Spring 2014 #16 CELEBRATING EDUCATION, THE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
That Daughter’s Crazy Starring Rain Pryor
A Special Interview with Vy Higginsen The National Alliance of African American Athletes
Bess the Book Bus Kicks Off 2014 Morgan State University Graduate Pens Novel
A Conversation with Sam Adelman
Who is Darren Desepoli? NFL Player, Lorenzo Alexander
Annapolis Film Festival Recap Indie Film News
Exclusive Interviews! DMV Day Trip Pick: Harlem USA Alive! 55+ and Kickin’ Rain Pryor’s New Project
A Literary, Lifestyle, Business & Entertainment Publication
Spring 2014 #16
Teen Summit Hosted by The National Alliance of African American Athletes A Conversation with Lorenzo Alexander Bess the Book Bus Vy Higginsen Darren Desepoli Annapolis Film Festival Recap Book Sightings : A Conversation with Author Christian Smooth Literary News According to Shelia That Daughter’s Crazy Starring Rain Pryor (A Conversation with Producer, Sam Adelman)
Please note that no photographs taken by Grove Street on assignment can be reproduced without permission of Andrea Blackstone, Editor-in-Chief.
EDITOR-in-CHIEF
Is spring really here? The chill hasn’t completely left the air, and some rainy days are still ahead, but at least more sunshine has come our way. Content from February, March and April are included in this spring edition. This is our way of celebrating a new season. Grove Street’s current issue will offer a dash of black history and education news, along with additional quality entertainment and business features. Could you imagine a world without books, music, theater, history, films, philanthropy, or entertainment? I couldn’t. The world sometimes forgets that artists and entertainers improve the quality of life, but we don’t here. And as a community, we need to preserve history. Those who fight for change aren’t just fighting for themselves. No matter who we are, living a well-balanced life is important. Embracing a little of everything—the serious, relaxing and soul affirming—is healthy. As the weather warms up, consider exploring the arts more than you have. Remember mentioned projects, and give an artist or entertainer a chance to teach you something new from another perspective. Any of them may inspire you to branch out and try something that you’ve always wanted to tackle. Thank you for returning to share time with us. Without further delay, welcome back!
Sincerely,
Andrea Blackstone
Highlights from the Teen Summit Hosted by the National Alliance of African American Athletes “Our focus is you.” –Dr. Alexander Gabbin Chairman of the Watkins Award Selection Committee
Top African American Male Athletes in the Nation Also Recognized for Academics On Saturday February 22, 2014, The National Alliance of African American Athletes (The Alliance) invited teens, ages 13-18, to join finalists of the 2014 Franklin D. Watkins Award to participate in a teen summit panel discussion. Five African-American high school students were honored for their athleticism, high academic achievement, and community involvement. Tony Brown (Beaumont, TX), Zavier Carmichael (Eight Mile, AL), Robert Okereke (Santa Ana, CA), Christopher Register (Brownsummit, NC), and Richard Yeargin (Lauderdale Lakes, FL) were selected as the 23rd Watkins Award “Elite Five.” Importance of education was stressed in a conference room on Capitol Hill during the free outreach activity geared toward local youth. This year, DC was selected as the host city of the 23rd Annual Franklin D. Watkins Award Weekend. “All of these men could be doing other things, but they made it their business to come talk to you. These are some of the smartest men in America,” Dr. Alexander Gabbin, Chairman of the Watkins Award Selection Committee reminded. Watkins Alumni returned to take part in the weekend. Dr. Gabbin explained to youth how university recruiters develop lists of top high school sports prospects. “We start from that same list they use. We look at those same guys that they look at, but there’s one thing different that we’re looking for. We’re looking for the very best academic people out there. They have the kind of character that every parent would love to see in the spouse that their child chooses to marry. On top of that, they’re brilliant in the classroom. If they’re interested, they fill out an application that was developed from an honors program from a major university in the country. They write an essay. They provide references,” Dr. Gabbin said. The 2013 Watkins Award class representative, Joshua Dobbs, was also in attendance with his family. Additionally, a number of Watkins men who ranged from professional athletes to actors and graduate students, returned to encourage and inspire. Watkins men believe in pulling others up with them through hands-on mentorship, connecting with youth, and offering resources. “Why is it we bother with this Award in the first place? Because of you,” Dr. Gabbin told youth. “We want them to understand those who came before, and those who are coming after. All of them have a responsibility to provide an image that you can believe in, so that you can understand that you don’t have to be what people will tell you that you are, because you look the way you are.”
During the teen summit, Watkins men shared their GPAs with the public, eradicating the stereotype that athletes and scholarships cannot coexist. Topics, such as how to succeed, and having a backup plan during and after a professional sports career, were candid topics of discussion. Bobby Okereke was selected as the 2014 Watkins Award Class Representative. “I’ve been looking up to this guy since day 1, my role model @MyronRolle,” Okereke tweeted about Myron Rolle, after the ceremony. Mr. Rolle is a 2006 Watkins Ward Class Representative who earned a 4.0 GPA while attending Princeton New Jersey’s Hun School. ESPN once listed Rolle as the No. 1 high school football player. In a highly unusual move, he left the NFL to attend medical school. The All-American at Florida State University, Rhodes Scholar, and aspiring neurosurgeon is a prime example of the caliber of candidates that Watkins recruits. Mayor Vincent Gray honored the National Alliance of African American Athletes with a proclamation. February 22, 2014 was declared National Alliance of African American Athletes Day. To learn more about the non-profit organization, please visit www.naaa.com. The bios of these 2014 top scholar athletes in the country can be found at www.naaa.com/watkins_honorees.htm.
At the close of the event, NFL player Lorenzo Alexander (Watkins Class of 2001 finalist) took time to give advice to a father and student who attended this kind of event for the first time. Mr. Alexander gives back and is an active volunteer in the community. He currently plays for the Arizona Cardinals.
A Conversation with NFL Player Lorenzo Alexander GS: Can you tell us why you’re here today, and what keeps you grounded, even now? LA: We’re at the 23rd Annual Watkins Award. We’re having our teen summit. I’m part of this organization because I was a finalist back in 2001. Some of the things that keep me grounded, obviously: my parents, my uncle who was a blue-collar worker, strong people, and people that I allowed to mentor me. I think often times we get too big and don’t think we can still be mentored. I still allow people that I trust and love to try to tell me to stay away from certain things. I’m married as well, so my wife and my kids keep me grounded. I just never let things get too big, because I understand what things are important in life, as far as legacy and having a wife and kids, and having a great family that goes way beyond me playing football. GS: Any thoughts during the close of Black History Month? To me, you’re a history maker. How does it feel to be able to give back in this way? LA: I don’t think I’ve ever really looked at myself as a history maker. I think I’m just doing what people did for me, so I don’t feel like I’m doing anything special. I tell people I was brought up in a single parent home. My uncle, Steve, kind of filled that father role for me. He had his own family. His three daughters were like sisters to me. He took out the time to pour into me. When you see that, and you see somebody now as a parent, you say, ‘Now that’s what you’re supposed to do.’ GS: Right. LA: What I’m doing, and what anybody in here is doing is what we ought to do. We have the platform, resources and access that a lot of kids don’t, so why wouldn’t we share that same information that somebody may have shared in our lives? I don’t think anybody here is doing anything special. They’re just doing what they need to do in life. I think we have a lot of amazing people who will complain but won’t actually go and step up and be a mentor. You don’t have to be an athlete or somebody who makes a lot of money. You can be a teacher; you can be a social worker. Whatever you may be in life, it’s not hard to go pick up your nephew, your niece, and just go hang out. Show them how to live right. It’s not about making money. That’s not what being successful is. GS: Thank you so much for your time. I regard you as a history maker because you’re giving back. That makes a new page in history. LA: I appreciate that. Thank you.
