Rel Dowdell
Rel J. Dowdell is an American screenwriter, film director, film producer, orator, and film studies/screenwriting/English educator. Born and raised in Philadelphia, after graduating from the prestigious Central High School in Philadelphia, he received his bachelor's degree in English with magna cum laude honors from Fisk University and his advanced degree in film and screenwriting with highest distinction from Boston University. He won the top prize in filmmaking at Boston University's noted Redstone Film Festival in 1995. He is also a full-time university professor, Director of Film Studies, English scholar, and film historian. Additionally, he has done prominent and extensive interviews with veteran award-winning actors such as Ving Rhames, Lou Gossett Jr., Keith David, Tony Todd, Roger Guenveur Smith, Larenz Tate, and Mykelti Williamson. In spring of 2023, he participated in a major interview with other African-American scholars on The 700 Club where he spoke about the impact of the casting of an African-American female actress in the remake of The Little Mermaid in where he was singularly well received and praised for Dowdell's remarks of inclusion and inspiration for African-American youths. In the spring of 2025, leading studio Warner Brothers selected Dowdell to interview two-time Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth Carter before the release of the blockbuster and ultimately Oscar-winning film Sinners. Dowdell has also been well-quoted numerous times in top entertainment publications such as The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline providing comprehensive overviews of historical context and reverence when groundbreaking and unsung African-American actors and actresses pass away.
Biography from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA.
