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March 2009

THE BLACK LIST: VOL. 2 | An Interview with Elvis Mitchell

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THE BLACK LIST: VOL. 2
An Interview with Elvis Mitchell

by Wilson Morales

February 26, 2009

Blackfilm.com was on hand at the New York premiere of the 'The Black List: Vol. 2' at the famed Apollo Theater, where many patrons came out to support the latest venture from journalist, critic and radio host Elvis Mitchell and filmmaker Timothy Greenfield-Sanders. HBO will debut the film on Feb. 26. New subjects include: producer Suzanne de Passe, actor Laurence Fishburne, Anglican Bishop Barbara Harris, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, pastor T.D. Jakes, filmmaker Tyler Perry, singer Charley Pride, fashion designer Patrick Robinson, actress Maya Rudolph, physician and academic Valerie Montgomery-Rice, musician RZA, filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles, activist and artist Majora Carter, activist and academic Angela Davis and artist Kara Walker.

This is the second installment of the documentary, which features prominent African Americans of various professions, disciplines and backgrounds offering their stories about the struggles, triumphs and joys of black life in America.

In speaking with Blackfilm.com, Mitchell spoke about what's in stored for this volume.

In this volume, what's different from the last one?

Elvis Mitchell: It's a different moment. In the last volume, everyone was making these big declaratory statements and sort of summing up their lives and careers, and in this one, people are talking about being in that moment. A lot of them are still in transition. There's a different feel to this. I don't think it's more serious, but I do think that it's more thoughtful than the first one was. I think there is a lot more reflection that we didn't get in the first volume. Someone like Charley Pride, who's featured in this volume, is still in transition believe it or not. He's still working it out.

So, you're saying the people in the volume, including veterans like Melvin Van Peebles and Lawrence Fishburne are still in transition?

Mitchell: There were people in the first one who weren't expressing it in that way. This one also feels more personal than the other. The first one feels like a historical document. Guys like Colin Powell had talked about what he had done as opposed to what needed to done at that moment. These are people who are figuring out where they are, which I think is the real excitement.

As the producer and interviewer, did you do anything different with the format?

Mitchell: It's different because we have different people. We were working much faster, because I thought it would be wrong if I didn't have it ready for Black History Month, when we have the first African American president. Frankly, we are at a point where every month is Black History Month and, as a result, there is a better feeling out here at a time when it's a different world. This time the documentary is shorter, but we sort of figured out what we were doing.

What's planned for volume. 3? You can go on to do lots of volumes.

Mitchell: We really could. HBO wanted that title because the fear was that people would say, "It's 'The Black List.' Why is this person on it and not that person?" And, "Could we call it a work in progress?" and I thought no because it would make it seem unfinished. So they came up with 'Volume 1,' which in effect begs for a 'Volume 2.' That happened to be sheer accident.

What were the challenges for this round?

Mitchell: Just getting it done. We were really rushing through this so that we could get it on the air in February. It's really fun because I get to talk to so many different types of people. It's a thrill to talk to politicians and doctors and to athletes. That's the challenge, getting through each interview.

Why should anyone see 'The Black List – Volume 2?'

Mitchell: Because if you loved 'Volume 1,' then you will love 'Volume 2.' It's still asking questions about African Americans in the 20th century, and the fact is that it's vast and different, and so many documentaries don't do this because many of them that explore African Americans are redundant. We are either victims or coming from one slice of life, and this is expansive. I hope that's why people plan to see it.

Additional HBO showtimes for 'Vol. 2' are Feb. 28 (3 p.m. ET/ 2 p.m. PT), March 4 (11 a.m.), March 10 (10 p.m.), March 13 (3 p.m.) and March 15 (10 a.m.) It will also air on HBO2 on March 3 (4 p.m.), March 8 (4:55 a.m.), March 18 (8 p.m.), March 21 (8 a.m.) and March 30 (9 a.m., 9 p.m.). For more information, go to BlackListProject.com.

Angela Davis

Patrick Robinson

Majora Carter

Governor Deval Patrick

Valerie Montgomery-Rice

Kara Walker

Melvin Van Peebles

RZA

Bishop Barbara C. Harris

Suzanne De Passe

Maya Rudolph

Charlie Pride

T.D. Jakes

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