Jamaa Fanaka
Encyclopedia
Jamaa Fanaka is an American filmmaker. He is best known for his 1979 film, Penitentiary
and is one of the leading directors of the L.A. Rebellion
film movement.
, Mississippi
. In 1971, Fanaka was accepted into the film school at UCLA
. His first film, "A Day in the Life of Willie Faust, or Death on the Installment Plan," was a morality tale
shot in 8mm film about a herion addict. The film stars Fanaka (credited as Walt Gordon) in the title role. It is the only narrative short he ever made. Jan-Christopher Horak of the UCLA Film Archives when comparing the movie with the 1972 blaxploitation
film, Super Fly
, released the same year, observed, "unlike Priest’s elegant cocaine consumption in Super Fly, Willie’s arm gushes blood as he injects heroin."
Later, he changed his name to Jamaa Fanaka. Ntongela Masilela states that while "a fundamental tenet of the Los Angeles school
was an opposition to Hollywood," Fanaka was a notable exception. He describes Fanaka as "very much fascinated by Hollywood and averse to the contentious ideological and artistic discussions that were fundamental to the formation of the school."
to live with her mother's sister and her family after her mother dies, and survives the culture shock
that accompanies the move; and Penitentiary
(1979), the story of a young man wrongly sent to prison, who, through his boxing
talents, is able to win his freedom.
Fanaka completed Street Wars in 1992. He is in extended production and post-production on Hip Hop Hope, a documentary feature film on the underground Hip Hop culture.
Penitentiary (1979 film)
Penitentiary is a 1979 Blaxploitation film starring Leon Isaac Kennedy as Martel 'Too Sweet' Gordone that deals with the wrongful imprisonment of a black youth.- Synopsis :...
and is one of the leading directors of the L.A. Rebellion
L.A. Rebellion
L.A. Rebellion film movement, sometimes referred to as the "Los Angeles School of Black Filmmakers", refers to the time from roughly the late-1960s to the late-1980s when a new generation of young African and African American filmmakers emerged from UCLA Film School to produce works that provided...
film movement.
Early life and education
Fanaka was born Walter Gordon to Robert L. and Beatrice Gordon in JacksonJackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
. In 1971, Fanaka was accepted into the film school at UCLA
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
. His first film, "A Day in the Life of Willie Faust, or Death on the Installment Plan," was a morality tale
Morality play
The morality play is a genre of Medieval and early Tudor theatrical entertainment. In their own time, these plays were known as "interludes", a broader term given to dramas with or without a moral theme. Morality plays are a type of allegory in which the protagonist is met by personifications of...
shot in 8mm film about a herion addict. The film stars Fanaka (credited as Walt Gordon) in the title role. It is the only narrative short he ever made. Jan-Christopher Horak of the UCLA Film Archives when comparing the movie with the 1972 blaxploitation
Blaxploitation
Blaxploitation or blacksploitation is a film genre which emerged in the United States circa 1970. It is considered an ethnic sub-genre of the general category of exploitation films. Blaxploitation films were originally made specifically for an urban black audience, although the genre's audience...
film, Super Fly
Super Fly
"Super Fly" is the third 12" single by Giant Panda. It was the released by their label Tres Records . The single contains two songs from their album Fly School Reunion with their instrumental tracks as well.-Personnel:...
, released the same year, observed, "unlike Priest’s elegant cocaine consumption in Super Fly, Willie’s arm gushes blood as he injects heroin."
Later, he changed his name to Jamaa Fanaka. Ntongela Masilela states that while "a fundamental tenet of the Los Angeles school
L.A. Rebellion
L.A. Rebellion film movement, sometimes referred to as the "Los Angeles School of Black Filmmakers", refers to the time from roughly the late-1960s to the late-1980s when a new generation of young African and African American filmmakers emerged from UCLA Film School to produce works that provided...
was an opposition to Hollywood," Fanaka was a notable exception. He describes Fanaka as "very much fascinated by Hollywood and averse to the contentious ideological and artistic discussions that were fundamental to the formation of the school."
Career
During film school, Fanaka wrote, produced and directed Welcome Home, Brother Charles (1975), about the ravages and dire consequences of racism; Emma Mae (1976), about a young woman who arrives in Los Angeles from MississippiMississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
to live with her mother's sister and her family after her mother dies, and survives the culture shock
Culture shock
Culture shock is the anxiety, feelings of frustration, alienation and anger that may occur when a person is emplaced in a new culture.One of the most common causes of culture shock involves individuals in a foreign country. Culture shock can be described as consisting of one or more distinct phases...
that accompanies the move; and Penitentiary
Penitentiary (1979 film)
Penitentiary is a 1979 Blaxploitation film starring Leon Isaac Kennedy as Martel 'Too Sweet' Gordone that deals with the wrongful imprisonment of a black youth.- Synopsis :...
(1979), the story of a young man wrongly sent to prison, who, through his boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
talents, is able to win his freedom.
Fanaka completed Street Wars in 1992. He is in extended production and post-production on Hip Hop Hope, a documentary feature film on the underground Hip Hop culture.
Filmography
- "A Day in the Life of Willie Faust, or Death on the Installment Plan" (short, 1972)
- Welcome Home, Brother Charles (1975)
- Emma Mae (1976)
- PenitentiaryPenitentiary (1979 film)Penitentiary is a 1979 Blaxploitation film starring Leon Isaac Kennedy as Martel 'Too Sweet' Gordone that deals with the wrongful imprisonment of a black youth.- Synopsis :...
(1979) - Penitentiary II (1982)
- Penitentiary III (1987)
- Street Wars (1992)