NEEMA
Emmy
Award
winning
writer,
director
and
producer
Neema
Barnette
became
history's
first
African
American
female
sitcom
director
with
"What's
Happening
Now"
in
1986.
A graduate
of NYU,
she later
attended AFI's
prestigious
Women's
Directing
Program
and went
on to
amass over
200 hours
of
television
programming.
"The
Cosby
Show",
"Hooperman",
"China
Beach",
"A
Different
World",
"Diagnosis
Murder"
and
"Seventh
Heaven"
are just a
partial
list of
the
numerous
television
series
that she
has
helmed. Neema has
also
directed
eight
motion
pictures
for
television
and two
feature
films,
"Spirit
Lost"
and
"Civil
Brand"
starring Mos Def,
LisaRaye
You
Can E-Mail Neema!
Films By Neema Barnette Available on Video Or DVD
Better Of Dead
Drama 94 Mins. Color
Staring: Mare Winningham, Tyra Ferrell, Don Harvey, Reed R. McCants
Mare Winningham stars in this Lifetime made-for-cable movie about a woman who, after a lifetime of bad luck, ends up on death row -- where she insists the sentence be carried out promptly. Film was co-produced by author and noted feminist Gloria Steinim.
Run For The Dream
Drama 99 Mins. Color
Staring: Charlayne Woodard, Louis Gossett Jr., Robert Guillaume
Olympic gold medal hurdler Gail Devers almost lost her feet to a mysterious disease (Graves Disease) after being picked for the 1988 Seoul Olympics. She fails to qualify for the finals as the disease leaves her feet swollen, cracked and oozing blood. After 2 years of suffering doctors decide the only alternative is amputation, but she seeks for a better diagnosis. She then discovers that her unique disease requires a different approach than the radiation treatment she was originally prescribed. Devers eventually recovered and goes on to winning the 100m at the Barcelona Olympics.
Sin And Redemption
Drama 94 Mins. Color
Staring: Richard Grieco, Cynthia Gibb, Cheryl Pollak
Intelligent, free and get it, Billy (Cynthia Gibb) is the great hope for a loving but strictly religious father (Ralph Waite). But when she becomes the victim of a savage rape, his hopes for a college education and a career as a successful writer are destroyed. Finding herself pregnant, Billy reluctantly tells her unbelieving parents of the dramatic attack and she is forced to both have the baby and give it up for adoption. Save from the agony of separation from her child by the handsome but painfully shy Jim McDaniel (Richard Rico), who loves her deeply and proposes marriage, Billy feels that her life can be again. But despite a future which seems full of hope, there are problems and relations of ahead which must be confronted before Billy can arrive at the happiness that has been denied her so long.
Spirit Lost
Drama 90 Mins. Color
Staring: Leon, Regina Taylor, Juanita Jennings
John Chapman (Leon) and he's beautiful wife Willie ( Regina Taylor) have just moved into into a seaside village on the North Carolina coast. But they quickly discover that their quaint new house already has a long standing tenant. Build 200 years ago by the philandering sea captain, the house is residence to the spirit of Arabella, an abandoned lover with an insatiable centuries old lusts and a viciously jealous nature. Spirit Lost welcomes you to the dark side of Ghost - an erotic tale of the supernatural.
Sky
Captain
Drama 65 Mins. Color
Starring: Ernest Hardin, Lawrence
Hilton-Jacobs, Lynn Moody, Reed McCants
Like many Black and Latino teenagers in his neighborhood, Gerald Hart finds
adventure and relief from the pressure of poverty and disappointment by leaping
from the roof of an abandoned building known throughout his community as the
“Club House”. There, in spite of obvious dangers, he imitates Superman and finds
happiness.., but the unhappy side of Gerald is gaining ground. He contemplates
suicide and, thereby, encounters a strange spiritual phenomenon. “Sky Captain”
showcases Reggae, Rap music and Breakdance. “Sky Captain” is original drama
Written and Directed by Neema Barnette. Based on the impact of her observations
as a former New York City school teacher.
Neema Barnette's Directing Filmography
Gilmore Girls (2003)
Civil Brand (2002)
The PJ's (1999)
Close to Danger (1997)
(TV)
"7th Heaven" (1996) TV
Series
Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story (1996) (TV)
"The Cosby Mysteries" (1994) TV Series
Sin & Redemption (1994) (TV)Scattered Dreams: The Kathryn Messenger Story (1993) (TV)
"Diagnosis Murder" (1993) TV Series
"The Sinbad Show" (1993)
TV Series
Better Off Dead (1993) (TV)
Zora Is My Name! (1990) (TV)
"China Beach" (1988) TV
Series
"Hooperman" (1987) TV Series
"The Royal Family" Starring Redd Foxx (1986) TV Series"What's Happening Now!" (1985) TV Series
Sky Captain (1985)"The Cosby Show" (1984) TV Series
Starz Encore Group announced the
addition of five never-before-seen films to the Starz Super Pak programming
lineup starting in November 2003 and running through February
2004. One of the highlights is
"Sisters In
Cinema", a documentary by award-winning independent filmmaker Yvonne Welbon,
paying homage to African American women, who against all odds made film history.
The careers, lives and films of inspirational women filmmakers, such as, Euzhan
Palcy, Julie Dash, Darnell Martin, Dianne Houston, Neema Barnette, Cheryl
Dunye, Kasi Lemmons and Maya Angelou are showcased within the film. As the first
documentary of its kind, "Sisters in Cinema" gives voice to African American
women directors and serves to illuminate a history that has remained hidden for
too long. The film will anchor BLACK STARZ! salute to Black History Month.
Women
in Film Honors Neema Barnette.
In honor of
Black History Month Women in Film presented its Power Breakfast
ceremonies at The Four Seasons Hotel, on Friday, February 28th.
Read More!