John Singleton's ROSEWOOD

Rosewood is an award winning film based on a 1923 horrific, racist, lynch mob attack on an African American community in Florida. The movie tells the tale of a drifter who gets caught in a town filled with racial prejudice. The drifter, played by Ving Rhames, ends up helping the surviving African-Americans escape the town, with the help of a humble store owner played by Jon Voight.



JOHN SINGLETON's bio

Becoming at the age of 24. The Youngest individual and the first African American ever to be nominated for the Best Director Academy Award. John Daniel Singleton was born on Jan 6, 1968 in Los Angeles California. He attended the Filmic Writing Program at USC after graduating from high school in 1986. While studying there, he won three writing awards from the university, which lead to a contract with Creative Artists Agency during his sophomore year. He received an Oscar Nomination for Best Song, He directed Michael Jackson's video "Remember the Time" Starring Eddie Murphy & Magic Johnson in 1993, After the hit sequel "2 Fast to Furious" he directed the box office hit "Four Brothers" starring Mark Wahlberg and produced "Illegal Tender" after "Black Snake Moan". Columbia Pictures bought his script for Boyz n the Hood (1991), a story which Singleton notes as coming mostly from his own experiences in South Central LA. One of the highest-grossing films in history to have been directed by an African American, Boyz 'n the Hood also made history with its Best Screenplay and Best Director Oscar nominations for its young writer/director. In addition to those nominations, Singleton was also honored with the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best First-Time Director.

Singleton followed Boyz 'N the Hood with Poetic Justice in 1993. Starring Janet Jackson as its heroine, a South Central L.A. hairdresser coping with the shooting death of her boyfriend, the film boasted magnetic performances from its entire cast, which also included rapper Tupac Shakur as Jackson's love interest.

In 2000, Singleton returned with his biggest project to date, a remake of Shaft starring Samuel L. Jackson as its titular, Armani-clad hero. Singleton's next film, Baby Boy (2001), was constructed as a loose follow up to Boyz 'N the Hood. Starring vocalist/model Tyrese Gibson and Omar Gooding, the film marked a notable return to the sensitive issues that Singleton had touched upon in the past. Singleton went on to helm the hit sequel, 2 Fast 2 Furious. He then produced Craig Brewer's Oscar winning Hustle & Flow, as well as its follow-up, Black Snake Moan.

John Singleton has given several unknown actors, who were relegated to minor or supporting parts, leading roles in which they could shine and which catapulted them to stardom. In the mid 90's when Jennifer Connelly was on nobody's A list and years away from winning an Oscar he cast her in "Higher Learning". He's also the director who cast Cuba Gooding Jr. (Oscar Winner), Angela Basset, Nia Long, Ice Cube, Taraji P. Henson (Oscar Nom), and Tyrese Gibson in their 1st major roles. As producer he got Jada Pinkett Smith her 1st million for her lead role in "Woo" & tapped Terrance Howard for his Oscar nominated role in "Hustle & Flow". With Tyrese Gibson & Ving Rhames being the stars of Baby Boy.

John Singleton has been said to have the Midas touch from launching major careers for new actors, to Oscar win & nominations, and high grossing films. Singleton is a Born Filmmaker!