Billy Woodberry

Billy Woodberry
Born Dallas, Texas, US[1]
Alma mater UCLA (MFA, 1982)[1]
Occupation Film director
Years active 1979–present

Billy Woodberry is one of the leading directors of the L.A. Rebellion (also known as the Los Angeles School of Black Filmmakers). He is best known for directing the 1984 feature film, Bless Their Little Hearts (1984), which was honored at the Berlin International Film Festival.[1][2]

Background

Woodberry was born in Dallas, Texas.[1] In the 1970s, he enrolled at the UCLA Film School, where he wrote and directed the short film, "The Pocketbook," based on the Langston Hughes short story, "Thank You, Ma'am."[1]

He produced, edited and directed his thesis film, Bless Their Little Hearts. The feature film was written and photographed by fellow UCLA alum, Charles Burnett. In 1982, Woodberry received his MFA degree from UCLA.[1]

Critical reception

Bless Their Little Hearts received the Interfilm ecumenical jury award at the Berlin Film Festival.[1]

Vincent Canby of the New York Times said that the film "works beautifully."[3]

"Its poetry lies in the exaltation of ordinary detail" is how Jim Ridley of the Village Voice described Bless Their Little Hearts in his 2008 review of the film.[4]

Bless Their Little Hearts was selected in 2013 by the National Film Registry to be included for preservation, deeming it culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant. [5]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Billy Woodberry". L.A. Rebellion. Los Angeles, California: UCLA Film & Television Archive. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
  2. ↑ Norton, Chris. "Black Independent Cinema and the Influence of Neo-Realism". Images: A Journal of Film and Popular Culture. p. 4. Retrieved 2011-10-02. Bless Their Little Hearts was released in 1984 and explored the familiar territory laid bare in Killer of Sheep. This fact shouldn't be surprising considering Charles Burnett wrote the script for Bless Their Little Hearts and served as the cinematographer for director Billy Woodberry.
  3. ↑ Canby, Vincent (1984-12-12). "'LITTLE HEARTS,' DRAMA OF LIFE IN WATTS". New York Times. Bless Their Little Hearts is so understated that at times it seems diffident, as if it were too shy to display its fury in more robust terms. This, however, is the style of the film that Mr. Woodberry, Mr. Burnett and their splendid cast, headed by Mr. Hardman and Miss Moore, have chosen to make, and it works beautifully.
  4. ↑ Ridley, Jim (2008-02-05). "Bless Their Little Hearts". Retrieved 2011-10-05. Depending on Hollywood's timetable or yours, this marvelous 1984 slice-of-life drama—written and photographed by Burnett and directed by his UCLA compatriot, Billy Woodberry— is either six years ahead of schedule for discovery or 24 long years overdue.
  5. ↑ http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/movies/library-of-congress-announces-2013-national-film-registry-selections/2013/12/17/eba98bce-6737-11e3-ae56-22de072140a2_story.html?tid=hpModule_ef3e52c4-8691-11e2-9d71-f0feafdd1394

External links