Rel J. Dowdell is an American screenwriter, film director, film producer, and film studies/screenwriting/English educator. Born and raised in Philadelphia, after graduating from the prestigious Central High School in Philadelphia, he received his bachelor's degree in English with magna cum laude honors from Fisk University and his advanced degree in film and screenwriting with highest distinction from Boston University. He won the top prize in filmmaking at Boston University's noted Redstone Film Festival in 1995. He is also a full-time university professor, Director of Film Studies, English scholar, and film historian. Additionally, he has done prominent and extensive interviews with veteran award-winning actors such as Ving Rhames, Keith David, Tony Todd, Roger Guenveur Smith, Larenz Tate, and Mykelti Williamson. In spring of 2023, he participated in a major interview on The 700 Club where he spoke about the impact of the casting of an African-American female actress in the remake of The Little Mermaid which was very well received and praised for Dowdell's remarks of inclusion and youth inspiration for African-Americans.
Dowdell's first feature film, Train Ride, received substantial critical acclaim.[1] Produced with independent financing, the film was acquired and distributed by Sony Pictures in 2005 and was a tremendous financial success. Train Ride was ranked as one of the best American films that year as cited by veteran film critic Gerald Peary of The Boston Phoenix.[2] The film also garnered high praise in film historian and writer Irv Slifkin's best-selling book, Filmadelphia: A Celebration of a City's Movies.Train Ride also won the honor of "Best Feature" at the American Theatre of Harlem Film festival in 2005.[3] In addition, the film featured the last performance of acclaimed veteran actress Esther Rolle. The film also starred Wood Harris, Russell Hornsby, Nicole Prescott, and the late, celebrated hip-hop artist Guru.
Veteran film critic Gerald Peary of The Boston Phoenix has compared Dowdell to John Singleton and Spike Lee in the way that his filmmaking blends urban storytelling and suspense to tackle relevant and universal social issues that are intimately intertwined with a powerful moral message.[4] Peary stated in the July 17, 2005 edition of The Boston Phoenix that Train Ride was "one of the best American movies so far this year, on screen or on video."
Dowdell's next feature film effort as writer and director was a drama entitled Changing the Game, which was shot in Philadelphia in the summer of 2010 and theatrically released in May 2012.[5] The film stars Sean Riggs, Irma P. Hall, Dennis L.A. White, Brandon Ruckdashel, and Mari White. There were special appearances by the late, acclaimed actress Suzzanne Douglas, noted hip hop artist Sticky Fingaz, and Tony Todd.[6] The film was cited by FilmFresh.com as one of the top three African-American films of 2012.[7] The film also had a syndicated 3 out of 4 star critics rating when the film was broadcast on cable.
Dowdell's third feature film effort is a feature-length documentary entitled, Where's Daddy?, which was shot in Philadelphia in the winter of 2017 and was released in February 2018. The film examines perspectives on the child support system and the specific effect and consequences to African-American families, with emphasis on the experience of fathers as participants in the system. Some of the subjects in the film include hip hop artist Freeway and former Philadelphia Eagles Pro Bowl wide receiver Fred Barnett. The film has a 100% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[8]
Dowdell's latest feature film project is a documentary on history-making African-American collegiate educator Dr. Ira De Augustine Reid, who was one of the first African-Americans to receive tenure at a prestigious predominately northern Caucasian institution in Haverford College in Haverford, PA. The documentary is tentatively titled Dr. Ira De A. Reid: Haverford College's Unsung Scholar/Activist.
Referencesedit
^Train Ride review at Movie 2 Movie by Monica Meijer
Where's Daddy? story by Samantha Melamed of The Philadelphia Inquirer
Where's Daddy? story by Kimberly C. Roberts of The Philadelphia Tribune
Blackfilm.com coverage of release of trailer for "Where's Daddy?"
Shadow and Act's coverage of release of trailer for "Where's Daddy?
World's Greatest Critic.com's early review of "Where's Daddy?"
