{"id":64423,"date":"2012-12-21T18:27:29","date_gmt":"2012-12-21T18:27:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/0de2709a84.nxcli.net\/0-kjasnb\/2012\/12\/21\/the-10-blacks-breakouts-of-2012\/"},"modified":"2018-12-18T09:50:46","modified_gmt":"2018-12-18T09:50:46","slug":"the-10-blacks-breakouts-of-2012","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/the-10-blacks-breakouts-of-2012\/","title":{"rendered":"The 10 Black Breakouts of 2012"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 10 Black Breakouts of 2012<\/strong>By Wilson Morales<\/p>\n

December 21, 2012<\/p>\n

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As the 2012 year is set to close in a few days, it\u2019s time look back and acknowledge some of the performers that stood out this year from newcomers and veteran talent who elevated their game to another level.<\/p>\n

There were plenty of directors, producers, and actors that brought attention to the films they did and while some of theses films may not have the luxury of having played in numerous theaters or becoming box office hits, the journey that each took or displayed was worthy of attention that captured audiences throughout the year.<\/p>\n

In no particular order, here are the 10 Black Breakouts of 2012.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Emayatzy Corinealdi<\/strong><\/p>\n

A year ago, no one knew who she was, let alone know how to pronounce her name, but when 2012 started, and through the guidance of director Ava DuVernay, Emayatzy Corinealdi was a breakout hit in her debut film, the Sundance festival and critically acclaimed \u2018Middle of Nowhere. As a woman torn between two men, this Kentucky native showcased a bravado performance that not netted her an Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Actor, but also garnered a nomination for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead. Upcoming projects include Bille Woodruff\u2019s Addicted with Boris Kodjoe and Qasim Basir’s ‘Destined\u2019 with Omar Epps and Mekhi Phier.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Quvenzhan\u00e9 Wallis<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another starlet to emerge from the Sundance film festival and capture the hearts of many was this precocious little darling by the name of Quvenzhan\u00e9 Wallis. She was only five years old when she was cast as in leading role as Hushpuppy in the critically acclaimed film \u2018Beasts of the Southern Wild.\u2019 Not only has the film won several awards, but Wallis has a chance to be the youngest person ever nominated for an Oscar in the Best Actress category. Coming up next is a role in Steve McQueen\u2019s film, \u2019Twelve Years as a Slave.\u2019<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

David Oyelowo<\/strong><\/p>\n

A veteran in the game since the late 90s, David Oyelowo was unheard of in most circles, except for his native land of England, where he appeared in TV series such as M:I 5. It wasn\u2019t until the last few years, he started to be noticed, appearing opposite Jill Scott in \u2018The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency,\u2019 and last year\u2019s \u2018Rise of the Planet of the Apes,\u2019 and the Oscar-nominated film, \u2018The Help.\u2019 His career took off this year, with prominent roles in \u2018Red Tails,\u2019 \u201996 Minutes,\u2019 Lee Daniels\u2019 \u2018The Paperboy,\u2019 Ava DuVernay\u2019s \u2018Middle of Nowhere,\u2019 Steven Spielberg\u2019s \u2018Lincoln,\u2019 and \u2018Jack Reacher\u2019 with Tom Cruise. In essence, Oyelowo has become one of the hottest actors in demand. In 2013, he\u2019ll be playing the son to Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey\u2019s characters in Lee Daniels\u2019 \u2018The Butler,\u2019 and then will be seen opposite Zoe Saldana in the Nina Simone biopic, \u2018Nina.\u2019<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Tracey Heggins<\/strong><\/p>\n

She first gained attention in Barry Jenkins\u2019 2008 critically acclaimed independent romantic drama, \u2018Medicine for Melancholy.\u2019 Although some years have gone by with various episodic TV work, Tracey Heggins came back on the film scene this year with a slew of roles in short films (\u2018The Last\/ First Kiss,\u2019 \u2018Cherry Waves\u2019), independent films (\u2018All Things Fall Apart,\u2019 \u2018Battlefield America\u2019) and the biggest film of her career thus far, a role in \u2018The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2.\u2019 With only a handful of African Americans featured in the five films of the franchise, Heggins\u2019s role as the Amazonian vampire Senna caught the attention of many. Coming up next for the New Jersey native is the indie film, \u2018LUV,\u2019 which premiere this year at the Sundance Film Festival.
\n\"\"<\/a> Terrence J<\/strong><\/p>\n

