Justin Simien

About Justin Simien

Who is it?: Writer, Producer, Director
Birth Day: May 07, 1983
Alma mater: Chapman University
Occupation: Film director, screenwriter
Awards: U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Talent

Justin Simien Net Worth

Justin Simien was born on May 07, 1983, is Writer, Producer, Director. Justin Simien is a writer and producer, known for Dear White People (2014), Dear White People (2017) and Rings (2006).
Justin Simien is a member of Writer

💰 Net worth: Under Review

Some Justin Simien images

Biography/Timeline

1983

Simien was born on 7 May 1983 in Houston, Texas. He is the son of Anna Simien. Raised in the metro area, he attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. After graduation he studied film at Chapman University in California. Simien worked a number of jobs in Los Angeles prior to directing his first feature film, including social media manager at Sony Television, publicity assistant at Focus Features, and publicity coordinator at Paramount Pictures.

2006

Simien started work on what would become Dear White People in 2006, with inspiration for the script coming from his feelings while attending the predominantly white Chapman University. In 2012, he created a concept trailer using his tax refund as funding. With the concept trailer as a centerpiece, he launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo to raise $25,000 but he got an overwhelming response and managed to raise $40,000 instead.

2014

At the 2014 Sundance Film Festival premiere of Dear White People, Simien publicly announced he is gay.

2016

On May 5, 2016, Lionsgate announced a deal to produce a Dear White People television series based on the film and distributed through Netflix with the show's first 10 episodes to be written by Simien.

2019

While Simien has been compared to Director Spike Lee, Simien says he does not welcome this comparison because he does not want to be "the next Spike Lee" but instead "the next Justin Simien" (although he does credit Lee’s Do the Right Thing with "showing him that it's possible to make these types of black films"). Simien also counts among his influences Woody Allen and Ingmar Bergman.