Black Hollywood: They’ve Gotta Have Us

Synopsis

A three-part documentary series which tells the story of Black creatives in Hollywood, guiding us through conversations with illustrious Black actors and filmmakers, who reveal their heartfelt stories and unfiltered opinions to paint a unique portrait of how art and activism for black people in film are indivisible from race and cinema.

Episode One - Legends and Pioneers: Episode One takes us back on a journey of discovery with three revered and celebrated professionals who have graced the silver screen - Harry Belafonte, Earl Cameron, and Diahann Carroll - sharing with us honest, candid recollections about what it was like to be a pioneer in a white world. Harry and Earl, share first hand stories about being romantic leads at a time when interracial relationships were banned and the ingenious strategies Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier embarked upon to do to change the status quo. We get to hear stories from their long and illustrious careers, as well as from the directors they inspired who have been dubbed the 'rule breakers' who 'ripped up the rule book' to create genre-busting films that have inspired their peers and future generations - Robert Townsend and Spike Lee.

Episode Two – Black Film is Not a Genre: Inspired by Spike Lee's 1989 hit Do the Right Thing, a new generation of black filmmakers bursts onto the scene with an exciting new genre - the hood movie. Boyz in the Hood creates stars, yet this exciting moment turns into a passing fad, leading to an era when only white directors like Steven Spielberg are telling prominent black stories. This era sees the emergence of the bankable black Hollywood stars: Eddie Murphy, Will Smith and Denzel Washington. This episode shows how black filmmakers start to take back control of their own stories, culminating in the Hollywood blockbuster Black Panther.

Episode Three – Black is the New Hollywood: This episode picks up the story in the post-Black Panther era, where black movies are no longer seen as a genre, and black film-makers are no longer seen as non-bankable. In an era where Moonlight won Best Picture and the director of Get Out won Best Original Screenplay, the number of award winners and nominees is steadily growing. Amongst these winners, there are British stars following in the footsteps of Steve McQueen, director of 12 Years a Slave, who have left Britain. Theirs is a generation led by the likes of David Oyelowo and John Boyega, growing in influence and leading the invasion of bankable black British stars to Hollywood.