Reginald Hudlin, Filmmaker
With a comedic voice described by the Associated Press as having
Hadjii is a multi-talented writer, filmmaker, and humorist who’s giving voice to a new generation of Black comedy. His first feature, Somebodies, which he wrote, directed, and starred in premiered at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival as one of only 16 films in the Dramatic Competition. The offbeat urban comedy went on to receive a Golden Thumb Award from legendary film critic Roger Ebert, Best Screenplay at the 2006 Sarasota Film Festival, and earned Hadjii a Best New Director Award at the 2007 Pan-African Film Festival.“the laser incisiveness of Chris Rock and the knowing graciousness of Garrison Keiller,”
After the success of Somebodies the film, Hadjii developed Somebodies the television series for Black Entertainment Television (BET). The first scripted sitcom in the network’s history. Though short-lived, the show was praised by the Associated Press as One of the Five New Shows to Watch, nominated for a NAMIC Award, and recognized by the L.A. Times Critic’s Choice as one of the highlights of 2008.
Hadjii executive produced, wrote, and starred in all ten episodes, and directed three of them as well. Hadjii also brought in top creative talent such as Generate, Warren Hutcherson, Leonard Garner Jr., Linda Mendoza, Rusty Cundieff, and J. Anthony Brown to contribute to the groundbreaking series.
In 2008 Random House published Hadjii’s first novel, “Don’t Let My Mama Read This: A Southern Fried Memoir.” The laugh out loud read received praise from Publisher’s Weekly, Roger Ebert, the National Book Club Conference, and the Atlanta Journal Constitution – who compared Hadjii’s literary tales to Bill Cosby of the 1960′s, circa his comedy album “To Russell, My Brother, Whom I Slept With.”
Most recently Hadjii wrote and produced a television pilot for Adult Swim with Nick Cannon. Currently, Hadjii is writing for “Politicats,” an animated web series (set to be released in April 2012) and developing a feature with veteran filmmaker, Reginald Hudlin, who has deemed Hadjii one of the original voices of his generation.
2006 Sundance Film Festival
Grand Jury Prize Nominee (Dramatic Competition)
2006 Pan African Film Festival
Jury Award, Best Director for First Feature
2006 Sarasota Film Festival
Special Jury Prize for Screenwriting
2006 Cinevegas Film Festival
Official Selection
2006 Prism Award Winner
2006 French Festival of Independent American Cinema in Paris
Official Selection
2008 LA Times Critics Choice
2009 NAMIC Vision Award for Comedy (Nominee)
“After two days of packed screenings and positive reviews from Roger Ebert and Indiewire.com, Hadjii went from unknown University of Georgia teacher to celebrity.”
–USA Today
“Like all really good films, Somebodies defies description, because it’s not about plot, it’s about how it celebrates its characters. It is about ordinary young people who are very, very funny because they don’t seem to know they’re in a movie, and aren’t performing for any imagined audience, black or white. Their purpose is to celebrate themselves.”
–Roger Ebert
“Modest productions and subject matter tend to be the norm for the [Sundance] dramatic competition, where unknown filmmakers and no-name talent are the rule more than the exception. Most winning of these so far is SOMEBODIES, the feature debut of writer-direct Hadjii…a diamond in the rough, the experience of watching Hadjii’s world was, in a word, rich.”
–IndieWire.com
“Somebodies takes a lighthearted jab at what it means to be young, carefree, and reckless in America from a distinctly fresh perspective.”
–Sundance Film Festival
SOMEBODIES THE SITCOM
“One of the Five New Shows You Shouldn’t Miss.” –Frazier Moore, Associated Press
“BET’s first scripted series venture glides off the runway with appealing charm and ease. Hadjii has crafted a sweet little world that he inhabits with unassuming style and grace.”
–Ray Richmond, The Hollywood Reporter
“One of the best new fall comedies isn’t on a broadcast channel, it’s on BET. The humor is smart, the situations relatable, and the topics are generally universal. Somebodies airs on BET, but it is not strictly “a Black show,” as some viewers might expect.”
–Rob Owen, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“Somebodies’ Scottie is a deadpan guide to life — what Larry David might be if he were gentle, Southern, and black.”
–Joanna Weiss, Boston Globe
“The Southern small-town setting and extensive location shooting contribute to that (relaxed) mood and set the series apart not only from the few black comedies managing to survive elsewhere on the dial but from most every other sitcom. Sweet, lyrical, and a little cracked, it’s worth seeking out.”
–Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times
“I think ['Somebodies'] may have been too ‘out there’ for our audience. Our audience expected a normal sitcom with a laugh track. Critics loved it — it was different, fresh, smart.”
