Nia DaCosta
Nia DaCosta | |
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Born | Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. | November 8, 1989
Education | |
Occupations |
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Years active | 2009–present |
Nia DaCosta (born November 8, 1989) is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. She made her feature film debut as a writer and director for her crime thriller film
Early life
Nia DaCosta was born on November 8, 1989, in Brooklyn and raised in Harlem. Her mother, Charmaine DaCosta, emigrated from Jamaica and was a founding vocalist of the American musical group Worl-A-Girl.[4] DaCosta's original aspiration was to become a poet. When she was 16 years old, DaCosta took an A.P. English class, where she was exposed to the work of Joseph Conrad upon reading his book Heart of Darkness. DaCosta became obsessed with films after watching Apocalypse Now, which led her to study cinema from the New Hollywood era, finding inspiration in directors such as Francis Ford Coppola, Sidney Lumet, Martin Scorsese, and Steven Spielberg.[1] Citing Scorsese in particular as her primary influence, DaCosta enrolled at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts before graduating in 2011.[5] There, she met Scorsese while working as a television production assistant.[1] She received her graduate degree in London from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.[6]
Career
After finishing school, DaCosta began working as a television production assistant, where she worked with filmmakers such as
Little Woods
The film premiered at the
Candyman
DaCosta was chosen to helm what was described as a spiritual sequel to the original Candyman (1992) in 2018. The film returned to the Chicago neighborhood of the first film.[20] The film was produced by Jordan Peele through Monkeypaw Productions, with Peele citing the original as "a landmark film for Black representation in the horror genre".[20] DaCosta explains that for Candyman, it was much easier to tell the story because the people to experience these issues are the ones sharing the story.[21] Yahya Abdul-Mateen II starred in the film, with Tony Todd returning as the film's titular villain, and Teyonah Parris, and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett co-starring.[22][23] Production began in the spring of 2019, and wrapped the following September.[20][24] The original teaser trailer was released on June 17, 2021. Universal Pictures released the film theatrically on August 27, 2021 and received positive reviews.[25][26] Dacosta was intent on not depicting the everyday horrors committed against black people. Her priority was to inflict psychological terror and steer clear of current event depictions. Candyman (2021) was set to be released during the Black Lives Matter movement.[27] While working on the Top Boy series in London she learned that she was on Peele's shortlist to direct the film, and she became the first African-American female director to have a film debut at the top of the box office.[28]
The Marvels
In August 2020, DaCosta was hired to direct the upcoming Marvel Studios film The Marvels, the sequel to Captain Marvel (2019),[2][29] after having initially approached them with a Fantastic Four / X-Men crossover movie.[30] It was released on November 10, 2023.[31] She is the fourth woman to direct a Marvel film behind Anna Boden, Cate Shortland, and Chloé Zhao. She is the youngest director and first African American woman to have directed a Marvel film.[32] The film debuted to $46.1 million, topping the box office and marking the best opening figure ever for a black female director, but also marked the lowest opening weekend total ever for an MCU film. The film received mixed to positive reviews, but DaCostas direction received praise.[33][34][35]
Awards and nominations
DaCosta was the first African American woman to have a number one film at the American box office. Her first film, Little Woods, received the
Filmography
Short film
Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | The Black Girl Dies Last | Yes | Yes | No | Also actor | [42][43] |
2013 | Night and Day | Yes | No | Yes | Also editor | |
2014 | Celeste | No | Yes | No | ||
Livelihood | No | Yes | No |
Feature film
Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer |
---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | Little Woods | Yes | Yes | No |
2021 | Candyman | Yes | Yes | No |
2023 | The Marvels | Yes | Yes | No |
TBA | Hedda | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Television
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
2019 | Top Boy | Episodes "Bonfire Night" and "Smoke Gets in Your Hands" |
2022 | Ms. Marvel | Episode: "No Normal"; mid-credits scene[44] |
Theme park attractions
- Avengers: Quantum Encounter (2022)[45]
References
- ^ a b c d e Obenson, Tambay (April 18, 2019). "How Nia DaCosta Went From Wide-Eyed NYU Film Grad to Hollywood Director on the Rise". IndieWire. Archived from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
- ^ a b c Vary, Adam B. (August 6, 2020). "'Captain Marvel 2' Lands Nia DaCosta as Director". Variety. Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
- ^ "' Trance with Nia DaCosta'". Audioboom. April 9, 2023. Archived from the original on April 9, 2023. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- ^ Rose, Steve (August 26, 2021). "Grad to Hollywood Director on the Rise". Guardian. Archived from the original on August 26, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
- ^ "Candyman director Nia DaCosta: 'It is shocking the way people have talked to me'". The Guardian. August 26, 2021. Archived from the original on December 6, 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
- ^ "High Profile Alumni". The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
- ^ "Nia DaCosta, Barrier-Breaking Director of The Marvels, on Navigating the Blockbuster Machine". Vanity Fair. September 19, 2023. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
- ^ a b "2020-21 Lecture Series : Nia DaCosta". Pratt Institute. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
- ^ "Lexi Kirsch - Celeste". lexikirsch.com. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
- ^ "Sundance Institute Announces 12 Projects for 2015 January Screenwriters Lab". Sundance Institute. September 16, 2014. Archived from the original on October 23, 2019.
