Robert Townsend is a true maverick.

The Chicago-born filmmaker made a splash in the movie business with the 1987 satire 'Hollywood Shuffle,' which was financed with his own credit cards.

Since then, the director-writer-producer and sometimes actor has built an impressive portfolio of work, including 'The Five Heartbeats,' ' Holiday Heart' and 'Phantom Punch.'

During the 14th annual American Black Film Festival, 'The Spark' hostess Amanda Diva caught up with Townsend, who shared his thoughts about the future of black filmmaking.

See the exclusive video below.