6 shooting stars in television & film

Black Enterprise, Dec, 1996 by Sherri McGee, Eric Smith, Valerie Lynn Gray, Matthew S. Scott

African Americans spend more time watching television and going to the movies than any other segment of the population. And there have always been films and television shows aimed at this eager audience - but they rarely feature African Americans behind the scenes, writing, producing and directing.

As a result, the stories and characters row models of how white writers believe black people feel, think and live. And more often than not, comedy is the message. Fortunately, that's beginning to change: Young black writers, directors and producers are increasingly taking a more active role in the industry.

Though problems do persist, the climate is getting better. African Americans still have to fight being stereotyped as 'hood directors. And black television writers and producers are still more likely to be found creating and writing sitcoms than dramas. Of course, black Hollywood can't be built in a day. Here are some young African Americans who have the chance to influence the images we see. They are contributing to a new direction for blacks in television and film entertainment - both in front of and behind the camera.

Bentley Kyle Evans

Writer/Producer

In Hollywood, Bentley Kyle Evans is running the show. Actually he's running two shows simultaneously for two networks. At 30, Evans is quickly making his mark among the entertainment glitterati. In 1995 he inked a multimillion-dollar development deal with Warner Brothers to create new television programming.

His first effort under the WB deal is The Jamie Foxx Show. The highest tested pilot in WB's history, it debuted this past September as the No. 1 program in its time slot. Evans is also co-executive producer/ head writer for the Fox comedy, Martin, starring Martin Lawrence.

This double duty puts Evans in charge of a staff of over 100, and budgets in the millions. A typical 12-13-hour day includes brainstorming sessions with writers, working with directors and producers, writing and overlooking scripts and casting extras. "It can be mentally challenging," he admits, but he uses his youth to his advantage.

Evans hasn't limited himself to the small screen. He co-wrote A Thin Line Between Love and Hate, a $7 million film starring Martin Lawrence that grossed more than $40 million "Opportunities are here [in Hollywood] as they've never been before," asserts Evans. "It's a good time for African Americans both in front of the camera and behind the scenes."

Evans' first gig in the entertainment business was his acting debut in Robert Townsend's Hollywood Shuffle in 1986. He followed with small roles in a few network shows before moving be hind the scenes to master the dynamics of television writing at Martin. Since the show's debut, he has been promoted five times - from writer to executive story editor, to co-producer, then producer, to his current title.

"It's really a matter or taste," says the young pioneer, reflecting on African American images on television. The Jamie Foxx Show is a family-oriented program that reflects my vision, while Martin is more cutting-edge and showcases Martin's personality."

F. Gary Gray

Film Director

Gray got his first taste of commercial success in 1995 after directing Friday, a comedy set in the 'hood, and starring rapper/actor Ice Cube and comedian Chris Tucker. Made for under $3 million, the movie grossed $30 million, making it one of last year's most successful films relative to cost. Now Gray hopes his sophomore effort, Set It Off, a bank heist drama with a female spin and starring Jada Pinkett and Queen Latifah, firmly establishes him as a "new jack" director to be reckoned with.

A former cameraman for BET's Screen Scene and Fox's music video show Pump It Up, Gray got his start through a meeting with the members of the rap group, W.C. and the Maad Circle. After some quick talking, he convinced the group that he should direct their next music video. With his foot in the door, he was soon working with such established acts as Ice Cube, Mary J. Blige and TLC.

Gray took home a host of trophies at the 1995 MTV Music Video Awards show, including Video of the Year for TLC's Waterfalls. His obvious talent led Ice Cube to bring Gray on board as the director of Friday. "They could have easily put someone in there who had directed a film before," Gray says. "It's never easy to get your first film, but [Cube] and New Line believed in my vision and here I am."

Currently, Gray is in talks with studio executives about directing a feature film version of the TV series SWAT, produced by Oliver Stone. But Gray isn't taking any of his success for granted just yet. "The thing about the film industry is one hit can put you on the map. But at the same time' if you don't consistently deliver, especially if you're a black filmmaker, you can go as fast as you come."

Kim Greene

Camille Tucker

Directors/Producers

Five years ago, Kim Greene and Camille Tucker dreamed of writing and directing films. Today, they're living those dreams, dealing with multimillion-dollar budgets and more work than they can handle. The African American femalewriting/directing/producing duo has three upcoming feature films at three major studios: Golddiggaz, with Boyz 'N' The Hood director John Singleton for Universal Pictures; M'Lady, a romantic comedy produced by Robert DeNiro's Tribeca Film at TriStar; and How To Marry A Black Man, for Whitney Houston's production company at Touchstone.