Robert Townsend recounted once in an interview that after telling his agent he wanted to be in more movies like A Soldier's Story (1984), he was told that Hollywood only makes one black movie a year so he should be happy with what he got. Spoiler: He wasn't. Instead, he worked on an idea with friend Keenen Ivory Wayans, before his rise to fame, about the inherent difficulties of getting good, consistent work as a black person in Hollywood. Working out the ideas and putting together a screenplay was one thing, getting someone to produce it was quite another. As Townsend found out, he'd have to do most of the financing himself.

After raising cash, taking out loans and using credit cards, he spent two years putting together a movie that would challenge assertions that a movie written and directed by a black man wouldn't play to a wide audience.

Hollywood Shuffle (1987) skewers everything about Hollywood's attitudes inside and out. From the idea that characters for black performers are limited to the most demeaning stereotypes to the idea that there is only room for one black star in a picture. In this case, Eddie Murphy (in one scene, dozens of black actors all waiting to audition for a part, act like Eddie Murphy since that's what the producers are looking for).

The way the story unfolds--Townsend's character looking for work as an actor while fantasizing about himself in various genres within of the cinematic world--it allows Townsend and his fellow cast members a wide latitude into absurdist comedy. In one fantasy, white teachers instruct black actors how to "act" like black people, or at least, like the stereotypes of black people seen on the silver screen. In another, two black critics review the movies like Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert but without the pretense of looking for anything besides entertainment and emotional satisfaction. And in the movie's reality, Townsend's character is often told to be "more black" or "more like Eddie Murphy." And it's all very funny. It's also, sadly, very true. Townsend and Wayans weren't pulling ideas out of thin air for the story or skits. They were pulling from real experiences. Townsend lamented in several interviews that he actually had been told to be "more black" for a movie or show or commercial and then had white directors elaborate on what that meant. Yes, really.

After Hollywood Shuffle was released, it made over $5 million against a budget of just a little over $100,000. That's an impressive ratio but one that probably would have been a lot more impressive with full studio support from the initial budget to the distribution and marketing. And Townsend was able to parlay the film's success into a long running career as a director in Hollywood. But when you watch it again, even all these years later, the jokes hold up because, unfortunately, most of it is still sadly relevant.

Directed by Robert Townsend
Written by Robert Townsend, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Dom Irrera (uncredited)
Produced by Robert Townsend, Carl Craig, Richard Cummings Jr.
Music by Udi Harpaz, Patrice Rushen
Cinematography by Peter Deming
Film Editing by W.O. Garrett
Casting By Jaki Brown, Toni Livingston
Production Design by Melba Katzman Farquhar
Art Direction by Melba Katzman Farquhar
Costume Design by Andre Allen
Cast: Robert Townsend (Bobby Taylor / Jasper / Speed / Sam Ace / Rambro), Craigus R. Johnson (Stevie Taylor), Helen Martin (Bobby's Grandmother), Starletta DuPois (Bobby's Mother), Marc Figueroa (Sitcom Father / Client #2), Sarah Kaite Coughlan (Sitcom Girlfriend / Rehearsing Actress), Sean Michal Flynn (Sitcom Boyfriend), Brad Sanders (Batty Boy), David McKnight (Uncle Ray), Keenen Ivory Wayans (Donald / Jheri Curl)

By Greg Ferrara