Justin Simien (born 7 May 1983) is an American film director and writer. His first feature film, Dear White People, won the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Talent at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. Simien has also been named to Variety magazine's 2013 "10 Directors to Watch" list.
Early life
Simien was born on 7 May 1983 in Houston, Texas. He is the son of Anna Simien. Raised in the metro area, he attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. After graduation he studied film at Chapman University in California. Simien worked a number of jobs in Los Angeles prior to directing his first feature film, including social media manager at Sony Television, publicity assistant at Focus Features, and publicity coordinator at Paramount Pictures.
Career
Simien directed three short films prior to Dear White People: Rings (2006), My Women: Inst Msgs (2009), and Inst Msgs (Instant Messages) (2009).
Simien started work on what would become Dear White People in 2006, with inspiration for the script coming from his feelings while attending the predominantly white Chapman University. In 2012, he created a concept trailer using his tax refund as funding. With the concept trailer as a centerpiece, he launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo to raise $25,000 but he got an overwhelming response and managed to raise $40,000 instead.
The film premiered in-competition in the US Dramatic Category at 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 18, 2014. The film began its theatrical release in the United States on October 17, 2014. In its opening weekend the film grossed $344,000 in only eleven locations for an impressive $31,273 per theatre average.
Dear White People won Simien the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Talent at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival and the "Audience Award" at the 2014 San Francisco International Film Festival. Simien has also been named to Variety magazine's 2013 "10 Directors to Watch" list.
Influences
While Simien has been compared to director Spike Lee, Simien says he does not welcome this comparison (although he does credit Lee’s Do the Right Thing with "showing him that it's possible to make these types of black films"). Simien also counts among his influences Woody Allen and Ingmar Bergman.
Personal life
At the 2014 Sundance Film Festival premier of Dear White People, Simien publicly announced he is gay.
References
External links
- Justin Simien at the Internet Movie Database
- Justin Simien on Twitter
- justinsimien
.com