EURweb |
THE ROBERTSON TREATMENT - EDITION 11, ISSUE 12: Pop Critic and Journalist Elvis Mitchell Takes on the African American Experience
(AMERICA’S PREMIER URBAN LIFESTYLE COLUMN)
*For journalist Elvis Mitchell, telling great stories is more than a passion, it’s his way of life.
He has spent years as one of America’s premier film critics at leading newspapers like the Fort Worth Telegram and the Detroit Free Press, before landing in the top seat as the chief film critic for the New York Times.
Mitchell has now expanded his creative pursuits into other forms of media that includes radio, where he’s the host of the KCRW’s pop culture and film interview program “The Treatment,” and television where “Elvis Mitchell: Under the Influence” airs on Turner Classic Movies.
His latest project, “The Black List,” made with director Timothy Greenfield-Sanders features such luminaries as Richard Parsons, Colin Powell, Toni Morrison and even former Guns and Roses front man Slash, discussing race and culture. The Robertson Treatment recently met up with Mitchell to discuss his projects.
Robertson Treatment: Explain your motivations for creating this show?
Elvis Mitchell: I'm a film critic, but first and foremost I'm a black audience member, and wanted "The Black List" to be the kind of thing I'd never seen before. I knew what I had seen in documentaries, and often documentaries on African Americans perpetuate the victim mentality, or suggest that black people can't get through the day without a social welfare infrastructure. I felt this film should be an answer to many of those archetypes, starting with the title, which is a way of reclaiming the negative, as much of African American culture has been. It's an unsentimental look at the pleasure African Americans take in their success, and telling their own stories about achieving their goals. That starts with no crosscutting between interview subjects, to my deciding that I should never be seen in the film so that the audience is concentrating on the subject. There are no distractions, just a purity as each subject offers him or herself up to the audience. The film is even conceived so that there is no audience surrogate -- such as me, nodding sagely as each person speaks -- but just the direct communication as each person speaks directly to the camera.
RT: How did you go about the selection process for the subjects involved in the project?
EM: Part of that process involved us trying to get the most eloquent and provocative people, in an attempt to break away from the kinds of expectations people might have about such a film. That's most specifically reflected in the choice of the opening subject -- he was chosen as a shot across the bow, and a way of making clear this was not the usual look at black people that viewers have been conditioned to watch.
Given that the guiding philosophy behind the project was to offer a perspective on the African American experience in the 21st century, we tried to touch on as many disciplines and points of view as possible.
RT: What statement do you seek to make by assembling such an interesting mix of personalities?
EM: I always thought of the film in this way; if you walked into a party and saw all of the subjects, what do they have in common? They're African Americans -- to have that kind of diversity strike the viewers squarely between the eyes, and for them to note the things that the subjects have in common and the things that make each of them differ.
RT: After your interviews for The Black List did you discover a core value or belief system that the subjects had in common?
EM: They were all indomitable to me, and sometimes that fire was spoken as clearly as Susan Rice's saying that when she got mad she just worked harder and better. Or, on the other side politically, Colin Powell taking affirmative action dismissals in stride and saying that things had been imbalanced towards whites for years, and still working hard. An Olympian amount of discipline, and self-confidence in what they had to offer, as well as a sense of themselves in terms of the history of their fields of endeavor and what they had to contribute. Despite their talents, none took the effort needed to succeed lightly. And they all have healthy sense of humor about themselves, too.
RT: What do you want audiences to get from this project?
EM: I'd like to see "The Black List" function as a catalyst for further conversation, so that people understand that we ignore race as an issue at our peril. Bill T Jones talks about fatigue over black rage, and I think there's been a similar kind of exhaustion over the fact that race is still a dividing line. Maybe the film will encourage healthy conversation about this topic, rather than wishing it away.
RT: Tell us about your other upcoming projects.
EM: With any luck, one of those upcoming projects will be continuing with "The Black List" and ensuring that it gets seen by as many kids in schools around the country as we can manage. The educational aspect of the project is something that has been a goal of the Freemind Ventures guys -- Mike Sloane, Scott Richman, Chris Mckee, Payne Brown -- from the outset.
The Black List is currently airing on HBO.
BEST BETS (HOTELS)
Avenue Hotel, Chicago
During my recent trip to Chicago to participate on a panel for the Unity Conference, I had the great pleasure to be hosted by the Avenue Hotel. Located in the very center of Chicago’s magnificent Miracle Mile, the property offers efficient service, convenience and affordable elegance for business people and leisure travelers alike. From the moment I entered the lobby area, I was immediately impressed by the swift service from the bellmen to front desk staff. Making it to my room I was again impressed with it’s appointment, space and views of Chicago’s incredible skyline.With offerings that include a more than adequate room service menu, a well-appointed workout facility and business center, count on the Avenue to provide you with the best bet for your time and money as you plan your next rip to Chicago. Visit: www.avenuechicago.com for more information.
BEST BETS (NEW MUSIC)
In today’s age of techno inspired singers, it’s always impressive to find a new artist with the raw talent to really deliver. That’s certainly the case with D2G recording artist, Niyoki (pronounced Nie-yo-kee), who arrived on the gospel scene with her debut release, MY EVERYTHING, and is now back with her follow-up, Rest. With her incredibly rich, contralto-to-mezzo-soprano vocal range, Niyoki more than capably handles the material on this CD, which brings together musical influences covering R&B, jazz, rock and hip hop. From my favorite track, “Joy,” to the hauntingly beautiful “I Will Rest,” and the praise and worship of “All That I Have,” this CD provides an excellent platform for this talented artist to prove that she has what it takes to make it to the top of the game in gospel. An impressive project for all demos. Grade: A
AUTOMOTIVE SPIN: 2008 KIA SPORTAGE
Wow Factor: I had a great driving experiences behind the wheel of this SUV. With its ample space and sharp on the road handling, the 2008 KIA Sportage is a multi-purpose vehicle that performs well on a variety of road terrains. With its strong and attractive exterior, the 2008 model turns a few heads as well, which is always an added boast to a driver’s ego.
Ride: Equipped in your choice of 4-cylinder and V6 engine specifications, the Sportage averages 20-mpg in the city and 25-mpg on the highway, which is excellent value for a vehicle of its size. Add-value comes from the Sportage’s four-speed manual transmission and superior front and rear suspension system that offers drivers easy handling on everything from steep inclines to busy city streets. With its sturdy build this SUV will provide drivers with a smooth, in-control feel on the road.
Comfort: The Sportage’s comfortable seats adjustable seats are comfortable and provide easy access to navigational and radio controls, which is a big deal when you’re driving at night or in potentially hazardous road conditions. Another feature that I really like was the lower anchors and tethers, which is a big plus for children.
Spin Control: With a list price starting at $16,675 the Kia Sportage will provide an extraordinary return on your investment. Perfectly suited for both everyday and off the road tasks, the Sportage represents the kind of SUV that road warriors are looking for today. Grade: B+
Visit www.robertsontreatment.com
Copyright, 2008 Robertson Treatment, LLC
Click for the latest Obama - Political headlines
Share and Bookmark |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
