A Huey P. Newton Story
| A Huey P. Newton Story | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Spike Lee |
| Produced by | Steven Adams Marc Henry Johnson |
| Written by | Roger Guenveur Smith |
| Starring | Roger Guenveur Smith |
| Music by | Marc Anthony Thompson |
| Studio | 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks |
| Distributed by | Starz! Network |
| Release date(s) | June 8, 2001 |
| Running time | 86 minutes |
| Language | English |
A Huey P. Newton Story is an American documentary directed by Spike Lee. The movie was created, written and performed, as a solo performance, by Roger Guenveur Smith at The Joseph Papp Public Theatre. In this performance, Smith creates a representation of the activist Huey P. Newton’s life and time as a person, a citizen and an activist. During the performance, the background images on the wall play clips from the movement showing activist movements form the era. The simple arrangement of the setting with Smith sitting in a chair in the middle of the stage, make the audience focus on what the performer has to say. Smith captures the attention of the audience throughout the documentary by putting into play his solo performance skills.[1] The documentary was first brought as an idea in 1989 to become a stage play in the year 1996. Finally it was brought to the big screen in 2002 as “A Huey P. Newton Story”. This documentary tries to show Huey P. Newton as the shy individual he was. He would not consider himself a charismatic person. Although he had many contributions to his community, the actor shows Newton as a conservative individual who was disgusted by having microphones and cameras close to him.[2]
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[edit] Awards
The story that brought Huey P. Newton to life in a single-person performance, and gave the opportunity to people to experience a little bit about his personality, was nominated and winner of various awards including two Drama Desk nominations: Helen Hayes Awards, Obie Awards, AUDELCO awards and three NAACP Awards.[3] In addition, the movie received two NAACP Image Award nominations for being an Outstanding Television Movie. This award was honored around the world also for Mini-Series and Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie.
The Film
• Jamerican Film Festival 2001
3 Marcus Garvey Awards
for Audience and Critics' Favorite & Best Actor
• Slam Dunk Festival 2002
Best Actor
• NAACP Image Awards
Nominated for Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series, or Dramatic Special & Outstanding Actor in the same category
[to be announced February 23, 2002]
The Play
• 2 Obie Awards, l997
Roger Guenveur Smith and Marc Anthony Thompson
• 2 Audelco Awards, 1997
Roger Guenveur Smith and Marc Anthony Thompson
• The Helen Hayes Award
Washington, D.C., 1996
Roger Guenveur Smith
• The Barrymore Award
Philadelphia, 1999
Roger Guenveur Smith
• The Ira Aldridge Award
Chicago, 2000
Marc Anthony Thompson
• 3 NAACP Theater Awards
Los Angeles, 1995
Best Playwright, Best Actor, and Production of the Year
• LA Weekly Theater Award, 1995
Solo Performance of the Year
• 2 Ovation Awards
Los Angeles, 2001
Marc Anthony Thompson and production of the year
[4]
[edit] Huey
The documentary is based for the most part on Huey P. Newton's life. Newton grew up in Oakland after his family moved from Louisiana due to the military opportunities during WWII. Co-founder of the Black Panther Party, Newton served as Minister of Defense, and in effect was the BPP's leader, writing the Party's 10-Point Platform and Program alongside co-founder Bobby Seale. Convicted of voluntary manslaughter of a police officer in September 1968, Newton spent the next twenty months in prison before being released after his conviction was quashed on a technicality. The BPP had transformed itself in this period, and Newton struggled to cope with the demands placed on him, a situation that was not helped by his increasing consumption of drugs and alcohol. During the 1970s Newton studied at University of California Santa Cruz, where he obtained a PhD in the History of Consciousness program. His behavior became increasingly erratic during this period, as the BPP collapsed and his drug addiction took hold. On August 22, 1989 Newton was shot and killed in Oakland.
[edit] Production
The production of the film put on a project that later became the winner of various awards for their work. Both Smith and Lee bring to life the story of the activist and presented it on PBS. This movie is a production of BLACK STARZ! and Luna Ray Films in collaborative work of PBS and the African Heritage Network.[5] Smith’s performance is composed of a simple dark stage with a couple of screens on the back. The production incorporated couple of cameras to capture different angles as well as different microphones so that scenes could be taken from various perspectives. The production that brought A Huey P. Newton story presented the movie in San Francisco by KQED. The Funding for the movie was possible thanks to BLACK STARZ!, PBS, The National Black Programming Consortium, The African Heritage Network, and the KQED Campaign for the Future.[6]
[edit] References
- ^ Bonney, Jo. Extreme Exposure an Anthology of Solo Performance Texts from the Twentieth Century. New York: Theatre Communications Group, 2000
- ^ http://www.pbs.org/hueypnewton/about/about_press.html
- ^ http://www.pbs.org/hueypnewton/about.html
- ^ http://www.pbs.org/hueypnewton/about/about_press.html
- ^ http://www.pbs.org/hueypnewton/about/about_sponsors.html
- ^ http://www.starz.com/channels/starz/starzinblack/
[edit] External links
- A Huey P. Newton Story at the Internet Movie Database
- Official Film Site
- Black Panther Tours
- Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation
- RNN Article
