Welcome  back to Reel Cultured. A space where movies and pop culture collide, and the conversations are always real. Reel Talk. Reel Fun. Reel Cultured.

This is The Blueprint. A brand-new series where we shine a spotlight on the pioneering Black filmmakers who paved the way. The legends who told our stories against all odds, and laid the foundation for today’s creators to thrive.

Episode 9 — Barry Jenkins

With Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk, Barry Jenkins gave cinema its most intimate and lyrical portraits of Black life. His films are poetry in motion.

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Welcome  back to Reel Cultured. A space where movies and pop culture collide, and the conversations are always real. Reel Talk. Reel Fun. Reel Cultured.

This is The Blueprint. A brand-new series where we shine a spotlight on the pioneering Black filmmakers who paved the way. The legends who told our stories against all odds, and laid the foundation for today’s creators to thrive.

Episode 8 — Ryan Coogler

From Fruitvale Station to Black Panther, Ryan Coogler brought Micheaux’s blueprint into blockbuster territory. His films prove that unapologetically Black stories can change the world.

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Welcome  back to Reel Cultured. A space where movies and pop culture collide, and the conversations are always real. Reel Talk. Reel Fun. Reel Cultured.

This is The Blueprint. A brand-new series where we shine a spotlight on the pioneering Black filmmakers who paved the way. The legends who told our stories against all odds, and laid the foundation for today’s creators to thrive.

Episode 7 — Gordon Parks

He went from photographing civil rights to directing Shaft and The Learning Tree. Gordon Parks showed how art, activism, and cinema could be one and the same.

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Welcome  back to Reel Cultured. A space where movies and pop culture collide, and the conversations are always real. Reel Talk. Reel Fun. Reel Cultured.

This is The Blueprint. A brand-new series where we shine a spotlight on the pioneering Black filmmakers who paved the way. The legends who told our stories against all odds, and laid the foundation for today’s creators to thrive.

Episode 6 — Kasi Lemmons

From Eve’s Bayou to Harriet, Kasi Lemmons blends history, spirituality, and imagination. Her films amplify the voices and inner lives of Black women like never before.

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Welcome back to Reel Cultured. A space where movies and pop culture collide, and the conversations are always real. Reel Talk. Reel Fun. Reel Cultured.

This is The Blueprint. A brand-new series where we shine a spotlight on the pioneering Black filmmakers who paved the way. The legends who told our stories against all odds, and laid the foundation for today’s creators to thrive.

Episode 5 — John Singleton

At just 23, John Singleton became the youngest and first Black director nominated for an Oscar with Boyz n the Hood. His work gave voice to South Central L.A. and redefined coming-of-age films.

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Welcome  back to Reel Cultured. A space where movies and pop culture collide, and the conversations are always real. Reel Talk. Reel Fun. Reel Cultured.

This is The Blueprint. A brand-new series where we shine a spotlight on the pioneering Black filmmakers who paved the way. The legends who told our stories against all odds, and laid the foundation for today’s creators to thrive.

Episode 4 — Julie Dash

In 1991, Julie Dash released Daughters of the Dust, the first feature by a Black woman in U.S. theaters. Her poetic vision shaped a generation — and even inspired Beyoncé’s Lemonade.

Support the show

Welcome  back to Reel Cultured. A space where movies and pop culture collide, and the conversations are always real. Reel Talk. Reel Fun. Reel Cultured.

Welcome to The Blueprint. A brand-new series where we shine a spotlight on the pioneering Black filmmakers who paved the way. The legends who told our stories against all odds, and laid the foundation for today’s creators to thrive.

Episode 3 — Ava DuVernay

From PR to powerhouse, Ava DuVernay didn’t just tell stories — she built an ecosystem for the future of Black film. Her blueprint is activism, ownership, and opening doors.

Support the show

Welcome  back to Reel Cultured. A space where movies and pop culture collide, and the conversations are always real. Reel Talk. Reel Fun. Reel Cultured.

Welcome to The Blueprint. A brand-new series where we shine a spotlight on the pioneering Black filmmakers who paved the way. The legends who told our stories against all odds, and laid the foundation for today’s creators to thrive.

Episode 2 — Spike Lee

He made Brooklyn the world’s stage and forced America to talk about race, politics, and truth. Spike Lee shook Hollywood with style, fire, and a voice that couldn’t be ignored.

Support the show

Welcome  back to Reel Cultured. A space where movies and pop culture collide, and the conversations are always real. Reel Talk. Reel Fun. Reel Cultured.

Welcome to The Blueprint. A brand-new series where we shine a spotlight on the pioneering Black filmmakers who paved the way. The legends who told our stories against all odds, and laid the foundation for today’s creators to thrive.

Episode 1 — Oscar Micheaux

Before Spike, before Ava, there was Oscar Micheaux — the self-made pioneer who built his own film empire. Discover how he fought censorship, distributed his own films, and laid the foundation for Black cinema.

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