331:
Told by top publicists that "Black women are not a novelty," Houston was unable to obtain a publicist for the awards, and wound up doing her own publicity. At the
Academy Awards luncheon, the valet also refused to let her park her car, telling her that the parking area was "for nominees only."
289:
In 1995, Danny Glover introduced
Houston to the Chanticleer Films program, which gave industry professionals their first chance to direct. She was one of four people selected to participate from 1,000 applicants. Through the program, she directed the short film,
163:
to become an actress. However, frustrated by the lack and caliber of roles for black women, she decided to write her own plays. She later returned to
Washington, D.C., in order to earn a
244:
In 1992, Houston was commissioned to write "The
International Sweethearts of Rhythm,” a screenplay about an all-women’s 1940's jazz band, inspired by an article the producers read about
1042:
1311:
1250:"The "Hollywood Blackout" at the 1996 Academy Awards: When "People" magazine took aim at diversity among the nominees, celebrities were unwilling to join the protest"
358:
in hiring and creative opportunities. At the time, blacks accounted for less than four percent of the
Academy's 5,000 members, and only two percent of the
367:
1150:"JAZZ:Ladies Sing the Blues:Rosetta Reitz single-handedly runs the only label devoted to keeping alive rare jazz and blues recordings by female artists"
186:, was produced in 1977. She directed it at the Back Alley Theater in Washington, D.C. The play went on to be performed at the East Bay Arts Center in
1370:
564:
1016:
1440:
1430:
1420:
321:
1450:
1435:
1425:
1390:
305:
The film, about an elderly couple questioning the current value of their lives, is based on the 1933 short story, "A Summer
Tragedy", by
1445:
174:
Houston then moved back to New York City, where she wrote and directed for the street performance troupe, CityKids
Repertory Company.
1282:
1181:
Phil
Rosenthal (March 26, 1996). "Tonight She Stands Alone: Dianne Houston is the Only Black Nominated for an Oscar". LA Daily News.
1365:
538:
232:
1380:
1375:
1415:
1405:
1400:
313:. Houston said of the film, "I have two elderly people with everything to live for and no way to do it in this society".
450:
in 1993. In 2005, after being diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer, she took a seven-year work hiatus to focus on her health.
1283:"The Pioneering Black Woman Behind 'Searching For Neverland' Is The Only One Who Could Tell This Michael Jackson Story"
1395:
1385:
1234:
149:
1222:"Will the Academy Awards Go for Art of Box Office?". Fort Worth, Texas: Fort Worth Star-Telegram. March 24, 1996.
976:
1249:
928:
382:
363:
347:
153:
1312:"'Boley' Black Western Event Series In the Works At Universal TV From Dianne Houston & Rudy Langlais"
1204:
373:
As of 2020, Houston remains the only black woman to have ever been nominated for an Oscar for directing.
328:
for directing work, and was also the only
African-American nominee out of nearly 170 total nominations.
1149:
611:
588:
359:
808:
343:
1264:
759:
386:
250:
1096:
Gordon Raddue (December 3, 1982). "Dianne
Houston's New Tragedy Plays at East Bay Arts Center".
1410:
1296:
1278:
856:
1360:
1134:
355:
274:
8:
407:
1111:
Jeff Guinn (September 15, 1986). ""The Fishermen" Plunges into the Depths of Emotion".
1078:
306:
187:
135:
122:. She is the first, and thus far only, African-American woman to be nominated for an
1345:
423:
195:
168:
80:
199:
143:
108:
46:
1017:"Dianne Houston To Helm 'The Melony Armstrong Story' For Moving Picture Institute"
880:
832:
736:
681:
553:
399:
262:
258:
191:
1167:
419:
325:
222:
1354:
411:
351:
335:
317:
310:
266:
245:
238:
217:
210:
160:
123:
115:
111:
1192:"Jackson Leads Protest of Oscar Nominees". Associated Press. March 26, 1996.
