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Malik Hassan Sayeed | |
|---|---|
 Sayeed in 2025 | |
| Born | 1969 (age 56–57) New York City |
| Alma mater | Howard University |
Malik Hassan Sayeed is an American cinematographer, producer and director.
He has worked on films directed bySpike Lee andHype Williams, and has also contributed to music videos includingLauryn Hill's "Ex-Factor",Kanye West's "Gold Digger" featuringJamie Foxx, andBeyoncé's "Formation".[1]
Sayeed graduated fromHoward University in 1990 with a degree in Film Studies.[2][3] Notably, he studied under leading member of theL.A. RebellionHaile Gerima.[4] He also attended theMaine Photographic Workshops.[3][5]
Sayeed was a second unit director of photography onStanley Kubrick'sEyes Wide Shut andAndrew Niccol'sGattaca and was the cinematographer forHype Williams'Belly andSpike Lee'sThe Original Kings of Comedy,Girl 6,He Got Game andClockers.
Sayeed had served on the electrical crews for Spike Lee'sMalcolm X andCrooklyn before Lee promoted him to director of photography forClockers. Prior to this promotion, Sayeed had worked on music videos with Hype Williams and television commercials with Lee.[3] Three years afterClockers, he served as director of photography forBelly.[6][7] As of 2023, this was his last dramatic feature to be released.[7] Though Sayeed has continued working in music, notably directing or serving as cinematographer for videos likeLauryn Hill's "Ex-Factor,"D'Angelo's "Left & Right," andBeyonce's "Formation" and "Brown Skin Girl."[8][9][10][11][12]
After working withArthur Jafa (cinematographer forCrooklyn) onSeven Songs for Malcolm X, Sayeed and Jafa started to develop a closer relationship.[3] In 2014, Sayeed along with Jafa andElissa Blount Moorhead launched TNEG, an independent film studio and production company with the goal of creating a "Black cinema as culturally, socially, and economically central to the 21st century as was Black music to the 20th century."[13][14]
Film
| Year | Title | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Clockers | Spike Lee |
| 1996 | Girl 6 | |
| 1997 | Cold Around the Heart | John Ridley |
| 1998 | The Players Club | Ice Cube |
| He Got Game | Spike Lee | |
| Belly | Hype Williams | |
| 2025 | After the Hunt | Luca Guadagnino |
| TBA | Artificial† |
Television
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel | Spike Lee Jeff Winn | Episode "Coach/The Longest Season/The Money Trail" |
| 1998 | John Leguizamo: Freak | Spike Lee | Stand-up comedy |
| 2011 | Da Brick | TV short |
Documentary film
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | The Original Kings of Comedy | Spike Lee | |
| 2001 | Life and Debt | Stephanie Black | With Kyle Kibbe, Richard Lannaman andAlex Nepomniaschy |
| 2014 | Dreams Are Colder Than Death | Arthur Jafa | With Hans Charles and Arthur Jafa |
| 2015 | The Reflektor Tapes | Kahlil Joseph | WithLol Crawley andAutumn Durald Arkapaw |
| TBA | Compton's Finest | Cle Sloan |
In 1999, Sayeed was nominated for anIndependent Spirit Award: Best Cinematography forBelly (1998)[4] He has won MTV Video Music Awards for "Formation" and "Brown Skin Girl" amongst other music videos.[10][12]
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
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