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In 1987, Robert Townsend co-wrote, directed, starred in and self-financed (using his savings and credit cards) \u201cHollywood Shuffle\u201d as a reaction against the lack of opportunities for black actors at the time. 36 years later, the film stands alongside \u201cStranger Than Paradise,\u201d \u201cShe\u2019s Gotta Have It,\u201d and \u201csex, lies, and videotape\u201d as a classic of the independent film movement and has been newly released on Blu-ray by the Criterion Collection. Townsend sat down with Toolkit to talk about the \u201cdark ages\u201d of 1980s independent film, how he turned his frustrations into the raw material of hilarious farce, and how the lessons learned on \u201cHollywood Shuffle\u201d continue to fuel his successful directing career.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices