According to Risky Biz Blog, Stacey Snider and Steven Spielberg’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. biopic has finally taken a step forward by hiring playwright and screenwriter Ronald Harwood to pen the project. Harwood’s previous credits include The Diving Bell and the Butterfly and The Pianist. Since this is the first King biopic to be officially authorized by the King estate, he’ll have access to all of the copyrighted material from King’s life including speeches, books, and other works. Spielberg is attached to produce but not direct.
I have trouble being excited for this project because Snider, Spielberg, and Harwood are all white people. Biz notes that Harwood is a strong choice for the assignment due to his previous screenplays and, “at 75 years old, the South Africa-born writer lived through the late 1950′s and ’60′s, when King’s oratory and influence inspired a massive civil rights movement until his murder in 1968.” Really? That’s all it took? Accomplished screenwriter who was around during the 50s and 60s. Wow. I don’t want to diminish the universal effect Dr. King’s work had on our country, but this all feels slightly off to me. I’m sure some of you disagree so please sound off in our comments section.
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I see what you're seeing and I agree to some extent. The problem is without the involvement of these people this project or any project with a minority as the subject would not get made. At least not a major motion picture by a big studio. There are so many people whose bigraphies would make fantastic films (if made correctly). Dr.King, Jackie Robinson, Jimmy Hendrix, Bob Marley, Roberto Clemente, and Piri Thomas to name a few. Piri Thomas' autobiographical novel “Down These Mean Streets” would make for an awesome film.
I am aware there have been several made for TV movies based on some of the people but those usually suck so they shouldn't count. Spike Lee has tried for years to get several projects about Dr.King and Jackie Robinson off the ground but cannot find the funding. Even Lee's “Malcom X”, which was a studio picture, had to be partly financed but prominent African Americans like Bill Cosby and Oprah Winfrey. These stories deserve to be told. Not as a political statement but because these people led fascinating lives.
If done well by talented filmmakers these films can be successful both artistically and financially. Hopefully when and if these films get made some of the talented minority filmmakers, whether it's actors, directors or screenwriters, will get a shot at contributing to those films.
Intriguing screenwriter selection, but I think it's their choice of director and lead that will determine the film's fate. I could see Chiwetel Ejiofor doing a stellar job with the role, but it's probably more likely they'll seek a Will Smith or Jamie Foxx.
I see what you're seeing and I agree to some extent. The problem is without the involvement of these people this project or any project with a minority as the subject would not get made. At least not a major motion picture by a big studio. There are so many people whose bigraphies would make fantastic films (if made correctly). Dr.King, Jackie Robinson, Jimmy Hendrix, Bob Marley, Roberto Clemente, and Piri Thomas to name a few. Piri Thomas' autobiographical novel “Down These Mean Streets” would make for an awesome film.
I am aware there have been several made for TV movies based on some of the people but those usually suck so they shouldn't count. Spike Lee has tried for years to get several projects about Dr.King and Jackie Robinson off the ground but cannot find the funding. Even Lee's “Malcom X”, which was a studio picture, had to be partly financed but prominent African Americans like Bill Cosby and Oprah Winfrey. These stories deserve to be told. Not as a political statement but because these people led fascinating lives.
If done well by talented filmmakers these films can be successful both artistically and financially. Hopefully when and if these films get made some of the talented minority filmmakers, whether it's actors, directors or screenwriters, will get a shot at contributing to those films.
Intriguing screenwriter selection, but I think it's their choice of director and lead that will determine the film's fate. I could see Chiwetel Ejiofor doing a stellar job with the role, but it's probably more likely they'll seek a Will Smith or Jamie Foxx.
Interesting post. I really liked it.