How a Kid from Teaneck Changed the Future of Film and Music
Louis Black didn’t do well in school. But what he lacked in grades, he made up for in passion. “I fell in love with film when I was 9 years old,” he says. Growing up in Teaneck, New Jersey, he spent Saturdays watching movies in New York City with his friend Leonard Maltin. Sundays were reserved for comic book talks with writer Otto Binder.
“I was the kid who collected comic books and was always in charge,” Black says. That mix of imagination and leadership never left him.
What Did Louis Black Do Before SXSW?
After high school, Louis Black headed to Windham College in Vermont and later transferred to Boston University. Though he was an English major, his heart was always in film. “At college, I ran a film series. It wasn’t a job—it was a calling.”
By 1976, Black moved to Austin, Texas, with hopes of becoming a writer. But the city—and its people—changed his path. “I knew folks in the film department. I transferred, started writing about film, and suddenly I was an academic star.”
In 1980, he earned his master’s degree and looked for his next step.
How Was the Austin Chronicle Started?
That next step was bold: starting a newspaper. “It was an incredible experience,” Black says about launching The Austin Chronicle. “We both believed very strongly that it is important to create an amazing paper and pay your staff well. And if we made a profit after that—great.”
Black and his co-founder weren’t aiming for fame. They wanted to support the creative community and publish stories that mattered. That model worked. The Chronicle is still published today.
How Did SXSW Begin?
In 1986, two friends pitched an idea: start a regional music event. Black hesitated. “I gave in, and we discussed it for days,” he recalls. They named it South by Southwest (SXSW).
None of them had ever planned an event. They hoped a few hundred people might come. Instead, 700 showed up. “It was never really regional,” Black admits. “It went national. Then international.”
At first, it was all about music. But in 1994, film was added. In 1995, new media. A local paper joked that the film lineup was just “The Friends of Louis Black.” And in a way, it was. “We wanted to show our friends’ films,” he says. “But SXSW grew into something much bigger.”
What Other Projects Has Louis Black Worked On?
Black’s career is full of connections. He helped launch the Austin Film Society, a group that raised money for indie films. He supported the creation of the Texas Film Hall of Fame. And he helped create Austin Studios, a film space that brought millions to the city.
One name that often comes up is Robert Rodriguez. “He couldn’t get into film school because his grades weren’t great,” Black explains. But Rodriguez won a local film festival, which opened the door. “He ended up getting into film school. That changed everything for him.”
What Is Louis Black Doing Now?
Even now, Black isn’t slowing down. He recently sold a book he wrote about director Jonathan Demme. He’s producing a few films. And he’s opening a used bookstore. “I got to work with so many wonderful people and have done amazing things,” he says. “It has been a great life. I’ve spent my whole life connecting people.”
Being an editor, publisher, and promoter turned out to be perfect training for producing films. “I’m someone with just luck in life,” Black says. But luck only explains part of it. The rest came from vision, trust in community, and years of hard work.
What Makes Louis Black a Leader in Film and Media?
Black didn’t follow a straight path. He followed what he loved—movies, comic books, and people. “I was the guy who was always in charge,” he says. That leadership helped shape Austin’s creative world. It also inspired a generation of artists, filmmakers, and entrepreneurs.
From running film series in college to founding one of the world’s biggest cultural festivals, Black’s career shows what happens when passion meets action.
Louis Black’s story is a reminder that success doesn’t always start with good grades or a set plan. Sometimes, it starts with Saturday movies, comic books, and the right group of friends.
“I was just a kid from New Jersey who liked stories,” he says. “And I got to tell a few of my own.”
Read more:
Louis Black of Austin, Texas: From Comic Books to Creating SXSW
