Maurice Jamal - maurice@theblackhouse.org
Maurice Jamal is the classic American success story, with an urban twist.
An unemployed actor, writer and film student, he moved to New York City almost five years ago in pursuit of this dreams. He barely made a living by selling CD's of his hip-hop flavored spoken word and performing across the city. Deeply affected by the sudden death of a friend, who was on Aaliyah's plane when it crashed, Maurice decided that his life had to change course. On his last dollar, he got a job grabbing coffee on the set of a major feature film. But his creative hunger and endless drive led him too much more. In no time, he went from production assistant to critically acclaimed and award winning feature-film producer and director. His work has been reviewed in Variety, The Hollywood Reporter. He has been profiled in nationwide magazines and news outlets such as BET, CBS News, Black Enterprise, The Advocate, CLIK and Rockstar Magazine.
In 2004, he founded the UrbanArts Collective, dedicated to developing new films and exploring new media opportunities for African-American films.
His first film, The Ski Trip is the most successful and widely seen Black gay-themed film ever. It also made history, as the first film of its kind on US television (MTV's Logo Network, 2005). The film won four Best Feature film awards and two Jury prizes on the festival circuit.
His new film, Dirty Laundry is the winner of 2006's Blockbuster audience award for Best U.S. Feature at The American Black Film Festival. It represents the first film about black sexuality to have major stars and a national theatrical release. A modern-day prodigal son story with major twists, Dirty Laundry follows a traditional southern family, dealing with the secrets that are uncovered when the long-lost son (Rockmond Dunbar) suddenly returns home. In the center of the conflict is the mother (Loretta Devine), who's own story holds as much drama and secrecy as her son's.
In 2006, Maurice was named the most influential gay, African-American in film.
Often referred to as a black, gay Woody Allen, he often blends smart and witty comedy with heartfelt, personal stories. He honed his technical and production skills on cutting-edge film and TV productions.
A new voice in smart and witty urban film, his credits include: Chappelle's Show, Make My Day and BET's The Road Show. A noted cultural critic he can be seen in the landmark documentaries Pick Up the Mic and Just Between Us. He also regularly writes op-ed pieces about hip hop culture, politics, sexuality and pop culture that appear in publications and online.
Maurice Jamal is currently developing a script with best selling author E. Lynn Harris. He is also executive producing the long-waited film adaptation of James Earl Hardy's novel B-Boy Blues and is producing the landmark documentary, Black or Pink: Sexuality, God and Black America.
