Barry Jenkins

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Barry Jenkins
Barry Jenkins (cropped).jpg
Jenkins in 2009
Born (1979-11-19) November 19, 1979 (age 41)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Alma materFlorida State University
OccupationFilm director, screenwriter, producer
Years active2003–present

Barry Jenkins (born November 19, 1979) is an American film director, screenwriter and producer. After making his filmmaking debut with the short film My Josephine (2003), he directed his first feature film Medicine for Melancholy (2008) for which he received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best First Feature.

Following an eight-year hiatus from feature filmmaking, Jenkins directed and co-wrote the LGBT-themed independent drama Moonlight (2016), which won numerous accolades, including the Academy Award for Best Picture. Jenkins received an Oscar nomination for Best Director and jointly won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay with Tarell Alvin McCraney.[1] He became the fourth black person to be nominated for Best Director and the second black person to direct a Best Picture winner. He released his third directorial feature If Beale Street Could Talk in 2018 to critical praise, and earned nominations for his screenplay at the Academy Awards and Golden Globes.

He is also known for his work in television. Jenkins directed "Chapter V" of the Netflix series Dear White People in 2017. In 2021, he directed the Amazon Video limited series The Underground Railroad based on the novel of the same name and received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series or Movie nomination.

In 2017, Jenkins was included on the annual Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world.[2]

Early life[]

Jenkins was born in 1979 at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida,[3] the youngest of four siblings, each from a different father.[4] His father separated from his mother while she was pregnant with Jenkins, believing that he was not Jenkins's father; he died when Jenkins was 12.[4] Jenkins, in later life, still has "no idea who my ‘real’ father is".[5] His mother, a nurse, suffered from a crack-cocaine addiction.[5][6] He recalled being a reserved and attentive child.[6]

Jenkins grew up in Liberty City and was primarily raised by another older woman (who had also looked after his mother while she was a teenager) in an overcrowded apartment.[4] His mother was a runaway who Jenkins has said abandoned him.[7][5] He attended Miami Northwestern Senior High School, where he played football and ran track.[3]

Jenkins studied film at the Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts,[3] where he met many of his future frequent collaborators, including cinematographer James Laxton, producer Adele Romanski and editors Nat Sanders and Joi McMillon.[8] Feeling inadequate in regards to his technological skillmanship, Jenkins took a year off to advance it.[9] While at Florida State, Jenkins became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha[10] fraternity. Four days after graduating from FSU, Jenkins moved to Los Angeles to pursue a filmmaking career, spending two years working on various projects as a production assistant.[3]

Career[]

2000s–2010s: Early work[]

Jenkins at a Q&A for Medicine for Melancholy at the Northwest Film Forum in 2009

Jenkins debuted on the screen with his 2003 short My Josephine, but his first breakout film was Medicine for Melancholy, a low-budget independent feature, produced with Strike Anywhere films and released in 2008.[citation needed] The movie, which has been linked to the mumblecore scene, stars Wyatt Cenac and Tracey Heggins.[11][12] Jenkins recalled that the movie represented the "place where [he] was both physically, emotionally, and mentally".[9] The film underwent "the usual tour of festivals garnering its share of nominations, reviews, small awards and limited release distribution in major cities in 2009 and 2010"; it was well received by critics.[4][13]

After the success of his previous film, Jenkins wrote an epic for Focus Features about "Stevie Wonder and time travel" and an adaptation of the James Baldwin novel If Beale Street Could Talk, neither of which initially entered production.[4][14] He later worked as a carpenter and co-founded Strike Anywhere, an advertising company. In 2011, he wrote and directed Remigration, a sci-fi short film about gentrification. Jenkins became a writer for HBO's The Leftovers, about which he said, "I didn't get to do much."[4] In 2012, he received a United States Artists Fellowship grant.[15]

2016: Moonlight[]

Jenkins directed and co-wrote, with Tarell Alvin McCraney, the 2016 drama Moonlight, his first feature film in eight years.[4] It's an adaptation of McCarney's play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue; both's lives influenced the production, having spent their childhoods in close proximity although without knowing each other.[6] Jenkins' screenplay – which he composed in ten days – expands upon McCraney's story. Jenkins had more resources and control at his disposal than he had before.[9] The film was shot in 25 days, in Miami, and premiered at the Telluride Film Festival in September 2016 to a substantial amount of awards and critical acclaim.[9][16][17] According to film scholar Rahul Hamid, it was among the "most celebrated films of 2016, boasting...inclusion in all of the major top ten lists".[18]

