Ernest R. Dickerson

Ernest Roscoe Dickerson, widely known as Ernest R. Dickerson, is an esteemed American director, cinematographer, and screenwriter of film, television, and music videos. Celebrated for his regular collaborations with Spike Lee, their camaraderie goes back to their student years at the Tisch School of the Arts. Dickerson debuted his craft on Lee's 1983 master's degree thesis student film, 'Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads'. Over the years, Dickerson has consistently shown his brilliance behind the lens working on famed films such as 'She's Gotta Have It', 'School Daze', 'Do the Right Thing', 'Mo' Better Blues', 'Jungle Fever', and 'Malcolm X'.

As a director, Dickerson left an indelible mark, especially in crime thriller and horror genres. His notable directorial works are 'Juice', 'Demon Knight', 'Bulletproof', 'Bones', and 'Never Die Alone'. His directorial acumen is not limited to films but also extends to several popular television series including, 'Once Upon a Time', 'The Wire', 'Dexter', 'The Walking Dead', and 'Godfather of Harlem'. The Newark, New Jersey native discovered his interest in movies while studying architecture at Howard University and honed his skills further at New York University's film program. His career has seen a fascinating evolution from working behind the camera on music videos for renowned artists, filming Spike Lee's movies, making his directorial debut, and directing celebrated TV shows like 'The Wire' and 'Treme'. His passion for storytelling is evident in his diverse body of work, always striving to tell compelling and diverse stories.