America's preeminent black filmmaker in the first half of the twentieth century.
By Frances Presley-Rice
Block Starz Music Television is producing the documentary film titled THE CZAR OF BLACK HOLLYWOOD, an original documentary series chronicling the early life and career of African-American filmmaker Oscar Micheaux (1884-1951). The release date is March 31, 2014.
Oscar Micheaux was a towering figure even by today's standards. He was not only America's preeminent black filmmaker for three decades, but also the country's most prolific; having directed or produced 22 silent movies and 15 talking pictures during his illustrious, yet tumultuous career.
THE CZAR OF BLACK HOLLYWOOD uses archival film, photos, illustrations and music to weave a compelling narrative of Micheaux's early life and his production of the first feature length silent film and sound motion picture by an African-American.
For full disclosure, the remarkable story about this American author, film director and independent producer, regarded as the first major African-American feature filmmaker, inspired me to become an Executive Producer of this documentary with Producer Bayer Mack of Block Starz Music Television and fellow Executive Producer Hal Croasmun of ScreenwritingU. Additional information about this project can be viewed on the ScreenwritingU website.
