To most people, the name Charlie Ahearn doesn’t ring a bell. A relatively unsung filmmaker born and bred in New York City, Ahearn has only four directing credits to his name, spread out over a nearly 40 year career as director. However, few directors are as important to popular culture and particularly the spread of hip-hop culture as this bewilderingly influential filmmaker and cultural artist.
With the groundbreaking Wild Style, Ahearn would make what has become known as cinema’s first true hip-hop film. With names like Fab Five Freddy, Rock Steady crew and Grandmaster Flash as part of the cast, the film would mainly focus on a graffiti artist named Zoro, as he makes his way through the urban landscape that sparked the early moments of hip-hop culture. With that culture now becoming arguably the driving force in mainstream popular culture, Ahearn is a truly influential force. And thankfully,...
With the groundbreaking Wild Style, Ahearn would make what has become known as cinema’s first true hip-hop film. With names like Fab Five Freddy, Rock Steady crew and Grandmaster Flash as part of the cast, the film would mainly focus on a graffiti artist named Zoro, as he makes his way through the urban landscape that sparked the early moments of hip-hop culture. With that culture now becoming arguably the driving force in mainstream popular culture, Ahearn is a truly influential force. And thankfully,...
- 11/2/2015
- by Joshua Brunsting
- CriterionCast
Read More: 9 Hip Hop-Inspired Films to Get You Ready For 'Dope' "Jamel Shabazz Street Photographer" and "Stations of the Elevated," two films with a strong connection to the city and the music that it helps create, are slated for DVD releases this fall through Oscilloscope. Charlie Ahearn, director of the hip-hop film "Wild Style," brings new attention to Jamel Shabazz and his art with "Jamel Shabazz Street Photographer," painting a vivid picture of the man whose photography helped to define a generation of African American street culture. "Jamel" will be released digitally October 6 and as a limited edition DVD on October 27. "Stations of the Elevated," a jazzy city symphony shot on 16mm and directed by Manfred Kirchheimer, features iconic images of urban landscapes and the vibrant graffiti that drapes its surface. "Stations" will be released digitally October 20 and will be made available...
- 9/3/2015
- by Aubrey Page
- Indiewire
Street-style photography seems almost pedestrian now, with blogs like The Sartorialist, Humans of New York or (my favorite) What Ali Wore popping up every day, but this wasn't the case when photographer Jamel Shabazz started snapping pics in the '70s. A friend of the artist says he was "capturing life in its purest form."
Shabazz depicted the history of his NYC borough, documenting the early days of hip-hop culture, the fashion and lifestyle he saw day-to-day in the subway or walking the streets of Brooklyn.
Jamel Shabazz Street Photographer (2013) delves into the photographer's influential work and follows some of his current-day activities. Director Charlie Ahearn's previous work includes 1983's Wild Style, a hip hop docudrama. In this film, Ahearn includes interviews with cultural figures such as Fab 5 Freddy and Krs-One among others.
Austin Film Society will show the Shabazz documentary this Sunday, Jan. 12 at 4pm [tickets] at Afs at the Marchesa.
Shabazz depicted the history of his NYC borough, documenting the early days of hip-hop culture, the fashion and lifestyle he saw day-to-day in the subway or walking the streets of Brooklyn.
Jamel Shabazz Street Photographer (2013) delves into the photographer's influential work and follows some of his current-day activities. Director Charlie Ahearn's previous work includes 1983's Wild Style, a hip hop docudrama. In this film, Ahearn includes interviews with cultural figures such as Fab 5 Freddy and Krs-One among others.
Austin Film Society will show the Shabazz documentary this Sunday, Jan. 12 at 4pm [tickets] at Afs at the Marchesa.
- 1/7/2014
- by Elizabeth Stoddard
- Slackerwood
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