Academy Award-Winning Filmmaker, Producer, Writer, and LGBTQ+ Activist
Dustin Lance Black: Biography at a Glance
- Dustin Lance Black won an Oscar and two Writers Guild of America Awards for best original screenplay for Milk.
- A native Texan raised in a devout LDS home, his bestselling memoir, Mama's Boy is a deeply personal memoir that explores the turmoil and division within his family as he revealed his identity.
- He was a founding board member of the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER), which successfully led the federal cases for marriage equality in California and Virginia, putting an end to California’s discriminatory Proposition 8.
- Black merged his creative and civil rights work with “8,” a play based on the Federal Proposition 8 trial with casts that have included George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Jane Lynch, Martin Sheen, and John Lithgow with all proceeds benefiting LGBTQ+ equality efforts worldwide.
- Repeatedly named one of the 50 most powerful LGBTQ+ people in the United States, Black is a sought-after speaker on the power of storytelling and the intersection of art and activism.
Videos
Biography
A native Texan raised in a devout LDS home, Dustin Lance Black is now an Academy Award-winning filmmaker, writer, LGBTQ+ activist, husband, and father of two. He won the Academy Award and two WGA Awards for his screenplay for Milk, the film about activist Harvey Milk which starred Sean Penn. In 2018, Black received the Valentine Davies Award from the Writers Guild of America for his body of work.
Black was a founding board member of the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER), which successfully led the federal cases for marriage equality in California and Virginia, putting an end to California’s discriminatory Proposition 8.
In 2022, Black created, executive produced, wrote, and directed the Emmy, Golden Globe, and Critics Choice nominated limited series “Under the Banner of Heaven” for FX and HULU based on the bestselling book by Jon Krakauer, starring Andrew Garfield. Black’s best-selling, award-winning memoir “Mama’s Boy” was released in 2019. Produced by Amblin TV and Playtone, acclaimed filmmaker Laurent Bouzereau adapted Black’s book into a feature documentary for HBO. Black also wrote the Academy Award nominated 2023 film Rustin, a biopic about the esteemed civil rights organizer Bayard Rustin, and Black is currently directing the feature documentary Rock Out with Live Nation and Bill Gerber producing.
In 2012, Black merged his creative and civil rights work with “8,” a play based on the Federal Proposition 8 trial. The play’s casts have included George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Jane Lynch, Martin Sheen, and John Lithgow. “8” broke viewership records when it was first broadcast online live from the Wilshire Ebell Theatre. The play has now been staged in eight countries and all fifty states with all proceeds benefiting LGBTQ+ equality efforts worldwide.
In 2011, Black earned his second “10 Best of the Year” award from the American Film Institute as the writer of J. Edgar, which starred Leonardo DiCaprio and was directed by Clint Eastwood. From 2004-2008, Black drew on his Mormon upbringing as a writer and co-producer on HBO’s Emmy® and Golden Globe® nominated drama Big Love starring Bill Paxton. During this period, Black also penned the screenplay Pedro about the life and legacy of famed, openly gay, HIV positive Real World cast member Pedro Zamora. The film premiered on MTV and VH1 in 2009 and earned Black his second WGA Award nomination.
In addition to his creative work, Black was a co-founders of the Uprising of Love Coalition that sought to raise awareness of violence and discrimination committed against LGBTQ+ people in the global community. Black also served for three years on the board of the Trevor Project, a national LGBTQ youth crisis hotline, where he established a hotline in Harvey Milk’s former camera shop in San Francisco. And in 2009, Black was one of a handful of organizers of the National Equality March where he demanded full federal LGBTQ equality before an audience of over 200,000 demonstrators on the steps of the Nation’s Capital.
An honors graduate of UCLA’s School of Film and Television, Black began his career as an art director before moving into directing documentaries and commercials. His documentaries On the Bus (2001) and My Life with Count Dracula (2003) led to producing and directing TLC and BBC’s hit program Faking It, which received notices for its unflinching sociological commentaries. Black has taught screenwriting at UCLA, Emerson, Bowling Green, USC, and has lectured at universities including Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, and Penn. He has appeared regularly on the BBC, MSNBC, and CNN as a political commentator and has been repeatedly named one of the 50 most powerful LGBTQ+ people in the United States.
FAQs
How do I book Dustin Lance Black for my event?
Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book Dustin Lance Black to speak at corporate or private events, keynote speeches, speaking engagements, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances.
Quick booking process- Email CAA Speakers with event details
- Get availability confirmation within 24 hours
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As one of the most influential talent agencies in the world, CAA handles all speaking engagements from contract to event day coordination.
Who is Dustin Lance Black's booking agent?
