On Tuesday August 31, 1999, blackfilm.com hosted a private screening and
fundraiser for Booker T. Mattison's film, "The Gilded Six Bits." The
film, based on a short story by Zora Neale Hurston, is a story of love
and infidelity in rural Virginia during 1933. Moviegoers enjoyed the
film and contributed generously to help Mattison with the finishing
funds needed for the film. The night started with a very generous
donation by one of the films actors, Wendell Pierce (also starred in
Get On The Bus and Waiting to Exhale), who plays a crucial character,
Otis T. Slemmons.
The event was held at the MGM Screening Room in
New York City. After promoting the screening, three screening times had to be
arranged to accommodate the many eager filmgoers that wanted to see the
short. When asked why he decided to do this particular short story,
Mattison responded that he read the story as an undergraduate at
Norfolk State University. "I read the story and I thought this would
make a great film." If you are interested in more information about the
film or how you can help Booker T. Mattison complete this project,
please e-mail us at info@blackfilm.com or
click on our archived August 99 edition.