904:
784:
515:
431:
427:
415:
278:
206:
119:
324:. Houston became the first African-American woman to be nominated for an
635:
447:
435:
270:
1327:
Bona, Damien. Inside Oscar 2. 2nd ed. Random House Inc., 2002 . Rpt. in
1082:
1066:
1341:
299:
228:
148:
She attended Woodrow Wilson High School, and was also a student at the
139:
952:
393:
338:, pointing out Houston being the only nominee of color, called for a
164:
295:
1170:. Arna Bontemps African American Museum and Cultural Arts Center.
339:
216:
In 1990, she became a writer and executive story editor for the
265:
short film based on the short story, "Over the Long Haul," by
1168:"Arna Bontemps: Black poet, author, anthologist, librarian"
1067:"The Mouse that Roared: An Interview with Dianne Houston"
134:
Dianne Houston was born on July 22, 1954, to Jack, an
1277:
205:
Houston's writing eventually caught the attention of
453:
She is married with two children. She is a lesbian.
1040:
1064:
138:, and Edith, a schoolteacher. She grew up in the
1014:
1352:
1309:
1180:
1262:
1256:
1247:
1095:
16:American screenwriter, director, and producer
1202:
1132:
565:Surviving Compton: Dre, Suge & Michel'le
381:Houston has since directed for a variety of
1232:
1043:"You are Dealing with a Three-Headed Beast"
991:Executive story editor, Directed 1 Episode
284:
1147:
1110:
1010:
1008:
1006:
257:In 1994 Houston wrote the screenplay for "
1303:
1036:
1034:
1032:
1030:
1028:
1026:
636:Run for the Dream: The Gail Devers Story
539:Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland
1271:
1196:
1185:
1089:
1077:(1). Cineaste Publishers, Inc.: 39–40.
1003:
406:As a screenwriter, she has written for
316:In 1996, the film was nominated for an
1353:
1226:
1174:
1141:
1060:
1058:
1056:
1041:Jacqueline Trescott (March 24, 1996).
209:The company sought her out to provide
1371:African-American television directors
1215:
1128:
1126:
1124:
1122:
1023:
1441:20th-century African-American people
1431:21st-century African-American people
1421:Film directors from Washington, D.C.
1451:20th-century African-American women
1436:21st-century African-American women
1426:Screenwriters from Washington, D.C.
1391:American women television directors
1310:Nellie Andreeva (October 4, 2019).
1263:David Raiklen (December 30, 2013).
1241:
1160:
1104:
1053:
346:against Academy Award broadcaster,
198:, and the 14th Street Playhouse in
13:
1297:"Isaiah: 'Grey's' Fired Wrong Man"
1248:Esther Breger (January 29, 2016).
1119:
14:
1462:
1446:21st-century American LGBT people
1335:
167:degree in theater direction from
150:Workshops for Careers in the Arts
441:
1366:African-American film directors
1289:
1203:Greg Braxton (March 17, 1996).
376:
177:
1233:Pam Lambert (March 18, 1996).
1133:Bruce Haring (March 4, 1997).
1015:Amanda N'Duka (June 9, 2020).
456:
159:When she was 16, she moved to
1:
1381:American women film directors
1376:American television directors
1205:"Jackson Plans Oscar Protest"
1148:Dirk Sutro (April 12, 1992).
997:
929:The Education of Max Bickford
702:
129:
1416:American women screenwriters
1406:African-American LGBT people
1401:American LGBT film directors
1135:"Oscars' minority viewpoint"
154:George Washington University
7:
1065:Shari L. Carpenter (1997).
322:Best Live Action Short Film
234:The Women of Brewster Place
213:on one of its screenplays.
10:
1467:
1321:
943:Producer, Wrote 1 Episode
612:Knights of the South Bronx
493:The Melony Armstrong Story
94:
86:
76:
53:
30:
23:
1396:Howard University alumni
1386:American lesbian writers
1267:. Scriptwriters Network.
1113:Fort Worth Star-Telegram
723:
718:
715:
480:
477:
474:
461:
342:of the Oscars and led a
285:Academy Award nomination
241:novel of the same name.
194:Cultural Arts Center in
1265:"Writing Musical Films"
1100:. Berkeley, California.
751:TV series, (announced)
370:members, respectively.
251:The Wall Street Journal
126:for work she directed.
