Michael J. Dennis facts for kids
Michael J. Dennis is an American filmmaker and film promoter from Philadelphia, PA. He studied at New York University and The American Film Institute. His short films and documentaries have won many awards and have been shown all over the world.
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Starting Reelblack
In 1999, Michael Dennis started a company called Reelblack in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This company helps make films and promote them.
Reelblack TV and Film Screenings
Reelblack also creates Reelblack TV. This is a show about entertainment and news that was first shown on local TV. Now, it's partnered with YouTube and has been watched over 5 million times!
Reelblack also hosts special movie events called Reelblack Presents and Soul Food Cinema. These events happen every month. They show classic movies and new films made by rising filmmakers. These films often share stories about the Black experience. Since 2002, Reelblack has shown or helped promote more than 900 films.
Michael Dennis as a Filmmaker
Michael Dennis often makes films about music. He has documented the growing Neo-Soul music scene in Philadelphia.
Music Documentaries
Some of his music-related films include:
- Jazzyfatnastees: In Process (2002)
- A Taste Of Lady Alma (2004)
- Kindred: In This Life Together (2006)
- Last Night At The Five Spot (2011), which was planned for release.
His full-length documentary, Philly Boy: A Movie About M.C. Breeze, was first shown at the H2O Hip Hop Film Festival in 2002.
Narrative Short Films
Michael Dennis also made a short story film called Next Tuesday. This film was made for WYBE-TV in Philadelphia and later shown on BET. It's known for featuring early music from famous artists like John Legend and Jazmine Sullivan on its soundtrack.
Awards and Recognition
In 2008, Michael Dennis won a special award. He received the first-ever Jury Prize at the CNN IReport Film Festival.
The 13th Amendment Film
He won for his short film called The 13th Amendment. This film tells the story of his 90-year-old grandmother. She got to vote for Barack Obama, who became the first African-American president of the United States.
The 13th Amendment was first shown at the 2008 Urbanworld Film Festival. It then traveled to film festivals around the world. It was also shown on BET’s Real Stories and YouTube’s Screening Room. On YouTube, it quickly gained 300,000 views in just three days!
Other Projects and Recognition
Also in 2008, his half-hour documentary Ursula Rucker:Poet premiered at Urbanworld. In February 2010, Philadelphia Weekly magazine named him one of "5 Artists To Watch."
That same year, an early video project he made at NYU, called Who Is Chris Rock? (1989), was posted on YouTube. It quickly got attention from popular blogs like The Huffington Post, The Comic’s Comic, and New Yorker Magazine.
