Vantile Whitfield
Encyclopedia
Vantile Whitfield was a highly influential arts administrator who helped found several performing arts institutions in the United States.
, the only child of Theodore Roosevelt Whitfield (1902 – 1971) and Lugene Ellen Green. While a student at Dunbar High School
, he played football and became interested in painting.
After high school, Whitfield served in the Air Force until 1952.
He studied theatre at Howard University
, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1957. After graduation he enrolled in the master’s degree program at the UCLA Film School, becoming one of the first African Americans to study there.
. While there he taught acting classes with Beah Richards
, Whitman Mayo
and Isabel Sanford
. Also in 1963, Whitfield designed the sets, lights and costumes for Silvera’s production of the James Baldwin
play, The Amen Corner
, becoming the first African American production designer to work on Broadway
.
The following year, Whitfield founded and served as producing artistic director of the Performing Arts Society of Los Angeles (PASLA). The goal of PASLA was to help train inner city youth in the performing arts.
He was also founding Artistic Director of Studio West and co-founder with actor Robert Hooks
of the D.C. Black Repertory Company.
In 1971, Whitfield was the founding director of the Expansion Arts Program at the National Endowment for the Arts
(NEA). In this role, he had perhaps his greatest influence, because this program provided funds for many African American artists and arts organizations.
, Whitfield had a connection with several filmmakers associated with the film movement. Larry Clark
taught film production classes at PASLA while a student at UCLA and directed the short film "As Above, So Below" (1973) through the organization. Whitfield also acted in Haile Gerima
's film, Ashes and Embers
.
Background
Vantile Emmanuel Whitfield was born on September 8, 1930 in Washington, DCWashington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, the only child of Theodore Roosevelt Whitfield (1902 – 1971) and Lugene Ellen Green. While a student at Dunbar High School
Dunbar High School (Washington, D.C.)
Dunbar High School is a public secondary school located in Washington, D.C., United States. The school is located in the Truxton Circle neighborhood of Northwest Washington, two blocks from the intersection of New Jersey and New York Avenues...
, he played football and became interested in painting.
After high school, Whitfield served in the Air Force until 1952.
He studied theatre at Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1957. After graduation he enrolled in the master’s degree program at the UCLA Film School, becoming one of the first African Americans to study there.
Career
In 1963, Whitfield co-founded the American Theatre of Being in Los Angeles with actor Frank SilveraFrank Silvera
Frank Alvin Silvera was an American actor and theatrical director.-Career:Silvera was born in Kingston, Jamaica to a Spanish Jewish father and Jamaican mother. His family later emigrated to the United States, settling in Boston where Silvera attended English High School and Northeastern Law School...
. While there he taught acting classes with Beah Richards
Beah Richards
Beah Richards was an American actress of stage, screen and television. She was a poet, playwright and author....
, Whitman Mayo
Whitman Mayo
Whitman B. Mayo was an American actor best known for his character Grady Wilson on the 1970s television sitcom Sanford and Son....
and Isabel Sanford
Isabel Sanford
Isabel Sanford was an American actress best known for her role as Louise "Weezy" Jefferson on the CBS television sitcoms All in the Family and The Jeffersons .-Career:...
. Also in 1963, Whitfield designed the sets, lights and costumes for Silvera’s production of the James Baldwin
James Baldwin
James Baldwin was an American novelist, essayist and civil rights activist.James Baldwin may also refer to:-Writers:*James Baldwin , American educator, writer and administrator...
play, The Amen Corner
The Amen Corner
The Amen Corner is a three-act play by James Baldwin. It was Baldwin's first attempt at theater following Go Tell It on the Mountain. It was first published in 1954, and inspired a short-lived 1983 Broadway musical adaptation with the slightly truncated title, Amen Corner.-Plot introduction:The...
, becoming the first African American production designer to work on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
.
The following year, Whitfield founded and served as producing artistic director of the Performing Arts Society of Los Angeles (PASLA). The goal of PASLA was to help train inner city youth in the performing arts.
He was also founding Artistic Director of Studio West and co-founder with actor Robert Hooks
Robert Hooks
Robert Hooks is an American actor of films, television and stage. With a career as a producer and political activist to his credit, he is most recognizable to the public for his over 100 roles in films and television, as well as his political and civil rights activities...
of the D.C. Black Repertory Company.
In 1971, Whitfield was the founding director of the Expansion Arts Program at the National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
(NEA). In this role, he had perhaps his greatest influence, because this program provided funds for many African American artists and arts organizations.
Association with L.A. Rebellion filmmakers
Although his tenure at UCLA Film School pre-dates the period generally associated with the L.A. RebellionL.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...
, Whitfield had a connection with several filmmakers associated with the film movement. Larry Clark
Larry Clark (filmmaker)
Larry Clark is one of the leading directors of the L.A. Rebellion . He directed the feature films, Passing Through and Cutting Horse...
taught film production classes at PASLA while a student at UCLA and directed the short film "As Above, So Below" (1973) through the organization. Whitfield also acted in Haile Gerima
Haile Gerima
Haile Gerima is an Ethiopian filmmaker, who resides in the United States. He is a leading member of the L.A. Rebellion film movement, also known as the Los Angeles School of Black Filmmakers. His films have received wide international acclaim. Gerima has also been an influential film professor at...
's film, Ashes and Embers
Ashes and Embers
Ashes and Embers is a 1982 drama film directed by Haile Gerima.-Plot summary:Ashes and Embers is a two-hour film about the travails of black urban life. It is the story of a moody and disillusioned black veteran of the Vietnam War.-Cast:...
.
Awards and recognition
- 1969: NAACP Image AwardNAACP Image AwardAn 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....
- 1970: Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle AwardLos Angeles Drama Critics Circle AwardThe Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards is an annual awards program presented by the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle . Established in 1969, the awards recognize excellence in theatre in the Greater Los Angeles Area....
- 1992: ETA Creative Arts Foundation Citation
- Jeff Citation for Among All This You Stand Like a Fine Brownstone
- 1996: AUDELCO Pioneer Award