REGINALD HUDLIN
Reginald Hudlin is unique in the entertainment business because of his success as a writer, producer, director and executive. To quote cultural critic Jimi Israel, “Hudlin is a modern-day Gordon Parks, a true monster in the game who totally re-did the blueprint: what some people used to call a renaissance man. I dig him because he made me think outside of the box. Hudlin writes and directs movies, pens a comic book, and he was running BET. That’s multi-tasking for your ass”.
Reginald Hudlin is one of the pioneers of the modern black film movement, creating movies like HOUSE PARTY, BOOMERANG and BEBE’S KIDS, which are some of the most profitable and influential films of his generation. His work in television includes producing and directing THE BERNIE MAC SHOW, directing the pilot of the hit series EVERBODY HATES CHRIS and executive producing the animated series THE BOONDOCKS.
Hudlin was also the first President of Entertainment for Black Entertainment Television, creating 17 of the top 20 rated shows in the history of the network. Some of those hits include the award-winning KEYSHIA COLE: THE WAY IT IS (the biggest hit show in the history of the network); AMERICAN GANGSTER (a critical and commercial hit) and SOMEBODIES, the network’s first scripted series, which was called one of the five best new shows of the 2008 fall season.
Under Hudlin’s stewardship, BET had its first ever telethon to support Katrina relief. His rebuilt news division won 13 awards in two years. He also created a profitable home entertainment division for the network.
A lifetime comic book reader with over 50,000 books in his collection, one of Reginald’s dreams came true when be became the full time writer for THE BLACK PANTHER comic book series for Marvel Comics. He even man managed to continue writing the series while working as an executive for BET, turning in a 22 page monthly book for over three years. THE BLACK PANTHER is the most successful black super hero series ever, which led to Hudlin writing an award winning run of SPIDER MAN, Marvel’s flagship character.
Hudlin will be writing and executive producing a prime time animated series based on THE BLACK PANTHER for BET launching next summer.
Hudlin co-authored his first book BIRTH OF A NATION in July 2004. BIRTH is a comic novel about Hudlin’s hometown of East St. Louis seceding from the United States. The Random House publication received glowing reviews in Time, Entertainment Weekly and Publisher’s Weekly, among others.
Hudlin’s first film, HOUSE PARTY, was based on a short film he directed while a student at Harvard University. The1990 feature film version won the prestigious Filmmakers Trophy and the Best Cinematography Award at the Sundance Film Festival. The film received the Clarence Muse Youth Award and a New Visions, New Voices Award from the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame.
HOUSE PARTY is one of the most profitable films of the decade. The film was also critically acclaimed, receiving glowing reviews from film critic Roger Ebert, the New York Times, Time, Newsweek and USA Today. The film launched a franchise, inspiring three sequels; a Saturday morning animated series and a comic book. When New Line Pictures successfully raised 100 million dollars in a public stock offering, HOUSE PARTY was the only film touted in their advertising campaign to the financial markets.
Hudlin then directed the Paramount Pictures romantic comedy BOOMERANG starring Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence, Halle Berry and Chris Rock. BOOMERANG earned $120 million dollars worldwide and produced a double platinum soundtrack by LA Reid and Babyface. The soundtrack featured Boyz II Men’s “End of The Road,” one of the longest charting #1 singles in Billboard history, and the debut appearance of the multi-platinum songstress Toni Braxton.
During this period, Hudlin simultaneously wrote and executive produced BEBE’S KIDS, the first African American animated feature film. BEBE’S KIDS was based on the comic routines of the late Robin Harris, who played Pop in HOUSE PARTY.
In 1995 Hudlin created and co-executive produced COSMIC SLOP, a hip “Twilight Zone”-type anthology special for HBO. COSMIC SLOP garnered great reviews across the country and won two CableAce Awards; one for the SPACE TRADERS episode, which he directed, and one for Paula Jai Parker’s performance in TANG.
Hudlin was then approached by 20th Century Fox to direct THE GREAT WHITE HYPE, a Ron Shelton-scripted boxing comedy starring Samuel L. Jackson, Jeff Goldblum, Damon Wayans, Jamie Foxx and Jon Lovitz.
Returning to Paramount, Hudlin directed THE LADIES MAN, which starred SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE comedian Tim Meadows as Leon Phelps, the world’s greatest lover. THE LADIES MAN featured Will Farrell and Julianne Moore.
Reginald Hudlin’s last film was SERVING SARA, a road comedy featuring “Friends” star Matthew Perry, Elizabeth Hurley and Cedric the Entertainer.
Hudlin sits on the boards of the Black Filmmaker Foundation; the UCLA Film, Television and Theatre Department; and the Hollywood Television and Radio Society. He is a member of the Motion Picture Academy; the DGA; WGA and SAG.
He lives in Los Angeles with his wife Chrisette, daughter Helena and son Alexander.
