Ben Bowman (director)
Ben Bowman | |
|---|---|
 Ben Bowman accepting the Audience Award at the 2015 American Black Film Festival | |
| Alma mater | New York University |
| Occupation(s) | film director, screenwriter |
| Years active | 2001– |
Ben Bowman is an American film director and screenwriter originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota.[1]
Career
[edit]Bowman's career began in his home town of Minneapolis, editing music video footage for Prince. He later studied directing under Spike Lee at New York University.[2][3] He subsequently taught at NYU and Trinity College in Connecticut.[4][5]
Bowman adapted novelist Jonathan Lethem's "The Mad Brooklynite" for the stage. He directed the original production at The 45th Street Theater in New York City.[6][7]
Bowman's debut as a feature writer and director was the Brooklyn set independent drama Knucklehead. Together with Bryan Abrams, he wrote the screenplay, which went on to draw the attention of Emmy winning and Oscar nominated actor Alfre Woodard. She had received the script from her co-star Gbenga Akinnagbe, who was also a producer on the film.[8] Woodard said that after reading the script, she signed on immediately to work with Bowman, "a young filmmaker with a great idea."[2]
The film premiered as the opening film at the 2015 BAMcinématek New Voices in Black Cinema Festival. It went on to win awards at film festivals across the U.S.[9][10][11][12] and earned positive reviews.[2][13] The international premiere was at the 4th annual Toronto Black Film Festival.[14] It was distributed by AMC owned RLJ Entertainment, with a release in 2016 on Amazon Prime.[15]
Bowman wrote the feature film screenplay adaptation of New York Times best selling true crime book Skyjack: The Hunt for D. B. Cooper.[16][17]
Bowman was rumored to be attached to direct a Prince biopic to be produced by Ryan Coogler.[18]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | New Detroit[19] | Yes | Yes | Yes | co-written with Tom Seltz |
| 2009 | High Maintenance (2009)[20] | Yes | |||
| 2010 | Godfrey: Black by Accident[21] | Yes | Yes | ||
| 2016 | Knucklehead | Yes | Yes | Yes | feature debut co-written with Bryan Abrams |
References
[edit]- ^ Webster, Andy (March 21, 2015). "A Mother's Clutch Makes Its Mark". The New York Times. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
- ^ a b c Covert, Colin (May 3, 2015). "This 'Knucklehead' Will Make You Laugh, and Cry". Newsweek.
- ^ "RLJ Entertainment Announces Acquisition of Urbanworld Film Festival Titles 'Like Cotton Twines' & 'Knucklehead'". Shadow and Act. October 4, 2016.
- ^ "Filmmakers". KNUCKLEHEAD. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
- ^ Courant, Susan Dunne | Hartford (November 28, 2016). "Trinity Teacher's 'Knucklehead'At Cinestudio". Hartford Courant. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
- ^ "Under The Influence: Two Plays - The Mad Brooklynite And Sunlight In A Cafeteria". Theater Online. Archived from the original on October 20, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
- ^ Williams-Rude, Beatrice. ""Under the Influence": Two one-act plays". Broadway After Dark. Archived from the original on June 10, 2010. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
- ^ Mays, Raqiyah (April 2, 2015). "Alfre Woodard Goes Indie in 'Knucklehead'". Ebony.
- ^ Hod, Itay (June 7, 2015). "Clay Riley Hassler's 'Homeless' Wins Top Prize at Dances With Films Festival". TheWrap.
- ^ "2015 Winners". American Black Film Festival.
- ^ "MSPIFF ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF JURIED COMPETITION AND AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS". MSP Film Society. Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul.
- ^ "Baltimore International Black Film Festival". Facebook.
- ^ DeFore, John (March 27, 2015). "'Knucklehead': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Louisa, Alexe (January 26, 2016). "Tribute to ALFRE WOODARD at Toronto Black Film Festival #TBFF16". Toronto Black Film Festival. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
- ^ Entertainment, RLJ (October 3, 2016). "RLJ Entertainment Announces Acquisition of Urbanworld Film Festival Titles LIKE COTTON TWINES and KNUCKLEHEAD". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
- ^ Gray, Geoffrey (August 9, 2011). Skyjack: The Hunt for D. B. Cooper. Crown. ISBN 978-0-307-45131-6.
- ^ "Production Lab Screenwriting Development Studio – NYU Production Lab – Producing the Next Generation of Creatives". wp.nyu.edu. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
- ^ Gajewski, Ryan (March 23, 2024). "Ryan Coogler to Produce Prince Jukebox Musical for Universal". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
- ^ New Detroit (2001) at IMDb
- ^ High Maintenance (2009) at IMDb
- ^ Godfrey: Black by Accident at IMDb
External links
[edit]- Ben Bowman at IMDb