Director Ernest Dickerson speaks to filmmakers

Director Ernest Dickerson speaks to filmmakers

by Ytasha L. Womack

Film historians can't discuss the explosion of Black cinema in the mid 1980's without mentioning Ernest Dickerson.

Dickerson was arguably one of the best cinematographers in modern cinema. It was he who was responsible for the colorful liquid looks of Spike Lee's early films. From "She's Gotta Have It" to "Malcolm X," Dickerson's eye for culture is etched in some of Lee's greatest works.

However, for the past decade, Dickerson has abandoned work as a cinematographer to pursue directing.

His directorial debut, "Juice" featuring late rapper Tupac Shakur, is a cult classic. His soon-to-be- …