- ^ "Tessa Thompson and 'Little Woods' director Nia DaCosta are breaking down Hollywood barriers". Los Angeles Times. April 19, 2019. Archived from the original on December 6, 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
- ^ DaCosta, Nia (December 17, 2014). "Little Woods by Nia DaCosta". Kickstarter.
- ^ "Ghost Tape — QCODE". QCODE Media. December 6, 2020. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
- ^ Schillaci, Sophie (April 16, 2013). "Tribeca Announces Nora Ephron Award". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 23, 2019.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (June 14, 2018). "Neon Acquires Nia DaCosta's 'Little Woods' After Tribeca Bow". Deadline. Archived from the original on October 24, 2019.
- ^ "Tessa Thompson and 'Little Woods' director Nia DaCosta are breaking down Hollywood barriers". Los Angeles Times. April 19, 2019. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
- ^ Strouse, Kristy (May 4, 2018). "Tribeca Review & Interviews: LITTLE WOODS: A Confident Debut". Film Inquiry. Archived from the original on October 24, 2019.
- ^ Coffin, Lesley (April 29, 2018). "Nora Ephron winner Nia DaCosta talks 'Little Woods'". FF2 Media. Archived from the original on September 3, 2019. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
- ^ "'The Marvels' director Nia DaCosta, interviewed by Roxane Gay". Inverse. October 19, 2021. Archived from the original on April 25, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
- ^ a b c Kroll, Justin (November 27, 2018). "Jordan Peele-Produced 'Candyman' Reboot Taps Director Nia DaCosta". Variety. Archived from the original on November 28, 2018.
- ^ Nia DaCosta: Crafting Cinematic Tension, archived from the original on April 25, 2023, retrieved April 25, 2023
- ^ Trumbore, Dave (March 25, 2019). "'Candyman' Director Confirms Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Is Not Replacing Tony Todd". Collider. Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 3, 2020). "Jordan Peele-Produced 'Candyman' Heads To Fall". Deadline. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
- ^ Abdul-Mateen, Yahya II (September 25, 2019). "CANDYMAN". Facebook. Archived from the original on April 11, 2023.
- ^ Hughes, William (September 12, 2020). "Nia DaCosta's Candyman delayed until August 27, 2021". A.V. Club. Archived from the original on October 22, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
- ^ Rubin, Rebecca (September 11, 2020). "Nia DaCosta's 'Candyman' Release Delayed to 2021". Variety. Archived from the original on September 29, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
- )
- ^ "Nia DaCosta becomes first Black woman director to debut film at top of box office with "Candyman"". CBS News. September 2021. Archived from the original on December 6, 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
- ^ Newby, Richard (August 6, 2020). "The New Possibilities for 'Captain Marvel 2'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
- ^ Allen, Sian (September 14, 2021). "The Marvels Director First Pitched A Fantastic 4 & X-Men Crossover". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
- ^ Couch, Adam (December 11, 2020). "'Free Guy', 'Thor 4' and 'Lightyear' Get Release Dates Amid New Disney Plan". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 30, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
- ^ "Nia DaCosta Will Become First-Ever Black Woman to Direct a Marvel Movie". Okayplayer. August 6, 2020. Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (November 11, 2023). "'The Marvels' Meltdown: Disney MCU Seeing Lowest B.O. Opening Ever At $47M+ — What Went Wrong". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
- ^ Rahul Malhotra (November 12, 2023). "'The Marvels' Marks Record Low Domestic Box Office Debut for the MCU". Collider. Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ Barsanti, Sam (November 12, 2023). "The Marvels opens at the top of the weekend box office". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
- ^ "Fargo Film Festival kicks off with full slate of screenings". InForum. March 19, 2019. Archived from the original on January 26, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
- ^ "The 2021 Hollywood Critics Association (HCA) Midseason Awards Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
- ^ Oganesyan, Natalie (February 27, 2021). "Variety's 10 Directors to Watch and Creative Impact Awards Delves into Art of Moviemaking". Variety. Archived from the original on December 6, 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
- ^ "The 2021 Sunset Circle Awards (SCA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
- ^ Jackson, Angelique (January 18, 2022). "NAACP Image Awards Nominations: Jennifer Hudson, Lil Nas X, H.E.R., 'The Harder They Fall,' 'Insecure' Lead". Variety. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
- ^ Fraley, Jason (December 16, 2021). "'The Harder They Fall' leads Black Reel Awards with record 20 nominations". WTOP News. Archived from the original on March 7, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
- ^ Elderkin, Beth (May 1, 2020). "Candyman Director Nia DaCosta Talks Scares, Sequels, and Fan Service". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on May 4, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ "The Black Girl Dies Last". August 5, 2009. Archived from the original on November 2, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ Hatchett, Keisha (July 14, 2022). "Ms. Marvel Directors Discuss That Post-Credits Cameo, X-Men Reference". TVLine. Archived from the original on July 15, 2022. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
- ^ Libbey, Dirk (July 1, 2022). "'The Marvels' Director Actually Teamed Up With Brie Larson For A Disney Project Ahead Of Her MCU Debut". CinemaBlend. Archived from the original on January 12, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
External links
- Official website
- Nia DaCosta at IMDb