If there was one movie this year at the Sundance Film Festival that could’ve melted the slopes of Park City with the heat generated by its buzz, it would be Nate Parker‘s "The Birth Of A Nation" (our review). The film got great notices, made the biggest deal in history with Fox Searchlight, and is already earning chatter for next year’s Oscars. But there was a very unlikely helping hand along the way, as Parker made his drama detailing one of the most successful slave rebellions in American history: Mel Gibson.
READ MORE: ‘Birth Of A Nation’ And Beyond: 25 Actors And Filmmakers That Broke Out At The 2016 Sundance Film Festival
Indeed, the picture was a daunting challenge for Parker, who took on a lot in helming his feature directorial debut, but he revealed to Screen Daily how the advice he received from veterans of the industry aided his production, which was incubated at the Sundance Institute.
"I had the benefit of working with some of the best [filmmakers] such as Ed Zwick, who walked me through the battle sequences. I shared an agent – the late Ed Limato – with Mel Gibson and Mel talked me through directing myself as he had done on ‘Braveheart.’ He told me my health was my biggest asset. Sundance then offered different filmmakers to watch me and give me notes," he shared.
Meanwhile, in a brief but in-depth chat with KPCC‘s "The Frame," Parker shared where he sees the crossover between activism and moviemaking, and he believes ‘Nation’ can serve a purpose beyond being solely an artistic achievement.
"I think this film can promote and facilitate healing in a country that has wounds that were afflicted during the legacy of slavery and that still affect us today. There are so many things — we deal with the racial tension, we deal with pervasive racism in American culture, pervasive racism in Hollywood. The reality is this comes from somewhere. Whether it be D.W. Griffith‘s propaganda film that came at such a fragile time in American history, that screamed the mantra, Oppress and embrace white supremacy, or die. People felt that by buying into this idea of white supremacy, they would ensure their preservation," Parker said.
"As we know now, that was misguided, but the reality is, that was our foundation. So for this film I want us to address that trauma. I think this film is an opportunity for us to look at this dark past, see not only the implications of the time, but the themes and parallels of where we are right now. And ask ourselves what systems that parallel those systems exist? And what is our responsibility with respect to addressing those systems and the injustices that those systems carry? So my hope is that this film creates change agents, that people will see it and — if they are moved — that they will know and be encouraged to step into that place of responsibility. That it will create activists of everyone," he continued. "Because the reality is, there’s racial tension that’s affecting us all. And there’s no one that will deny that. Which means that we all want to heal, that we all want to confront this issue, collectively."
"I didn’t make this film for black people to only stand up and say, I have something to do, and I have a responsibility. I want all people to say that. I want people to say,
What happened during this time was not only wrong. But it created systems that affect us today. And I have a responsibility to deal with those systems when they exist in my environment."
Those are some big ambitions Parker laid out, but given the reception so far, it’s clear that "The Birth Of A Nation" is not playing to standard expectations. Listen to the full talk below.
To Dave:
Are you one of those conservatives who mocks sociology on Monday and then complains if someone is not a sociologist, on Tuesday? Well, for the record, I have a PhD in sociology, specializing in race-ethnic relations, and Parker\’s comment is quite relevant. You, of course, offer no substantive critique of Parker\’s comments — just an immature "LOL." And Laura? He was acquitted of the rape charge. If you ever get charged with something and then get acquitted, you better hope someone doesn\’t slander your name on the internet. And Holobyte — I appreciate your comments, but PLEASE don\’t join in the abuse by mocking "Special Education" students. And for those who start to WHINE that maybe I\’m being too "politically correct", what I\’d say to you is that there most certainly are some forms of speech that you would criticize — maybe burning a flag or dumping feces on your favorite religious symbol or a photo of a dead relative — I don\’t know — but the WHINING BABIES who complain that everyone else is too "politically correct sensitive" are the first ones to HOWL if someone goes over a line that they hold dear.
I have a PhD in sociology. And Nate talks just like me. He\’s bright.
Laura….can\’t fix stupid.
This is a great title. We have been shopping something similar. I actually seen the Nate Turner\’s NOOSE, SHACKLES, and SWORD. It was on display at a court in Courtland, Virginia. I was born in a place where time seems to stand still. Where the sands of time drains like clay. Some many people fighting to be respected; while being persecuted for the mere thought.
This is a great title. We have been shopping something similar. I actually seen the Nate Turner\’s NOOSE, SHACKLES, and SWORD. It was on display at a court in Courtland, Virginia. I was born in a place where time seems to stand still. Where the sands of time drains like clay. Some many people fighting to be respected; while being persecuted for the mere thought.
Dave and Laura PLEASE tell me you have a special education diploma. That would be the only excuse you could have for such unintelligent remarks. People have become dumber after reading your comments. I hope whatever in life made you feel so irrelevant that you needed to prove how much of nothing rolls around your head. May God be with you both.
LOL, just reading Parker\’s quote. Ever since Obama, everybody who has even a bare bones education from a public college talks like he has a PhD in sociology.
So he\’s a rapist, stalker, homophobe, AND he takes advice from Mel Gibson. What a winner!