With a cast that includes many individuals whose faces we\u2019ve seen before in films, newbie Terrence J was able to hold his own ground amongst that group in Will Packer\u2019s blockbuster hit \u2018Think Like a Man.\u2019 Making that transition from the TV world, where he recently quit his job as the host of BET’s popular music video countdown show 106 & Park, was no easy feat. Packer first gave him an opportunity in 2010\u2019s \u2018Stomp The Yard 2: Homecoming\u2019 and he also had a small role in this year\u2019s \u2018Sparkle\u2019 remake. Not passing up good opportunities, Terrence recently became the co-anchor of E! News, and will be back on the big screen in 2013 with roles in \u2018Battle of the Year\u2019 and \u2018Baggage Claim.\u2019<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Peter Ramsey<\/strong><\/p>\n

Most animation film directors are usually not recognized unless they\u2019ve done more than one successful film and receive commercial exposure, but when you happened to be the 1st African-American filmmaker to helm a big-budget CG animated feature film, you will get attention. Prior to helming Dreamworks\u2019 \u2018Rise of the Guardians,\u2019 Peter Ramsey spent numerous years as a storyboard artist and worked on films such as David Fincher’s \u201cFight Club\u201d and \u201cPanic Room,\u201d and Francis Ford Coppola’s \u201cDracula\u201d adaptation. His first gig in the animation world was working on \u201cShrek the Third\u201d and \u201cMonsters vs. Aliens.\u201d With the success of \u2018Guardians,\u2019 we hope to see Ramsey behind the director\u2019s chair once again.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Clarke Peters<\/strong><\/p>\n

Leave it up to filmmaker Spike Lee to once again give a gifted actor the chance to shine in a leading role. After all, it was Lee who gave Denzel Washington numerous leading roles in his films, as well as Wesley Snipes, Mekhi Phifer, Delroy Lindo, Anthony Mackie, and now Clarke Peters. Best known for his roles as Detective Lester Freamon and Albert “Big Chief” Lambreaux, on the HBO dramas The Wire and Treme respectively, Clarke was amazing as the preacher who tries to teach his grandson some wisdom despite his troubled past in Lee\u2019s controversial film, \u2018Red Hook Summer.\u2019\"\"<\/a>
\nOmar Sy<\/strong><\/p>\n

With the exception of British actors such as Idris Elba, David Oyelowo, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Eamonn Walker among many, Black actors from other countries aren\u2019t usually grabbing attention; but when you win the C\u00e9sar Award for Best Actor like Omar Sy did in 2011 for \u2018The Intouchables,\u2019 you will get national spotlight. He became the first black actor to win the honorary French award. Released in the United States this past May, \u2018The Intouchables\u2019 is currently is this year\u2019s highest grossing foreign language film in North America. Sy\u2019s next film includes a role in Michel Gondry\u2019s \u2018Mood Indigo.\u2019<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Victoria Mahoney<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the words of fellow colleague Armond White, \u201cVictoria Mahoney, director, writer of her debut film, Yelling to the Sky, put together a story that is risk-taking and goes deeper into the complex, controversial subject of colorism (those black folks victimized by the racism of being light-skinned). Mahoney’s movie goes places few filmmakers have ever dared. She deserves recognition. Just think about the way her casting of Zoe Kravitz connects to all our knowledge about Kravitz’s parents Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet–mixed-race blacks whose triumphs and troubles are part of the way we understand contemporary American culture–and ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Bradford Young<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the last few years, Bradford Young has emerged as one of the few African American cinematographers whose work, which includes Tina Mabry\u2019s Mississippi Damned and Gloria La Morte and Paola Mendoza\u2019s Entre nos, has received numerous praise. In 2011, the New York native won the excellence in cinematography award at Sundance Film Festival for his work on Dee Rees’ Pariah. He also did an amazing job on Andrew Dosunmu’s film, ‘Restless City.’ He followed that film in 2012 with Ava DuVernay’s critically acclaimed film, ‘Middle of Nowhere.’ It was also a delight to see that he was also included in the documentary ‘Side by Side,’ a documentary produced by Keanu Reeves that investigates the history, process and workflow of both digital and photochemical film creation. He is currently prepping to shoot Sebastian Silva\u2019s Second Child.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Dwight Henry<\/strong><\/p>\n

As good as Quvenzhan\u00e9 Wallis was in \u2018Beasts of the Southern Wild,\u2019 so too was her co-star Dwight Henry. This little gem of a film introduced the world to two extraordinary actors who were plucked from obscurity and given the chance to demonstrate a level of acting that has captured many hearts. Not bad for someone, who, a year ago, was the owner of the Buttermilk Drop Bakery & Caf\u00e9 in New Orleans’s Seventh Ward and landed a huge film role without SAG card. Next up for Henry is a role in Steve McQueen\u2019s \u2018Twelve Years as a Slave,\u2019 where he will reunite with Wallis.<\/p>\n

The 10 BLACK BREAKOUTS OF 2011<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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