Beckworth, Barnaby

Carl Michael Franklin, born April 11, 1949, is an American filmmaker who transitioned from acting to directing. He began his career in television acting in the 1970s before attending the AFI Conservatory. Franklin initially directed low-budget films for Roger Corman's Concorde Pictures in the late 1980s. His breakthrough came with the 1992 film One False Move, which garnered critical acclaim and an Independent Spirit Award for Best Director. He continued to direct notable films such as Devil in a Blue Dress and Out of Time, often collaborating with Denzel Washington. Since the 2010s, Franklin has focused primarily on directing for television, contributing to numerous acclaimed series and earning various awards and nominations. His early life in Richmond, California, was marked by his mother and stepfather raising him after his biological father's death, and he pursued higher education at UC Berkeley, initially studying history before switching to theater arts. This ambition was fueled by a desire to be the first in his family to attend college, navigating a challenging home environment and neighborhood.

Carl Franklin began his professional life in the arts as an actor in theater and television. He appeared in stage productions before making his film debut in 1973. Franklin secured guest roles on popular TV shows and held regular roles in several series throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, including "The Fantastic Journey," "McClain's Law," and "The A-Team," often portraying authority figures. Inspired by independent cinema, he pursued formal training at the AFI Conservatory. Upon graduating, Franklin found work with producer Roger Corman, gaining experience in the production of low-budget films. This period provided a foundation for his directorial aspirations, leading him to develop his own projects.

Franklin's directorial career gained significant recognition with the 1992 film "One False Move." This independent thriller, which he also wrote, earned him critical praise and the Best Director Award at the Independent Spirit Awards. The film's success allowed him to move into larger productions. He then directed "Devil in a Blue Dress," starring Denzel Washington, adapting Walter Mosley's novel. Other significant directorial efforts include "Out of Time," also starring Washington, "One True Thing," and "High Crimes." Franklin's approach to filmmaking often involves exploring complex characters and societal issues within genre frameworks, demonstrating a keen ability to balance artistic vision with commercial viability.

In the 2010s, Carl Franklin largely shifted his focus to television directing. He has helmed episodes for a wide array of critically acclaimed series, showcasing his versatility across different genres. His television credits include directing for "Rome," "The Pacific," "The Newsroom," "House of Cards," "Homeland," "The Affair," "The Leftovers," "13 Reasons Why," "Ray Donovan," and "Monster." This phase of his career has been marked by numerous accolades, including a BAFTA TV Award and Primetime Emmy Award nominations, solidifying his reputation as a distinguished television director. Franklin has also expressed interest in revisiting his early short film "Punk" as a feature-length project.

“I didn't want people getting excited seeing how neat someone can be killed... I want the audience to feel the emotional loss of life--the real violence is the loss, the violation of humanity. They've taken from us someone who had dreams, hopes, the same set of emotions we have.”

“Drugs are a huge problem in the black community. Not to include that would be a stupid oversight. But if the subject of drugs is introduced in the context of a hardworking family that has managed to maintain unity, and the audience sees drugs as a threat to that unity, they get a much greater understanding of the problem.”

“It was like a dream to me, I wasn't really sophisticated enough to join a particular movement.”