Patrik-Ian Polk
Encyclopedia
Patrik-Ian Polk American film director
, producer, screenwriter, singer, and actor. Polk, who is openly homosexual, is noted for his films that explore the LGBT
experience and relationships.
Polk made his feature film directorial debut with Punks
, an independent feature that he also wrote and produced. Often described as a male Waiting to Exhale
, Punks had its world premiere in January 2000 as the Sundance Film Festival, as part of its American Spectrum series. The film won several awards at festivals around the world and was released theatrically in November 2001.
He is the creator of the TV series Noah's Arc, which has made its debut on the Logo television network in October 2005.
, where he was the arts editor of the school newspaper.He then went on to study at the University of Southern California (USC) School of Cinema-Television. While at the School of Cinema-Television, Polk wrote and directed many short films.
Patrik-Ian Polk then began to work for Edmond's Entertainment, aka e2 filmworks. Under Tracey and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Polk worked as Vice President of production and development. Whilst, in his Tenure at e2, Polk worked on films such as “Light It Up
” (1999), “Soul Food
” (1997), and “Hav Plenty
” (1998).
Soul Food, told through the eyes of an eleven year old boy, is story about the plights of an African-American family who is broken by the death of their mother. Throughout the film, a struggle for stability and unity within the film is a major theme. The film eventually went on to be produced into a Showtime show that turned into a series based on the film. Playing for four years, Soul Food became the longest running drama featuring a predominately black cast. “Light It Up” grossed $6 million.
” (2001), produced by Babyface. Polk directed, wrote, and produced the film independently. The movie, starring Rockmond Dunbar
, Renoly Santiago
, Jazzmun
, and Devon Odessa
, is a film about a group of African American Gay Friends. “Punks” first was shown in January 2000 at the Sundance Film Festival in the American Spectrum Series. The film won the Black Reel Award (2002) for Best Independent Actor Rockmond Dunbar
and the Cleveland International Film Festival's Best American Independent Feature Film. It also was chosen to open the Twenty-Fourth San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival and is noted for its landmark achievement for it anecdotes in classic Hollywood art cinema. In addition, it was nominated for the GLAAD Media Award and the John Cassavetes Award. In November 2001, Punks was released to theatrical audiences at the Quad in New York City. The film acquired great attention, and had very good per screen revenue. This film's major themes were incorporated in Polk's later works. Making its television debut, the film premiered on LOGO on August 7, 2011.
started as a television series about a gay black group of friends. The show addresses and integrates issues like same-sex dating, same-sex marriage, HIV and AIDS awareness, infidelity, sexual curiosity, promiscuity
, homophobia
, gay bashing
, and same-sex parenthood. Often considered "the gay Sex and the City
," the show aired for 2 seasons, making 17 episodes (plus the pilot). The series aired on the Logo
cable-television network, and became extremely popular after its initial airing in October 2005. For a long time, the show was the network's most popular title. The 23-minute episodes take place in Los Angeles and shows the four black gay friends- Noah, Alex, Ricky, and Chance -dealing with everyday life in their situation through complex romantic and professional relationships.
Starring in the show are stars such as Darryl Stephans, Rodney Chester, Cristian Vincent, Doug Spearman, and Jensen Atwood. After much anticipation, a second season was announced and aired eight episodes, ending with a cliffhanger. With the demand from audiences for a third season, LOGO announced canceled, but said that the series may return if the planned feature film was a large success. Polk is noted for saying that Noah's ark is both a “triumph and a let down”.
Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom
(2008) was the film to follow the series, and featured Patrik-Ian Polk as director, writer, and producer of the movie. The movie was written in collaboration with fellow writer from the series John R. Gordon
, and picks up after the cliffhanger in the second season. The film is about the marriage and wedding of the main character, Noah Nicolson, and his boyfriend Wade Robinson at Martha's Vineyard. In the movie, four groups of couples struggle for identity while attending four different bachelor parties where each relationship becomes more complicated. Near the end, Noah and Wade are not helped with their last-minute jitters by the tension of their friends.
The film was released on October 24, 2008, on a limited basis, performing at theaters in Los Angeles, New York City, Atlanta, Chicago, Palm Springs, and Washington, D.C.. On November 7, the movie showed in Ocean City, New Jersey, Detroit and San Francisco. The movie finally then began showing at theaters in Philadelphia and Dallas on November 28, 2008, and performed well on a per screen basis.
