Curtis Williams Jr.
Curtis has contributed to many fields. He has worked as an advertising photographer, film producer, and director. Even working in diversified fields, his priority has always been designing and photography. He served over twenty years of his life as a photographer without any second thoughts about switching careers. The long list of his renowned clients included Vogue, Elle Magazine, Marie-Claire Magazine, Damernas Värld (Sweden), Ladies Home Journal, Viva Magazine, General Foods, United Negro College Fund, Clairol Hair Products, and the list continues. Today he is serving as Publisher, Executive Editor, Art Director, and photographer for the renowned magazine “Melrose Heights,” which has 10 million viewers on its website alone.
| Curtis Williams Jr. | |
|---|---|
| File:Curtis Williams Latest Picture Captured in Event.jpgCurtis Williams Latest Picture Captured in Event.jpg | |
| Born | March 28, 1948 Germany |
| 🏳️ Nationality | American |
| 💼 Occupation | Photographer, Author, Director |
| 📆 Years active | 30 Years |
| 🏢 Organization | Melrose Heights Magazine |
| Known for | Fashion Photographer |
| Notable work | advertising photography (United Negro College Fund). Photographer for Wilhelmina Models (New York) |
| 👩 Spouse(s) | Jonathon Michael Williams |
| 👴 👵 Parents |
|
His Family Background
William Curtis came from a huge family of 9 kids, 7 young ladies and 2 young men. His mom was a family mother yet maintained a few sources of income for her family. His dad was a black Master Sergeant in the US Army and resigned following 30 years of service. His family spent quite a long while in Europe. When Curtis was six years old, he got to set his foot in Europe for the first time and rejoiced in many happy childhood memories.[1]
Education
At 22 years, he entered the Art Center College of Design. In his group, there were 34 students, just 2 of them finished their studies. He completed his 4 years degree in 2 years 8 months. Though William thought he would not be able to complete his studies, luck was on his side that time. He graduated at the top of his class. During his years at Art Center, he made a compelling artwork collection. Right up till today, his work is exceptionally famous. When Curtis turned twenty-two, VIVA magazine issued an article about Curtis in March 1976 that stated, “Twenty-seven-year-old Curtis Williams is very much an artist of our time: his camera is the latest in photographic technology and his subjects are modern, liberated women. Yet, the special effects Williams perfected after over a year of experimentation with film and darkroom techniques invite comparison with the oil paintings of the very greatest seventeenth-century masters.”[2]
Early life Struggles
He began school in Germany because his father was posted in Germany after World War 2. His family moved to Los Angeles in the mid-60s. They first moved to Compton, California. The roads were savage and brutal. He spent his initial time in Los Angeles and had faced struggles that were tough on him. Along these lines, his family moved them to the midtown region where life was tough for them. After facing all these struggles, they were then moved to the USC University region. It was somewhat less brutal; there were posse exercises in Los Angeles. His folks then moved the family to the Fairfax Wilshire region, a Jewish neighborhood. There was substantially less crime and gang activity. He went to Los Angeles High. At 18 years, he was completely clueless about his future. His family could not afford to send any of their children to school.
An initiate towards a better future
One summer, his dearest companion inquired as to whether he needed a job working at a production company that was working on making television commercials. He began working as a driver. He was so intrigued with the creation of the film. Occasionally he would work until they sent him home. It was such a peace of mind to be away from the hood that was loaded with violence, crime, and police. He would not like to return home. In the period of one and a half years of working for the creation company, he was elevated from driver to prop assistant and then assistant producer. By age seventeen, Curtis had become fixated on escaping the hood and landed an apprenticeship at a top production house, Peterson Productions, in the core of Hollywood. He was excited to be in this creative climate and would stick around night-time, assisting without pay for as long as sixteen hours every day. He adored the fervor of this creative community, and he drew on the ability of top directors, advertising leaders, and directors of photography shooting national advertisements.
