| John Singleton | |
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 Singleton at a USC Football rally, December 30, 2003 |
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| Born | John Daniel Singleton January 6, 1968 Los Angeles, California |
| Spouse(s) | Akosua Busia (1996-1997) |
John Daniel Singleton (born January 6, 1968) is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. A native of South Los Angeles, many of his films consider the implications of inner-city violence like the critically acclaimed and popular Boyz N the Hood, Poetic Justice, Higher Learning and Baby Boy. He has recently branched out into mainstream territory with the blockbuster 2 Fast 2 Furious and Four Brothers.
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Singleton was enrolled in the University of Southern California's Filmic Writing program under Margaret Mehring[1] and her now famous curriculum. The program was designed to take students directly into the Hollywood system as proficient writer/directors.
Unlike the other standard USC programs for screenwriting, film production, or the Peter Stark Motion Picture Producing and critical studies programs, Mehring designed her FILMIC writing program to teach a select group of students how to be authors of their visions. Other students included Helen Childress (writer of Reality Bites), Stephen Chbosky (writer of TV’s Jericho), and Ms. Childress’ husband Carlos Brooks (writer/director of Quid Pro Quo).
Singleton was always present in the Apple computer writing lab, working on his screenplays during late nights and early mornings. However, his ability to direct was correlated to an early beginning in music videos, which culminated in the EFX driven Michael Jackson “Remember the Time” MTV video.
Singleton's 1991 film debut Boyz N the Hood received Academy Award nods for Best Screenplay and Director.[2] At age 24 he was the youngest person ever nominated for Best Director, and the only African-American to be nominated for the award.
Singleton also directed the video for Michael Jackson's 1991 single Remember The Time, starring actor Eddie Murphy.
In 2005, Singleton teamed with Craig Brewer and financed the independent film, Hustle and Flow, once it was clear that most other major backers would not clear it for release.
Singleton was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Sheila Ward-Johnson, a pharmaceutical company sales executive, and Danny Singleton, a real estate agent, mortgage broker, and financial planner.[3] He attended Pasadena City College and the USC School of Cinematic Arts. He graduated from USC in 1990.[2]
In 1996, he married Ghanaian princess and actress Akosua Cyamama Busia. They divorced the following year. They have a daughter together, Hadar (1997). Singleton also has two children with ex-wife Vestria Barlow; Maasai (1994) and Cleopatra (1999). He has five children in total.[4] In 2006, he won USC's Mary Pickford Alumni Award.[2] He has also dated television host and model Tyra Banks.
On August 23, 2007, Singleton was involved in an automobile accident in which he struck a pedestrian, Constance Russell, 57, of Los Angeles.[5] Staying on the scene until police arrived, Singleton was not under the influence of alcohol or other substances, and was released after being questioned. Russell died later in the hospital.
The case was turned over to the District Attorney but no charges were filed.[6][7][8]
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   | The Films of John Singleton - The Films of John Singleton |
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