Allen Willis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Allen Willis
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|---|---|
| Born | June 10, 1916 |
| Died | February 23, 2011 (aged 94) |
| Occupation | Director, writer |
| Spouse(s) | Lillian |
| Awards | Emmy Awards |
Allen Willis (June 10, 1916 – February 23, 2011) was an American film director. He made many important documentary films. People often called him a leading African-American filmmaker in the San Francisco Bay Area.
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Who Was Allen Willis?
Allen Willis was born in Washington, D.C., on June 10, 1916. His parents were Tiney Willis and Charles E. Smith. He had several brothers and sisters.
In the 1930s, Allen met famous writer Langston Hughes. He also met a thinker named Raya Dunayevskaya. These meetings inspired him to work for a fairer society for everyone. In the 1950s, he moved to the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, Lillian.
Early Work and Learning
When Allen Willis arrived in the Bay Area, he studied photography. He learned from the famous photographer Ansel Adams. This was at a school now called the San Francisco Art Institute.
In 1955, Allen made an important 16-millimeter film. It was called "Have You Sold Your Dozen Roses?" He did many jobs for this film, including directing and editing. He worked with San Francisco poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti on this project. Around this time, he also worked with filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles.
A Pioneer in Television
In 1963, Allen Willis joined the public television station KQED in San Francisco. This was a big step. According to the East Bay Media Center, he was the first African American in broadcast journalism in California.
For the next 25 years, Allen directed many films that won awards. One famous film was "Stagger Lee" from 1970. This was a documentary about Black Panther leader Bobby Seale.
Another film he directed was "The Other America." This documentary was about an important speech. It featured Martin Luther King, Jr.'s speech at Stanford University in 1967.
Later Years and Legacy
Allen Willis retired from KQED in 1986. But he did not stop working. He continued to write a column for a publication called "News and Letters." He used the pen name John Alan for his writing. He wrote his last column for them in 2008.
Allen Willis passed away on February 23, 2011. He was 94 years old. He left behind a legacy of important documentary films. He helped open doors for African Americans in broadcast journalism.
