Life in Film: John Singleton

Fresh out of USC’s Filmic Writing program, a 24-year-old Singleton made his film debut, writing and directing this groundbreaking movie about three friends growing up in the drug and gang-infested streets of South Central Los Angeles. The emotionally riveting film instantly becomes a classic, earning Singleton Oscar nods for screenplay and directing. While turning Ice Cube, Nia Long, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Morris Chestnut into film stars, Boyz also launched a new black film genre called “hood movies.”

(Photo: Columbia Pictures)