Tag: Film

Steve McQueen was born in Ealing London on October 9^th, 1969. McQueen is the son of a Grenadian father and Trinidadian mother, both of whom immigrated to London before his birth. McQueen grew up in a working-class background as his father was a bricklayer and his mother worked at a maternity hospital. McQueen attended Drayton Manor High School in his early years and while he enjoyed school, he earned poor marks in all subjects aside from art. He faced institutionalized racism throughout his time at Drayton and in interviews he claims that his talent for art saved him from becoming a manual laborer for the rest of his life. Following his passion for the arts, McQueen went on to attend the Chelsea College of Art and Design, Goldsmiths University, and NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Despite originally being interested in the fine arts, he developed a love for photography and film which have been his primary pursuits throughout his adult life. His most notable works include: Hunger, Shame, and 12 Years a Slave,for which he won an Academy Award for best Motion Picture – the first black man to do so. His most recent work is Small Axe,a series of five films that depict what life was like for British West Indie immigrants following the Windrush Generation. His goal through projects such as this one is “to correct certain wrongs, to give a platform to [people who have been denied one]… I can’t stand injustice. I can’t stand it.” McQueen has consistently been said to be one of the top most influential directors in Britain, and we can all look forward to whatever his next project will be.