Photo credit: David Fain
The 6th Annual Success is in Sight Tour Commences Be on the lookout for a bus loaded with books, smiles, and perhaps glasses, too. On March 24th, 2014, Bess the Book Bus (Bess) launched her 6th annual Success is in Sight Tour, thanks to continued support from volunteers, CITGO's Fueling Good program, Transitions Optical, Townsend Press, Mercedes-Benz USA and additional corporate sponsors. Bess the Book Bus is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization ran by Jennifer Frances. The mission of Bess is to extend literacy across the country. “Without our wonderful sponsors like CITGO, we would not have the resources to reach all of the children and families that we do. We look forward to traveling across the country again to meet local CITGO Marketers and the Fueling Good Road Trip team in our continuing quest to spread a love for literature," Ms. Frances remarked. Over the course of 2014, Bess will reportedly travel the United States, making stops at shelters, schools, community centers, and Head Start facilities in nearly 60 cities. Donated books will also be read aloud to children, to help spread a love for reading. Thousands of youth have also received free eye exams and glasses. The mobile literacy initiative will also visit school classrooms and libraries this year. The new opportunity is projected to significantly increase the impact of the program that donates free books to the nation’s most underserved students. Bess the Book Bus has previously supported more than 60,000 children, donated more than 450,000 books, and visited 48 states. In 2014, Ms. Frances aims to give away more than 60,000 books on the tour. She is still looking for a hotel sponsor. I encourage book lovers to visit www.bessthebookbus.org and www.FuelingGood.com .
Please like Bess the Book Bus on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bessthebookbus . Watch videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/bessthebookbus . You may also follow Bess on Twitter @BookBess. Is your city on the Bess the Book Bus list? Find out where Bess will be. It could make the difference in the life of a child in need. About Jennifer Frances Ms. Frances started Bess the Book Bus in Tampa, Florida in 2002. Every $1 donated via their website provides up to two new books for children. Jennifer said that the idea of Bess came to her like the pull of the moon. Bess the Book Bus is named after her Nana, Bess. David Fain is the longest standing volunteer and is currently traveling with her. If you missed the full interview about Jennifer Frances and Bess the Book Bus dated 8/19/13, please read it at www.blogger.com/thereadersauthorsnook.blogspot.com .
“All of our productions are for all ages. It’s an insight into black American life—black American musical life in this country. Part of what we are dedicated to is making sure that we present, preserve, promote, and perform black American music. When you come to see our shows, you’ll see a combination of original music, as well as music that tells our story and our journey through this country.” —Vy Higginsen
Vy Higginsen
GS: Today we have a very special guest named Vy Higginsen. VH: Good afternoon. Hi. Happy to be here. GS: Great. Could you please share what you do, and where you’re based? VH: Sure. I’m in New York City. We’re in Harlem USA. I am the Executive Director of the Mama Foundation For the Arts, and The School of Gospel, Jazz and R&B Arts. We’re an arts education program but we’re also theater producers. We’re the producers of Mama, I Want to Sing, the longest running black Off-Broadway theater musical in the history of American theater, and several other productions. We have a black music original theater festival going on now, where we have two new musicals and two classic musicals. One of the new musicals is called Alive! 55+ and Kickin’. All of the people onstage are amazing and represent what happens out of this generation of baby boomers, the choices they made, and where they are. We have another new musical called We Are! I had to describe that, I would describe it as a cross between Fame, Chorus Line and Glee, but Harlem style. It’s pretty awesome. GS: Since you mentioned all of those productions, could you explain how they’re set up? In reference to Alive!, is it for a certain type of audience, or can anyone of any age take away something from that production? VH: All of our productions are for all ages. It’s an insight into black American life—black American musical life in this country. Part of what we are dedicated to is making sure that we present, preserve, promote, and perform black American music. When you come to see our
shows, you’ll see a combination of original music, as well as music that tells our story and our journey through this country. It is for all ages. The cast of We Are! is getting their first opportunity. They’re 13 to 19 years old. They are singing so amazingly. Their job is to be ambassadors of music and pass it on. The Alive! cast sets an example for all people about what happens when you make choices. Sometimes you make a wrong turn, or sometimes you end up making a right turn. These stories are to, by, for, and about African American people. We’re probably among the very few that do musicals this way. We do black American original musicals. That’s who we are. GS: I love that. It’s so wonderful. Could you tell me the background of participants? Do they range in experience level? VH: We work with all ages. We are known for our power and mega singers. We select sounds and types that reflect our musical experience. So, it’s very important that we preserve these sounds, and that we remember who we are, where we come from musically. When you see somebody on that stage, it’s because we handpicked them. We hand auditioned them because we saw something powerful inside of them. Many of them wanted to sing, but didn’t have the opportunity, and they went on and did other jobs, and now this is their second chance. We have so much talent in our community. We feel dedicated to making sure that we have our young people, and our older people, to be seen and to be heard. They cannot be denied.
Photo credit: Carol Rosegg
GS: That is so inspiring. Another thing I saw was a clip. Young people were talking about their lives at home. You were saying, ‘Whatever is going on, leave it at the door. This is time for yourself.’ What has driven you to love gospel music so much, be such an inspiration, and give back? VH: We started in 1999. 1988 was when Mama, I Want to Sing went to Japan. We introduced the Japanese audiences to gospel music. We celebrated our 25th anniversary in Japan in December and January. They were making a tribute to us for introducing the Japanese audiences to gospel music through Mama, I Want to Sing, which has been going to Japan two to three times a year, since 1988. What we discovered was that Japanese audiences were studying our music in music schools. There are now over 200,000 Japanese people singing, learning, and performing gospel music as a result of Mama, I Want To Sing. GS: I never would’ve guessed that. VH: It’s pretty amazing. What we also discovered is that here in America, we didn’t think our young people were appreciating gospel music because they were so busy studying hip hop, rap, and R&B. We wanted to make sure that our young people had some of this music on their menu, so that they would pass this music on. We don’t want our music to die, or anybody else to take credit for what we do. That’s how it started, or why it started. When we auditioned young people for Mama, I Want To Sing, they couldn’t even sing a whole gospel song all the way through. We said, ‘Wait a minute. You’ve gotta be singing the songs that we used to sing when we were coming through.’ It’s part of our survival—the lyrics, the energy, the power. We know that these kids need something. So yeah, I tell them leave their stuff outside the door. We’ve all got stuff. It’s not how you fall down, it’s how you get up. These are certain tools that we put in their kit to help them survive and get along on their way to becoming whole human beings. GS: Do the proceeds from Alive! and these different productions all benefit The Mama Foundation For the Arts? VH: Yes. We are a not-for-profit organization dedicated to music, performing, history, and art. Every single dime goes toward The Mama Foundation in order to keep our programs free. All of the kids who attend here attend at no charge to them or their families. They should not have to pay to learn their history. GS: Typically, how many do you accept per year that are a part of The Mama Foundation For the Arts? VH: We take in about 150 teens twice a year. Part of what we do is we perform before live audiences. That’s part of the way we are able to keep our program free. It’s always a struggle to keep it free. There are always more kids. We don’t want to turn away anybody. VH: That’s wonderful. I also read about the Gospel for Teens Choir. Is this all connected?
