Ernest R. Dickerson

ERNEST R. DICKERSON

Date of Birth: 1952

Native to Newark, New Jersey, Dickerson graduated from Howard University where he majored in architecture and photography. In the latter major, Dickerson filmed student operations for Howard's medical school. After graduation, he ventured off to achieve a Master's Degree at New York University's film school. During his stay, he met future filmmaker and fellow student, Spike Lee.

He manned the camera for Spike Lee's student film, Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads, and Lee's first six features including Jungle Fever and Malcolm X. He also worked as a cinematographer for a number of other directors including John Sayles, Robert Townsend (Eddie Murphy Raw), and John McGaughton (Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll).

In 1992, he decided to lead his own project and with just $3 million, he directed the independent film, Juice, about four friends who become involved with a crime. Dickerson then did some work for the small screen, directing several episodes of the 1992 TV revival, The Untouchables. By the mid-'90s, he returned to the big screen, releasing Surviving the Game and Tales From the Crypt Presents: Demon Knights, a year later.

In 1996 he hit a bump in his successfully paved road after releasing Bulletproof. Starring Damon Wayans and Adam Sandler, the action comedy failed to impress critics and had a poor showing at the box office. After a couple more films that failed to make the grade, Dickerson spent the rest of the '90s directing a couple of telefilms including Futuresport and Strange Justice, and the series Night Visions.

Dickerson started off the 21st century with the horror film, Bones, starring hip hop rapper Snoop Dogg. Next up he helmed Our America (2002), about two Chicago teens living in a bad neighborhood who get the chance to become reporters. Over the next couple of years, Dickerson directed several projects for TV, then returned to the big screen with Never Die Alone (2004), starring David Arquette and DMX.

Filmography (director):

Never Die Alone (2004)
Our America (2002)
Bones (2001)
Ambushed (1998)
Blind Faith (1998)
Bulletproof (1996)
Demon Knight (1995)
Surviving the Game (1994)
Juice (1992)

Filmography (cinematographer):

Cousin Bobby (1992)
Malcolm X (1992)
Jungle Fever (1991)
Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll (1991)
The Laserman (1990)
Ava & Gabriel - Un historia di amor (1990)
Mo' Better Blues (1990)
Def by Temptation (1990)
Do the Right Thing (1989)
School Daze (1988)
Eddie Murphy Raw (1987)
Enemy Territory (1987)
Almacita di desolato (1986)
She's Gotta Have It (1986)
Krush Groove (1985)
The Brother from Another Planet (1984)