Director Dennis Dortch interviewed by Michael Vass - pt 2

This is the continuation of my taped interview with acclaimed director and writer Dennis Dortch. You can see the first part of the interview at Sundance director Dennis Dortch interviewed by Michael Vass.

To see the review of the award winning film by Dennis Dortch, go to DVD Review: A Good Day To Be Black & Sexy


Michael Vass : The truth is truth.

Dennis Dortch : It may not be the truth for everybody but its certainly something that exists in the world. Its apart of behavior. I have not thought about him in years. You asked me that question and he is probably the guy that turned on the switch on for me to make it ok for me to do what I do, and think what I think, and do it the way I want to do it, you know?

Michael Vass : Would you include him in say the heroes or people who were inspirational in your life that have helped create the directorial vision that you have now?

Dennis Dortch : I would if I could remember his name. I should add George Lopper. He was my creative writing teacher in my senior year and I almost flunked out that year. I had all good grades but, you know, I had a girlfriend who kind of took my attention away.

Those two people I would definitely include them as my heroes and inspiration. I almost forgot about Nikki Giovanni. I had just discovered Nikki Giovanni for the first time. I was in an AP Class in high school, and literally there was two black people in this entire thing. We had a half black school but in this class there was only two if us. So your looked at as being special or whatever and I was reading books that I had never been exposed. I was reading Nikki Giovanni and he [George Lopper] was like ok if that’s what you want to read that’s cool. Giovanni was saying some pretty strong anti-white stuff and he was cool with it. He’s white and the whole class was white, but he was like if this is something your interested in then I’m going to let you go with it. So defiantly I think those three people would probably be a heavy influence on me to be myself.

Michael Vass : I can understand completely. I’ve had a couple of teachers like that myself. I think they are really important. Besides just going to school, having a teacher somewhere along the line that gives you that opportunity to expand on besides what is there is really critical. That’s what I’ve always felt.

Going back to the movie, and looking at the order of the film. Was there a purpose in the way you put the order of all the vignettes together?

Dennis Dortch : I had a slightly different order of my first cut and the writing it was a little different too. My goal really was to make it feel like a mix tape. So sometimes you know when your mixing songs together you go by the feeling and the beat. If I do something different in the vignette that I put together then it’s the feeling and the beat, the rhythms, how they flow, how you feel about them.

I would lay them out and watch and see how they made me feel, you know. The only thing majorly I changed in my final edit was American Boyfriend - the last one. It used to be second to last and I had Tonight part 2 to be last. And what it did was have a real sleepy feel to it so it was like…

Michael Vass : Too slow.

Dennis Dortch : Yes literally, and it was like a real somber ending. I had a test screening. Really I thought it was my premier but it turned into a test screening after I thought that it didn’t quite work with the audience. I didn’t embody the concept. It just felt like kind of a somber ending. So I ended up changing the ending. That was the only thing that I sort of you know changed.

Michael Vass : Well I liked the way it ended because that was a real big positive and it starts with a big jolt. As I said before at least for me it was a big jolt. Because it’s so different what we are getting there and then it ends with the American Boyfriend and that was pretty much the best of the vignettes. The one I like the best. It’s very positive to me. Very up lifting. Very... break through. I don’t know how to explain it exactly but it was very positive, I liked it a lot. So I agree with your order.

I was just wondering if there was that. I noticed that your going in many different directions through out the entire film. Were you trying to emphasize one type of over all theme through out the entire movie or was it one theme. Besides the idea of being black, being sexy, relationships can be more multi-dimensional than what’s been exposed already. Besides that theme was there anything else you were tying to get through?

Dennis Dortch : No that was really basically the cohesive thought I was going for. The goal was really to make each one feel different. And then do something different. I was literally trying to make a mixed tape on film. That was my real goal.

Michael Vass : Ok well it worked it’s a different approach because you really just don’t see films that really do that. At least if there were they are probably really very old because I have not seen anything like that in quite some time, quite some time. Nothing even close.

You also picked a great cast, I mean you really had a great cast. Chonte Harris - I really liked her a lot, I think she did very well. Alphonso Johnson as I said he’s one of the reasons I loved the American Boyfriend section. The section with Julian, I forget his actual name…

Dennis Dortch : Jerome Hawkins

Michael Vass : Yes. That story line drove me nuts. Tonight part 1 and 2 and its very... I guess harsh is the word. Cause your kind of dealing with child sex. In a way. Did you have trouble filming that? Was that a difficult one to write?

Dennis Dortch : It was probably not difficult in the sense of any angst but it was difficult to try to get it honest. You know, it actually changed several times. But the outcome is the same to a degree. And I talked to the actors before hand about their own experiences. Even the talking to the girl her first time, was with an older dude and she was under aged, they all identified with it. I just played on it, I mean I have a different ending …

Michael Vass : I saw that…

Dennis Dortch : And there is the extra that I just cut out thought it was kind of a cop out to me.

Michael Vass : You think so?..

Dennis Dortch : I’ve heard from people like these older black gentleman that like the alternative ending…

Michael Vass : That would be me… I’m old and I like the alternative ending.