GS: Yes. The Gospel for Teens Choir is part of what we call performing before live audiences. We want to make sure that our teens have a chance to do what we teach them. What good is it to teach them and then have them sit in front of the television? They have to perform. There’s no experience like a live experience. We make sure that we find places where they can perform. They’ve done some pretty exciting things. We performed for the Super Bowl at Madison Square Garden. We performed at Radio City Music Hall. They’ve won several competitions: the Verizon How Sweet the Sound Competition, the Pathmark Gospel Choir Competition. They are an award-winning choir. And of course they were the choir that was seen on CBS 60 Minutes. GS: Right. VH: I get bragging rights here. GS: You’re supposed to brag on that. That is huge! I did watch the clip. It had me crying. VH: I know. It’s very, very powerful. We gotta pay attention to our young people. One of the other reasons it was very important to make sure that these young people can be seen and heard is because of when they took music out of schools. It really was hard for the musical student to excel in other areas in their lives. We thought once we replaced the music they would become better people all the way around. GS: Is Cissy Houston part of this as far as working with you? VH: Yes. Cissy Houston is a life-long friend of our family, and of the Foundation. My sister, Doris Troy, is who Mama, I Want To Sing is all about. They sang together back when they were young teenagers and young adults. When I had this idea, I asked her. She said it was great and that she would help. She’s been a good consultant to us. GS: I’m just mind blown. You have so many great people working with you. On the production side, I’m wondering how are you are able to take people with raw talent and train them? VH: There’s nothing that we can’t actually fix, except if you’re tone deaf. You can’t fix that. If you come in and you’re good, we make you better. If you’re not so good, we make you better. As long as you can carry a tune, we can work with you through exercises, and other songs in our repertoire that help build your professional pipes. GS: I read about so many wonderful things you’ve done. You were the first woman in advertising and sales at Ebony, you’ve worked as a disc jockey at WBLS, and you’re an author, in addition to all of these other creative things. What would you say to our readers about the importance of preserving arts in our society? I know sometimes the creative parts get removed, then people forget if others don’t fight to keep it around. VH: I’m an advocate for the arts. I can tell you that people’s lives change for the better when the arts are included. We travel all over the world. I see how the arts are regarded in other countries, where people support it a way that is not just extra; it’s automatic. It’s a part of the inclusion in their whole life. We need to make sure we honor and respect the talent that we
have. We have exceptional abilities, and we should support that. Any community without the arts, I feel, is one that lacks vision, and sometimes, safety. I want to make sure that we stand as a beam, light, or example for the avocation of arts in our young people, and in our community. GS: What makes you feel alive? Have you ever experienced obstacles in your career? What motivates you to keep going and push past them? VH: Every failure brings you closer to your destiny, in my imagination. Yes, we’ve had many failures, and we’ve had many times when things didn’t go as planned or anticipated, but you fall down, you get up. You keep on doing it. It’s the experience in the journey of life that helps you realize your final goals. GS: I just have to ask for those who are out of town, but accessible to New York. Are out-oftowners coming to your shows? VH: We get lots of out-of-towners! Harlem is the new Harlem. We’re a part of the whole Harlem Renaissance. We’re a part of making sure that when people come, they experience our food, our art, our culture, and our music. We’re part of that music. We’re located right on the classic corridor in Central Harlem, which is where Sylvia’s Restaurant and Chez Lucienne are located. They are participating partners. So when you come to New York, and buy a ticket to our show, and you want to go out and eat, you get a 10% discount. Everybody is working together to help restore Harlem to prominence as an entertainment capital. GS: Lovely. VH: It’s well worth your while to come to Harlem. The shopping is fabulous right there on the corridor and on 125th Street. The food is great, and now you have a destination for theater. We understand that there’s theater on Broadway, but we’re Harlem theater. We give great theater at great prices. Your ticket price is not what you’re going to pay if you had to go downtown. If you want to go downtown you can, but you will also be able to also come uptown and have a Harlem experience, in food, music, and art. That’s what we encourage people to do, put it on their calendar and say I’m going to go up to Harlem. When you come to New York, I’m going to have some food. We even have a brand new W Hotel in Harlem. Harlem is changing. It’s evolving. It’s growing. It’s a great place to visit. As a matter of fact, it has become the number one tourist destination for New York City. GS: I didn’t know that. VH: We have a 520-seat theater. If you’re coming for a family reunion, or you’re coming for some kind of special event, we support theater parties. We offer discounts for theater parties and for group sales. GS: Could you tell us your website? VH: Our website is www.mamafoundationforthearts.org. You can go to our website and we have a ticket service, which is called Smart Tix, or you can call our office directly for group sales
and other things. Our office number is 212 280-1045. We have ticket specialists on hand to show you how to save or raise money for your organization.
Photo credit : Carol Rosegg
GS: Is Alive! running in conjunction with other shows? VH: Good question. We have the black American musical theater series, so we put out four shows. Two classics and two brand new shows. Our audience rotates between the shows. The shows are at 2:00 and 5:00 on Saturdays. Some people go to the 2:00 show, run out, get something to eat, and come back for the 5:00. We have Alive!, We Are, Mama, I Want to Sing and Sing Harlem Sing! playing in rotation. You can pick the show that you want to see. If you like one show, you can just come back and get some more. We make sure people come to Harlem to get their entertainment needs met and satisfied. GS: Are these shows running up until a certain date? VH: Yeah—we’re running through June. On Saturdays it would be great to come by and see what you see, and feel what you feel! GS: It has been a pleasure speaking with you. We know some New Yorkers and will share this with readers. Thank you for investing in other people and promoting the arts. I think it’s so important to our entire society. VH: Thank you for an opportunity to share with your audience. You save the music, you save the team. We just keep on pumpin’. Note: Secure your seats in advance if you’re coming into town. The productions are popular. To learn more about the show visit: http://www.mamafoundation.org/alive.html. The Smart Tix link for Alive! is below. http://www.smarttix.com/show.aspx?EID=&showCode=ALI18&BundleCode=&PackageCode=& GUID=038aebb5-1c9c-4763-a492-b1a57591f7b6
“For me, personal enrichment comes about when the focus is on assisting others.” –Darren Desepoli, Founder of the Alex Haley Tribute website
Darren camping and writing about Alex Haley with little Puggy this past winter in sunny Florida
Darren Desepoli grew up in the small town of Rosedale, NY. As a born Catholic, he received twelve years of parochial education. It was from this early life spiritual education that put Darren on the path to helping others and associating with and promoting good causes. Today, we find him engaging in many endeavors regarding keeping the powerful legacy of Alex Haley alive in the minds of the current generation.
