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 artist. He is known for directing films, creating tattoos, and writing graphic novels. He is most famous for his 2003 documentary film called Afro-Punk. He also helped start the Afropunk Festival. In 2007, he directed another film, White Lies, Black Sheep. His first graphic novel, The High Desert, was published in 2022.
Contents
Early Life and Interests
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. His parents divorced when he was 8 years old.
James grew up in different places, including Apple Valley, California and New York City. He went to high school in both locations. When he was in 8th grade, he became very interested in punk rock music. He enjoyed bands like Sex Pistols, Black Flag, and Misfits.
James Spooner's Career
James Spooner has worked in several creative fields. He has been involved in music, film, and writing.
Music Projects
Spooner started his own record label called Kidney Room Records. This label released music from different bands. He also worked as a host for a late-night club event in New York City called On!.
In 2021, James Spooner was part of a special video series. This series explored the musical influences of the famous artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Film Directing
James Spooner directed the documentary film 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 personal identities.
After the film was released, Spooner traveled across the country. He showed the film over 300 times at colleges and film festivals. This helped spread its message widely.
Afropunk Festival
The website Afropunk.com grew into a large online community. People there discussed fashion, films, and racial identity. After the film's success, Spooner started party events called Liberation Sessions. At these events, the film was shown, and bands performed live.
In 2005, James Spooner and Matthew Morgan co-founded the Afropunk Festival. This festival started in Brooklyn. It was created to give Black punks a safe space and a chance to connect. The festival has grown very popular. It is now held in cities like Atlanta, London, Paris, and Johannesburg. James Spooner stopped being involved with the festival in 2008.
Spooner also wrote and directed a narrative 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
James Spooner's first graphic novel is titled The High Desert. It was published in 2022. The Washington Post newspaper included it on its list of the "10 Best Graphic Novels of 2022." The book also won the 2023 Alex Awards, which recognize great books for young adults.
Personal Life
James Spooner is a vegan, meaning he does not eat animal products. He is also a tattoo artist at Monocle Tattoo. He helped start the trend of using vegan-friendly products for tattooing. He lives in Los Angeles with his partner Lisa Nola and their daughter.
Filmography
Feature Films Directed
| 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
