Malik Hassan Sayeed facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Malik Hassan Sayeed
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| Born | 1969 New York City
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| Alma mater | Howard University |
Malik Hassan Sayeed is a talented American filmmaker. He works as a cinematographer, which means he's in charge of how a movie looks. He also produces and directs films. Malik is famous for his work on movies by director Spike Lee. He also worked on the film Belly (1998) by Hype Williams. Sayeed has also helped create many popular music videos. These include "Ex-Factor" by Lauryn Hill, "Gold Digger" by Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx, and "Formation" by Beyoncé.
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Learning About Film
Malik Sayeed went to Howard University. He graduated in 1990 with a degree in Film Studies. This means he learned all about making movies. While there, he studied with Haile Gerima, a famous filmmaker. Gerima was part of a group called the L.A. Rebellion, which made important independent films. Sayeed also attended the Maine Media Workshops, where he learned more about photography and filmmaking.
Malik Sayeed's Career
Malik Sayeed has worked on many well-known films. He was a second unit director of photography for Eyes Wide Shut by Stanley Kubrick. He also worked on Gattaca by Andrew Niccol. As a main cinematographer, he filmed Belly and several movies for Spike Lee. These include The Original Kings of Comedy, Girl 6, He Got Game, and Clockers.
Working with Spike Lee
Before becoming a main cinematographer, Sayeed worked on the electrical teams for Spike Lee's films Malcolm X and Crooklyn. Spike Lee saw his talent and promoted him to director of photography for the movie Clockers. Before this big promotion, Sayeed also worked on music videos with Hype Williams. He also made television commercials with Spike Lee.
Later Film and Music Video Work
After Clockers, Sayeed was the main cinematographer for Belly in 1998. This was his last major dramatic movie for a while. However, Sayeed has continued to work on many music videos. He has directed or been the cinematographer for videos like "Ex-Factor" by Lauryn Hill. He also worked on "Left & Right" by D'Angelo. More recently, he worked on Beyoncé's "Formation" and "Brown Skin Girl".
Starting TNEG Studio
Malik Sayeed worked closely with another cinematographer named Arthur Jafa. In 2014, Sayeed, Jafa, and Elissa Blount Moorhead started their own film studio. It's called TNEG. Their goal was to create "Black cinema" that would be as important in the 21st century as Black music was in the 20th century. This means they wanted to make movies that truly represent Black culture and stories.
Malik Sayeed's Films
Malik Sayeed has worked on many different types of films. Here are some of the movies he helped create:
| Year | Title | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Clockers | Spike Lee |
| 1996 | Girl 6 | |
| 1997 | Cold Around the Heart | John Ridley |
| 1998 | The Players Club | Ice Cube |
| He Got Game | Spike Lee | |
| Belly | Hype Williams | |
| 2025 | After the Hunt | Luca Guadagnino |
Documentary Films
Sayeed has also worked on important documentary films. These films tell true stories.
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | The Original Kings of Comedy | Spike Lee | |
| 2001 | Life and Debt | Stephanie Black | With Kyle Kibbe, Richard Lannaman and Alex Nepomniaschy |
| 2014 | Dreams Are Colder Than Death | Arthur Jafa | With Hans Charles and Arthur Jafa |
| 2015 | The Reflektor Tapes | Kahlil Joseph | With Lol Crawley and Autumn Durald Arkapaw |
| TBA | Compton's Finest | Cle Sloan |
Awards and Recognition
Malik Sayeed has received awards for his amazing work. In 1999, he was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography. This was for his work on the film Belly (1998). He has also won several MTV Video Music Awards. These awards were for music videos like "Formation" and "Brown Skin Girl," among others.
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