James Spooner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Spooner
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| Born | 1976 (age 48–49) Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Partner(s) | Lisa Nola |
James Spooner, born in 1976, is an American film director, tattoo artist, and graphic novelist. He is famous for his 2003 documentary film Afro-Punk. He also helped start the Afropunk Festival. James Spooner directed another film called White Lies, Black Sheep in 2007. His first graphic novel, The High Desert, came out in 2022.
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Early Life of James Spooner
James Spooner was born in 1976 in Jersey City, New Jersey. His father was a professional bodybuilder from Saint Lucia. His mother was a special education teacher. James's parents divorced when he was 8 years old.
He grew up in Apple Valley, California and New York City. He went to Apple Valley High School and Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School. In 8th grade, he became very interested in punk rock music. He listened to bands like Sex Pistols, Black Flag, and Misfits.
James Spooner's Career
Music Projects
Spooner started his own record label called Kidney Room Records. This label released three different music records.
He also worked as a host at On!, a popular late-night club event in New York City. In 2021, he was part of a three-part video series. This series was about the musical influences of artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Film Work
James Spooner directed a documentary film called Afro-Punk. This film first showed at the 2003 Toronto International Film Festival. The movie featured black punk fans and musicians. They talked about music, race, and their identity.
Spooner traveled across the country with his film. He showed it over 300 times at colleges and film festivals. This was done in a "DIY" (Do It Yourself) way, much like a band on tour.
After the film, Afropunk.com became an online community. People there discussed fashion, movies, and racial identity. Spooner also organized parties called Liberation Sessions. At these events, the film was shown, and bands played live music.
In 2005, Spooner and Matthew Morgan started the Afropunk Festival in Brooklyn. This festival was created to give black punks a place to connect. It was a way to escape racism in other punk spaces. The festival grew and is now held in many cities. These include Brooklyn, Atlanta, London, Paris, and Johannesburg. In 2008, James Spooner left the festival due to different ideas about its future.
He also wrote and directed a film called White Lies, Black Sheep. This movie premiered at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival. However, it was never released to the public.
Writing and Graphic Novels
Spooner's first graphic novel is called The High Desert. It was published in 2022. The Washington Post named it one of the "10 Best Graphic Novels of 2022". The book also won the 2023 Alex Awards.
Personal Life
James Spooner is a vegan. This means he does not eat animal products. He is also a tattoo artist at Monocle Tattoo. There, he and others helped create vegan-friendly tattooing. He lives in Los Angeles with his partner Lisa Nola and their daughter.
Filmography
Feature films
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Cinematographer | Editor |
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| 2003 | Afro-Punk | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2007 | White Lies, Black Sheep | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
See also
In Spanish: James Spooner para niños