This organization (The Petersen Company) directors had all been alumni from the Art Center College of Design. One of the directors, Richard Rucker, who owned 1/3 of the company, would always let Williams work on his creations. He was known around that time to be one of the best directors for television advertisements. One day, Richard Rucker called Williams to his office. He told him that he was starting a film school inside the company, and he had been chosen to become part of this school. His first task was to do a 5-minute film of his choice. This was in the late 60s, around that time there was so much social injustice. He decided to do a film on how ethnic minorities are treated so severely. William produced a film called "Dirty Old Man;" he tracked down a black man in the city of Los Angeles, who was a drunkard. Around that time, there were no homeless people like today. He took him to the company studio. He filmed him from head to toe, undoubtedly, very close shots. He wanted his viewers to see and feel this individual’s heart. In the last shoot of this film, the camera gradually zooms out to reveal that he is the man sitting at the top of a meeting table, and there are six white men wearing suits to reveal that he is the President of the United States. William was completely clueless about what he was doing; he completed his 5 minutes and offered it to his guide, Richard Rucker, and forgot about his creation completely.[3]
One fine day, Richard Rucker called him into his office. When he entered Mr. Rucker’s office, he was congratulated and informed about his short film’s success. He was also awarded a Junior Academy Award at the age of twenty-two for his 5-minute videography.
William was not able to comprehend at the point and did not have the foggiest idea of what was happening or why. A couple of months later, Mr. Rucker called him to his office; he said that William had received a grant from Doyle, Dane and Bernbach Advertising Agency and the Petersen Company to go to the esteemed school, the Art Center College of Design, for $125,000. At this point in life, William was not sure about how things were unfolding. He was simply doing what he was advised to do. Also, he was extremely glad for this time in his life. His remarkable intelligence and dedication assisted Curtis to graduate with honors.[4]
His Career
His better half around that time, Robin Nord, whom he just captured as his subject, became popular as a top model in New York, Paris, and Milan. After completing Art Center, he was certain that his guide, Mr. Rucker, would want him to continue working for The Petersen Company. He asked Mr. Rucker for his advice on the next step for his future. Mr. Rucker told Williams, “I want you to go to New York to do your apprenticeship.” Williams was the happiest individual on the planet. He was not willing to remain in Los Angeles because of the racism and police corruption against the black community. Therefore, he was exceptionally glad to go to New York. This was his objective before going to Europe that he longed for since he was a child. For William, he felt more liberated from bigotry in Europe. Robin, his young lady friend, and he went to New York with $200.00. William was never into thinking about money; he would just let his heart follow him.
Williams told Robin that she would need to model until his photography jobs would come in. They went to the second-best modelling office, Wilhelmina Models. Robin was in a meeting with Wilhelmina Cooper. While Williams was in the hall, Wilhelmina came to him into the hall and said, “I love your photographs of Robin” and employed him to photograph her models, and she had just constructed another studio that William would work from. The first Wilhelmina model that William photographed was Margaux Hemingway. Robin and he left Wilhelmina that day with large grins. Later, both went to an advertising agency on Madison Ave to get his portfolio. He was requested to address the proprietor. The proprietor told Williams that one of his customers had seen his work and needed Williams to do 3 advertisements for them. It was a clothing company. William was paid $7000 for every advertisement. This was the start of his history in New York.[5]
Curtis has contributed to many fields. He has worked as an advertising photographer, film producer, and director. Even working in diversified fields, his priority has always been designing and photography. He served over twenty years of his life as a photographer without any second thoughts about switching careers.
He was a professional with extreme talent and always proved to be an incredible asset to the companies; therefore, he was in demand due to his exceptional talent in Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles. Several advertising companies wanted him to become a part of their organizations such as Young and Rubicam, Grey, Foote, Cone and Belding. Twenty years of his life were served in exploring the beauty of Europe with the camera’s eye. He worked in Sweden, Germany, Italy, England, France, and Spain. This is the reason he set his heading for Europe. There he was judged for his works and not for his color.[6]
References
- ↑ Light, The Essence of Life. BookBaby. August 3, 2021. p. 100. ISBN 978-1098393083. Search this book on
- ↑ Curtis Williams Jr. Fotograf: Light, The Essence of Life. BookBaby. August 3, 2021. p. 2. ISBN 978-1098393083. Search this book on
- ↑ Light, The Essence of Life. BookBaby. August 3,2021. p. 99. ISBN 978-1098393083. Check date values in:
|year=(help) Search this book on
- ↑ Curtis Williams Jr. Fotograf: Light, The Essence of Life. BookBaby. Aug 3, 2021. p. 54. ISBN 978-1098393083. Search this book on
- ↑ Curtis Williams Jr. Fotograf: Light, The Essence of Life. 978-1098393083: Bookbaby. pp. 54–57. Search this book on
- ↑ Light, The Essence of Life. bookbaby. August 3, 2021. p. 100. ISBN 978-1098393083. Search this book on
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