was named Best Film of the Year by Gene Siskel, and one of the 10 Best Films of 1992 by the National Review Board. Franklin collaborated with producers Jonathan Demme and Jesse Beaton on adapting Devil in a Blue Dress after Demme acquired its film rights. Franklin directed and wrote the screenplay for the film on a budget. Switching to television, Franklin directed Laurel Avenue, a two-part miniseries focused on an African-American family in Minnesota for HBO in 1993. One issue in particular that stood out in the series was the issue of drug use. Franklin defended his depictions, explaining that "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." Following Laurel Avenue, Franklin found himself maintaining A-list status, which allowed him to work on bigger and more visible projects, such as 1998's One True Thing. The film is an adaptation of an autobiographical story by New York journalist Anna Quindlen, following a woman (Renée Zellweger) with no option but to leave Manhattan for the small town where she was raised when her mother (Meryl Streep) is diagnosed with cancer. Race and film Franklin says "I am interested in the universal values of the black experience." Discussing the realities for African Americans in the television and film industry, Franklin said: "When I came up, the only legitimate dramatic actor was Sidney Poitier, the bankable star was Richard Pryor and the other choice roles were action parts that went to Jim Brown. Even someone as good as Billy Dee Williams had a couple of great moments and then couldn't get a decent part." Personal life Franklin married film producer Jesse Beaton, who produced One False Move (1992). Filmography As actor As himself As director Film Television Awards and nominations References External links 1949 births Living people Male actors from California African-American male actors African-American film directors African-American television directors African-American television producers Television producers from California American male film actors AFI Conservatory alumni American male screenwriters American male television actors American television directors University of California, Berkeley alumni People from Richmond, California People from the San Francisco Bay Area Film directors