Grove Street: How did you become interested in the writing field? Darren: It actually started with poetry. I was sitting in the back seat of a friend’s car who was a performing musician in my neighborhood. He had inquired if I had ever written anything or had a desire to do so. After mentioning that I had never actually given it a thought, he simply handed me his personal clipboard and told me to start writing. It was right there and then where I wrote my very first poem regarding how special all children are. Grove Street: Can you share some of the titles? Darren: Although all of my poems are copyrighted with the Library of Congress under the book title, A Sense of Awareness, I have not published it. As far as accolades received, my poetry site was featured by Poetry Today Online and The Arcanum CafÊ. In addition, just this past February, I was contacted by a New York poet who authored four books. Ruth Sabath Rosenthal kindly asked me to feature some of her poems on my poetry site where I felt very honored in doing so. Grove Street: What is your website and contact information?
Darren: My personal website and Facebook pages are: http://www.nypoet.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/darren.desepoli. My personal email address is: Darren@nypoet.com. My websites pertaining to promoting the legacy of Alex Haley are listed later in this interview. Grove Street: Please share why you started the Alex Haley tribute website, and how long you have been running it. Darren: This is actually a very interesting story. I had just wrapped up traveling through the South, after a camping trip with Puggy. I wanted to stop at the Alex Haley Museum on my way home. After receiving a personal tour given by their Museum Director, Ms. Beverly Johnson, I inquired if debit cards were accepted for gift shop purchases. After she told me that they were in the process of accepting cards shortly, I asked if there was a museum website I could go to and place my order online when I arrived home. This second question yielded that their website wasn’t actually built yet. When I arrived home, I built a website for them and went through the proper channels with the Museum Board of Directors to try to have it officially implemented. What winded up happening was that my design was overly extensive as it featured numerous audio clips and many video interviews of Alex Haley. As a result, the Board Members became concerned that they would have to first seek permission from the copyright holders for each of these media files to protect themselves as a non-profit organization. They passed on the website offer. I simply turned it into a personal tribute site to Alex Haley and launched it on the very first day of the very first Black History Month of the brand new decade—February 1, 2010—where I have maintained it ever since. This tribute site to Alex Haley can be found here: http://www.alex-haley.com/
One of the original pictures of Alex Haley’s Boyhood Home in Henning, Tennessee
Grove Street: I notice that it is featured on some of the very best sites. What makes it different from other websites, in terms of information?
Darren: I was actually in the capital city of Tennessee, Nashville, when I checked my email from a parking lot where very best sites informed me that they had featured my site at the end of March in 2011 as you can see here: http://www.verybestsites.com/best-author-tributewebsites/ My best guess on what makes it different from other sites is that the site itself was gaining more popularity and authenticity. Although the museum board members decided to have their website built by the local college students in their area, I still maintained close communication with Ms. Beverly Johnson. The Alex Haley Museum page I placed on my site assisted visitors in arriving at the museum. When people called the museum seeking on-line information, including written directions and a visual map on how to get there, Ms. Johnson now had an online presence to direct the people to. In addition, the museum had their grand opening on August 13, 2010 introducing their newly built Interpretive Center that was featured by many newspapers, magazines and other media sources. As a result, whenever they included a link to their story about the grand opening, they would link my museum page as the online place of reference and contact for them. Grove Street: Who visits the website, and what kind of feedback have you received? Darren: My visiting audience consists of those who were deeply touched by the book and television mini-series, Roots, as it truly captivated an entire nation. The feedback I have received has always been on the order of friendship and support and/or those seeking assistance with their Alex Haley and/or Roots related endeavors. A few weeks ago, I was contacted by a gentleman who works for ABN TV in the UK, which is an African-Caribbean cable channel serving the black community on the Sky network. He requested the contact details of the company he would approach to show the Roots series on ABN TV to his black audience. His request was forwarded to William Haley Jr., Alex Haley’s grandson, and also to Chris Haley, Alex Haley’s nephew. Grove Street: What is your favorite interview or article? Darren: By far my favorite interview of Alex Haley is by William R. Ferris (co-editor of The Encyclopedia of Southern Culture, which Alex Haley wrote the Foreword for) and is entitled: Alex Haley: Vicksburg, Mississippi, 1989: Angels, Legends, and Grace. I just love the way the title is worded, how it sounds, and the warm feeling it outwardly projects. In that interview, Alex Haley covers his experiences with Malcolm X in depth. You can actually feel Alex Haley and Malcolm X coming together again, which would be 24 years after the release of The Autobiography of Malcolm X. In August 2013, William R. Ferris re-released this Alex Haley: Vicksburg, Mississippi, 1989: Angels, Legends, and Grace recorded interview of Alex Haley in his new book: The Storied South: Voices of Writers and Artists, which in itself is a written testimony to the power and impact Alex Haley made on others as quoted by Ferris in his opening to that interview here:
“In 1990, Alex was a featured speaker on our Center for the Study of Southern Culture’s historic ‘College on the Mississippi’ Delta Queen trip. He was joined by Mose Allison, Eli Evans, Shelby Foote, B.B. King, and Jeff MacNelly, all of whom spoke or performed during the weeklong trip from Memphis to New Orleans. During his final talk, Alex related the story of “Amazing Grace” and explained that the hymn was inspired by the suffering of slaves crossing the Atlantic. He said, “One of every four enslaved Africans died on the slave ships. Their shrieks became part of the wind.” At the end of Alex’s talk, Roy Yost, a waiter on the Delta Queen, stepped forward and led the passengers in singing the hymn. There were tears in every eye when we stopped singing.” ~ William R. Ferris. (Excerpt from Alex Haley: Vicksburg, Mississippi, 1989: Angels, Legends, and Grace which was first published in the Fall 2008 Edition of Southern Cultures and then published again in The Storied South: Voices of Writers and Artists. © 2008 The University of North Carolina Press. © 2013 William Ferris. All Rights Reserved.) Grove Street: What is the Alex Haley Roots Foundation? Darren: The best way to describe the Alex Haley Roots Foundation is to share what Alex Haley mentions from a June 1980 interview entitled: Alex Haley: The Man Behind Roots by the late Professor Jeffrey M. Elliot of Political Science for 28 years at North Carolina Central University. Jeffrey Elliot: Finally, I recently read that you donated a great deal of money to establish a special foundation to fund research in the area of African studies. Can you say something about the foundation? Alex Haley: Yes. The Foundation is a reflection of the responsibility I feel as a result of the success of Roots. I very much want to do something constructive with the profits from the book. I have no desire whatsoever to own a yacht, or a mansion, or a limousine, or anything else like that. I’m just not interested in those things. Instead, I’ve established the Alex Haley Roots Foundation. It only bears my name because of the shoe company, which has a similar name. Basically, the Foundation is an outgrowth of my desire to put into practice what I believe. I think it’s vitally important that black people, particularly those in positions of responsibility, do what they can to help others who aren’t quite as fortunate. As a result, I’ve set into motion this Foundation. It’s arranged so I can donate the legal maximum to assure its continued operation. I was fortunate to secure the assistance of my friend, Mr. James Dyer, to head the Foundation. Mr. Dyer, who is a Harvard graduate, worked previously for both the Urban League and the Carnegie Corporation. With the blessings of the Carnegie Corporation, he became Director of the Alex Haley Roots Foundation, which is headquartered in New York, and which began operation in October, 1977. The purposes of the Foundation are still evolving. However, we hope to provide scholarships for post-graduate students who are working in the thematic area that encompasses Roots. In
