Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Filmmaker RaMell Ross discusses "Nickel Boys", his 2024 feature film adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize–winning novel. Directed and co-written by Ross, the film follows two Black teenagers—Elwood (Ethan Herisse) and Turner (Brandon Wilson)—at a brutal reform school in Jim Crow–era Florida, modeled on the real-life Arthur G. Dozier School. Shot entirely in first-person perspective, the film alternates between the boys’ viewpoints to create an immersive, visceral experience. Drawing on his documentary background ("Hale County This Morning, This Evening") and large-format visual style, Ross shares insights into adapting the novel’s moral complexity, crafting the film’s distinctive visual language, and using point-of-view cinematography to deepen viewer empathy and emotional connection. Recorded on 12/07/2024. [6/2025] [Show ID: 40545]
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Filmmaker RaMell Ross discusses "Nickel Boys", his 2024 feature film adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize–winning novel. Directed and co-written by Ross, the film follows two Black teenagers—Elwood (Ethan Herisse) and Turner (Brandon Wilson)—at a brutal reform school in Jim Crow–era Florida, modeled on the real-life Arthur G. Dozier School. Shot entirely in first-person perspective, the film alternates between the boys’ viewpoints to create an immersive, visceral experience. Drawing on his documentary background ("Hale County This Morning, This Evening") and large-format visual style, Ross shares insights into adapting the novel’s moral complexity, crafting the film’s distinctive visual language, and using point-of-view cinematography to deepen viewer empathy and emotional connection. Recorded on 12/07/2024. [6/2025] [Show ID: 40545]
Donate to UCTV to support informative & inspiring programming:
uctv.tv/donate
More videos from: Carsey-Wolf Center
(uctv.tv/carsey-wolf)
Explore More Humanities on UCTV
(uctv.tv/humanities)
The humanities encourage us to think creatively and explore questions about our world. UCTV explores human culture through literature, history, ethics, philosophy, cinema and religion so we can better understand the human experience.
UCTV is the broadcast and online media platform of the University of California, featuring programming from its ten campuses, three national labs and affiliated research institutions. UCTV explores a broad spectrum of subjects for a general audience, including science, health and medicine, public affairs, humanities, arts and music, business, education, and agriculture. Launched in January 2000, UCTV embraces the core missions of the University of California -- teaching, research, and public service – by providing quality, in-depth television far beyond the campus borders to inquisitive viewers around the world.
(https://www.uctv.tv)
