Chameleon Street: The Black Film They Could Not Sell

Jul 1, 1991

0h 13m

★ 0.0

Overview

Elvis Mitchell uncovers why Chameleon Street (1989) by Wendell B. Harris Jr. failed to secure a proper distributor deal. Originally aired as a segment on "20/20".

Genres

TV Movie

Documentary

Production Companies

ABC News

Chameleon Street: The Black Film They Could Not Sell Trailers

No Trailers found.

Cast

Self - Director, 'Boyz N' the Hood' (archive footage)

John Singleton

Self - Film Critic

John Powers

Self - Director, 'Sex, Lies & Videotape'

Steven Soderbergh

Self - Director, 'Chameleon Street'

Wendell B. Harris Jr.

Self - Miramax Distributors, 'Sex, Lies & Videotape'

Russell Schwartz

Self - Film Critic

Elvis Mitchell

Self (archive footage)

Will Smith

Self - Producer, 'House Party'

Warrington Hudlin

Self - Film Critic

Armond White

Self - Host

Robert Krulwich

This documentary captures the sounds and images of a nearly forgotten era in film history when African American filmmakers and studios created “race movies” exclusively for black audiences. The best of these films attempted to counter the demeaning stereotypes of black Americans prevalent in the popular culture of the day. About 500 films were produced, yet only about 100 still exist. Filmmaking pioneers like Oscar Micheaux, the Noble brothers, and Spencer Williams, Jr. left a lasting influence on black filmmakers, and inspired generations of audiences who finally saw their own lives reflected on the silver screen.

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