Polk's work received much acclaim throughout the gay community. The film received three NAACP Image Award
nominations: Outstanding Independent Feature Film, Outstanding Writing in a Feature Film and Outstanding Directing in a Feature Film. The film was also nominated for GLAAD Award
's for Best Feature Film (Limited Release), in which it won. The film, however, received many critical reviews from other critics. For example, Time Out called it "ludicrous", and Variety
described it as "a lame feature", and that the jump from the cable-television to big screen was too much. Jumping the Broom received a 43% on the website Rotten Tomatoes
.
However, despite criticism, according to IndieWire
(October 27, 2008), the movie opened as number 1 on the independent film box office report. Theaters reported around the block lines, and even though it only played for 7 weeks in no more than 7 theaters at once, took in over $532,000 despite its low mainstream marketing support. The film took an estimated 5million to make, and is never expected to make back those costs even with its DVD release.
In his free time, Patrik is found at the gym, watching TV or traveling. One destination common for him is London, where he goes to unwind. Patrik also updates his Twitter regularly.
Polk has a website, http://tallskinnyblackboy.com/ which includes some of his videos, music, photos, and his news.
Polk has completed his latest project, "The Skinny," which debuts this fall.
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:...
, producer, screenwriter, singer, and actor. Polk, who is openly homosexual, is noted for his films that explore the LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
experience and relationships.
Polk made his feature film directorial debut with Punks
Punks (film)
Punks is a 2001 film produced by Babyface, directed by Patrik-Ian Polk and starring Rockmond Dunbar, Seth Gilliam, Renoly Santiago, Jazzmun, and Dwight Ewell....
, an independent feature that he also wrote and produced. Often described as a male Waiting to Exhale
Waiting to Exhale
Waiting to Exhale is a 1995 romance film starring Whitney Houston and Angela Bassett, directed by Forest Whitaker. The movie was adapted from the 1992 novel of the same name by Terry McMillan. Loretta Devine, Lela Rochon, Dennis Haysbert, Michael Beach, Gregory Hines, Donald Faison and Mykelti...
, Punks had its world premiere in January 2000 as the Sundance Film Festival, as part of its American Spectrum series. The film won several awards at festivals around the world and was released theatrically in November 2001.
He is the creator of the TV series Noah's Arc, which has made its debut on the Logo television network in October 2005.
Education
Patrik-Ian Polk was born in 1973 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA. Polk was intrigued and fascinated by television and movies as a young child. Polk attended Brandeis University in Massachusetts and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in Film and theater. The University of Southern Mississippi is a school in Polk's hometown of Hattiesburg, and is known for its premier research. Polk also attended Brandeis UniversityBrandeis University
Brandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
, where he was the arts editor of the school newspaper.He then went on to study at the University of Southern California (USC) School of Cinema-Television. While at the School of Cinema-Television, Polk wrote and directed many short films.
Early career
Partrik-Ian Polk served briefly as a producer's assistant for Amblin Entertainment's Television series known as “SeaQuest,DSV,”. Polk was then hired to work for MTV as a development executive at Music TeleVision (MTV), in the newly formed Paramount-based film division known as MTV films. Polk helped development of many productions including “Beavis and Butthead Do America” and “Election”. “Election”, a scandalous story about a high school election, was nominated for an Oscar in 1999.Patrik-Ian Polk then began to work for Edmond's Entertainment, aka e2 filmworks. Under Tracey and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Polk worked as Vice President of production and development. Whilst, in his Tenure at e2, Polk worked on films such as “Light It Up
Light It Up (film)
Light It Up is a 1999 American drama film starring an ensemble cast that consists of R&B singer/actor Usher Raymond , Rosario Dawson, Forest Whitaker, and Vanessa L. Williams. The film was written and directed by Craig Bolotin, and produced by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and his wife Tracy Edmonds...
” (1999), “Soul Food
Soul Food (film)
Soul Food is a 1997 American comedy-drama film, produced by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Tracey Edmonds, and Robert Teitel, and released by Fox 2000 Pictures. Featuring an ensemble cast, the film stars Vanessa L. Williams, Vivica A. Fox, Nia Long, Michael Beach, Mekhi Phifer, Jeffrey D. Sams, Irma...
” (1997), and “Hav Plenty
Hav Plenty
Hav Plenty is a 1997 American independent film released by Miramax Films, based on an eventful weekend in the life of Lee Plenty , written and directed by Cherot...
