Dianne Houston

Dianne Houston
Born	July 22, 1954 (1954-07-22) (age 57) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Occupation	Director, producer, writer
Years active	1977-present

Dianne Houston (born July 22, 1954 in Washington, D.C.) is an American director and screenwriter.

She became interested in theater while attending Howard University with her first plays being produced around 1977. She later worked in New York City, Amsterdam, and Berlin which she says helped give her "a world view." In 1990 she was again based in the United States, but lived in a bicoastal manner. Around this time she wrote for Brewster Place a show produced by Harpo Productions. After this Oprah Winfrey remained a supporter and, on occasion, financial backer.

In 1994 she directed the short film Tuesday Morning Ride which starred Ruby Dee and Bill Cobbs. This led to her nomination for an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film, becoming the first, and so far only, African American woman to be nominated for directing work.

She has since directed for a variety of TV series like NYPD Blue and Crossing Jordan as well as continuing in film work. As a screenwriter she worked on Take the Lead among other projects.

Dianne Houston was born on July 22, 1954 in Washington, D.C. She is an African American film director, producer and screen writer. She developed an interest in theater at the same time as her mother taught her how to read and write before entering kindergarten. She states she “never played with dolls because she found them boring. Instead she would play with stuffed animals because in her eyes stuffed animals had true unique personalities” . At around the age of eight or nine she began to write scripts for her stuffed animals, and learned stage directions from a riverboat toy that opened up and became a stage. The boat came with characters and scripts allowing her to explore her imagination and become more inspired to become an actress.

Trained in as an actress, she was very active in the D.C theater circuit. Houston wanted to be a child star. She became traumatized when she was denied as a musketeer, from the Walt Disney Mickey Mouse Club . In her teens Houston left D.C. to try her luck in New York. As Houston began her professional career as an actress, she became frustrated with the quality of roles available to black women. Houston reassumed her education and attended, Howard University located in Northwest, Washington DC .

Eventually she began to write and direct her own plays. With her first play produced approximately in 1977. She was offered a chance to doctor a script owned by Warner Bros. Her input and revision of the script led to other screen writing assignments. She later worked in New York City, Amsterdam, and Berlin allowing her to compose a screenwriter’s view of a world outside the United States. In 1990 she returned to the United States.

In the same year she became executive story editor for an American drama series called Brewster Place which aired on ABC in May of 1990 and was filmed entirely in Chicago. The series was based on Gloria Naylor’s novel. The series starred Oprah Winfrey who also served as co-executive producer, and funded the series with her own production company called Harpo Productions. The series failed to capture the audience attention so it was canceled after a month . Despite the failure of the series, Houston maintained a close friendship with Winfrey, Who remained a supporter and on occasion became a financial sponsor for some of Dianne Houston’s later films. In 1992 Houston was the associate producer for a TV film called You Must Remember This. The films plot is about a highly principled African American independent filmmaker played by Robert Guillaume, who hides his films because he is ashamed that he never became successful, and that his films never became popular. The former filmmaker’s played by nice Maria Celedonio, finds the old films in a trunk and then begins to research her uncle’s contributions. She then helps teach her uncle to become proud of his refusal to make films that degraded and exploited their actors. As Houston continued to work and write for personalities like Oprah Winfrey her repertory began to expand and it began to include personalities like Dustin Hoffman, Eddie Murphy, and Danny Glover.

In 1994 Houston created the Screen play for Override, a science fiction film based on the short film, Over the Long Haul, by Martha Soukp. The film was directed by Dany Glover and started Lou Diamond Phillips and Emily Lloys.

Her partnership with Glover was critical, because he introduced Houston to the Chanticleer Discovery program; this project enables industry professionals to direct their first film. From a pool of 1,000, Houston was one of four chosen. Using the Chanticleer Discovery programs resources Houston was able to write, direct, and produce her short film titled Tuesday Morning Ride in 1994 .