addition, we would like to help disseminate course materials at the primary and secondary levels, on a national basis, dealing with solid information concerning black history. Finally, we want to work in connection with Africa, and, in particular, with The Gambia, to help build bridges between black Africans and black people in this country. As you can see, we have an ambitious agenda before us. (Excerpt from Alex Haley: The Man Behind Roots, June 1980, from Literary Voices #1 which was published by Borgo Press. © 1980 Jeffrey M. Elliot. © 2011 Wildside Press LLC. All Rights Reserved.) Grove Street: Has anyone ever contacted you regarding some earlier controversy of the authenticity of Roots? Darren: No one has ever personally sent me anything negative regarding Alex Haley and/or Roots. Perhaps the reason for this is that I was always prepared and could instantly shoot back what Alex Haley says in his own words regarding a few points one may stumble upon on-line. Alex Haley Interviewed By Lawrence Grobel Lawrence Grobel: Some have called Roots a novel, but you prefer another word, don’t you? Alex Haley: Faction. I saw that word in a book in London. It means a mixture of fact and fiction. Most books are. Nobody can say with absolute accuracy what happened 150 years ago. Get six books about the battle of Gettysburg and you’d think it was six different battles. The best any of us can do is do the best research we can and then try to create around that. With Roots, I worked my head off to research everything and still a lot of the book is fiction. How do I know what Chicken George said over a hundred years ago? I made it up. Lawrence Grobel: Along with its phenomenal success came the inevitable lawsuits, including a few which claimed you plagiarized their work. Did you? Alex Haley: The best way I can respond to that is to say that it’s almost impossible for anyone to write a book like Roots where people don’t bring a suit. I was at a function where twentyfour authors sat at two long tables, and every one of us had great big books. We were asked to raise our hands if we’ve never been involved in a lawsuit. One hand went up. Twenty-three of us were involved in lawsuits. That’s why I think the greatest thing written in our time was Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea. For the metaphor. This old man spent all his life learning the fish the best he knew how. One day he put his hood down and felt the bite—he knew it was a big fish and he waited until the time was right. Finally he began to fight the fish, and when it surfaced he saw it was bigger than any fish he’d ever dreamed. Then it went back down and it fought the old man. Finally, the frail old man beat the fish, and in time he was able to lash it alongside his little skip. He put up his homemade sail and started home with his prize. Then came the sharks, one after another, taking chunks of the fish until what remained was the skeleton. The metaphor that relates to being sued is that if you do a book that has the fortune
to get like Roots, if you catch that big fish, you can rest assured that on your way home the sharks will come. And in the literary world, they take the form of people who bring lawsuits. Lawrence Grobel: Did you make a financial settlement with Harold Courlander, the author of The African, which preceded Roots? Alex Haley: Yes, and the reason I did was simply the timing. We were getting ready to film Roots 2, which is my own life story, and I had the option, after all those weeks in court, to spend at least another six weeks at yet another trial or to say, “Let’s settle and let me go back and be where my life is being filmed.” That was the option I took. The only thing I regret is that I didn’t do it earlier. Lawrence Grobel: What was the problem, exactly? Were certain sections accidentally lifted? Did some of your researchers include material from that book which you mistook for original research? Alex Haley: It was said that several paragraphs in Roots came from The African. That’s not true. There were two lines, as I recall, and the only thing I could come up with is that I employed sixteen different people who helped me, and I would use material they sent me relative to slavery. In the course of dealing with these bushels of material, you do not remember the source of every piece. (Excerpt from Endangered Species: Writers Talk About Their Craft, Their Visions, Their Lives which was published by Da Capo Press. © 2001 Lawrence Grobel. All Rights Reserved.) Note: For more information regarding this specific topic, please visit the FAQ page posted on the Alex Haley Roots Foundation website: http://www.alexhaley.com/faq.htm Grove Street: How did your usage of “Acting Media Relations Director” for The Alex Haley Roots Foundation that you use in your e-mail signatory section come about? Darren: It came about by exhibiting pure kindness in any manner I could, in reference to respecting and promoting the legacy of Alex Haley, which was observed and acknowledged by numerous members of the Haley family—including you Andrea, which I sincerely thank you for. I rely on my birth given and instilled Christian values and operate purely from the heart. As a result of doing this, it was Alex Haley’s grandson, William Haley Jr., who invited me to be a close part of his endeavors regarding the rebirth of the Alex Haley Roots Foundation. Thus, I chose the title Media Relations Director to use whenever I acted on behalf of the interests of the Foundation. I would then report back to him, along with updates to the director, Beverly Johnson at the Museum in Henning.
Ms. Beverly Johnson with William Haley Jr. at the Alex Haley Museum in Henning, Tennessee
The timing on this was actually perfect as I was able to escape the bitter cold and very lengthy winter we just had, by camping in deep southern Florida for two months with little Puggy. And it was from the Lakeport RV Resort campground where the official Alex Haley Roots Foundation website was designed and officially launched, which the public can now visit here: http://www.alexhaley.com/ Grove Street: Are there any other activities that you are involved in regarding keeping the legacy of Alex Haley alive within the minds of the current generation? Darren: One endeavor that I actually had a lot of fun with, taking into account that we have now moved more into a digital age, was addressing all the works of Alex Haley that are listed at the Open Library, which allows the public to directly borrow or check out e-books on-line. This project involved ensuring that there were very crisp book cover images in place for all of Alex Haley’s authored and contributed works followed by writing a full description for each of those works. One nice feature about the Open Library is that website links are listed below each individually written book description. It was decided that the Alex Haley Museum would be the official place of contact for all of Alex Haley’s authored works at the Open Library. Contact information for the public is available there. Here is the Open Library page for Alex Haley: https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL217730A/Alex_Haley Grove Street: Is there anything that you would like to share with the public?
Darren: Yes, my poem of acknowledgement to Oprah Winfrey for hosting the 35th Anniversary of Roots. Please read it here: http://www.alex-haley.com/alex_haley_oprah_roots_video_interviews.htm In closing, for me, personal enrichment comes about when the focus is on assisting others. On that note, for more information about Alex Haley, you can also contact the Alex Haley Museum and Interpretive Center, 200 South Church Street, Henning, TN 38041, (731) 738-2240, Tuesday through Saturday: 10 am to 5 pm. Email: alexhaleymuseum@bellsouth.net • Website: http://www.alexhaleymuseum.org.
