The African American Biography Series of 2013: Black Screenwriters and Directors. Tonight, I proudly bring to you the lives of three African American Screenwriters and Directors. They are, Mr. Spike Lee, Mr. John Singleton and Mr. Mario Van Pebbles. Between these three creative geniuses there are so many movies that have been seen and loved by the World. Spike Lee was born Shelton Jackson Lee in 1957. He was already making amateur films by age 20 and won a Student Academy Award for his Graduate Thesis Film. His first commercial feature film "Shes Gotta Have It" was shot in two weeks, cost $175,000 to make and grossed 7 million at the box office. John Singleton was born in 1968. He grew up in South Central Los Angeles and his work as a Film Director, Producer and Screenwriter often depicts these turbulent, often violent roots. He may be best known for his Oscar nominated directed film "Boyz N the Hood". Mario Van Peebles is multitalented, good looking, well educated and the son of Melvin Van Peebles. He was born in 1957 just like Spike Lee. He earned a Degree in Economics from Columbia University and first sought a career in Finance. After working on Wall Street and for NYC during the Koch Administration he decided to change the course of his life and go into acting, modeling, screenwriting and directing. He directed "21 Jump Street" on T.V. and a popular film about drug dealers in N.Y.C. "New Jack City". Mario Van Peebles career in the film industry is rich with successful film, stage and t.v. directing as well as acting. His dad must be so proud of him. I know the Black Community is proud of him, Spike Lee and John Singleton. Im Laura Gall and the name of my show is "You Talk Too Much.
The African American Biography Series of 2013![]()
| Black Screenwriters and Directors![]()
| Spike Lee John Singleton Mario Van Peebles ![]()
| You Talk Too Much Host Laura Gall![]()
| Black History![]()
The African American Biography Series of 2013









