Boyz n the Hood

John Singleton wrote this as one of three ideas a film school application asked for; the one titled Summer of 84 became the picture. Columbia bought the script in 1990 and he would not hand over the direction, saying he refused to let someone from Idaho or Encino make it. Doughboy was written for Ice Cube, whom Singleton met while interning at The Arsenio Hall Show; the studio did not know he was in N.W.A. Fishburne was cast after they met on the Pee-wee’s Playhouse set, where Singleton was a production assistant and guard. Shooting followed story order, and Singleton says the camerawork improves as the film goes on. Gang members consulted on wardrobe, vocal emphasis and dialogue. It played in Un Certain Regard at Cannes. Over the opening weekend violence broke out at some cinemas showing it and a few stopped screenings; Columbia kept it in release, paid for extra security, and Singleton rejected the blame. Two nominations at the 64th Academy Awards, both lost: Directing, and Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen. Singleton was then the youngest and the first Black nominee for Directing. A good fit if you treat Furious’s long lecture scenes as the body of the film. Not for you if you want it told from Doughboy’s side; the camera stays mostly with Tre.