The Annapolis Film Festival
Showcase: African-American Storytelling on Screen
Panelists of Showcase: African-American Storytelling on Screen: Chris Haley, Scotti Preston, Rain Pryor, Ambassador Shabazz (daughter of Malcom X Shabazz and Dr. Betty Shabazz)
The City of Annapolis buzzed with creative energy on March 27-30. Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts transformed into a film headquarters. Over 200 volunteers pitched in to implement the Annapolis Film Festival in Maryland, where 93 films were shown. The non-profit organization, Annapolis Film Festival, Inc., “encourages the development of all aspects of the creative arts in and around Annapolis, through the cinema experience.” Creative Directors— Patti White and Lee Anderson—embarked upon a second round of lining up first-rate films. The event didn’t end at offering a vast amount of narratives and documentaries from around the globe. Film lovers and aspiring filmmakers also experienced probative discussions led by accomplished experts in film, entertainment, media, and history. On Friday evening, Ambassador Shabazz, daughter of Malcom X Shabazz and Dr. Betty Shabazz, and Goddaughter of Alex Haley, moderated ‘Showcase: African-American Storytelling on Screen.’ She discussed a quest to be our true selves, offering a moving curated collection of storytellers. “These people were like my potpourri of culture,” Ambassador Shabazz remarked. After the presentation ended with a defining paragraph, the panel discussion began. “Do you know that Annapolis, Maryland, is where Kunta Kinte docked, which is why I opened it with Alex Haley, my godfather? With us, we have Chris Haley, who is my godcousin. I have a niece that is going to be joining us, and that is Rain Pryor,” Ambassador Shabazz remarked.
Panelists introduced themselves in detail in their own words. “I’ve been working at the Maryland State Archives for twenty years. The main reason why I came back to the Maryland State Archives was because I wanted to learn to research the right way, following in the footsteps of my Uncle Alex, so that I could do research on AfricanAmerican male figures such as Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, and Jackie Wilson to put it to use artistically. That’s what really brought me back to Annapolis,” Chris Haley explained. Scotti Preston, actor and Living History Consultant, said, “I am many things. I am a complicated, committed person whose mind is a committee, and it is moving at all times. To nutshell it, I am an expression. I am okay with being different every time I am, because I am.” Rain Pryor, daughter of Richard Pryor, identified herself as a mother, author, playwright, director, and also someone who is in the middle of her Ifa priesthood. “What I want people to know me as is a human being. First off and foremost, the color of my skin does not define who I am.” Ms. Pryor explained that she fell in love with Maryland and moved to Baltimore after reading Octavia Butler’s Kindred, and revisiting her family ties to the area. She spoke about being a black Jewish woman, not required to exclude who she is. “I feel like it’s a part of my destiny and part of my storytelling, to come to this area of Maryland for my history, to be in touch with myself and everybody else. The other thing to know about me: I am responsible for not only my destiny, but in my tradition, I am also responsible for helping you in your destiny, and to honor who you are as well,” she also remarked.
(Pictured) Lamin Jatta, descendant of Kunta Kinte, attended the Annapolis Film Festival. We interviewed him in Grove Street’s New Beginnings issue (Dec. 2013 /Jan 2014). Mr. Jatta and The Kunta Kinteh Family Foundation are on Facebook. He was photographed by Donna L. EpsteinCole, while visiting the Alex Haley Memorial and the City Dock area, for the first time. Mr. Jatta said that he was deeply touched while visiting the place where Kunta Kinte landed in America. The moving collage made the front page of The Capital.
Ambassador Shabazz, Lamin Jatta, Rain Pryor & Chris Haley
Other Impressive Highlights at the Annapolis Film Festival •
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Ann Oldenburg, a reporter for USA Today, interviewed writer/director David S. Ward. He is best known for his Oscar winning screenplay The Sting. He also co-wrote Sleepless in Seattle. After answering questions, Mr. Ward took pictures with local youth and fans. A documentary by two-time Academy Award winner, Barbara Kopple, explored mental illness through the journey of Ernest Hemingway’s granddaughter, actress Mariel Hemingway. Oprah Winfrey is the film’s executive producer. A discussion about mental illness and suicide prevention followed. It was stated that 1 out of 4 people will have mental illness in their lifetime, but only 30% will seek treatment. A conversation with Gabriela Cristiani, Oscar winning film editor, offered an in depth discussion of innovation in film editing, as well as her career. After the screening of Who Cares?, Andrew Serwer, Managing Editor of Fortune magazine, moderated a panel discussion that included Beverly Schwartz, Vice President of Global Marketing at Ashoka, which is the world’s largest association of social entrepreneurs. Find out more at www.ashoka.org. Best of the Fest included 2014 favorites: Druid Peak, Maidentrip, Mentiroso, and Fate of a Salesman. To learn more, visit www.annapolisfilmfestival.net.
Can the good of society be placed above personal interest? Connect with Beverly Schwartz on Twitter @beverlyschwartz. She is the author of Rippling: How Social Entrepreneurs Spread Innovation Throughout the World. The book features organizations and individuals who have won grants at Ashoka.
Ruby Singleton Blakeney and Rain Pryor are pictured holding The Heart Of A Hero. The book was authored by Ms. Blakeney’s brother, Clarence Singleton, who is a Vietnam veteran. Visit www.theheartofahero.com to learn more about Mr. Clarence Singleton.
A few of Grove Street’s Favorite Annapolis Film Festival Quotes “I grew up as a very proud daughter of the continent.” “Storytelling should convey and assist with a mirror of yourself.” –Ambassador Shabazz “You need preparation before you get in front of the camera.” “Everyone can be a filmmaker as long as they prepare themselves.” “What you thought you did is not there.” (Film editing) —Gabriella Cristiani
“I don’t have to exclude who I am.” —Rain Pryor
“Writing is one of my main forms of expression. I used to share my work with people really close to me. Now I am a freelance filmmaker. I want to make film making my career. Storytelling is so much fun, and I like how my work makes people happy. I honestly feel like the sky isn’t the limit for me creatively.” —Christian Smooth
2013 Morgan State graduate, Christian Smooth, volunteered at the Annapolis Film Festival. His book, Mr. Illustrious, was released February 20, 2014. He is the Executive Producer of two webseries. The Student Body is described as a semi-anthology web series that parodies life at HBCUs. He also produces Speaks. Christian Smooth was born and raised in Annapolis, MD.
A Conversation with Christian Smooth GS: Today we’re speaking with Christian Smooth about his new release, Mr. Illustrious. Where did you get the idea for the book? CS: The story came about when I was going to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. A girl asked me to write a sexy story, and I started writing Mr. Illustrious. GS: So it was because someone asked you to write a short story? CS: Yes. It was like a commission, pretty much. GS: After that, what made you feel like you wanted to write the whole book? Can you give a synopsis of what Mr. Illustrious is about? CS: I liked the character so much, I wanted to write some more stories about a college freshman who loses his college scholarship and becomes a man whore in order to pay for his college tuition.