Dr. Frank Swietek's review of "Where's Daddy?" for Video Librarian
May 08, 2024
dowdell, this, article, uses, bare, urls, which, uninformative, vulnerable, link, please, consider, converting, them, full, citations, ensure, article, remains, verifiable, maintains, consistent, citation, style, several, templates, tools, available, assist, f. This article uses bare URLs which are uninformative and vulnerable to link rot Please consider converting them to full citations to ensure the article remains verifiable and maintains a consistent citation style Several templates and tools are available to assist in formatting such as reFill documentation and Citation bot documentation August 2022 Learn how and when to remove this message Rel J Dowdell is an American screenwriter film director film producer and film studies screenwriting English educator Born and raised in Philadelphia after graduating from the prestigious Central High School in Philadelphia he received his bachelor s degree in English with magna cum laude honors from Fisk University and his advanced degree in film and screenwriting with highest distinction from Boston University He won the top prize in filmmaking at Boston University s noted Redstone Film Festival in 1995 He is also a full time university professor Director of Film Studies English scholar and film historian Additionally he has done prominent and extensive interviews with veteran award winning actors such as Ving Rhames Keith David Tony Todd Roger Guenveur Smith Larenz Tate and Mykelti Williamson In spring of 2023 he participated in a major interview on The 700 Club where he spoke about the impact of the casting of an African American female actress in the remake of The Little Mermaid which was very well received and praised for Dowdell s remarks of inclusion and youth inspiration for African Americans Rel DowdellBornPhiladelphia Pennsylvania U S Occupation s professor director writer and producer Dowdell s first feature film Train Ride received substantial critical acclaim 1 Produced with independent financing the film was acquired and distributed by Sony Pictures in 2005 and was a tremendous financial success Train Ride was ranked as one of the best American films that year as cited by veteran film critic Gerald Peary of The Boston Phoenix 2 The film also garnered high praise in film historian and writer Irv Slifkin s best selling book Filmadelphia A Celebration of a City s Movies Train Ride also won the honor of Best Feature at the American Theatre of Harlem Film festival in 2005 3 In addition the film featured the last performance of acclaimed veteran actress Esther Rolle The film also starred Wood Harris Russell Hornsby Nicole Prescott and the late celebrated hip hop artist Guru Veteran film critic Gerald Peary of The Boston Phoenix has compared Dowdell to John Singleton and Spike Lee in the way that his filmmaking blends urban storytelling and suspense to tackle relevant and universal social issues that are intimately intertwined with a powerful moral message 4 Peary stated in the July 17 2005 edition of The Boston Phoenix that Train Ride was one of the best American movies so far this year on screen or on video Dowdell s next feature film effort as writer and director was a drama entitled Changing the Game which was shot in Philadelphia in the summer of 2010 and theatrically released in May 2012 5 The film stars Sean Riggs Irma P Hall Dennis L A White Brandon Ruckdashel and Mari White There were special appearances by the late acclaimed actress Suzzanne Douglas noted hip hop artist Sticky Fingaz and Tony Todd 6 The film was cited by FilmFresh com as one of the top three African American films of 2012 7 The film also had a syndicated 3 out of 4 star critics rating when the film was broadcast on cable Dowdell s third feature film effort is a feature length documentary entitled Where s Daddy which was shot in Philadelphia in the winter of 2017 and was released in February 2018 The film examines perspectives on the child support system and the specific effect and consequences to African American families with emphasis on the experience of fathers as participants in the system Some of the subjects in the film include hip hop artist Freeway and former Philadelphia Eagles Pro Bowl wide receiver Fred Barnett The film has a 100 critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes 8 Dowdell s latest feature film project is a documentary on history making African American collegiate educator Dr Ira De Augustine Reid who was one of the first African Americans to receive tenure at a prestigious predominately northern Caucasian institution in Haverford College in Haverford PA The documentary is tentatively titled Dr Ira De A Reid Haverford College s Unsung Scholar Activist References edit Train Ride review at Movie 2 Movie by Monica Meijer Boston Phoenix American Theater of Harlem Fisk University Movie Details http www hometheaterforum com t 321281 lionsgate press release changing the game Top Three African American Films of 2012 Top Three African American Films of 2012 http www philly com philly living child support debt incarceration fathers philly wheres daddy 20171027 dead link External links editChanging the Game review by Kam Williams Changing the Game review by Avi Offer NYC Movie Guru Changing the Game review by JC Macek World s Greatest Critic Rel Dowdell at IMDb Where s Daddy story by Samantha Melamed of The Philadelphia Inquirer Where s Daddy story by Kimberly C Roberts of The Philadelphia Tribune Blackfilm com coverage of release of trailer for Where s Daddy Shadow and Act s coverage of release of trailer for Where s Daddy World s Greatest Critic com s early review of Where s Daddy Dr Frank Swietek s review of Where s Daddy for Video Librarian Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rel Dowdell amp oldid 1216028185, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