A.O. Scott of The New York Times wrote: "Moonlight dwells on the dignity, beauty and terrible vulnerability of black bodies, on the existential and physical matter of black lives."[19] Variety wrote: "Barry Jenkins' vital portrait of a South Florida youth revisits the character at three stages in his life, offering rich insights into the contemporary African-American experience."[20] David Sims of The Atlantic wrote: "Like all great films, Moonlight is both specific and sweeping. It's a story about identity—an intelligent, challenging work."[21]

The film won dozens of accolades, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Picture – Drama[22] and the Academy Award for Best Picture at the 89th Academy Awards.[23] Jenkins and McCraney also won Best Adapted Screenplay. Overall, the film received eight Oscar nominations, including Best Director.[24] Speaking on the film's Best Picture win, film professors Racquel Gates and Michael Boyce Gillespie said that it "made history".[25]

2017–present: Further projects[]

In 2017, Jenkins directed the fifth episode of the first volume of the Netflix original series Dear White People.[26]

In 2013, the same year he wrote Moonlight, he wrote a film adaptation of James Baldwin's novel If Beale Street Could Talk.[27] The adaptation is largely faithful to the source material, although aspects, such as the opening, are changed.[28] Production began in October 2017 with Annapurna Pictures, Pastel, and Plan B.[29] Jenkins worked closely with Baldwin's estate and was given handwritten notes about how he would have approached a film version – "a slow epiphany" is how Jenkins described reading the notes.[30] The film was released in December 2018 to critical acclaim. It garnered numerous accolades, including Best Supporting Actress wins for Regina King at the Academy Awards and Golden Globes. Jenkins received an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.[citation needed]

Donald Trump's election inspired Jenkins to go forward with The Underground Railroad, after Moonlight's success opened up new avenues.[5]

Jenkins directed the 2021 television series adaptation of Colson Whitehead's novel The Underground Railroad, the series being a passion project for Jenkins. It was initiated by Amazon Studios (and subsequently ordered to series in June 2018) after Jenkins' strong Oscar haul for Moonlight. The main cast of The Underground Railroad includes Thuso Mbedu as Cora, with Chase W. Dillon as Homer and Aaron Pierre as Caesar; Jenkins and the casting director, Francine Maisler, searched worldwide for an actor to play Cora and sought those then-undiscovered.[31][32] The series' creation was deeply personal, proving to be the most difficult project of his career yet and resulting in him feeling a closer attachment to his ancestral past.[33]

The next major film Jenkins is set to direct is a prequel to the CGI remake of Disney's The Lion King that primarily concerns the coming of age origins of Mufasa.[34] Upcoming projects include a screenplay based on the life of Claressa Shields and a biographical film about choreographer Alvin Ailey which he will direct.[35][34] More recently, his Pastel production company signed a first look deal with HBO, HBO Max and A24.[36]

Artistry[]

Jenkins has a close working relationship with cinematographer James Laxton, stating that "the way we are on set is a shared language, a shared approach to the imagery". On set, Jenkins said that their goal is to incorporate as much of their preceding deliberations as possible whilst still considerate of the actors' needs and available time. He has dubbed himself a "termite filmmaker", "always on set thinking about what else I can do".[a][9] Jenkins has cited Baldwin as a significant influence.[13]

Despite a more intense plot and themes, discussing parenting, friendship, and black masculinity, especially in regards to sexual orientation, Jenkins made the decision to invert Medicine for Melancholy's sombre color palette in Moonlight; he wished for the audience to be immersed and for there to be a "softness around the characters" – a desire also reflected in his choice of aspect ratio, 2:35.[9][18] Each of the film's three distinct chapters feature specific visuals, with the general visuals underscoring the themes of the film and intended to "elevate" the story.[17]

Inspired by Clare Denis – his favourite director – Jenkins emphasized craftsmanship with Moonlight and its text represents a process, evidenced by aspects such as the blue and red lights: "Those lights are the timecode, they are running and flashing the whole time. So you are seeing the time passing between the actors performing in those chapter moments".[9] Time is a particular interest of Jenkins: "If for [Sergei] Eisenstein the information is in the cut, then for me that information is time"; in Moonlight he "transforms time's passing into a series of rites of passage" and uses chopped and screwed's manipulation of time throughout the film.[9][37]

Moonlight, If Beale Street Could Talk and The Underground Railroad compose, in the eyes of Jenkins, a thematic trilogy, exploring childhood abandonment – including his own feelings. Moonlight depicts his childhood experience as he lived it whereas If Beale Street Could Talk showcased his, at times, desired family; Whitehead's novel helped him process his feelings of abandonment and he recognized separation of family as a prominent aspect of the story.[5][7]

