with black stars by black directors. right now in new york, a new black film is being premiered just about every week, but among those drawing impressive reviews is "boyz n the hood," directed by 23-year-old john singleton. - i really wanted to make a film that was gonna voice what i had seen growing up as a young black man in los angeles. the los angeles police department, i mean, you know, they were a kind of an occupying force, and it really became war zone. - i didn't do nothing. - you think you're tough, huh? - the four los angeles police officers who appeared in that videotape of the rodney king beating went on trial today. - defense attorneys, claiming they couldn't get a fair trial in los angeles, got the case moved to more conservative neighboring ventura county. - it felt like these officers were being sent to a very friendly venue and certainly a more friendly venue than a downtown la jury would've been. - the defense picked apart the videotape, and every image was turned around to say, "see where king is threatening the police officers?"