Alile Sharon Larkin
Encyclopedia
Alile Sharon Larkin is an award-winning American
film producer
, writer
and director
associated with the L.A. Rebellion
(also known as the Los Angeles School of Black Filmmakers).
. After receiving her degree at USC, she enrolled in the Master's program at UCLA
's prestigious film school. While at UCLA, Larkin directed two 16mm
short films. In 1979, she completed "Your Children Come Back to You" which explores the issue of assimilation
of African Americans into the larger community. This was followed by the film for which she is perhaps best known, "A Different Image," which she completed in 1982. The latter film explores the complexities of a platonic relationship between a free-spirited young woman and the young man who is her best friend. A retrospective of her works, including a documentary on the making of "A Different Image," were set to screen on Friday, December 2, 2011 as part of a major film series, "L.A. Rebellion:Creating a New Black Cinema," part of Pacific Standard Time:Art in L.A. 1945-1980.
After graduating from UCLA, Larkin has produced a series of projects including the children's story, "Dredlocks and the Three Bears" (1991) and co-founded the Black Filmmakers Collective.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
associated with 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...
(also known as the Los Angeles School of Black Filmmakers).
Background and career
Larkin was born in Chicago on May 6, 1953. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in humanities at USCUniversity of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. After receiving her degree at USC, she enrolled in the Master's program 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...
's prestigious film school. While at UCLA, Larkin directed two 16mm
16 mm film
16 mm film refers to a popular, economical gauge of film used for motion pictures and non-theatrical film making. 16 mm refers to the width of the film...
short films. In 1979, she completed "Your Children Come Back to You" which explores the issue of assimilation
Cultural assimilation
Cultural assimilation is a socio-political response to demographic multi-ethnicity that supports or promotes the assimilation of ethnic minorities into the dominant culture. The term assimilation is often used with regard to immigrants and various ethnic groups who have settled in a new land. New...
of African Americans into the larger community. This was followed by the film for which she is perhaps best known, "A Different Image," which she completed in 1982. The latter film explores the complexities of a platonic relationship between a free-spirited young woman and the young man who is her best friend. A retrospective of her works, including a documentary on the making of "A Different Image," were set to screen on Friday, December 2, 2011 as part of a major film series, "L.A. Rebellion:Creating a New Black Cinema," part of Pacific Standard Time:Art in L.A. 1945-1980.
After graduating from UCLA, Larkin has produced a series of projects including the children's story, "Dredlocks and the Three Bears" (1991) and co-founded the Black Filmmakers Collective.
Selected filmography
| Year | Title | Role(s) | Distributor | Screenings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Your Children Come Back to You | Director, Writer, Producer, Editor | Women Make Movies Women Make Movies Women Make Movies, established in 1972, is a non-profit media arts organization based in New York City. The organization distributes and assists with the production, promotion, exhibition of independent films by and about women.-Film catalog:... |
2011:L.A. Rebellion:Creating a New Black Cinema |
| 1982 | A Different Image | Director | Women Make Movies Women Make Movies Women Make Movies, established in 1972, is a non-profit media arts organization based in New York City. The organization distributes and assists with the production, promotion, exhibition of independent films by and about women.-Film catalog:... |
2011:L.A. Rebellion:Creating a New Black Cinema 2003:Los Angeles School Festival at UC Irvine 1982:Black Talkies on Parade Film Festival |
| 1987 | Miss Fluci Moses | Director | ||
| 1991 | Dreadlocks and the Three Bears | Director, Writer, Producer | 2011:L.A. Rebellion:Creating a New Black Cinema |
Awards and recognition
- 1982: 1st Prize, Black American Cinema Society Award for A Different Image