Black identity[]

In both Medicine for Melancholy and Moonlight, Jenkins couples introspection with speculation upon black identity. Jenkins has stated that, amidst his solemn consideration of the craft and formalism of film, he seeks to articulate his "personal experience, what it feels like to be a young black man in America".[9] If Beale Street Could Talk focuses upon the solace and life of black Americans, particularly within the framework of incarceration.[28]

In defiance of traditional Hollywood portrayals of black slaves as virtuous, The Underground Railroad sees Jenkins examine their identity and perception.[38] "I hope it can recontextualise rather than reinforce stereotypes about my ancestors, that have been allowed to persist over the decades", he said.[5] Jenkins inspects the interactions between white and black Americans and the former's often "callous" intentions that eclipses their "initially benign" appearance.[39] Medicine for Melancholy explores intimacy "amidst personal and racial ambivalence".[40]

Personal life[]

Jenkins has been in a relationship with fellow filmmaker Lulu Wang since 2018.[41]

Filmography[]

Film[]

Year Title Director Writer Producer Ref.
2008 Medicine for Melancholy Yes Yes No [42]
2016 Moonlight Yes Yes No [43]
2018 If Beale Street Could Talk Yes Yes Yes [29]
2020 Charm City Kings No Story No [44]
TBA Flint Strong No Yes Yes [45]
Untitled Lion King prequel Yes No No
Untitled Alvin Ailey film Yes No No
Untitled Virunga adaptation No Yes No

Television[]

Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes Ref.
2017 Dear White People Yes No No Episode: "Chapter V" [26]
2021 The Underground Railroad Yes Yes Yes 10 episodes [34]

Accolades[]

References[]