GS: That sounds spicy. You told me you that you attended Morgan State University. Tell me more about your background. CS: My background is in film and television writing. I went to Morgan. I was the only Screen Writing and Animation major to graduate. I also ran cross-country. I created a web series called ‘The Student Body’ about a HBCU. Since I’m back in Annapolis (not for long I hope), I decided to create a new web series called ‘Speaks.’ I interview people around the city and have them talk to me about whatever they would like. I believe that everyone is interesting to some type of degree, and I want the world to know what these everyday people are doing. I also hope to get a few narrative projects off of the ground. I have so many ideas, it’s not even funny. GS: In two lines or less, how would you describe your book? CS: Fun and whimsical. GS: Great answer. Where is the book available? CS: It’s available on Amazon, Kindle, and on my website, www.thesmoothhouse.com. GS: What is your contact information? CS: You can find me on Twitter @SIR_ILLUSTRIOUS. You can type in Christian Smooth on Facebook. I’ll pop right up. You can also find Mr. Illustrious on Instagram @smoozus. Episodes of the Student Body are available on YouTube. You can find various productions at www.thesmoothhouse.com. Christian Smooth will also be working on a semi sequel to Mr. Illustrious, which he hopes to release next fall.
Literary News According to Shelia Exciting things are on the horizon for Bonita And Hodge Publishing Group, where I play several roles. I am a co-founder, Acquisitions editor and a Bonita And Hodge author. This month I’m extra excited because Bonita And Hodge continues to achieve great things with its growing list of titles. Two of our titles My Wife My Baby…And Him and For Better Or For Worse recently landed on the top 30 bestsellers list at BlackExpressions.com.
Read what HEA Contributor Michelle Monkou with USA today had to say about My Wife My Baby…And Him, Book V in the My Son’s Wife series: My Wife My Baby…And Him - USA Today’s Top Recommended Read! “Why you should read it: When I’m ready to squeeze the living daylights out of certain characters, I’m ready to call the book clubs’ attention to this book recommendation. Lipsey writes seriously flawed characters with such realism that they deserve their just desserts. This is Christian faith fiction with powerful lessons to be learned and talked about even after the book is closed. Great drama that makes those pages turn. Lipsey will not disappoint.” Michelle Monkou, HEA Contributor for USA Today Bonita And Hodge Submissions: If you are an author interested in pursuing publication through Bonita And Hodge Publishing Group LLC, please visit us at http://www.bonitaandhodgepublishing.com and carefully read and follow our submission guidelines. Bonita And Hodge titles are available at online Etailers like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books a Million, and on your favorite EReading devices. You can also find Bonita And Hodge titles at Blackexpressions.com, or you can order your printed copy(ies) from your favorite bookstore. You can contact Shelia E. Lipsey or Bonita And Hodge Publishing at: @bonitaandhodge @shelialipsey
books@shelialipsey.com htt://www.shelialipsey.com http://www.Facebook.com/SheliaELipseyReaders https://www.facebook.com/bonitaandhodge SAVE THE DATE FOR THE 3RD ANNUAL BWABC LITERACY FESTIVAL!
Make plans to attend the 3rd Annual Black Writers And Book Clubs (BWABC) Literacy Festival September 19-20, 2014 - Hilton Hotel Memphis Hosted by author Shelia E. Lipsey BWABC Festival host/founder The third annual BWABC Literacy Festival will be here before you know it. Authors and vendors, as of this issue of Grove Street, there are still a few author and vendor slots available, all at affordable rates. The BWABC Literacy Festival unites authors with book clubs, avid readers and the general public all for the saking of ‘promoting literacy one community at a time.’ This year our featured speaker is Flo Anthony. Flo Anthony is the author of the Black Expressions bestsellers novel “Deadly Stuff Players” (Strebor). A former publicist for legends like Muhammad Ali, the late Butch Lewis, Michael Spinks, Larry Holmes, Mike McCallum, Matthew Saad Muhammad, Lynn Whitfield, Leon Isaac Kennedy, Saoul Mamby and Tyra Banks, Flo still reps a very exclusive group of clients. We are excited that Flo, along with featured authors Thomas Long, Brian W. Smith, Tina McKinney and 50 other authors will be attending the BWABC Literacy Festival! There is still time for you to be one of those 50 authors! Register by following this link: BWABC AUTHOR AND PUBLISHERS REGISTRATION We invite you to attend this FREE festival where you can meet authors from across the country, attend book signings, participate in author and book club panel discussions, enter essay contests, win prizes, play literary games take unlimited photo ops and have the opportunity to network, network, network! LIKE BWABC on Facebook www.facebook.com/BWABC Twitter: @bwabclitfest To learn more about the festival visit our website or email us at bwabc1@gmail.com “Literacy is not a luxury; it is a right and a responsibility.” Bill Clinton
Did you know that Rain Pryor is a Baltimore resident with a documentary film in the works?
Photo credit: Nadia Hallgren
A Conversation with Sam Adelman Producer of THAT DAUGHTER’S CRAZY starring Rain Pryor SA: I’m Sam Adelman. I’m a producer at Paradox Smoke Productions. My most recent production was a documentary film called That Daughter’s Crazy starring Rain Pryor. It was directed by Elzbieta Szoka and produced and edited by myself. Daryl Sledge was also a producer on the production. GS: Wonderful. Can you tell me where you’re based? SA: We’re based in New York City. We were first drawn to the project when a friend of mine who worked in the business took me to see the show, Fried Chicken and Latkes, which is a one woman show that Rain was performing at an off Broadway theater here in New York. I thought it was a terrific project for our company, Paradox Smoke, to get involved in. I thought it would be something that would be of interest to Elzbieta, who directs our projects. It kind of focused on a diversity element that attracted us. It was diversity that attracted us to other projects that we’ve produced over the years. In terms of diversity, Fried Chicken and Latkes won the grand prize. GS: How did it impress you that way? SA: Well, not just the culture of Black-Jewish dynamics, in the way Rain grew up, but the fatherdaughter story was particularly appealing. Rain is an extremely talented performer. That was a bonus on top of everything else, and on top of being a really intriguing story of growing up in Beverly Hills, the product of a Jewish parent and an African American father, who was a notorious celebrity in an area where in Beverly Hills everybody was conscious about that kind of stuff. Even before social media, Beverly Hills High may have been the gossip capital of the world in Hollywood, California. GS: Right. SA: Rain grew up with those difficulties as an adolescent and as a teenager. She faced issues of racism and neglect that most kids don’t face growing up. A lot of this she overcame, in terms of becoming a performer herself, coming to some reason with all of this, coming to grips with who her father was and the place in her heart that he had in her life. That became a kind of interesting, compelling kind of story. We were able to interview Rain’s mother and grandmother out in California. We took a little trip and had the pleasure of meeting them and interviewing them. It was just a unique insight into this side of growing up the child of a celebrity in California. In the projects you see about Richard Pryor’s life, you don’t see this story. The children are often omitted in a blatant way. Sometimes it may be because of family
