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KU Professors' Film on Confederate States of America to Premiere in NYC
Described by critics as a mind-bending mockumentary
with a sci-fi twist
Lawrence, Kan. - infoZine - CSA: The Confederate States of America,"
a satirical movie by University of Kansas film professors that examines
life after the South wins the Civil War, premieres in New York City
on Wednesday, Feb. 15, and Friday, Feb. 24, in Boston, Chicago,
three California cities and Kansas City, Mo.
Kevin Willmott wrote and directed "CSA," and Matt Jacobson
was cinematographer. Both are assistant professors of theatre and
film at KU. The producer was Rick Cowan of Kansas City, Mo., who
worked with Willmott on his award-winning 1998 movie, "Ninth
Street."
IFC Films and Spike Lee will release "CSA" in 19 cities
during February and March. In Lawrence, the film premieres at Liberty
Hall on March 10 and is scheduled to be shown in Salina on March
30.
Described by critics as a mind-bending mockumentary with a sci-fi
twist, "CSA" assumes slavery is accepted practice in modern
society. Willmott has described his satire as probably the most
controversial film absent of sex, nudity or violence, because of
the topic - slavery.
"In many ways the South did win the Civil War. The North adopted
the Southern way of life. When slavery was ended, then segregation
took its place," Willmott said. "It was the new way that
black people were controlled." Slavery was not unique to the
South; it began in the North, Willmott noted.
"What we try to show in the film is that this was an American
problem and in many ways still is an American problem. And by looking
at it in terms of the CSA winning the war it puts a new perspective
on things," Willmott said.
Satire and dark humor, Willmott said, allow audiences to laugh
at the absurdity but leave theaters with a lot to think about.
Inspired by his belief that Americans, including himself, know
too little of the history of slavery and racism, Willmott reconstructs
U.S. history through a British TV documentary. The faux broadcast
is peppered with commercials featuring products for a society practicing
slavery such as a Home Shopping Network for slaves and electronic
shackles.
Willmott noted that products are marketed today with images that
have their origins in slavery - such as those of a friendly black
aunt or uncle used to sell a product.
"I think the film (allows) you to see things that you see
everyday, but you don't really think about the origins of them,"
Willmott said. He said he hopes "CSA" prompts viewers
to ask more questions.
As a child growing up in Junction City, Willmott remembered his
father's shock when his son proudly brandished a Confederate flag.
Later a college student at Marymount College in Salina during the
1970s, Willmott wondered how it was that Kansas, a free state, had
practiced segregation into the 1950s. As a professor in Lawrence,
a town established by abolitionists, Willmott questioned how it
was that racial segregation was practiced in the community and the
university.
When he began selling film scripts to Hollywood producers, Willmott
learned slavery was not box-office material. Producers reminded
him that "'Beloved' didn't do well. 'Amistad' didn't do well."
IFC Films bought "CSA" when it was shown at the 2004
Sundance Film Festival, drawing large crowds for its showing, and
Spike Lee offered to lend his name as executive producer.
Producer Cowan says the film has been edited since its Sundance
debut. "It looks and sounds better than something anyone has
seen. We feel it was drastically re-cut to help build to the climax."
Much of the film was shot in Humboldt, Lawrence and the Kansas
City area with local talent including KU students. President Lincoln
is played by a retired Bethel College professor, Arlo Caspar of
Newton. Rupert Pate, a history professor at Benedictine College
in Atchison, portrays the historian for the South. Evamarii Johnson
of Kansas City, Mo., plays the black historian for the North, who
is from the University of Montreal in the script. Another Kansas
City area resident, Larry Peterson, plays John Ambrose Fauntroy
V, the only fictional character in the film. Willmott created the
Fauntroy family to provide a Southern political dynasty similar
to the Kennedy family.
http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/12969/
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