Neema Barnette facts for kids

Neema Barnette is an amazing American film director and producer. She made history as the first African-American woman to direct a primetime TV show. She was also the first African-American woman to sign a special three-movie deal with Sony Pictures. Neema Barnette has won many important awards, including a Peabody Award, an Emmy, and an NAACP Image Award.

Early Life and Education

Neema Barnette was born on December 14, 1949. She grew up in New York City. She went to the High School For The Performing Arts, where she started her career as an actress on stage. She continued her studies at The City College of New York, earning a bachelor's degree. Later, she earned a master's degree from NYU School Of The Arts.

Directing and Producing Career

Neema Barnette began directing plays when she was just 21 years old. One of her first plays was The Blue Journey. In 1982, she helped produce a TV special called "To Be a Man." This show won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Programming.

She has directed many different types of shows, including plays, TV episodes, movies made for TV, and feature films. Her first short film, Sky Captain, was made in 1985.

Building Production Companies

In 1990, Neema Barnette started her own company called Harlem Girl Productions Corporation. She has also worked for Harlem Lite Productions since 1997. She even owns another company, Reel Rebel Productions, with her husband, Reed McCants.

Directing Popular TV Shows

Neema Barnette has directed many episodes of popular TV shows. Some of these include A Different World, The Cosby Show, Gilmore Girls, and 7th Heaven. She has directed multiple seasons of these shows.

In 2016, she joined the TV series Queen Sugar as a director and producer. She also directed episodes of Being Mary Jane in 2015.

Feature Films and Documentaries

In 1997, Barnette directed the film Spirit Lost. This movie was a psychological thriller. It was special because it had many female characters in important roles.

In 2003, she directed her first feature film, Civil Brand. This movie was inspired by stories about women in prison. It won many awards and was shown at big film festivals like Sundance.

Her movie Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day came out in 2012. It's a thriller and family drama that was nominated for an NAACP Image Award. In 2009, she directed a gospel musical film called "Heaven Ain't Hard to Find."

Neema Barnette is also the Executive Producer of Black History Mini Docs. These are short videos that tell the stories of important African-American heroes.

Awards and Recognition

Neema Barnette has won many awards for her work. She won her first NAACP Image Award for directing "One More Hurdle," a special on NBC. Another documentary she directed, "The Silent Crime," received four Emmy nominations. She also won an International Monitor Award for Best Director for an episode of The Cosby Show.

She is also part of important groups like the DGA African American Steering Committee. She helps judge films for awards, including the NAACP Feature Film Award and the Pan African Film Festival.

Filmography

Films Directed

• Super Sweet 16: The Movie (2007)
• All You've Got (2005)
• Zora Is My Name!
• Better Off Dead
• Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story
• Close to Danger
• Spirit Lost
• Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day
• Heaven Ain't Hard to Find

Television Directed

• Naomi - Enigma
• The Equalizer Episode - Separated
• Genius: Aretha Episode 2 - Until The Real Thing Comes Along
• Genius: Aretha Episode 3 - Do Right Woman 2021
• Paradise Lost 2020
• Black Lightning 2019
• Raising Dion 2019
• Midnight, Texas 2018
• The Good Cop 2018
• Love is _ 2018
• Luke Cage 2018
• Blind Spot 2018
• The Breaks 2017
• Being Mary Jane 2015-2017
• Queen Sugar 2016
• Miracle's Boys 2005
• Gilmore Girls
• The PJs
• Diagnosis Murder 1994-1998
• 7th Heaven
• Deadly Games 1996
• The Cosby Mysteries 1994-1995
• Scattered Dreams 1993
• The Sinbad Show 1993
• The Royal Family 1991
• Different Worlds: A Story of Interracial Love
• The Cosby Show 1989-1991
• A Different World 1990-1991
• Zora Is My Name! 1990
• China Beach 1990
• The Robert Guillaume Show 1989
• It's a Living 1988-1989
• Hooperman 1989
• Frank's Place 1987
• What's Happening Now 1986
• One More Hurdle (1984)

Produced Works

• King of Stage: The Woodie King Jr. Story (Documentary) (executive producer)
• 2016 Queen Sugar (TV Series) (producer - 13 episodes)
• 2012 Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day (producer)
• 2008 Cuttin Da Mustard (executive producer) / (producer)
• 2002 Civil Brand (producer)
• 1986 "To Be A Man", an ABC Television Children's Special, (producer)

Awards and Nominations

Neema Barnette has received many awards and honors for her work.

See also

In Spanish: Neema Barnette para niños