Keith D. Black
Encyclopedia
Keith D. Black is a South African-born film screenwriter, best known for co-writing Princess (2006) and House of God (2008).
(deceased) was the Managing Director of a UK public company specializing in Television Rentals in the 1950s. He later help to establish broadcasting in Southern Africa and eventually owned and operated Video Library
, which later became Blockbuster Inc. His grandmother, Maureen Black (née Peres) is the daughter of legendary UK and Ireland music producer and record distributor, Harold Peres of Solomon and Peres
. By the 1970s, Solomon and Peres
was acquired by Decca Records
. He is also the cousin to both British Politician, Baroness Oppenheim-Barnes and House of Common's Conservative MP, Phillip Oppenheim
, and his lineage is closely tied to one of Britain's most influential families, the Viners, whose Cutlery business grew to be the biggest Cutlery manufacturer in Britain and is ordained by the British Monarchy.
His father, Anthony, spent many years in film and television distribution before becoming a former Senior Vice President and Co-Chairman of the Director's Board of Smith Barney
. From 1972–1981, his father, Anthony ran International Distribution for Norman Lear
's Tandem Productions
. He was considered a pioneer in South Africa Broadcasting by virtue of distributing All in the Family
, Maude
(1972–1978), Good Times
(1974–1979), and Sanford and Son
(1972–1977) to Apartheid South Africa. In the early 1980s, Black's family immigrated to San Diego, California. Black describes his childhood as an "adventure. My library wasn't full of classical books by famous authors, but rather it was a library of film, thanks to growing up with 80 odd video stores." Black began exploring filmmaking when he was 13, when he first received a broken video camera that he restored. Although, his apt for acting was superb, Black focused his attention on writing short films. Black attended The University of Wisconsin and eventually receiving his MFA from The American Film Institute
in Los Angeles.
in Los Angeles. Early on, both partnered on several small projects, most notably on the short film Princess (2006), a story about the daughter of a black maid raised by a wealthy white South African family in Johannesburg. Immediately, their controversial film caught the guise of Fred Roos
. Building upon a strong relationship with Roos, Janos helped to raise close to $500,000 to fund Black's dynamic short film. Within weeks, Black and Janos raised the money to fund their project and shoot in both Los Angeles and Johannesburg. Featured in Daily Variety and The Los Angeles Times, as being "the most expensive student film ever made," Black and Janos received criticism for the high cost of production. Evidently, the film went on to win several film accolades.
Black also discovered the lead role in his film, Princess, when shopping in Los Angeles. Benu Mabhena, who was cast as the lead, went on to play Jassie Vandy, the wife of Djimon Hounsou
in the 2006 film, Blood Diamond
Early life
Black was born in Johannesburg, South Africa to Irish born father, Anthony and South African born, Michele. He has an older sister, Tracy. His paternal grandfather, Roy Keith BlackRoy Keith Black
Roy Black was a British-born businessman, best known for owning and operating, Electronic Rentals Group, a UK public company during the 1960s in Dublin, Ireland specializing in television rentals. By 1970, ERG was the world's second largest Electronic Rental Company in the world with operations in...
(deceased) was the Managing Director of a UK public company specializing in Television Rentals in the 1950s. He later help to establish broadcasting in Southern Africa and eventually owned and operated Video Library
Video Library
Video Library was a publicly traded videocassette rental company based in San Diego, California. It had 80 franchises from 1985 through 1989 before they were acquired and converted into Blockbuster Video in 1989.-History:...
, which later became Blockbuster Inc. His grandmother, Maureen Black (née Peres) is the daughter of legendary UK and Ireland music producer and record distributor, Harold Peres of Solomon and Peres
Solomon and Peres
Solomon and Peres was a music and entertainment retailer, distributor and music production house based in Belfast, Northern Ireland and Ireland from 1924–1981, before becoming acquired by Decca Records. It was owned and operated by brothers-in-law Harold Peres and Morris Solomon who ran the...
. By the 1970s, Solomon and Peres
Solomon and Peres
Solomon and Peres was a music and entertainment retailer, distributor and music production house based in Belfast, Northern Ireland and Ireland from 1924–1981, before becoming acquired by Decca Records. It was owned and operated by brothers-in-law Harold Peres and Morris Solomon who ran the...
was acquired by Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
. He is also the cousin to both British Politician, Baroness Oppenheim-Barnes and House of Common's Conservative MP, Phillip Oppenheim
Phillip Oppenheim
The Honourable Phillip Arthur Charles Lawrence Oppenheim is a British businessman and former politician.-Life:Born in Lambeth, London, he is the son of former Conservative government minister Sally Oppenheim...
, and his lineage is closely tied to one of Britain's most influential families, the Viners, whose Cutlery business grew to be the biggest Cutlery manufacturer in Britain and is ordained by the British Monarchy.
