James Spooner

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Template:Short description Script error: No such module "about". Template:Use mdy dates Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:Main otherScript error: No such module "Check for clobbered parameters".Template:Wikidata image James Spooner (born 1976) is an American film director, tattoo artist, and graphic novelist. He is best known for his 2003 documentary film Afro-Punk,[1] and for co-founding the Afropunk Festival.[2] He also directed the 2007 narrative film White Lies, Black Sheep.[3] His first graphic novel, titled The High Desert, was published in 2022.[4]

Early life

James Spooner was born in 1976 in Jersey City, New Jersey.[5] His father is a Saint Lucian professional bodybuilder and former Mr. America and his mother is a retired special education teacher.[5] His parents divorced when he was 8 years old.[5] He grew up in Apple Valley, California and New York City,[6] and attended Apple Valley High School[2] and Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.[7] He became fascinated with the punk rock scene in the 8th grade, listening to Sex Pistols, Black Flag, and Misfits.[8]

Career

Music

Spooner is the founder of the record label Kidney Room Records.[9] The label put out three records: Frail's single "Idle Hands Hold Nothing", Elements of Need and Jasmine's split single, and Swing Kids' self-titled single.

He worked as a host at On!, a late-night club event in New York City.[10]

In 2021, he was featured on the Broad's three-part documentary video series, Time Decorated: The Musical Influences of Jean-Michel Basquiat.[11]

Film

Spooner directed the documentary film, Afro-Punk.[12] It premiered at the 2003 Toronto International Film Festival.[13] The film featured black punk fans and musicians talking about music, race, and identity issues.[14] In the DIY tradition, Spooner toured the film across the country like a band, screening it over 300 times at college campuses and film festivals.[15]

The message boards on Afropunk.com became an online community where the users discuss fashion, film, racial identity, and gender politics.[16] After the release of the film, Spooner curated the party series Liberation Sessions, where the film was screened and the bands performed live.[17]

In 2005, Spooner and Matthew Morgan co-founded the Afropunk Festival in Brooklyn.[18] According to The New Yorker, it was "born of necessity, a reprieve from racism in punk spaces and a chance for black punks to build community with one another."[19] The annual festival has grown and been held not only in Brooklyn, but also in Atlanta, London, Paris, and Johannesburg.[20] In 2008, due to philosophical differences with its direction, Spooner ended his involvement with the festival.[21][22]

He also wrote and directed the narrative film White Lies, Black Sheep which was never released commercially.[3] It premiered at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival.[23]

Writing

Spooner's first graphic novel, titled The High Desert, was published in 2022.[24] The Washington Post included the book in its list of the "10 Best Graphic Novels of 2022".[25] The book also won the 2023 Alex Awards.[26]

Personal life

Spooner is a vegan.[5] He is also a tattoo artist at Monocle Tattoo, where he and others pioneered vegan-friendly tattooing.[27] He currently lives in Los Angeles with his partner Lisa Nola and daughter.[5]

Filmography

Feature films

Year Title Director Writer Producer Cinematographer Editor
2003 Afro-Punk[28] Yes No Yes Yes Yes
2007 White Lies, Black Sheep[29] Yes Yes Yes No Yes

Publications

Books

  • The High Desert: Black. Punk. Nowhere. (2022)
  • Black Punk Now (2023), edited with Chris L. Terry[30]

References

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External links

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