–Debra Lee, BET Chief Executive
“At their best, these tales recall Bill Cosby of the 1960s, circa his comedy album TO RUSSELL, MY BROTHER, WHOM I SLEPT WITH. Here’s hoping we hear more from Hadjii.”
–Steve Murray, Atlanta Journal Constitution
“I wouldn’t let my mom read it either, but I’d recommend it to anyone else. Hadjii has made a literary debut as fresh and funny as his first film. One of the original voices of his generation.”
–Reginald Hudlin, Filmmaker & Former President of Entertainment for BET
“DON’T LET MY MAMA READ THIS is the Huckleberry Finn of the MySpace generation.”
–Kendrick Daye, Art Noveau Magazine
“Hadjii’s specific style of writing and unique sense of humor will have readers chuckling at every turn of the page.”
–Diana Saenger, Review Express
“This debut book is witty, insightful, and as delightful as a platter of mom’s fried chicken.”
–Tuscon Citizen
Long story short, it was originally my idea to do a television series about these guys in college, blah, blah, blah, but when I would take the idea to networks executives would tell me that people don’t want to see these types of images of African-Americans on TV. One exec’s exact words were, “Black people are more bougie now. They like MOESHA and shows like that.” Number one, I love it when older White men tell me what Black people like. And number two, I didn’t know MOESHA was a “bougie” depiction of Black life. Who would’ve thunk it? LOL. But it’s all good, because sometimes people just don’t get it and there’s no crime in that. Actually, I kind of like it when people don’t get it, because that means you’re actually trying to do something different. So anyway, my producing partner and I had to figure out a way to make people get it. And thus we decided to make SOMEBODIES the movie.
SOMEBODIES is a movie about Scottie, a guy who was raised in the church with a Baptist background but had strayed away from his religious upbringing in favor of “partying” lifestyle. So now his family and friends are trying to get him back on the right track. Only problem is…they’re just as screwed up as he is. That’s it. Simple, sweet, and hopefully funny.
A cool independent film that we had a great time shooting in Athens, Georgia, SOMEBODIES helped begin the careers of a lot of very talented and hardworking people both in front of and behind the camera and I can’t thank you all enough for making that happen.
SOMEBODIES the movie actually did lead to SOMEBODIES the television series so I guess I actually did do something right. Who would’ve thunk it? And even though it never got the chance to shine like we had hoped, it was a very good series that I’m still incredibly proud of to this day.
Not limited to the typical terrain of dates going wrong or made up situations that never happen in real life, I wanted SOMEBODIES the sitcom to deal with issues that affect people in an actual way and spark real conversation that would actually lead to some solutions in our community. This was not about doing a perfect show about Blacks without flaws. I wanted to make a show with teeth, and that’s exactly what we did.
We dealt with the conflict of Black people vs. Niggas in the ANYTIME MINUTES episode. We dealt with how true Africans view African-Americans in the AMI AGGIN episode. We even took time out to show love to the victims of Hurricane Katrina and highlighted other important social issues as well. And on top of all that we incorporated church services using real scriptures from the Bible. Pretty groundbreaking stuff, if I do say so myself.
A noble effort indeed, 10 strong, smart, and funny episodes written by yours truly, and it was, is, and will always be the first original scripted program on BET. Nothing but love to everyone involved. Can’t thank you enough.
And for anyone who wants to watch, download, or share all 10 episodes, you can still check them out at HULU.
Oh yeah. And my mom did actually read it.
Having a great time at the 2012 L.A. Comedy Shorts Festival. Our screening went well (thank God) so now I can I relax and enjoy the rest of the weekend. LOL. Here’s what we screened: NOT ANOTHER BLACK SHOW PARTS 1 & [...]
Okay, I have a confession to make. As a Georgia native (Brunswick, stand up) and University of Georgia alum, please believe me when I tell you that I am “UGA all day! Red and Black until the day I die!” But I can’t front. [...]
I go for a walk almost every day, either to the store or a nearby coffee shop, or whatever. A lot of times it’s just to get out of the house in an attempt to clear my mind and hopefully come up with new material. And since [...]
NBA players have pick-up games, comedians have night-clubs, and rappers have mix-tapes, but where do writers and filmmakers go to play? Where do we go to workout? And when I say, “workout,” I mean where do they go to try new [...]
Since this website is for my true Hadjii lovers out there, I’ve decided that I’ll let all three of you have sneak peek at the new book I started working on last year. Now I usually don’t do this, but I’ll do anything for [...]
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Don’t Let My Mama Read This by Hadjii
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Sundace Film Festival ’06 – SOMEBODIES Q&A
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Somebodies at Roger Ebert Film Fest
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Hadjii with Somebodies at Sundance 2006
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Not Another Black Movie (Part 1)
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Not Another Black Movie (Part 2)
