, Black Is In. The New York Times. March 4, 1990.
  6. News: Franklin. Donald E.. Its History Rides on the Underground Railroad. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. February 27, 2000. St. Louis. C.1. 1930-9600. .
  7. News: Elliott. Debbie. Dryden. Jim. Dunham. Katherine. Katherine Dunham Helped Teach the World to Dance. NPR. May 27, 2006. en. Audio interview.
  8. News: Metro East native Reginald Hudlin receives Oscar nod for 'Django'. The St. Louis American. January 11, 2013. en.
  9. News: Thomas. Kevin. Winning Black Videos, Films Highlight Youth. Los Angeles Times. January 27, 1986. April 8, 2022.
  10. News: The Reginald Hudlin Story. Hudlin Entertainment. en.
  11. News: $hort. Too. Loco. Bobby. Writer / Director Reginald Hudlin. Too $hort's Boombox. PodcastOne. March 8, 2017. Audio podcast.
  12. News: Gross. Terry. Fresh Air with Terry Gross, July 10, 1992: Interview with Warrington Hudlin and Reginald Hudlin. Fresh Air. NPR. July 10, 1992. Audio, starts at 36:13. 971502139.
  13. Web site: "Hey Love" 1980s TV Commercial – No My Brother. . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/8AqVtTVbZms . 2021-12-13 . live. 1980s.
  14. News: Hudlin. Reginald. If It's a Question of Money.... Los Angeles Times. September 10, 2000. April 8, 2022.
  15. Book: Alexander. George. Why We Make Movies: Black Filmmakers Talk About the Magic of Cinema. 2003. Harlem Moon. New York. 978-0-307-41959-0. Reginald Hudlin. 53445264.
  16. News: Dowd. Maureen. FILM; He's Never Been Happier, or More Glum. The New York Times. June 28, 1992.
  17. News: Morales. Wilson. Exclusive: Director Reginald Hudlin talks Boomerang 20 Years Later, Black Panther, and producing Django Unchained. BlackFilm.com. July 1, 2012.
  18. News: House. Jermaine. Hernandez. Shrita. African Americans and the Advertising Industry Series Leads the National Museum of African American History and Culture July Programming. National Museum of African American History and Culture. June 29, 2017. Press release.
  19. News: Ekokobe. Reggie. Exclusive: Director Reginald Hudlin talks 'Boomerang' 25 Years Later, 'Marshall,' and More. First Klass Breakfast. July 1, 2017.
  20. News: Meisler. Andy. Using Fun to Show Blacks to Whites. The New York Times. November 7, 1994.
  21. Book: Bell. Derrick. Faces at the Bottom of the Well: The Permanence of Racism. 1992. Basic Books. New York City, New York. 978-0-786-72323-2. 158–194. Chapter 9: The Space Trader. 904402741.
  22. News: Dowell. Masha. Interview: Reginald Hudlin On His Oscar Journey, Working w/ RZA, Directing Again, More. IndieWire. February 14, 2013.
  23. News: Gardner. Chris. Oscar Producer Plans Second 'Black Movie Soundtrack' at the Hollywood Bowl. The Hollywood Reporter. February 25, 2016. April 8, 2022.
  24. News: Betancourt. David. Exclusive: Milestone Media rises again. Hudlin, Cowan and Dingle will revive company with eye toward characters of color. The Washington Post. January 21, 2015.
  25. News: Obenson. Tambay A.. Watch: Reginald Hudlin and Denys Cowan Talk Milestone 2.0 . Indiewire. August 4, 2015. April 8, 2022.
  26. Web site: Milestone Returns #0 Previews in Three Weeks from DC Fandome for Free . Rich . Johnston . Rich Johnston . . August 23, 2020 . September 12, 2020 . en-GB.
  27. Web site: Reginald Hudlin Joins CBLDF Board of Directors. Melrose. Kevin. March 11, 2015. Comic Book Resources. July 4, 2020.
  28. News: McMillan. Graeme. Reginald Hudlin to Direct Valiant's Supernatural Superhero Movie 'Shadowman' (Exclusive). The Hollywood Reporter. June 13, 2017. April 8, 2022.
  29. News: Hipes. Patrick. Open Road Acquires Thurgood Marshall Biopic Starring Chadwick Boseman. Deadline Hollywood. June 9, 2016.
  30. News: Iconic creators return to Wakanda in this Black Panther Annual exclusive. Sava. Oliver. February 15, 2018. The A.V. Club. https://web.archive.org/web/20180613015133/https://www.avclub.com/iconic-creators-return-to-wakanda-in-this-black-panther-1823047658 . June 13, 2018. live. mdy-all.
  31. 'Django Unchained' Producer Reginald Hudlin to Direct Sports Drama for Disney+ (Exclusive). The Hollywood Reporter. July 12, 2019. April 8, 2022. Borys. Kit.
  32. Web site: Dahlia Girgis. "Cinq branches de coton noir" adapté au cinéma . LivresHebdo. June 30, 202.
  33. Web site: McCarthy . Tyler . 2021 Emmy Awards announce Cedric the Entertainer as host ahead of nominations . Fox News . 15 July 2021 . 12 July 2021.
  34. Web site: The "73rd Emmy Awards" to Return With Live Audience and Cedric the Entertainer As Host for Broadcast on CBS, Sunday, Sept. 19 . Television Academy . 15 July 2021 . en.
  35. News: Variety Staff. Chrisette Suter and Reginald Hudlin. Variety. January 6, 2003.
  36. News: Owens. Donna M.. California Attorney General Kamala Harris Plans to be America's Next Black Female Senator. Essence. January 13, 2016.
  37. Web site: Hudlin. Reginald. Top Ten Heroes of the Year. Hudlin Entertainment. 2016.
  38. Desta . Yohana . How Hollywood Shaped Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff's Marriage . Vanity Fair . April 8, 2022 . August 19, 2020.
  39. Web site: Bennett . Jessica . Kamala Harris Will Make History. So Will Her 'Big, Blended' Family. . The New York Times . April 8, 2022 . January 17, 2021.
  40. Web site: Winners & Nominees 2013. Hollywood Foreign Press Association. en. 2013.
  41. News: Reginald Hudlin and Joss Whedon Are the Latest Comic-Con Icon Award Recipients!. Comic-Con International

    San Diego

    . July 29, 2015. en.
  42. News: Galuppo. Mia. Oscars Producer Reginald Hudlin to be Honored at AAFCA Awards. The Hollywood Reporter. December 15, 2015. en.
  43. News: Executive Board – Reginald Hudlin. UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. 2017.

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