Dennis Dortch : They told me ‘like oh another older black man, I didn’t want to see another negative of a black man this and that.’ And my wife echoed ‘it reminds me of [her] first time.’ Or some have said its sounds like what happened to my first boyfriend. It depends on your perception.

You know it’s quite funny how the same film effects people depending on what their experiences are, what their agenda is. How some people are like "oh god I wish you weren’t going to do this" and then others were like, "this reminds me, this is so real." I think this was my goal.

I had an actor who is semi known, who I was sort of pursuing for playing the role and he didn’t want to play it. He said I just can’t play this role because he does not even get his comeuppance; he does not even go to jail. Nothing happens.

How many times do you see a guy go to jail for statutory rape? It does not may any sense. It’s not going to stop anybody from doing it either by playing it realistically. The only time you’re going to have the conversation about it, it’s got to be somewhat controversial true and honest. And I’m not trying to save the world or say its ok. I have a daughter myself who I don’t want that to happen to. But I have to be honest with myself, with what my goals were, and portray things honestly. I could not take away from the uncomfortableness of it. You know?

Continued in Part 3...

DVD Review: A Good Day To Be Black & Sexy

I just finished watching A Good Day to be Black and Sexy, which is now out on DVD for those that missed it in the theaters, and I have to say WOW. No wonder it did so well at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.

I didn’t just watch the film; I watched the extras the DVD provided, auditions, deleted scenes, behind the scenes and more. Because the film captured me. And I’m trying to find a way to explain how.

The film is not your generic action, drama or so on film. This is more of an art house film. But don’t let that put you off on seeing this film. There is humor, and sensuality, moments of fear and disappointment, and a consistent display of daily life in all its forms.

The film is broken into several vignettes. Each is separate of each other, with the exception of Tonite (parts 1 & 2) though they are only connected by the character Tamala (played by Mylika Davis). And each expressed something very different about love, sensuality, sex and the pursuit thereof.

What will really blow the mind of some viewers is the fact that all the characters except Jasmine - Emily Liu - and her family are Black. This may not sound like a big deal. But once the film starts, it takes mere moments for your mind to wake up to the fact that you haven’t seen this before. It just doesn’t get conveyed in Hollywood. Except in the most superficial and more often than not violent manner.

I should also mention right off the bat that this is not a film for kids. This is R-rated and it deserves that rating. This is mature content. But it is also thought provoking.

For me the 3 best vignettes of the film have to be Her Man, Reprise, and American Boyfriend. Not that the other parts are not good, just that they evoked the most emotional reaction from me. Though I admit feeling the fear for the safety of Tamala in Tonite part 1, and anger at Julian - played by Jerome Anthony Hawkins - in Tonite part 2.

I can tell you that there was not one part of this film that did not evoke some emotional response from me. Whether it was a sense of unease, humor, a desire to punch one of the male characters in the mouth, or triumph, each part had me moving with it. And considering that the overall pace of the film is slow, taking it’s time to do what it needed to, its hard to have an audience follow so closely for so long. Yet Director Dennis Dortch succeeds.

Director/Writer Dortch hits a nerve in this film. He makes you want to know more about these characters. He gives you a glimpse and you want the extras as soon as you can get them.

And the cast of actors is a great find. If several of these actors and actresses don’t get more attention from Hollywood it proves the whole thing is rigged. Because the talent is just so apparent.

This is especially true with the character of Helena, played by Chonte Harris. Helena is bitter, unsatisfied, spiteful, loving, and quite possibly in love all at once. Her lines are short and simple, yet convey a huge depth of conversation. And her movements give the impression of a spring coiled and ready to explode.

For the male actors Alphonso Johnson, portraying Jesse, is the stand out. While he may not have a lot of screen time in which to work, he moves you. His desire to understand, his frustration at being ignored, his anger at being minimized all play thru. And his ultimate act of wordless defiance, and expression of love just rocket you with joy.

And there is chemistry among all the couples. Perhaps best personified by Nana Hill’s Candi and Kareem Grimes’ Russell. You can feel the trust, playfulness and wild abandon waiting for its chance.

I have to mention that I seriously think that Nana Hill will be seen a lot more. It’s no surprise that her image is the cover of the DVD, and her acting equally conveys that sensuality and something extra you just can’t describe.

And I strongly suggest watching the alternate ending to Tonite part 2. Which I felt needed to be seen, and if there must be a negative mentioned it has to be that this was not in the feature film. Or at least I wanted it to be as I was so angry with Julian.

Director/Writer Dennis Dortch has done a great job with this first film. In many ways I can imagine this leading to a career much like Spike Lee’s. Controversial yet in a gratifyingly different manner. And not afraid to place the viewer in a position they may not have expected to be in, while still making the experience worthwhile.

If I sound positive and excited about this film, I am. Far too few films these days give you an experience. Most of the time you can watch something and forget everything you saw in the last 2 hours 2 minutes after it’s over. When a film leaves you with something tangible it needs to be lauded.

I have many questions I’d like to ask Dennis Dortch, and I hope to have the chance to ask him sometime soon. But I can and do say that I recommend owning a copy of this film.