Fronza Woods facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fronza Woods
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Woods in October 2019
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| Born | October 20, 1943 Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Wayne State University |
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Fronza Woods is an American filmmaker. She is well known for her short films. These include Killing Time (1979) and Fannie's Film (1982).
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About Fronza Woods
Fronza Woods was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1943. This was just before the car industry grew very big there. As a child, she listened to many radio shows with her family. These shows often told stories about people's lives.
Woods went to Wayne State University in Detroit. She studied Mass Communications and Russian. After college, she worked as a writer for an advertising company. Later, she moved to New York City. There, she worked in television at ABC, helping with documentaries.
Starting Her Film Career
Fronza Woods decided she wanted to make movies. She worked on short films at the Women's Interart Center. She also helped teach filmmaking to students. Woods said that choosing to make movies was the first time she truly picked her own path.
Besides making her own films, Woods also helped with other movies. She was an assistant sound engineer for the film The Brother from Another Planet. She also acted in the 1985 film, The Man Who Envied Women. Woods has said that she was inspired by many different people.
Woods later went to NYU film school. She left to become a teacher. She moved to Milwaukee and taught filmmaking at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In 1987, she moved to France after meeting her husband.
Her Short Films
Fronza Woods is famous for two main short films. These films show her unique way of telling stories.
Killing Time (1979)
Killing Time is a short film from 1979. Fronza Woods wrote and directed it. It is a funny and thoughtful story. The film is about a woman who is thinking about ending her life. She spends time trying to decide what to wear. This indecision actually helps her. The film is 9 minutes long.
Woods explained that the film was not really about ending one's life. It was about how small things, like not being able to pick an outfit, can change big decisions. A film critic named Richard Brody called it "one of the best short films that I've ever seen."
Fannie's Film (1981)
Fannie's Film is a documentary short from 1981. It follows Fannie Drayton, a 65-year-old cleaning woman. The film tells her story from her own point of view. It is 15 minutes long.
Woods wanted this film to show the lives of "invisible" people. These are people who do important jobs but might not always be noticed. She wanted to show that they have rich lives, dreams, and are funny and smart. The film was shown at the Créteil International Women's Film Festival in 1985.
Legacy and Impact
Fronza Woods is important because she was one of the first black women directors to make several short films. In 2017, her films Killing Time and Fannie's Film were shown again in New York City. This led to her work being "re-discovered" by many people.
Woods was surprised when her films became popular again after so many years. Critics have praised her work. Richard Brody called Killing Time "one of the best short films that I've ever seen." The Village Voice newspaper said Fannie's Film made the everyday facts of Fannie Drayton's life unforgettable. Hyperallergic said Woods gives a voice to women who might otherwise be unseen. The New York Times noted that Woods "humorously yet movingly contemplates existence" in Killing Time.
Her films have been shown at many festivals around the world. In 2019, they were screened in France and Belgium. In 2021, they were shown in Portugal. Woods has humorously reflected on this late recognition. She said that even if she isn't a huge star, being recognized now is good enough.