227:a continuation of the
182:Houston's first play,
1279:Michaela Angela Davis
269:. The film, starring
1235:"Hollywood Blackout"
1115:. Fort Worth, Texas.
1098:The Berkeley Gazette
823:Directed 2 episodes
775:Directed 4 episodes
659:Tuesday Morning Ride
650:TV movie, Co-writer
626:TV movie, Co-Writer
292:Tuesday Morning Ride
275:Lou Diamond Phillips
1285:. Essence Magazine.
1252:. The New Republic.
967:Directed 1 Episode
919:Directed 1 Episode
895:Directed 1 Episode
871:Directed 1 Episode
847:Directed 1 Episode
408:Touchstone Pictures
63:Television Director
1237:. People Magazine.
307:Harlem Renaissance
277:, was directed by
220:-produced series,
1209:Los Angeles Times
1154:Los Angeles Times
995:
994:
700:
699:
446:Houston moved to
424:Charles S. Dutton
350:, to protest the
169:Howard University
152:on the campus of
136:Army psychologist
102:
101:
87:Years active
81:Howard University
1458:
1316:
1315:
1307:
1301:
1300:
1299:. June 22, 2007.
1293:
1287:
1286:
1281:(May 29, 2017).
1275:
1269:
1268:
1260:
1254:
1253:
1245:
1239:
1238:
1230:
1224:
1223:
1219:
1213:
1212:
1200:
1194:
1193:
1189:
1183:
1182:
1178:
1172:
1171:
1164:
1158:
1157:
1145:
1139:
1138:
1130:
1117:
1116:
1108:
1102:
1101:
1093:
1087:
1086:
1062:
1051:
1050:
1038:
1021:
1020:
1012:
799:Wrote 1 Episode
707:
706:
466:
465:
356:racial inclusion
144:Washington, D.C.
142:neighborhood of
109:African-American
47:Washington, D.C.
44:
40:
38:
21:
20:
1466:
1465:
1461:
1460:
1459:
1457:
1456:
1455:
1351:
1350:
1338:
1329:Performing Arts
1324:
1319:
1314:. Deadline.com.
1308:
1304:
1295:
1294:
1290:
1276:
1272:
1261:
1257:
1246:
1242:
1231:
1227:
1221:
1220:
1216:
1201:
1197:
1191:
1190:
1186:
1179:
1175:
1166:
1165:
1161:
1146:
1142:
1131:
1120:
1109:
1105:
1094:
1090:
1063:
1054:
1047:Washington Post
1039:
1024:
1019:. Deadline.com.
1013:
1004:
1000:
881:Strong Medicine
833:Crossing Jordan
720:
705:
464:
459:
444:
400:Crossing Jordan
379:
360:Directors Guild
352:film industry's
287:
263:science fiction
237:, based on the
192:Sojourner Truth
180:
132:
77:Alma mater
72:
45:
42:
36:
34:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1464:
1454:
1453:
1448:
1443:
1438:
1433:
1428:
1423:
1418:
1413:
1408:
1403:
1398:
1393:
1388:
1383:
1378:
1373:
1368:
1363:
1349:
1348:
1342:Dianne Houston
1337:
1336:External links
1334:
1333:
1332:
1331:. 6 Feb. 2011.
