Billy Woodberry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Billy Woodberry
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Woodberry at the 53rd International Film Festival Rotterdam in 2024
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| Born | 1950 (age 74–75) |
| Alma mater | UCLA (MFA, 1982) |
| Occupation | Film director |
| Years active | 1979–present |
Billy Woodberry (born 1950) is a famous film director from the United States. He is known for being a key part of the L.A. Rebellion. This was a group of Black filmmakers who made important movies. Billy Woodberry is most famous for directing the 1984 film, Bless Their Little Hearts. This movie was even honored at the Berlin International Film Festival.
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Early Life and Education
Billy Woodberry was born in Dallas, Texas. In the 1970s, he went to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Film School. This is where he started making his first films.
The L.A. Rebellion Film Movement
While at UCLA, Billy Woodberry joined a special group of filmmakers. This group was called the L.A. Rebellion. It included young African and African-American filmmakers. They studied at UCLA from the late 1960s to the late 1980s.
These filmmakers wanted to create a new kind of Black Cinema. It was different from the usual Hollywood movies. The world was changing a lot in 1967 and 1968. These changes helped start this new film movement.
Film expert Clyde Taylor gave the group the name "L.A. Rebellion." The filmmakers wanted to show black life in new ways. Their movies were very important for the politics and culture of the 1960s.
For example, Woodberry's film Bless Their Little Hearts shows how money problems affect a Black family. His film, along with others by Julie Dash, Haile Gerima, and Charles Burnett, told stories about the Black experience.
Some people compare these films to Italian Neorealism movies from the 1940s. They also compare them to films from the Third World Cinema of the 1960s and 70s.
Billy Woodberry's Film Career
Billy Woodberry made his first films as a student at UCLA. These included The Pocketbook (1980) and Bless Their Little Hearts (1984).
The Pocketbook (1980)
Woodberry's short film The Pocketbook is about a lonely child. The child has to deal with a difficult situation after a robbery goes wrong. The film is based on a short story by Langston Hughes called "Thank You, Ma’am." It shows the young boy thinking about his life and choices.
The Pocketbook came out in 1980. It was made to honor famous photographers like Paul Strand and Helen Levitt. The film uses strong black and white images. These images connect to the history of photography as a way to show real life. The original film was saved and is now kept at the UCLA Film and Television Archive.
Billy Woodberry has also acted in other films. He was in Charles Burnett's When It Rains (1995) and Haile Gerima's Ashes to Embers (1982). He has also narrated, or told the story for, films like Thom Andersen's Red Hollywood (1996) and James Benning's Four Corners (1998).
Major Films by Billy Woodberry
Bless Their Little Hearts (1984)
Bless Their Little Hearts was Billy Woodberry's main project for his master's degree at UCLA. The story was written by Charles Burnett. The film stars Nate Hardman and Kaycee Moore. They play Charlie and Andais Banks, a couple facing money problems and stress in their marriage.
Throughout the movie, the couple tries hard to earn enough money. Charlie struggles to find a job, while Andais works to support their family. This film shows common problems that many people face when there are not enough jobs.
And when I die, I won't stay dead (2015)
Billy Woodberry's more recent film is And when I die, I won't stay dead. This is a documentary about the poet Bob Kaufman. The film first showed in Vienna. It also opened MoMa's Doc Fortnight in 2016.
In this film, Woodberry continues to explore important ideas. He looks at difficult experiences Bob Kaufman faced, like medical treatment he didn't want. The film also shows a clear picture of the North Beach area in San Francisco. It gives a deep look at a complex and wandering character.
Filmography
- The Pocketbook Director, Editor, Writer 1980 Short Film
- Ashes to Embers, Actor 1982
- Bless Their Little Hearts, Director 1984 Feature Film
- When It Rains, Actor 1995 Short Film
- Red Hollywood, Narrator 1996 Documentary
- Spirits of Rebellion: Black Film at UCLA, Himself 2011 Documentary
- And when I die, I won't stay dead, Director, 2015
