Larry Clark (filmmaker)

This article is about the filmmaker associated with the L.A. Rebellion movement. For the filmmaker of Kids, see Larry Clark.
Born January 19, 1948
Citizenship American
Alma mater UCLA
Employer San Francisco State University
Notable work Passing Through
Cutting Horse
Home town Cleveland, Ohio

Larry Clark (born 19 Jan 1948)[1] is one of the leading directors of the L.A. Rebellion (also known as the Los Angeles School of Black Filmmakers). He directed the feature films Passing Through (1977) and Cutting Horse (2002). He is also a film professor in the Cinema Department at San Francisco State University.[2][3]

Biography

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Clark received a bachelor's degree at Miami University, prior to arriving at UCLA, where he majored in film.[3] While a student at UCLA, Clark taught film workshops at the Performing Arts Society of Los Angeles (PASLA), under the guidance of Vantile Whitfield.

Early career

Clark was a cinematographer for 1972's Wattstax and his recollections of the making of the film are included on a commentary track of the 2004 special-edition DVD of the restored film. Several crew and cast members are on the track, including Al Bell, president of Stax Records and producer of the film, and director Mel Stuart.

Passing Through served as Clark's master's thesis film at UCLA. The film stars Nathaniel Taylor (best known as "Rollo" on the hit television series, Sanford and Son) and veteran actor Clarence Muse. Clark co-wrote the screenplay with actor Ted Lange. Matthew Duersten of the LA Weekly described the film as a "potent underground L.A. neorealist treatise" that "is raw, gritty, surreal and, at times, terrifying."[4]

Filmography

Awards and recognition

References

  1. "Weekend Birthdays". The Guardian (London, UK: Guardian News & Media): 51. 18 Jan 2014.
  2. King, Susan (2011-10-03). "The 'L.A. Rebellion' returns". Los Angeles, California: Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Larry Clark". San Francisco, California: San Francisco State University. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
  4. Duersten, Matthew (2008-02-20). "Passing Through Again". L.A. Weekly (Los Angeles, California). Retrieved 2011-10-10. Released the same year as Charles Burnett's recently revived Killer of Sheep (1977), Larry Clark's Passing Through is another rarely seen but potent underground L.A. neorealist treatise that plumbs similar themes of the exploitation and degradation of black culture and posits jazz music as a revolutionary call to arms.

External links