CAA Speakers is the preferred booking agency to contact for Dustin Lance Black’s speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com for all Dustin Lance Black in-person appearances and keynote speaking requests.
Contact Dustin Lance Black's agent- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: caa.com/caaspeakers
- Response: Within 24 hours
CAA Speakers can check Dustin Lance Black's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list Dustin Lance Black, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.
What is Dustin Lance Black's speaking fee?
Dustin Lance Black's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, Dustin Lance Black's fee reflects their expertise and market demand.
Speaking fee factors:- Event type and audience size
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Additional costs: Travel, accommodation, A/V requirements, and optional meet-and-greets.
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for Dustin Lance Black's current speaking fee and detailed cost breakdown.
How much does it cost to book Dustin Lance Black as a keynote speaker?
The cost to book Dustin Lance Black as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.
Total booking cost includes:- Dustin Lance Black's keynote speaking fee
- Travel and accommodation
- Technical requirements and A/V setup
- Optional add-ons like book signing and meet & greets
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Email speakers@caa.com for Dustin Lance Black's exact booking cost and customized pricing proposal.
How to contact Dustin Lance Black for speaking engagements?
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all Dustin Lance Black speaking engagements.
Official contact for Dustin Lance Black bookings:- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/dustin-lance-black
- Response time: 24 hours
Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking Dustin Lance Black.
Is Dustin Lance Black available for virtual speaking events?
Yes, Dustin Lance Black speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.
Dustin Lance Black's virtual event options:- Live virtual keynotes with Q&A
- Interactive workshops and breakouts
- Hybrid events (in-person + virtual)
- Pre-recorded presentations
Virtual events offer global reach, flexible scheduling, and reduced travel costs while maintaining Dustin Lance Black's engaging presentation quality.
Contact CAA Speakers for Dustin Lance Black's virtual event availability and technical specifications.
What events can I book Dustin Lance Black for?
Book Dustin Lance Black for corporate conferences, industry events, private functions, and virtual presentations. Dustin Lance Black customizes content for any audience size or event type.
Event types:- Corporate meetings and conferences
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Dustin Lance Black engages audiences from private executive meetings to large conferences with thousands of attendees.
Contact CAA Speakers to discuss how Dustin Lance Black can customize their presentation for your specific event.
Dustin Lance Black booking information and availability
Check Dustin Lance Black's speaking availability through CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com. Book 3-6 months in advance for best date selection during peak seasons (September-November, March-May).
Availability factors:- Event date and location
- Speaking fee and budget
- Lead time for booking
- Peak conference seasons
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Contact CAA early in your planning process to secure Dustin Lance Black for your preferred event date.
Book Dustin Lance Black keynote speaker through CAA
Book Dustin Lance Black through CAA Speakers for guaranteed authentic representation and professional event coordination. CAA is the preferred booking agent for Dustin Lance Black, with direct access to their speaking availability and decades of experience representing the world’s top keynote speakers.
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Trusted by Fortune 500 companies for their most important speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com to book Dustin Lance Black for your next event.
Will Dustin Lance Black speak at private events?
Yes, Dustin Lance Black speaks at private corporate events, executive retreats, board meetings, and exclusive functions.
Private event types:- Executive retreats and board presentations
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- Private dinners and exclusive functions
Private event benefits: Customized content, enhanced interaction, complete confidentiality, and flexible scheduling.
Contact CAA Speakers for Dustin Lance Black's private event availability and confidential pricing proposals.
How quickly will I get a response about booking Dustin Lance Black?
CAA Speakers responds to Dustin Lance Black booking inquiries within 24 hours during business days. Complex requests or international events may take up to 48 hours for detailed proposals.
Response timeline:- Initial acknowledgment: Within 24 hours
- Availability confirmation: 24-48 hours
- Detailed pricing proposal: 48-72 hours
- Urgent requests: Same-day priority response
Include complete event details (date, location, audience size, budget) for fastest response times.
How far in advance should I book Dustin Lance Black?
Book Dustin Lance Black 3-6 months in advance for best availability, especially during peak speaking seasons. Early booking ensures better date selection and rate negotiations.
Recommended booking timeline:- 3-6 months: Optimal availability and pricing
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Peak seasons: September-November and March-May book fastest. Contact CAA Speakers early for priority consideration.
How do I get Dustin Lance Black pricing information?
Get Dustin Lance Black pricing information by contacting CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com with your event details. Receive detailed cost breakdown within 24-48 hours with no obligation to book.
For accurate pricing, include:- Event date and location
- Audience size and type
- Event format and duration
- Budget parameters
CAA provides transparent pricing with all costs included - speaking fee, travel, accommodation, and technical requirements.