Under the baobab: Celebration of film offers opportunity to reminisce, remember

Happy Women’s History Month. As the present presidential administration tries to restore the “old boys club” it is important to remember that the primary beneficiaries of DEIB programs have been women.

Around town, Penn State Prof. Kirk French presented his documentary film, “A Century After Nanook” to a packed State Theatre last weekend. The documentary reviews the historical and contemporary effect the film, “Nanook of The North” (1922) had on the Inuit residents of Inukjuak. Made by American Robert Flaherty, it was the first feature length documentary ever made. French’s film, co-produced by Emmy-winning filmmaker Neal Hutcheson and Inukjuak resident Sarah Samisack, shows how the native community has sought to maintain their culture in the face of numerous adversities, from the devastating effects of climate change on their icy landscape, to serious drug and alcohol issues among the population, to the lingering pain caused by decades of systematic abuse at the hands of the Canadian government.

Family and friends packed 3 Dots Downtown to celebrate State College Borough Council member Gopal Balachandran’s 50th birthday. The large supportive turnout from the political and southeast Asian, Indian community dined on superb food and danced in celebration.

Elsewhere, the Academy Awards presentations gave this 80-year-old fading rose an opportunity to reminisce and remember. Divine Joy Randolph, last year’s best supporting actress, this year presented the award to Zoe Saldana, the first actress from the Dominican Republic to win an Oscar. I directed Divine Joy in her first lead role in college, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” I was also honored to escort her to Yale Drama School for her initial interview.

My dear friend, Whoopi Goldberg, dressed to the nines, was part of a special presentation to Quincy Jones. Whoopi and I go way back. She invited Jo and I to her Broadway show where we got a chance to meet her mentor, Mike Nichols. Later I appeared in “Jumping Jack Flash” her second movie, directed by Penny Marshall. We celebrated her 30th birthday at a downtown club. We both were part of the Carnegie Hall Gala Centennial Salute to Paul Robeson on the anniversary of his 100th birthday, organized by Harry Belafonte.

In “A Complete Unknown,” a bioflick about Bob Dylan, I had a scene with Ed Norton, who played Pete Seeger. The film was nominated for best picture, best actor and best director. I played the pastor of a Southern Black Church with Norton. Director James Mangold cut the scene. That was hard to take since Pete Seeger and his wife Toshi were our good friends.

Paul Tazewell is the first African American to win an Oscar for Costume Design. I have known him for years, back when he was one of the primary designers in the NYC Black Theatre circuit. It is wonderful to see that the greater entertainment community has “discovered” Paul.

One of the ongoing themes of the night was “The Wizard of Oz,” “The Wiz” and “Wicked.” Charlie Smalls was the first African American to win a Tony for his score and lyrics of “The Wiz.” I was blessed to work as a script doctor for Charlie’s next venture, “Miracles.” The project went as far as a backers audition at Sardis. Unfortunately he passed on before we gathered enough financial backing to greenlight the project. Death is part of life. We must acknowledge the passing of our lights.

It has been a difficult winter, filled with hospitals and funerals. Our friend Morgan Freeman celebrated the passing of his friend Gene Hackman. I didn’t know Hackman but appeared in one of his films, “Loose Cannons.” There were many colleagues in the Academy’s memorials including my mentor — James Earl Jones, John Amos and Tony Todd.

Stay strong.