problems that still exist with the stepmother (the final wife of Richard Pryor) who keeps a tight rein on what goes out image wise, in terms of Richard Pryor. This means sometimes ignoring the kids. So that’s got to be hurtful. They go through that. So it’s an interesting tale. By being able to interview Rain, her mother and grandmother, we think we gained a little special insight into all of this. Hopefully, it’s an entertaining film. We get pieces of the play in the film that we did. It juxtaposes nicely with the interviews. GS: It sounds absolutely fascinating. I did see a clip and wanted to see more. What was it like working with Rain Pryor as a person? Did anything surprise you getting to know her? Sometimes we only see what the media tells us. We have no idea what life is really like for children of famous people. SA: The biggest surprise came at the initial meeting between Rain and the director, Elzbieta. We had talked extensively about doing this film that was going to focus on Rain, not on her father. In pursuing the story of Rain, when she met the director, Elzbieta, Rain brought up how important Yoruba is in her life. It turned out that Elzbieta had done her masters on Yoruba. So they had this common interest and we pursued that in the film. We tried to incorporate images that we filmed at a Yoruban temple in Brooklyn, and tried to tie in some of Rain’s feelings about destiny, all coming together in one spirit. We tried to incorporate that philosophy into the film. That was like an in for us. It was kind of like an angle. When you write a story, you’re looking for that angle without pursuing the show business aspect head on. In an hour-long film, you’re going to get to that. GS: Right. SA: So, as we’re trying to make the film a little more interesting to an audience, and trying to tell a tale that hasn’t been told before, these elements contributed to the film. It was definitely something that Rain and Elzbieta had in common. In general, Rain was great. She was totally professional. We filmed the show with three cameras. It didn’t faze her one bit. We miked her a little differently. All aspects of working with Rain have been a joy. She’s very talented. That’s the bottom line. The pay off on all of this is after years of struggling, her tenacity still has her in the game. She’s at the top of it. Her performances get rave ovations and are nicely reviewed. She has a huge following on Twitter. I’d love to be able to take her career to the next level with some more publicity about what she’s doing, not that the film is a promotional film about Rain. They’re all elements of her life and the story, but I think it needs to get out there. It’s a nice thing to be able to share. GS: Can you tell me if the documentary is already complete? I guess it is since you mentioned to me that it was under review to be considered for the Annapolis Film Festival. If so, how long did it take you to film it? SA: I guess it took us eight shooting days. They weren’t consecutive because they involved travel to Los Angeles and performances. So, over like two months, we shot over eight days. Then I guess I was editing for about four months. We started this project initially the beginning
of last summer. It hasn’t been a year, and it is completed. We are finished with it. We’d love to sell it to HBO or Cinemax or one of the networks where it will be seen nationally. Certainly, the quality of it is worthy of that. We’ve got our fingers crossed. The festivals are really nice. Like you know from Annapolis, you meet the filmmakers really nicely. It’s nice to participate in Q & As. I would really like to see Rain enjoy that kind of attention and format, not just be a panel speaker like she was. It’s a whole different thing that I think that she deserves. GS: She does. SA: So we play a few festivals, and then go to the cable networks. That would be a huge success for us. GS: Was any of it filmed in Baltimore or Maryland? SA: Regrettably no. GS: Mainly other places. SA: We thought about coming, but budget, you know is always an issue. You make a list of all of the things that you really want to do. We did want to come to Baltimore to possibly even get some B roll where Rain is, and Lotus going to school, but we wound up not doing that. GS: Well I’m sure you all will be in the Baltimore area before it’s all said and done. Can you tell me, for people who may not understand, more of what you do as a producer, what your job is, and what your role has been in this production? SA: My job has been the organizer of everyone’s ideas towards this project. There’s a target initially, where you see the show and you say, ‘That might be an interesting thing to pursue.’ Everyone kind of chimes in with how they’d want to approach it. Then the director decides which way is the best path of the things that have been discussed, and you try to keep everybody on the same page. We definitely tried to make a specific type of film. Mainly we didn’t want to make a film about Richard Pryor. That would have been far too easy of a choice both commercially and aesthetically. Everything was like, well how do we focus this on Rain? People have ideas. Some of them are good. Some of them are bad. You have to filter through those, and those ideas are even coming now, at the marketing and distribution stage. We have one idea. Other people have other ideas. What you try to do is try to keep a path clear that’s best for the project. You can definitely find different strategies that are good for individuals. One of the great frustrations of making a movie for anybody is waiting for it to come out. GS: I bet. SA: Even if you succeeded in having it made, sometimes it’s like five years of trying to raise the money to get it made, finishing it, and then distribution comes around. You want to show it to the world right away. HBO could buy the film and hold it for four or five months. They get lead time for publicity and to do it their way. I think that’s what my job has been—the organizer of everyone’s ideas, so this is as much of a collaborative effort as possible. I also had the
opportunity of being the editor on the film. There was some finality to my input at that stage. But I think all decisions and input from everyone involved created the best possible film for what we were aiming for. It’s definitely something that we’re all proud of. GS: Sounds wonderful. Can you tell me a little bit about Paradox Smoke Productions, and what kind of films you make? SA: We’re an independent film company. We started about twelve years ago. We’ve produced two feature films: Screen Door Jesus and Welcome To Academia. Both of them were well received independent feature films. We also have done several documentaries. There was a film called Beautiful People, which was about traditional Irish musicians who play the weekly gig here in NYC. There was a film called Salim Baba that we helped executive produce that went on to win an Academy Award nomination for best documentary short. That was in 2007. GS: That sounds great. Can you tell us how to keep up with Paradox Smoke Production’s progress with this project? SA: We have the website: www.thatdaughterscrazy.com. The trailer is available there. We also have a Facebook page. We’re going to start branching out into more social media as the snowball starts to roll down the hill and attention gains a little more interest. GS: It has been a pleasure learning about this. I’m so happy that I had an opportunity to speak with you. I didn’t have any idea that Rain was in Baltimore, until the festival, so I was pleasantly surprised to find that out. SA: Yeah. If we can bring all of this info to the public, that would be a win-win for everybody. I look forward to chatting with you some more. Good luck with everything, Andrea. GS: Thank you so much. I look forward to speaking with you later. Best wishes with That Daughter’s Crazy.
Andrea
Twitter: @AndreaBlackston
A Little About Andrea Blackstone Grove Street is my journalistic undertaking. Additionally, I’ve written a little of everything, from mild to wild. I’ve worked as a freelance ghostwriter, content editor and self-published two books. The last couple were traditionally published. I’m currently working on getting my next two finished novels published. If you don’t use Twitter, you may also add Authoress Andrea Blackstone on Facebook or
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Contributor My Mother’s Shoes is a story about how a memento, my mother’s shoes, inspired me to overcome grief as a young adult.
Steamy Confessions “This was a very thought provoking story about a housewife who took revenge to a whole different level. From the outside looking in Mystique seemed to have the perfect life. That is until you looked a little deeper. Unlike most suburban wives with the kids and the picket fence she decided to take matters in her own hands. When her world starts to unravel she goes after the very lifestyle she feels has ruined her marriage. Instead of taking a few pole dancing classes she decides to immerse herself into the whole lifestyle. Andrea Blackstone does a very good job of giving us a view of Mystique's life as a stripper. Although the book was lengthy I thoroughly enjoyed it and felt she touched on a lot crucial points. I would recommend it to anyone.” An Amazon review of Sexxxfessions from -Michelle Renee Rawls