Tuesday Morning Ride was based on a short story by Arna Bontemps a Harlem renaissance writer called A Summer Tragedy, set in the 1930s. The characters in the story are an old man and an old woman who have nothing to live for. Their children do not come to visit. They are so depressed that they eventually take themselves over a cliff. Although the film was based on the story, Houston’s portrayals of the characters are different. Jeff the old man is played by (Bill Cobbs) and Jenny (Ruby Dee) plays the role of the elder woman. The story takes place when the elderly southern couple wake up on a Tuesday Morning and finish preparing for their last few hours in their home before they have to move into an old people’s home. The couple has everything to live for, but lack a society to do it in. With the Film Tuesday morning Ride, Houston was nominated for an academy award in the category for Best Live Action short film in 1995.

The Academy award or informally called the Oscar is sponsored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. These awards are given to recognize the excellence of professionals in the film industry, such as actors, writers, and directors. The nomination process in the category of live action short film consists of, getting votes from the academy members who go to Academy screenings of the film. Academy members have to prove that they have seen the film by attending an Academy screening. The films are screened alphabetically. The way a director gets Academy members to vote for the film is to make numerous videotapes of the short film and send it to the academy member’s homes. Basically the director in order to get their film nominated needs to spend thousands of dollars marketing the film in order to get people to vote for it. As a new director Houston was unable to compete on the same financial scale as her opponents who included Griffin Dunne for the film Duke of Groove, Jeff Goldblum for the film Little surprises, Luke Cresswell for the film Brooms, and Christine Lahti for the film Lieberman in Love . Despite her lack of marketing skills and her financial disadvantage, Houston was nominated in 1995 for an academy award in the category for Best Live Action short film.

The controversial issue surrounding Houston’ nomination caused frenzy in the film industry, and chaotic uproar amongst many in the black community. As the announcements of the academy Award (Oscar) nominations were broadcasted, it was apparent that out of the 166 nominees, only one, Dianne Houston was an African America nominee. Jesse Jackson responded by calling for a boycott of the academy Awards ceremonies with the purpose of calling “attention to what he labeled as institutional racism in the Hollywood film industry” . Not least among the press oversight was the fact that Houston was the first black woman to ever be nominated for an Oscar in any of the director’s categories and so far continues to be the only African American women to be nominated for a directing work.

When asked if she was surprised by the nomination for Tuesday Morning ride, she answered with “No” . In her life she had always wanted to be recognized as a director and she knew in ordered to change the media’s view of her from a screenwriter into a respected Director she would need to make an outstanding piece of work that would be Oscar worthy. Even before the camera began to film she had the intentions of making Tuesday Morning Ride the film that would get her a foot into the door of directing. What she did not realize in that particular moment was that she was the first black woman director to be nominated in the history of the academy award. Ironically because she was the only African American to be nominated that year, her accomplishment as the only African American nominee was lost with in all the media’s commotion.

Houston was asked if she had known of all the publicity she would receive from the nomination, would she have done a different kind of film. Houston answered that the story was nominated for its content. “In terms of making the film more commercialized she suggest that making the film more commercial for other would not have been more commercial for herself, given the political environment of the academy nominations. She has no complaints or regrets of the film she followed her gut and stuck to her vision” . Despite the controversy, Houston did not win an Oscar in the best live action short film category. But because of her nomination she was offered several feature directing gigs and continues to produce, write, and direct films.

In 1996 along side Scott Abbott, Houston co-wrote the movie Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story. The movie is a true story about one of the best female sprinters in America; Devers seemed assured a place on the United States Olympic team to compete in the 100- meter hurdles in that Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea in 1988. Gail Devers is played by Charlayne Woodard. Tragedy struck Devers in the form of Grave’s Disease preventing her from competing in the Seoul’s Olympics. Devers fails to qualify for the finals due to the disease and after two years of treatment the doctors were on the verge of amputating one of her legs, but fortunately it was discovered that the radiation treatment she was undergoing was making the disease worse. Gail Devers eventually recovers miraculously and earns a spot on the U.S. Olympic team for the 1992 games in Atlanta, Georgia .

