Gina Prince-Bythewood
Gina Prince-Bythewood
Gina Prince-Bythewood is an American film director and screenwriter. She is known for directing and producing the films Disappearing Actsand Love & Basketball, The Secret Life of Bees, and Beyond the Lights...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionDirector
Date of Birth10 June 1969
CountryUnited States of America
favorite films fuel love music sings
Some of my favorite films are musicals, like 'Walk the Line,' 'The Rose' and 'Lady Sings the Blues.' I just love the way the music and the story fuel each other.
favorite few films huge love people steven terms
'Out of Sight' is one of my favorite films ever. Love Steven Soderbergh. 'Goodfellas' was a huge influence on me in terms of the use of camera. 'Black Orpheus,' a beautiful love story that very few people actually have seen, and that was an influence on 'Beyond the Lights,' too, in terms of the look of the film.
believed courage fight four gave heart incredible kept love overcoming studio took turned
'Beyond the Lights' took incredible fight to get made. Four years of writing and two years of overcoming 'no.' Every studio balked. Twice. But I kept fighting. What gave me the courage was 'Love & Basketball.' Every studio turned down that film, too. But I never gave up because I believed in it with my whole heart and soul.
love turned
With 'Love And Basketball,' every studio turned it down.
aspects favorites finding love song
There are a lot of aspects of filmmaking that I love, but one of my favorites is in post, finding the right song for the right moment.
builds dig great leaves love movies wrecks
I love movies. And I dig a great love story: the kind that wrecks me, then builds me back up and leaves me inspired. I write what I want to see.
comedies develop dramas few love romantic time
There are so many romantic comedies made, but very few dramas or love stories. And with a love story, you have to take time to develop three-dimensional characters.
black counter fight images love mean negative people perception perfect positive within
There is a perception within our community and the world that black people don't love each other. That we don't fight for each other. That perception is so dangerous. We need positive images to counter the negative portrayals we see every day. And positive doesn't mean perfect. Perfect is boring.
directing great love project
I love writing and directing because it's great therapy. Every project I've done, there's been a personal connection.
both change color conversation films love people rarely thinking
Films really can change a conversation and change someone's thinking and perception, especially with people of color at the center. It rarely happens. I think it's important for both the community but also the world to see people of color in all genres, especially love stories.
everybody fail freedom god great learn love oh school ucla
Oh my God, I love UCLA so much. Their film school is great because it's unstructured, so there's a freedom to fail in there and just tell your story, and everybody makes a film. It's so important to have that freedom in film school because that's what you're there for: to learn and make a film.
ball hire life love played run sets sports track watching woman women worse
With 'Love & Basketball,' I played ball my whole life and did track at UCLA. So, I'm an athlete. And it was very important for me to get it right. I started with casting: As an athlete, there's nothing worse for me than watching a sports movie and the woman that they hire can't run or can't shoot. It sets women's sports back years.
directions people respect scream talk time totally walk whatever
On my set, people have to respect the actor's process. I totally respect what actors do. I give them whatever time they need, and I never scream out directions from the camera. I take the time to walk up to them and talk to them personally.
folks good mine people
I don't want people to go to a film of mine because they feel guilty, like, 'I have to support it because there's black folks in there.' I want them to go because it's a good movie.