1323:
1320:
1318:
1317:
1302:
1288:
1270:
1255:
1240:
1225:
1214:
1195:
1184:
1173:
1159:
1140:
1118:
1103:
1088:
1052:
1022:
1001:
999:
996:
993:
992:
989:
986:
983:
980:
977:City of Angels
973:
969:
968:
965:
962:
959:
956:
949:
945:
944:
941:
938:
935:
932:
925:
921:
920:
917:
914:
911:
908:
901:
897:
896:
893:
890:
887:
884:
877:
873:
872:
869:
866:
863:
860:
853:
849:
848:
845:
842:
839:
836:
829:
825:
824:
821:
818:
815:
812:
805:
801:
800:
797:
794:
791:
788:
781:
777:
776:
773:
770:
767:
764:
757:
753:
752:
749:
746:
743:
740:
733:
729:
728:
725:
722:
717:
714:
711:
704:
701:
698:
697:
696:TV Short Film
694:
691:
688:
685:
678:
674:
673:
670:
667:
664:
661:
656:
652:
651:
648:
645:
642:
639:
632:
628:
627:
624:
621:
618:
615:
608:
604:
603:
601:
598:
595:
592:
589:Runaway Island
585:
581:
580:
577:
574:
571:
568:
561:
557:
556:
551:
548:
545:
542:
535:
531:
530:
528:
525:
522:
519:
512:
508:
507:
504:
501:
498:
495:
490:
486:
485:
482:
479:
476:
473:
470:
463:
460:
458:
455:
443:
440:
420:Dustin Hoffman
378:
375:
286:
283:
223:Brewster Place
179:
176:
131:
128:
105:Dianne Houston
100:
99:
96:
92:
91:
88:
84:
83:
78:
74:
73:
71:
70:
67:
64:
61:
57:
55:
51:
50:
32:
28:
27:
25:Dianne Houston
24:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1463:
1452:
1449:
1447:
1444:
1442:
1439:
1437:
1434:
1432:
1429:
1427:
1424:
1422:
1419:
1417:
1414:
1412:
1411:Living people
1409:
1407:
1404:
1402:
1399:
1397:
1394:
1392:
1389:
1387:
1384:
1382:
1379:
1377:
1374:
1372:
1369:
1367:
1364:
1362:
1359:
1358:
1356:
1347:
1343:
1340:
1339:
1330:
1326:
1325:
1313:
1306:
1298:
1292:
1284:
1280:
1274:
1266:
1259:
1251:
1244:
1236:
1229:
1218:
1210:
1206:
1199:
1188:
1177:
1169:
1163:
1155:
1151:
1144:
1136:
1129:
1127:
1125:
1123:
1114:
1107:
1099:
1092:
1084:
1080:
1076:
1072:
1068:
1061:
1059:
1057:
1048:
1044:
1037:
1035:
1033:
1031:
1029:
1027:
1018:
1011:
1009:
1007:
1002:
990:
987:
984:
981:
979:
978:
974:
971:
970:
966:
963:
960:
957:
955:
954:
950:
947:
946:
942:
939:
936:
933:
931:
930:
926:
923:
922:
918:
915:
912:
909:
907:
906:
902:
899:
898:
894:
891:
888:
885:
883:
882:
878:
875:
874:
870:
867:
864:
861:
859:
858:
854:
851:
850:
846:
843:
840:
837:
835:
834:
830:
827:
826:
822:
819:
816:
813:
811:
810:
809:Single Ladies
806:
803:
802:
798:
795:
792:
789:
787:
786:
782:
779:
778:
774:
771:
768:
765:
763:
762:
758:
755:
754:
750:
747:
744:
741:
739:
738:
734:
731:
730:
726:
712:
709:
708:
695:
692:
689:
686:
684:
683:
679:
676:
675:
671:
668:
665:
662:
660:
657:
654:
653:
649:
646:
643:
640:
638:
637:
633:
630:
629:
625:
622:
619:
616:
614:
613:
609:
606:
605:
602:
599:
596:
593:
591:
590:
586:
583:
582:
578:
575:
572:
569:
567:
566:
562:
559:
558:
555:
552:
549:
546:
543:
541:
540:
536:
533:
532:
529:
526:
523:
520:
518:
517:
513:
510:
509:
505:
502:
499:
496:
494:
491:
488:
487:
483:
471:
468:
467:
454:
451:
449:
442:Personal life
439:
437:
433:
429:
425:
421:
417:
414:, and actors
413:
412:Stephen Herek
409:
404:
402:
401:
396:
395:
390:
389:
384:
374:
371:
369:
365:
364:Writers Guild
361:
357:
353:
349:
345:
344:demonstration
341:
337:
336:Jesse Jackson
333:
329:
327:
323:
319:
318:Academy Award
314:
312:
311:Arna Bontemps
308:
303:
301:
297:
293:
282:
280:
276:
272:
268:
267:Martha Soukup
264:
260:
255:
253:
252:
247:
246:Rosetta Reitz
242:
240:
239:Gloria Naylor
236:
235:
230:
226:
224:
219:
218:Oprah Winfrey
214:
212:
208:
203:
201:
197:
193:
189:
185:
184:The Fishermen
175:
172:
170:
166:
162:
161:New York City
157:
155:
151:
146:
145:
141:
137:
127:
125:
124:Academy Award
121:
117:
113:
112:film director
110:
106:
97:
93:
89:
85:
82:
79:
75:
68:
66:Film Producer
65:
62:
60:Film Director
59:
58:
56:
52:
48:
43:(age 70)
41:July 22, 1954
33:
29:
22:
19:
1328:
1305:
1291:
1273:
1258:
1243:
1228:
1217:
1208:
1198:
1187:
1176:
1162:
1153:
1143:
1137:. USA Today.
