Jamaa Fanaka (born Walter Gordon; September 6, 1942 – April 1, 2012)[1][2] was an American filmmaker. He is best known for his 1979 film, Penitentiary, and was one of the leading directors of the L.A. Rebellion film movement.
Fanaka was born Walter Gordon to Robert L. and Beatrice Gordon in Jackson, Mississippi.[3] In 1971, Fanaka was accepted into the film school at UCLA. His first film, A Day in the Life of Willie Faust, or Death on the Installment Plan, was a morality tale shot in 8mm film about a heroin addict. The film stars Fanaka (credited as Walt Gordon) in the title role. It is the only narrative short he ever made. Jan-Christopher Horak of the UCLA Film Archives, when comparing the movie with the 1972 blaxploitation film, Super Fly, released the same year, observed, "unlike Priest's elegant cocaine consumption in Super Fly, Willie's arm gushes blood as he injects heroin."[4]
Later, he changed his name to Jamaa Fanaka. Ntongela Masilela states that while "a fundamental tenet of the Los Angeles school was an opposition to Hollywood," Fanaka was a notable exception. He describes Fanaka as "very much fascinated by Hollywood and averse to the contentious ideological and artistic discussions that were fundamental to the formation of the school."[5]
Careeredit
During film school, Fanaka wrote, produced and directed Emma Mae (1974). The film focuses on a young woman who arrives in Los Angeles from Mississippi to live with her mother's sister and her family after her mother dies, and survives the culture shock that accompanies the move; Welcome Home Brother Charles (1975), about the ravages and dire consequences of racism; and Penitentiary (1979), the story of a young man wrongly sent to prison, who, through his boxing talents, is able to win his freedom.
Fanaka completed Street Wars in 1992. He was in extended production and post-production on Hip Hop Hope, a documentary feature film on the underground Hip Hop culture.
Filmographyedit
A Day in the Life of Willie Faust, or Death on the Installment Plan" (short, 1972)[4]
^ abHorak, Jan-Christopher (2011). "A Day in the Life of Willie Faust, or Death on the Installment Plan (1972)". Los Angeles, California: UCLA Film & Television Archive. Retrieved 2011-11-14. Jamaa Fanaka's first project plays off the Blaxploitation's genre conventions, an adaption of Goethe's "Faust" presented with a non-synchronous soundtrack and superimposed over a remake of Super Fly (1972). Often out of focus with an overactive camera, the film immediately exudes nervous energy, but unlike Priest's elegant cocaine consumption in Super Fly, Willie's arm gushes blood as he injects heroin. A morality tale in two reels.
^ Masilela, Ntongela (1993). "The Los Angeles School of Black Filmmakers". In Diawara, Manthia (ed.). Black American Cinema. New York, London: Routledge. p. 115.
jamaa, fanaka, born, walter, gordon, september, 1942, april, 2012, american, filmmaker, best, known, 1979, film, penitentiary, leading, directors, rebellion, film, movement, bornwalter, gordon, 1942, september, 1942jackson, mississippi, diedapril, 2012, 2012, . Jamaa Fanaka born Walter Gordon September 6 1942 April 1 2012 1 2 was an American filmmaker He is best known for his 1979 film Penitentiary and was one of the leading directors of the L A Rebellion film movement Jamaa FanakaBornWalter Gordon 1942 09 06 September 6 1942Jackson Mississippi U S DiedApril 1 2012 2012 04 01 aged 69 NationalityAmericanAlma materCompton Junior College UCLAOccupation s Film director producer screenwriterYears active1972 2012Parent s Robert L and Beatrice Gordon Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 3 Filmography 4 References 5 External linksEarly life and education editFanaka was born Walter Gordon to Robert L and Beatrice Gordon in Jackson Mississippi 3 In 1971 Fanaka was accepted into the film school at UCLA His first film A Day in the Life of Willie Faust or Death on the Installment Plan was a morality tale shot in 8mm film about a heroin addict The film stars Fanaka credited as Walt Gordon in the title role It is the only narrative short he ever made Jan Christopher Horak of the UCLA Film Archives when comparing the movie with the 1972 blaxploitation film Super Fly released the same year observed unlike Priest s elegant cocaine consumption in Super Fly Willie s arm gushes blood as he injects heroin 4 Later he changed his name to Jamaa Fanaka Ntongela Masilela states that while a fundamental tenet of the Los Angeles school was an opposition to Hollywood Fanaka was a notable exception He describes Fanaka as very much fascinated by Hollywood and averse to the contentious ideological and artistic discussions that were fundamental to the formation of the school 5 Career editDuring film school Fanaka wrote produced and directed Emma Mae 1974 The film focuses on a young woman who arrives in Los Angeles from Mississippi to live with her mother s sister and her family after her mother dies and survives the culture shock that accompanies the move Welcome Home Brother Charles 1975 about the ravages and dire consequences of racism and Penitentiary 1979 the story of a young man wrongly sent to prison who through his boxing talents is able to win his freedom Fanaka completed Street Wars in 1992 He was in extended production and post production on Hip Hop Hope a documentary feature film on the underground Hip Hop culture Filmography editA Day in the Life of Willie Faust or Death on the Installment Plan short 1972 4 Welcome Home Brother Charles 1975 Emma Mae 1976 Penitentiary 1979 Penitentiary II 1982 Penitentiary III 1987 Street Wars 1992 References edit Jamaa Fanaka Leading LA Rebellion Film Movement Filmmaker Dies At 69 Shadow and Act on Cinema of the African Diaspora King Susan 2011 10 03 The L A Rebellion returns Los Angeles Times Los Angeles California Retrieved 2011 10 05 Phelps Shirelle editor 1998 Who s Who Among African Americans 11th ed Detroit Gale Research p 405 ISBN 0 7876 2469 1 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a first has generic name help a b Horak Jan Christopher 2011 A Day in the Life of Willie Faust or Death on the Installment Plan 1972 Los Angeles California UCLA Film amp Television Archive Retrieved 2011 11 14 Jamaa Fanaka s first project plays off the Blaxploitation s genre conventions an adaption of Goethe s Faust presented with a non synchronous soundtrack and superimposed over a remake of Super Fly 1972 Often out of focus with an overactive camera the film immediately exudes nervous energy but unlike Priest s elegant cocaine consumption in Super Fly Willie s arm gushes blood as he injects heroin A morality tale in two reels Masilela Ntongela 1993 The Los Angeles School of Black Filmmakers In Diawara Manthia ed Black American Cinema New York London Routledge p 115 External links editJamaa Fanaka at IMDb nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jamaa Fanaka amp oldid 1115953740, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