  1. ^ Rothman, Michael (February 26, 2017). "'Moonlight' wins best picture after 'La La Land' mistakenly announced". ABC News. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  2. ^ "Barry Jenkins: The World's 100 Most Influential People". Time. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Rodriguez, Rene (February 27, 2017). "'Moonlight' director says growing up in Miami, 'Life was heavy,' but it's a 'beautiful place'". Miami Herald. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Stephenson, Will. "Barry Jenkins Slow-Cooks His Masterpiece". The Fader. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Adams, Tim (May 9, 2021). "Barry Jenkins: 'Maybe America has never been great'". The Guardian. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c Rapold, Nicolas (2016). "Interview With Barry Jenkins". Film Comment. 52 (5): 44–45. ISSN 0015-119X.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b Ford, Rebecca (August 10, 2021). "Barry Jenkins on Concluding His Trilogy With 'The Underground Railroad'". Vanity Fair. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  8. ^ Ugwu, Reggie (January 22, 2019). "Barry Jenkins Is Trying Not to Think About 'Barry Jenkins'". The New York Times. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j Gillespie, Michael Boyce (2017). "One Step Ahead: A Conversation With Barry Jenkins". Film Quarterly. 70 (3): 52–62. doi:10.2307/26413788. ISSN 0015-1386.
  10. ^ https://apa1906.net/congrats-brother-barry-jenkins-oscars/
  11. ^ Scott, A. O. (January 29, 2009). "In Barry Jenkins's First Movie, a Short-Term Romance Leads to Big Questions". The New York Times. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  12. ^ Rich, B. Ruby (2016). "What Is at Stake: Gender, Race, Media, or How to Brexit Hollywood". Film Quarterly. 70 (1): 5–10. doi:10.2307/26413734. ISSN 0015-1386.
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b Pavlić, Ed (2013). "Speechless in San Francisco". Transition (110): 103. doi:10.2979/transition.110.103.
  14. ^ Keegan, Rebecca. "To give birth to 'Moonlight,' writer-director Barry Jenkins dug deep into his past". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  15. ^ "United States Artists » Barry Jenkins". Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  16. ^ Buchanan, Kyle (October 21, 2016). "Moonlight's Barry Jenkins on Directing One of the Best Films of the Year". Vulture. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  17. ^ Jump up to: a b Gates, Racquel (2017). "The Last Shall Be First: Aesthetics and Politics in Black Film and Media". Film Quarterly. 71 (2): 38–45. doi:10.2307/26413861. ISSN 0015-1386.
  18. ^ Jump up to: a b Hamid, Rahul (2017). "Review of Moonlight". Cinéaste. 42 (2): 44–45. ISSN 0009-7004.
  19. ^ Scott, A. O. (October 20, 2016). "'Moonlight': Is This the Year's Best Movie?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  20. ^ Debruge, Peter (September 3, 2016). "Film Review: 'Moonlight'". Variety. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  21. ^ Sims, David. "'Moonlight' Is a Film of Uncommon Grace". The Atlantic. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
  22. ^ Berman, Eliza. "'Moonlight' Wins Golden Globe for Best Picture, Drama". TIME. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  23. ^ "Oscars 2017: 'Moonlight' wins best picture in a wild ending". USA Today. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  24. ^ Opam, Kwame (January 24, 2017). "Oscar nominations 2017: Moonlight and La La Land will go head-to-head at the Academy Awards". The Verge. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  25. ^ Gates, Racquel; Gillespie, Michael Boyce (2017). "An Introduction". Film Quarterly. 71 (2): 9–11. doi:10.2307/26413856. ISSN 0015-1386.
  26. ^ Jump up to: a b Bentley, Jean (April 30, 2017). "Inside 'Dear White People's' Pivotal and Emotional Fifth Episode". www.hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  27. ^ Black, Julia (January 9, 2017). "Moonlight Director Barry Jenkins Hopes His Film Pulls People Out of Their Comfort Zones". Esquire. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
  28. ^ Jump up to: a b Rodriques, Elias (December 17, 2018). "The Black Feminist Roots of James Baldwin's 'If Beale Street Could Talk'". The Nation. ISSN 0027-8378. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  29. ^ Jump up to: a b Haigney, Sophie (July 10, 2017). "Barry Jenkins to Follow 'Moonlight' With a James Baldwin Work". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
  30. ^ Chang, Ailsa; Yu, Mallory (December 6, 2018). "Director Barry Jenkins Talks On Behalf Of 'Beale Street'". NPR. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  31. ^ Otterson, Joe (April 16, 2019). "Barry Jenkins' 'Underground Railroad' Series at Amazon Sets Three Main Cast Members". www.variety.com. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  32. ^ David, Canfield (July 28, 2021). "The Genius Who Casts Your Favorite Movie and TV Ensembles". Vanity Fair. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  33. ^ Gross, Terry (May 10, 2021). "Filmmaker Barry Jenkins On 'The Underground Railroad' : Fresh Air". NPR. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  34. ^ Jump up to: a b c Lang, Brent (September 29, 2020). "'The Lion King' Follow-Up in the Works With Director Barry Jenkins". www.variety.com. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  35. ^ Erbland, Kate (October 7, 2016). "'Moonlight' Filmmaker Barry Jenkins Will Write Script For Fact-Based Female Boxer Coming-of-Age Drama". www.IndieWire.com. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  36. ^ White, Peter (April 1, 2021). "Barry Jenkins' Pastel Strikes First-Look Deal With HBO, HBO Max & A24". Deadline. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  37. ^ Zaman, Farihah (2016). "Song of Myself". Film Comment. 52 (5): 40–42. ISSN 0015-119X.
  38. ^ Kearse, Stephen (July 27, 2021). "Barry Jenkins's American Saga". The Nation. ISSN 0027-8378. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  39. ^ Deggans, Eric (May 14, 2021). "'Underground Railroad' Is A Hard But Beautiful Reflection On Black Pain". NPR. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  40. ^ Michele Prettyman Beverly (2017). "No Medicine for Melancholy: Cinema of Loss and Mourning in the Era of #BlackLivesMatter". Black Camera. 8 (2): 81. doi:10.2979/blackcamera.8.2.05.
  41. ^ Gardner, Chris (March 13, 2019). "New Power Couple Alert: Barry Jenkins Makes Red Carpet Debut With Indie Filmmaker Lulu Wang". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  42. ^ "Medicine for Melancholy (2008) | Awards" IMDb.
  43. ^ "Moonlight (I) (2016) | Awards" IMDb.
  44. ^ Galuppo, Mia (December 17, 2019). "Sundance: Sony Pictures Classics to Release 'Charm City Kings'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
  45. ^ Kroll, Justin (June 19, 2019). "'Black Panther' DP Rachel Morrison to Make Directorial Debut on Barry Jenkins Script 'Flint Strong'". Variety. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  1. ^ Jenkins' description is a reference to Manny Farber’s essay “White Elephant Art vs. Termite Art” (1962) in which Farber articulates an intimate style of filmmaking, he felt could, in the manner of a termite, burrow into a topic. White elephant films serve as termite films' opposite.[9]

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