1112:
1106:
1097:
1091:
1074:
1070:
1046:
975:
951:
927:
905:Presidio Med
903:
879:
855:
831:
807:
785:When We Rise
783:
760:
735:
680:
658:
634:
610:
587:
563:
537:
514:
506:(announced)
492:
452:
445:
432:Missy Elliot
428:Eddie Murphy
416:Danny Glover
405:
398:
392:
387:
385:, including
380:
377:Later career
372:
334:
330:
315:
304:
291:
288:
279:Danny Glover
256:
249:
243:
233:
221:
215:
207:Warner Bros.
204:
183:
181:
178:Early career
173:
158:
147:
140:Lamond Riggs
133:
120:screenwriter
104:
103:
90:1977-present
69:Screenwriter
18:
1361:1954 births
672:Short Film
457:Filmography
448:Los Angeles
436:Viola Davis
294:, starring
271:Emily Lloyd
211:"doctoring"
1355:Categories
998:References
756:2017-2020
703:Television
300:Bill Cobbs
229:miniseries
196:Fort Worth
130:Early life
54:Occupation
37:1954-07-22
953:NYPD Blue
857:Soul Food
732:2021-TBD
724:Director
721:Producer
719:Executive
579:TV movie
481:Producer
478:Director
394:NYPD Blue
383:TV series
165:fine arts
1083:41688990
1071:Cinéaste
710:Year(s)
682:Override
554:TV movie
368:Local 44
354:lack of
309:writer,
296:Ruby Dee
259:Override
188:Richmond
116:producer
95:Children
1322:Sources
716:Writer
516:Seacole
475:Writer
340:boycott
200:Atlanta
1081:
761:Empire
727:Notes
713:Title
484:Notes
472:Title
434:, and
388:Empire
190:, the
107:is an
1079:JSTOR
972:2000
948:2002
924:2002
900:2002
876:2002
852:2003
828:2004
804:2012
780:2017
737:Boley
677:1994
655:1995
631:1996
607:2005
584:2015
560:2016
534:2017
511:2021
489:2021
469:Year
462:Films
326:Oscar
261:", a
49:, USA
1346:IMDb
988:Yes
982:Yes
964:Yes
937:Yes
934:Yes
916:Yes
892:Yes
868:Yes
844:Yes
820:Yes
790:Yes
772:Yes
769:Yes
766:Yes
745:Yes
742:Yes
687:Yes
669:Yes
666:Yes
663:Yes
641:Yes
617:Yes
597:Yes
570:Yes
547:Yes
521:Yes
503:Yes
500:Yes
497:Yes
397:and
366:and
320:for
298:and
273:and
118:and
31:Born
1344:at
985:No
961:No
958:No
940:No
913:No
910:No
889:No
886:No
865:No
862:No
841:No
838:No
817:No
814:No
796:No
793:No
748:No
693:No
690:No
647:No
644:No
623:No
620:No
600:No
594:No
576:No
573:No
550:No
544:No
527:No
524:No
348:ABC
248:in
1357::
1207:.
1152:.
1121:^
1075:23
1073:.
1069:.
1055:^
1045:.
1025:^
1005:^
438:.
430:,
426:,
422:,
418:,
410:,
403:.
391:,
362:,
302:.
281:.
254:.
231:,
202:.
171:.
156:.
114:,
39:)
1211:.
1156:.
1085:.
1049:.
225:,
98:2
35:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.