Robert Townsend has been making films since the 1980s, so the actor/writer/director has seen the highs and lows of the black Hollywood experience. As one of the directors on the frontline of the black filmmaker boom of the late ’80s/early ’90s, Townsend spoke to rolling out and offered his perspective on the current rise in mainstream black movies.
“I think there’s different things that happen throughout the times,” says Townsend. “There are great years always–where lots of movies come out and certain years where not that many movies come out. I think in ’91 a lot of great movies came out that had people of color. It’s the best of times and it’s the worst of times. We still need more images.”
With the comedy Think Like A Man, Too expected to have a successful opening weekend, Townsend explained that its success could be a positive sign.
“When a film like this does well, it helps everybody because they say ‘Hey, let’s make more black films because TLAM2 did a lot of money,” he said.
Townsend attended the American Black Film Festival in New York City and also shared that he feels black film festivals are imperative to expanding the narrative.
“And I think festivals like this are really good because it encourages other filmmakers to pursue their dreams,” he said. “That’s what it’s all about. Right now, there’s no excuse for any filmmakers to not make movies. It’s just fear. Because you can do it with an iPhone. The audience is not so savvy that they go ‘How was it shot?’ ‘How does it look?’ They just know if it’s funny–if it’s entertaining.”