In 200 Houston was the executive story editor and director of the television Series City of Angels,a medical drama that was broadcasted for two seasons on CBS. This show was the networks first medical drama composed of mainly of an all African American cast. The show is centered on the nurses and doctors work and personal life at Mercy Hospital in Los Angeles. The president of CBS wanted to cancel the show, but a lot of the African American audience opposed and wrote letters in order to keep the show on the air, unfortunately the show was cancelled in December of the same year .

In 2002 she directed NYPD Blue a television series set in the 15th police division of New York City. Each week two partners, detectives Andy Sipowicz and John Kelly (later replaced by Bobby Simone), are the central characters in the police drama, and personify very different approaches to their difficult job. Each week viewers see the drama unfold in the streets of gritty New York City, as the police officers go about their work and focus on the struggles to sustain a sense of humanity in the face of the chaos within their jobs, and the fragility of their private lives at home .

In 2004 Houston directed the NBC television series Crossing Jordan. Dr. Jordan is a forensic pathologist who lost her job with the Boston Medical Examiner’s office because she tends to be overly passionate about solving homicides and she frequently extends her search for answers outside of the autopsy table. Years later, Jordan gets rehired and takes on her former job in Boston Colorado. Dr. Jordan is played by Jill Hennessy, Jordan is a brilliant medical examiner who tends to rub her superiors the wrong way, but her expertise and determination inevitably proves to be crucial to the team. Acting as Jordan’s father max was Hen Howard. Jordan’s boss Miguel is played by actor, Garret Macy .

In 2005 Houston wrote the movie Knights of the South Bronx alongside Jamal Joseph. Inspired by a true story, Richard Mason (Ted Danson) was middle aged and unemployed when he made the choice to take up teaching in an inner-city school in the Bronx, N.Y. Manson encourages his elementary school inner- city students by teaching them the game of chess. In the beginning of the film most of the kids in the classroom did not care about their education nor had any aspirations for the future. In order to encourage critical thinking among the students Manson realized that he would have to be inventive in order to encourage academic change. Mason who at one point in time lost the motivation in life to recognize the difference that one teacher like himself can make if they simply become more familiar to the needs of their students. Mason realizes that there was still hope for the students and broke the curriculum agenda in order to teach the student valuable lesson that will allow them to grow academically and in life.

Her last written movie was Take the Lead, in 2006. Take the Lead is an urban drama inspired by a veridical story of the real life of Pierre Dulaine played by Antonio Banderas. Dulaine who was a prize- winning ballroom dancer and instructor from Manhattan saw the disadvantages that inner-city students faced and decided to Volunteer as a dance instructor to at-risk students at New York Elementary schools. He volunteered in one of the roughest neighborhoods in the Bronx. The principle at the school Augustine James (Alfre Woodard) gives Dulaine the tough assignment of a detention class, filled with some of the biggest troublemakers on campus. When the students, Rock (Rob Brown), LaRhette (Yaya DeCosta), Ramos (Dante Basco), Eddie (Marcus T. Pulk) and Sasha (Jenna Dewan) realize that detention would turn into dancing classes in the classic style, they become dismissive and incredulous. Dulaine not giving up on his original cause of teaching classical dance shows the students his ballroom moves, and it is than that the students learn to respect his talent as a dancer and as a teacher. As the students mix hip hop moves along with the ballroom moves and discipline, they create an exciting new style. Dulaine’s advice for the students is to strive for success and as a form of encouragement instilled self- confidence and a work ethic in the kids, showing them that it is possible to make it out the ghetto if they are willing to try . Houston would not label herself a black director, meaning that all her subject matter is about the black experience. Houston says “I am a black woman whose career is directing, writing and producing”. Houston refused to label herself as anything else because she believes people in Hollywood and in general already place labels on her whether she accepts them or not. She instead defines her work as trying to create roles for black people. She does not categorize this act as creating black theme films because she refuses to think that black people have black themes and white people have white themes. Houston states that there is always a key black character in all of her scripts because to her it is important to try to talk to people about getting the ghetto out of their heads, and embracing themselves not as black but as a world citizen .

