‘Judas and the Black Messiah’ producer Charles D. King becomes first Black to win PGA Milestone Award

Charles D. King has become the first Black producer to receive the PGA Milestone Award, which is normally bestowed upon producers or production teams that have made significant contributions to the entertainment industry.

King, the founder of the media company Macro, expressed his surprise following the honor last month, saying, “I was a little shocked and surprised. I was without words. I was filled with tremendous gratitude. I stand on the shoulders of all the incredible producers, executives, my parents, and our ancestors who kicked down doors, made sacrifices, and blazed a trail for me to be able to do what I’m blessed to do,” per Deadline. 

After leaving WME nine years ago, King took a risk and started Macro, a multiplatform media company that elevates the viewpoints of people of color. He described the event as a full-circle moment for him, recalling how he and his family initially lived on Orange Drive, just a street away, while he was a junior assistant at WME in 1999.

With this award, King, well-known for contributions to films like “Judas and the Black Messiah” and “They Cloned Tyrone,” is following in the footsteps of forward-looking filmmakers like Walt Disney, Alfred Hitchcock, James Cameron, and Samuel Goldwyn, whose contributions revolutionized the motion picture business.

Presenting the award was Ryan Coogler, the director of Black Panther and Creed, who collaborated with King on Judas and the Black Messiah. He also mentioned how the honoree motivated him to launch his own production company, Proximity.

“Charles King’s achievements in our industry are undeniable whether as an agent representing important voices or as the producer responsible for the growing empire that is MACRO, a multi-platform media company that represents the voice and perspectives of Black people and persons of color,” PGA Presidents Stephanie Allain and Donald De Line said in a joint statement.

Beyond movies, King has been described as an “active philanthropist” who is a board member of The Sundance Institute, College Track, and The American Cinematheque.