His father, Anthony, spent many years in film and television distribution before becoming a former Senior Vice President and Co-Chairman of the Director's Board of Smith Barney
Smith Barney
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney is a retail brokerage joint venture between Morgan Stanley and Citigroup.On January 13, 2009, Morgan Stanley and Citigroup announced that Citigroup would sell 51% of Smith Barney to Morgan Stanley, creating Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, which was formerly a division of...
. From 1972–1981, his father, Anthony ran International Distribution for Norman Lear
Norman Lear
Norman Milton Lear is an American television writer and producer who produced such 1970s sitcoms as All in the Family, Sanford and Son, One Day at a Time, The Jeffersons, Good Times and Maude...
's Tandem Productions
Tandem Productions
Tandem Productions, Inc. was a film and television production company that was founded in 1958 by Bud Yorkin and Norman Lear.-Tandem Productions:...
. He was considered a pioneer in South Africa Broadcasting by virtue of distributing All in the Family
All in the Family
All in the Family is an American sitcom that was originally broadcast on the CBS television network from January 12, 1971, to April 8, 1979. In September 1979, a new show, Archie Bunker's Place, picked up where All in the Family had ended...
, Maude
Maude (TV series)
Maude was an American television sitcom that was originally broadcast on the CBS network from September 12, 1972 until April 22, 1978.Maude starred Beatrice Arthur as Maude Findlay, an outspoken, middle-aged, politically liberal woman living in suburban Tuckahoe, Westchester County, New York with...
(1972–1978), Good Times
Good Times
Good Times is an American sitcom that originally aired from February 8, 1974, until August 1, 1979, on the CBS television network. It was created by Eric Monte and Michael Evans, and developed by Norman Lear, the series' primary executive producer...
(1974–1979), and Sanford and Son
Sanford and Son
Sanford and Son is an American sitcom, based on the BBC's Steptoe and Son, that ran on the NBC television network from January 14, 1972, to March 25, 1977....
(1972–1977) to Apartheid South Africa. In the early 1980s, Black's family immigrated to San Diego, California. Black describes his childhood as an "adventure. My library wasn't full of classical books by famous authors, but rather it was a library of film, thanks to growing up with 80 odd video stores." Black began exploring filmmaking when he was 13, when he first received a broken video camera that he restored. Although, his apt for acting was superb, Black focused his attention on writing short films. Black attended The University of Wisconsin and eventually receiving his MFA from The American Film Institute
American Film Institute
The American Film Institute is an independent non-profit organization created by the National Endowment for the Arts, which was established in 1967 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act...
in Los Angeles.
Film career
In 2004, Black met Jessica Janos, another graduate student who was attending the American Film InstituteAmerican Film Institute
The American Film Institute is an independent non-profit organization created by the National Endowment for the Arts, which was established in 1967 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act...
in Los Angeles. Early on, both partnered on several small projects, most notably on the short film Princess (2006), a story about the daughter of a black maid raised by a wealthy white South African family in Johannesburg. Immediately, their controversial film caught the guise of Fred Roos
Fred Roos
-Life and career:Roos was born in Santa Monica, California, the son of Florence Mary and Victor Otto Roos. Beginning in television as a casting director for The Andy Griffith Show, Roos went on to produce most of Francis Ford Coppola's films subsequent to The Godfather, including Apocalypse Now...
. Building upon a strong relationship with Roos, Janos helped to raise close to $500,000 to fund Black's dynamic short film. Within weeks, Black and Janos raised the money to fund their project and shoot in both Los Angeles and Johannesburg. Featured in Daily Variety and The Los Angeles Times, as being "the most expensive student film ever made," Black and Janos received criticism for the high cost of production. Evidently, the film went on to win several film accolades.
Black also discovered the lead role in his film, Princess, when shopping in Los Angeles. Benu Mabhena, who was cast as the lead, went on to play Jassie Vandy, the wife of Djimon Hounsou
Djimon Hounsou
Djimon Diaw Hounsou is a Beninese actor and model. As an actor, Hounsou has been nominated for two Academy Awards.-Early life:Djimon Hounsou was born in Cotonou, Benin, in 1964, to lbertine and Pierre Hounsou, a cook. He emigrated to Lyon in France at the age of thirteen with his brother, Edmond....
in the 2006 film, Blood Diamond
Blood Diamond (film)
Blood Diamond is a 2006 political thriller film co-produced and directed by Edward Zwick and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly and Djimon Hounsou...
External links
- Keith Black at the Internet Movie Database
- Mal'chik Fille short film from The American Film Institute
- Carte Blanche short film from The American Film Institute
- Princess Preview short film from The American Film Institute