Now Houston is working on several projects for her company Fifth Day Film. The company was formed with her best friend and executive producer, [[Konda Mason]. Projects in the works consist of a movie based on a true story. Houston stumbled upon the story when she was asked to attend the courtroom deliberation of the case. The story deals with a nine year old boy who is adopted by a family that turns out to be one of America’s largest black drug cartel. In turn for raising him, the family obligates him to become their enforcer. After the boy gets arrested for murder, the script includes two black attorneys who argue for the young boy and against his execution. Besides providing a dramatic vehicle for the death penalty debate, Houston is trying to depict a sort of urban war being waged for the souls of Black America. Houston expresses that she thinks black culture is distinctive now because it has divided African American youth against itself and becoming enemies within themselves. She wants the film to leave a question for the audience. How do we get the young black people back?

Dianne Houston is currently scheduled to write a film based on the life of rapper Melissa Arnette “Missy Elliot” born July 1, 1971 She is an American recording artist, singer-songwriter, dancer, actress, award winning producer, and designer. The Oscar –winning actor Robert DeNiro has snapped up the rights to the film, along with Elliot’s manager Mona Scott. The film will try to depict the struggles the star had in the beginning of her career as one of the few female artist who has made a name for herself in a male dominated industry and who struggle with self image and the loss of may love ones along the path to stardom.

In regards to artist responsibility to her community, Houston states that she “keeps steeping [her] responsibility to keep empowering African Americans and to keep telling the truth as [she] sees it. My responsibility is to tell the stories that come through me and as my heart and mind perceive them. That might piss off a lot of people, and that’s fine. Because in the end you have to follow you gut and do what your instincts tell you to do”.

Dianne Houston was the first African American women to ever be nominated for an Academy directorial award. Houston a woman who possesses intelligence, poise, and displays a care free attitude much rather be recognized as a woman who was able to open up her own doors in order to make her dreams of directing come true. As a producer and writer she continues to provide new innovative ideas that become films. With the messages that inspire change, Houston will continue to place African American character in different facets of society so the audience can have an insight and connect with the characters that she scripts in her movies. Houston hopes to make small changes within film, by staying connected to her roots and being able to comprehend the battles that surround the African American population of today. She continues to mentor young students who are interested in directing and believes that money is essential to make projects. Houston much rather provide one on one help to new directors with the hopes that one day they can flourish and contribute to making films that inspire personal growth and create awareness within communities. In hope to blur the racial lines and see people as just citizens of the world in order to create real changes that will include change and exclude intolerance.

Bibliography

1. Bona, Damien. Inside Oscar 2. 2nd ed. N.p.: Random House Inc., 2002 . N. pag. Rpt. in Performing Arts.http://books.google.com/ Web. 6 Feb. 2011.

2. "Houston, we have a problem." Vibe Magazine, June-July 1996: 56. Print.

3. Rev. of Tuesday Morning Ride . New York .http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/300607/Tuesday-Morning-Ride/details. New York Times. , n.d. Web. 4 Feb. 2011.

4. Braxton, Greg. "Jackson Plans Oscar Protest." 'http://articles.latimes.com/1996-03-17/local/ me-48073_1_jesse-jackson .LA Times, 17 Mar. 1996. Web. 11 Feb. 2011.

5. http://www.blockbuster.com/browse/catalog/movieDetails/260426. Blockbuster, n.d. Web. 4 Feb. 2011.

6. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0396817/movie. N.p.,n.d. Web. 6 Feb. 2011.

7. Carpenter, Shari L The Mouse That Roared: An Interview with Dianne Houston Cineaste - America's Leading Magazine on the Art and Politics of the Cinema Go to Journal Record 23:1 (July 1997) Go to Journal Issue p. 39-40.

8. People Magazine Mar. 1996: n. pag. http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/ 0,,20134011,00.html .Web. 15 Feb. 2011.

External links

• Dianne Houston at the Internet Movie Database

Persondata
Name	Houston, Dianne
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	July 22, 1954
Place of birth	Washington, D.C., U.S.
Date of death
Place of death