REGGIE HUDLIN’S TOP TEN MOMENTS OF 2023
At the beginning of every year, I make a list of the best moments of the previous year, either personal or professional. Here’s my list for 2023:
1) HELENA GOES TO HARVARD
She going to my alma mater, and she’s loving it!
2) ALEXANDER LOVES PICTURES!
Taking photos, moving pictures…he loves photography and high end cinema. Now he’s going to business meetings with me!
Here’s Alexander taking pictures in London’s Chinatown.
Alexander getting the shot in Lucrene, Switzerland.
Alexander and I reconnecting with Leonard Di Caprio many years after meeting him on the set of DJANGO UNCHAINED.
3) CANDY CANE LANE!
Loved making it, and love that it was #1 around the world opening weekend!
Here I am on some of my favorite locations:
Transforming the Universal back lot to Candy Cane Lane!
Turning a freeway underpass into a magical location.
Me and Eddie Murphy.
Me with Marcus Miller and a full orchestra, recording the score on the Sony Soundstages.
Me, Eddie and producer Brian Grazer.
After the film was finished, we had a special screening at ILM, the great special effects house made the magic come to life. Just touring the facilities was a dream come true!
We do good work for our own satisfaction, but it’s great to be recognized for doing it. It was a good year for me, winning The NAACP Image Award, the AAFCA Award and the Critics’ Choice Award for Sidney, and The Icon Award in Los Angeles and the St Louis Lifetime Achievement Award for a career of important work.
Q & A with the audience at the St.Louis International Film Festival.
4) LOVING WASHINGTON DC!
The celebration of hip hop’s 50th anniversary at the Vice President’s residence was epic! So many friends from the worlds of entertainment, politics and more all in one place!
Like this shot of me with journalist Roland Martin and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff.
So happy to finally meet Senator Raphael Warnock!
Actress Kat Graham and I are developing a very cool project, but didn’t expect to see her there!
5) THE MOTHERSHIP AND MORE AT THE BLACKSONIAN!
I loved seeing this quote from my Harvard professor Eileen Southern.
I grew up all these albums! Great to see every era of our history immortalized.
So much great art in the museum!
6) Lots of great weddings this year!
Brilliant writer Alice Randall has been a sister to me since college. I was happy to attend the wedding of her daughter Caroline in New York City!
Look out for Alice’s new book on the Black roots of country music!
My dear friend and collaborator Nelson George also got married so I made a second trip to New York to be there. Lots of old friends in attendance.
Our family also attended the wedding of Second Gentlemen’s son…the Vice President officiated.
7) GOODBYE TO A HERO.
It was a tremendous honor to speak at his memorial service this year.
8) So happy that my brother Christopher finally moved to Los Angeles!
9) GIVING BACK TO STUDENTS AT USC.
I brought my kids so they can find who I am through the eyes of others!
10) Finally getting away and spending time with friends and family!
Love this restaurant in Mexico who made a custom menu for me featuring all my work!
Bonus for the 2024: No better way to start the year than with George Clinton!
