[BlackRose1042]

Day 11: The work of the L.A. Rebellion

Screenshot of “Killer of Sheep" via Milestone Films.

The series of full-length features, shorts, and documentaries created by the L.A. Rebellion, a group of Black filmmakers from the 1960s – 1980s, redefined Black cinema and created a legacy of films that inspire the industry to the present-day.

About the L.A. Rebellion

The L.A. Rebellion is an organized group of young Black filmmakers who studied at the UCLA Film School from the late-1960s to the late-1980s. Although largely ignored by the industry, they created a legacy of Black cinema that redefined the Black narrative in Hollywood.
 
 Work published during this time stood in direct contrast with the 1970’s blaxploitation movies, movies that depicted Black characters with stereotypical roles. Although the era ushered in more representation of Black actors in Hollywood, some felt it exploited the struggles of Black life to generate profit that rarely reached that community (Western Washington University).
 
The group independently funded films that told a more nuanced story of Black life, highlighting class and race issues endemic during that time period. Although many participants are known for their own critically-acclaimed films, many projects resulted from a group effort. Part of the L.A. Rebellion’s success was its cohesion; members train, mentor, and support each other to bring their collective works to life (The Guardian).

 
 When we call ourselves film-makers it’s because we wrote, produced, knew how to do the sound, operate the camera, to light, and when we took it into post [production] we’d edit our films physically, as well as mix the sound. We were totally immersed in it. We weren’t making films to be paid, or to satisfy someone else’s needs. We were making films because they were an expression of ourselves: what we were challenged by, what we wanted to change or redefine, or just dive into and explore.

 

--Julie Dash, American film director, writer, and producer and part of the L.A. Rebellion, in The Guardian

 
The work of the L.A. Rebellion also influenced the role of music in films. Many of the soundtracks blended classical and rock with jazz, soul, and funk, mixing traditional scores with contemporary tracks that represented the culture and the spirit of the moment (Indie Film Hustle).
 
Charles Burnett is one of the most well-known filmmakers of the L.A. Rebellion, and a notable Black director One of his works, “Killer of Sheep” (1977), followed the everyday working-class struggles of a Black slaughterhouse worker. It was produced on a $10,000 budget. 13 years later, it was one of the first 50 films deemed a national treasure by the Library of Congress (Daily Lobo). Burnett received an honorary Governors Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2017. Burnett is gearing up to direct a biopic for Amazon about Robert Smalls, a former slave who freed himself, his crew, and his family during the Civil War (UCLA). Buy or rent “Killer of Sheep” on Milestone Films

Lonette McKee in Julie Dash's 1982 student film "Illusions" (UCLA Film & Television Archive).

The L.A. Rebellion was greatly shaped by female filmmakers, who created their own stories that captured the spirit of Black womanhood – focusing on themes including love and loss, sexuality, motherhood, and belonging. Filmmakers like Julie Dash, M. Stormé Bright, Jacqueline Frazier, and Alile Larkin created stories that defied stereotypes of the time period and still create and influence cinema today.  Their work paved the way for the Black female filmmakers of our time, who are still largely underrepresented in the industry (UCLA).
 
 
 

Reflection Questions

1. Why is it important to create a like-minded community around art? How is that even more important for the marginalized parts of our identities?
   
   
2. Who are the filmmakers that have shaped your movie-watching experience?
   
   
3. Why is it important to watch films made by a diverse set of filmmakers?
   

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as a drunk history major... shame on me for now knowing this much about this...

What a shame.. I'm kidding. There's always more to learn. Especially when a lot of POC's history isn't even taught in the education system. People want to cover it up.