” (1998).
Soul Food, told through the eyes of an eleven year old boy, is story about the plights of an African-American family who is broken by the death of their mother. Throughout the film, a struggle for stability and unity within the film is a major theme. The film eventually went on to be produced into a Showtime show that turned into a series based on the film. Playing for four years, Soul Food became the longest running drama featuring a predominately black cast. “Light It Up” grossed $6 million.
Punks
Patrik-Ian Polk's first feature film was “PunksPunks (film)
Punks is a 2001 film produced by Babyface, directed by Patrik-Ian Polk and starring Rockmond Dunbar, Seth Gilliam, Renoly Santiago, Jazzmun, and Dwight Ewell....
” (2001), produced by Babyface. Polk directed, wrote, and produced the film independently. The movie, starring Rockmond Dunbar
Rockmond Dunbar
Rockmond Dunbar is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his roles as Kenny Chadway on the Showtime television drama series Soul Food, and as Benjamin Miles "C-Note" Franklin on the FOX television drama series Prison Break...
, Renoly Santiago
Renoly Santiago
Renoly Santiago is a Puerto Rican actor, singer and writer who has appeared in a number of high-profile Hollywood productions....
, Jazzmun
Jazzmun
Jazzmun is the stage name of Nichcalo Dion Crayton , an American actor and nightclub performer specializing in female impersonation in the Los Angeles area.-Background:...
, and Devon Odessa
Devon Odessa
Devon Odessa is an American actress and film producer most famous for her role as Sharon Cherski on My So-Called Life....
, is a film about a group of African American Gay Friends. “Punks” first was shown in January 2000 at the Sundance Film Festival in the American Spectrum Series. The film won the Black Reel Award (2002) for Best Independent Actor Rockmond Dunbar
Rockmond Dunbar
Rockmond Dunbar is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his roles as Kenny Chadway on the Showtime television drama series Soul Food, and as Benjamin Miles "C-Note" Franklin on the FOX television drama series Prison Break...
and the Cleveland International Film Festival's Best American Independent Feature Film. It also was chosen to open the Twenty-Fourth San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival and is noted for its landmark achievement for it anecdotes in classic Hollywood art cinema. In addition, it was nominated for the GLAAD Media Award and the John Cassavetes Award. In November 2001, Punks was released to theatrical audiences at the Quad in New York City. The film acquired great attention, and had very good per screen revenue. This film's major themes were incorporated in Polk's later works. Making its television debut, the film premiered on LOGO on August 7, 2011.
Noah's Arc
Noah's ArcNoah's Arc (TV series)
Noah's Arc is an American cable television dramedy. The series, which predominantly features gay black and Latino characters, focused on many socially relevant issues, including same sex dating, same-sex marriage, same-sex parenthood, HIV and AIDS awareness, infidelity, promiscuity, homophobia, gay...
started as a television series about a gay black group of friends. The show addresses and integrates issues like same-sex dating, same-sex marriage, HIV and AIDS awareness, infidelity, sexual curiosity, promiscuity
Promiscuity
In humans, promiscuity refers to less discriminating casual sex with many sexual partners. The term carries a moral or religious judgement and is viewed in the context of the mainstream social ideal for sexual activity to take place within exclusive committed relationships...
, homophobia
Homophobia
Homophobia is a term used to refer to a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards lesbian, gay and in some cases bisexual, transgender people and behavior, although these are usually covered under other terms such as biphobia and transphobia. Definitions refer to irrational fear, with the...
, gay bashing
Gay bashing
Gay bashing and gay bullying is verbal or physical abuse against a person who is perceived to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender . Such abuse is used also to bully heterosexual persons and persons of non-specific or unknown sexual orientation.A "bashing" may be a specific incident, and one...
, and same-sex parenthood. Often considered "the gay Sex and the City
Sex and the City
Sex and the City is an American television comedy-drama series created by Darren Star and produced by HBO. Broadcast from 1998 until 2004, the original run of the show had a total of ninety-four episodes...
," the show aired for 2 seasons, making 17 episodes (plus the pilot). The series aired on the Logo
Logo (TV channel)
Logo is an American digital cable television channel owned by Viacom's MTV Networks division. Launched in June 2005, the channel's programs are geared towards the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community...
cable-television network, and became extremely popular after its initial airing in October 2005. For a long time, the show was the network's most popular title. The 23-minute episodes take place in Los Angeles and shows the four black gay friends- Noah, Alex, Ricky, and Chance -dealing with everyday life in their situation through complex romantic and professional relationships.
