Reggie Rock Bythewood facts for kids

Reggie Rock Bythewood (born July 7, 1965) is an American filmmaker and actor. He is well-known for directing the movie Dancing in September (2000). He also created the popular TV shows Shots Fired and Swagger.

Early Life and Creative Journey

Reggie Rock Bythewood grew up in The Bronx, a part of New York City. As a kid, he loved going to the movies and watching baseball games with his dad. But his biggest passion was boxing.

When his parents separated, his mom didn't want him to box anymore. She thought it was too risky, so he couldn't go to the local boxing gym. Around this time, hip hop music and culture were becoming very popular in the Bronx. Reggie was really into it and even rapped in a neighborhood hip hop group. In junior high, he and his friends would even breakdance on stage during school assemblies!

From Acting to Filmmaking

After junior high, Reggie focused on acting. He went to the High School of Performing Arts to study drama. However, the school didn't allow students to work as professional actors. During his last year, Reggie got a role in the TV show Another World. He left his high school and went to a special school for young professionals. On the set, he worked with famous actors like Morgan Freeman.

After high school, Reggie acted in a movie called The Brother from Another Planet. The director, John Sayles, inspired Reggie to try writing and directing himself. This made Reggie change his focus from acting to filmmaking. He earned a degree in theater from Marymount Manhattan College.

Reggie then helped start a theater company in New York City called The Tribe. They performed plays that Reggie wrote and directed. Their goal was to entertain people and also make them think about important issues. Many activists, including Black Panther Jamal Joseph, came to see his plays.

Building a Career in Hollywood

In 1990, Reggie decided to move to Los Angeles to become a screenwriter. He turned down a role in the TV show One Life To Live to follow this dream. He joined Walt Disney's special Writers Fellowship Program, which helps new writers.

After that, he became a writer for the popular NBC comedy series A Different World. This is where he met his future wife, Gina Prince-Bythewood. He later wrote and produced the drama series New York Undercover. He also helped rewrite action movie scripts for producer Joel Silver.

After attending a big event called the Million Man March, Reggie wrote the script for Spike Lee's independent film Get on the Bus. Reggie even helped invest money in the movie. Later, he helped rewrite the script for the movie Notorious. He worked on the film until it was finished and received credit for his writing.

Directing and Creating Shows

Reggie Bythewood directed his first feature film, Dancing in September. This independent movie was shown at the Sundance Film Festival and later became an HBO original movie. He also directed the movie Biker Boyz.

He has directed several documentaries, including "Daddy's Girl" (about boxer Laila Ali) and "One Night in Vegas" for ESPN's 30 for 30 series. In 2014, he won an NAACP Image Award for directing the TV movie Gun Hill.

In 2017, Reggie co-created the ten-episode TV series Shots Fired with Gina Prince-Bythewood. He also directed the final episode of the first season. More recently, he created the TV series Swagger, which explores the world of youth basketball.

Community Involvement

Reggie Bythewood was the chairman of an organization called B-Dads. With other fathers, he helped feed homeless families in Los Angeles. They also raised a lot of money for the Sickle Cell Disease Foundation. He also led workshops to help fathers be more involved in their children's lives. Reggie has also spoken at events about police reform, sharing his ideas on how to improve policing.

Family Life

Reggie Bythewood lives in Southern California with his wife, Gina Prince-Bythewood, who is also a filmmaker. They have two sons. Reggie and Gina first met on the set of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and later worked together on A Different World. They got married in 1998.

Film and TV Work

Reggie Bythewood has worked on many films and TV shows as a director, writer, producer, and actor.

Movies

Acting Roles in Movies

Television Shows

TV Movies

Acting Role in TV