Justin Simien
Justin Simien was born in Houston, Texas. He grew up Catholic and lost his father while he was still young. The family lived within the metro area of that city. After high school graduation, Simien attended Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. He then moved to California to study film at Chapman University. His time there would later inspire a major project about race and identity.
Simien worked multiple jobs in Los Angeles before directing his first feature film. He served as a social media manager at Sony Television. He also worked as a publicity assistant at Focus Features. Later, he held the role of publicity coordinator at Paramount Pictures. These positions gave him industry experience while he developed his own voice. Before making Dear White People, he directed three short films between 2006 and 2009. Rings appeared in 2006. My Women: Inst Msgs followed in 2009. INST MSGS (Instant Messages) also arrived in 2009.
Simien began work on what became Dear White People in 2006. Inspiration came from his feelings while attending the predominantly white Chapman University. In 2012, he created a concept trailer using his tax refund as funding. With this trailer as the centerpiece, he launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo. The goal was to raise $25,000 but the response overwhelmed expectations. He managed to raise $40,000 instead.
The film premiered in-competition in the US Dramatic Category at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival on the 18th of January 2014. It began its theatrical release in the United States on the 17th of October 2014. During its opening weekend, the film grossed $344,000 across only eleven locations. This resulted in a $31,273 per theatre average. The project won Simien the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Talent at that same festival. It also took home the Audience Award at the 2014 San Francisco International Film Festival. Simien had been named to Variety's 2013 10 Directors to Watch list prior to these wins.
On the 5th of May 2016, Lionsgate announced a deal to produce a Dear White People television series. The show would be distributed through Netflix with the first ten episodes written by Simien. The series released in April 2017 to critical acclaim. Peter Debruge wrote for Variety and praised the writing, directing, social commentary, and cast. The New York Times highlighted the series examination of concerns such as appropriation, assimilation, and conflict.
In June 2017, the series was renewed for a second season which released in May 2018. On the 21st of June 2018, it received renewal for a third season releasing in August 2019. On the 2nd of October 2019, the series was renewed for its fourth and final season. That last season arrived in September 2021. Simien served as creator and executive producer across all forty episodes. He directed fifteen episodes and wrote ten episodes. He also appeared on screen as Jerry Skyler in episode Volume 3: Chapter 7.
Simien acted as writer, director, and songwriter for the 2020 horror comedy Bad Hair. It held its world premiere at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. Shortly after that event, Hulu acquired distribution rights to the film. A limited release occurred on the 16th of October 2020 by Neon. Digital streaming followed on Hulu on the 23rd of October 2020. Critics gave mixed reviews regarding the production.
In April 2021, Simien signed on to direct a new film adaptation of The Haunted Mansion Disney theme park attraction. This project released on the 28th of July 2023 to mostly negative reviews from critics. The film became a box office bomb. Simien launched his production company Culture Machine in 2019 before these projects began. His work in this genre diverged sharply from his earlier social commentary films.
At Disney Investor Day 2020, Simien was announced as showrunner for a new Disney+ series about Lando Calrissian called Lando. In July 2023, he revealed he had not received any updates on Lando since 2020. Later that month, reports stated Simien departed Lando due to commitments to Haunted Mansion. Donald Glover and his brother Stephen were named as replacements. Earlier the same day, an interview appeared between Simien and The Hollywood Reporter. When asked if he was still writing Lando, Simien said I am attached, I think, but I don't really know.
He knew it was very possible he had been quietly fired. He questioned whether race or sexuality played a role in the decision. Am I too Black? Am I too queer? And people just don't want to say that? These statements followed public discussions about industry treatment of creators from marginalized backgrounds.
Simien signed an overall deal with Paramount Television Studios after leaving the Star Wars project. Under this agreement, he began adapting Geoff Johns's comic Geiger for television. He also co-created an untitled Star Trek comedy series with Tawny Newsome and Alex Kurtzman. His production company Culture Machine continues to develop various projects including Flashdance and Geiger.
Simien publicly announced he is gay at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival premiere of Dear White People. Portrait photographer and comedian Rick Proctor was identified as Simien's husband on Celebrity Family Feud season 9 episode 3. He has been compared to director Spike Lee but does not welcome the comparison. Simien wants to be the next Justin Simien instead. He credits Lee's Do the Right Thing with showing him that it is possible to make these types of black films. Woody Allen and Ingmar Bergman also count among his influences.
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Common questions
Where was Justin Simien born and what is his early background?
Justin Simien was born in Houston, Texas. He grew up Catholic and lost his father while he was still young.
When did the film Dear White People premiere at Sundance and how much did it gross on opening weekend?
The film premiered in-competition in the US Dramatic Category at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival on the 18th of January 2014. During its opening weekend, the film grossed $344,000 across only eleven locations.
What dates marked the renewals and releases for each season of the Dear White People television series?
On the 5th of May 2016, Lionsgate announced a deal to produce a Dear White People television series that released in April 2017. The series received renewal for a second season which released in May 2018 and a third season releasing in August 2019. On the 2nd of October 2019, the series was renewed for its fourth and final season that arrived in September 2021.
How did Justin Simien fund the creation of the Dear White People concept trailer and what were the results?
In 2012, he created a concept trailer using his tax refund as funding. He managed to raise $40,000 instead of the goal to raise $25,000 through a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo.
When did Justin Simien publicly announce he is gay and who is identified as his husband?
Justin Simien publicly announced he is gay at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival premiere of Dear White People. Portrait photographer and comedian Rick Proctor was identified as Simien's husband on Celebrity Family Feud season 9 episode 3.