Starring in the show are stars such as Darryl Stephans, Rodney Chester, Cristian Vincent, Doug Spearman, and Jensen Atwood. After much anticipation, a second season was announced and aired eight episodes, ending with a cliffhanger. With the demand from audiences for a third season, LOGO announced canceled, but said that the series may return if the planned feature film was a large success. Polk is noted for saying that Noah's ark is both a “triumph and a let down”.
Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom
Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom
Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom is a 2008 Canadian-American romantic comedy-drama film based on the LOGO television series Noah's Arc. It was released on October 24, 2008 in select theaters and video on demand...
(2008) was the film to follow the series, and featured Patrik-Ian Polk as director, writer, and producer of the movie. The movie was written in collaboration with fellow writer from the series John R. Gordon
John R. Gordon
John R Gordon is an Afrocentric white male writer resident in Shepherds Bush, London, England.Gordon script-edited two seasons of Patrik-Ian Polk's television show Noah's Arc for the US cable channel Logo. He wrote two episodes of the second season, and across 2007 co-storylined John R Gordon is...
, and picks up after the cliffhanger in the second season. The film is about the marriage and wedding of the main character, Noah Nicolson, and his boyfriend Wade Robinson at Martha's Vineyard. In the movie, four groups of couples struggle for identity while attending four different bachelor parties where each relationship becomes more complicated. Near the end, Noah and Wade are not helped with their last-minute jitters by the tension of their friends.
The film was released on October 24, 2008, on a limited basis, performing at theaters in Los Angeles, New York City, Atlanta, Chicago, Palm Springs, and Washington, D.C.. On November 7, the movie showed in Ocean City, New Jersey, Detroit and San Francisco. The movie finally then began showing at theaters in Philadelphia and Dallas on November 28, 2008, and performed well on a per screen basis.
Polk's work received much acclaim throughout the gay community. The film received three NAACP Image Award
NAACP Image Award
An NAACP Image Award is an accolade presented by the American National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to honor outstanding people of color in film, television, music, and literature....
nominations: Outstanding Independent Feature Film, Outstanding Writing in a Feature Film and Outstanding Directing in a Feature Film. The film was also nominated for GLAAD Award
GLAAD Media Awards
The GLAAD Media Award is an accolade bestowed by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation to recognize and honor various branches of the media for their outstanding representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives...
's for Best Feature Film (Limited Release), in which it won. The film, however, received many critical reviews from other critics. For example, Time Out called it "ludicrous", and Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
described it as "a lame feature", and that the jump from the cable-television to big screen was too much. Jumping the Broom received a 43% on the website Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
.
However, despite criticism, according to IndieWire
IndieWire
indieWIRE is a daily news site for the independent film community. It covers indie, documentary and foreign language films, as well industry news, film festival reports, filmmaker interviews and movie reviews...
(October 27, 2008), the movie opened as number 1 on the independent film box office report. Theaters reported around the block lines, and even though it only played for 7 weeks in no more than 7 theaters at once, took in over $532,000 despite its low mainstream marketing support. The film took an estimated 5million to make, and is never expected to make back those costs even with its DVD release.
Life
Patrik-Ian Polk's strides in portraying and exemplifying the gay community of African-Americans has widely been considered one of his greatest achievements. Amongst other things, Polk notes one experience where he was confronted by one transitioning person that they were experiencing exactly what “Noah's Arc” characters went through and that they were extremely grateful to him. Polk said, when asked in an interview with “Shei” what his inspiration was to the series “Noah's Arc” that “I wanted to see black gay charters and there were none on TV. So I decided rather than complain about it, I'd do it myself.” Amongst other things, Polk has a strong attitude towards a healthy life style, and goes to the gym often. Polk says he was inspired by Spike lee on television with the scene “She's Gotta Have It”, where there was a black face in film making. Patrik-Ian Polk is a strong believer that people should come out and not have a secret lifestyle as it leads to lies and deception.In his free time, Patrik is found at the gym, watching TV or traveling. One destination common for him is London, where he goes to unwind. Patrik also updates his Twitter regularly.
Polk has a website, http://tallskinnyblackboy.com/ which includes some of his videos, music, photos, and his news.
Polk has completed his latest project, "The Skinny," which debuts this fall.