Vantile Whitfield


Vantile Emmanuel Whitfield, was an arts administrator who helped found several performing arts institutions in the United States.

Background

Born September 08, 1930 in Washington, D.C., well known as Vantile Emmanuel Whitfield, but also known as Motojicho was then an only child between Theodore Roosevelt Whitfield and Lugene Ellen Green. Throughout Whitfield's adolescence a direct path had been taken for him to gain much success for himself
Vantile, in years to come becomes a student at Dunbar High School, and quite active in playing football while congruently gaining a deep interest in painting. But, after high school, whitfield served in the Air Force until 1952. When, in 1957, Whitfield received a Bachelors of Arts degree, he became one of the first African Americans to study theatre at Howard University.
Once Whitfield received his studies and graduated from Howard University, He enrolled in the master's degree program at the UCLA Film School, making him again, one of the first African Americans to study at that learning instituition.In 1969, Whitfield directed "Watts Gospel Festival" and "Watts Rhythm and Blues Festival" for KCET-TV in Los Angeles Whitfield, divorced three of the four times he married; His first marriage dates back to 1950, to whom which he marries Barbara Ellen Cobbs and divorces; consequently Whitfield then marries again in 1960 to Barbara Ann Grant and then a third marriage in 1974 to actress Lynn Whitfield who Whitfield also divorced. It was not until, 1993, long after his 1978 divorce from his third wife Lynn Whitfield that Whitfield marries his fourth wife which was to Loretta Collins. Vantile Whitfield and Loretta Collins remained married until his death in 2005. Whitfield fathered three children. Amongst lineage are; actress Bellina Logan and jazz artist a.

Career

In 1963, Whitfield co-founded with actor Frank Silvera the American Theatre of Being in Los Angeles. While there he taught acting classes with Beah Richards, Whitman Mayo and Isabel Sanford. Also in 1963, Whitfield designed the sets, lights and costumes for Silvera's production of the James Baldwin play The Amen Corner, becoming the first African-American production designer to work on Broadway.
The following year, Whitfield founded and served as producing artistic director of the Performing Arts Society of Los Angeles. The goal of PASLA was to help train inner-city youth in the performing arts.
Whitfield's acting credits also include Tarzan where he was featured in two episodes, as Kimpu and as the Chief.

He was also founding Artistic Director of Studio West and was enlisted by Robert Hooks, of the D.C. Black Repertory Company, to be its Artistic Director.
In 1971, Whitfield was the founding director of the Expansion Arts Program at the National Endowment for the Arts. In this role, he had perhaps his greatest influence, because this program provided funds for many African-American artists and arts organizations.

Association with L.A. Rebellion filmmakers

Although his tenure at UCLA Film School pre-dates the period generally associated with the L.A. Rebellion, Whitfield had a connection with several filmmakers associated with the film movement. Larry Clark taught film production classes at PASLA while a student at UCLA and directed the short film As Above, So Below through the organization. Whitfield also acted in Haile Gerima's film Ashes and Embers.

Death

Whitfield died from complications of Alzheimer's disease on January 9, 2005.

Awards and recognition