I think this is an important and relevant film for today. Rogers and Cowan arranged for me to interview the folks responsible for this film project, and it is my privilege to share their thoughts with you here on my blog. The film airs on the Hallmark Channel Friday, September 20th. Go here to find out more!
What made this
award-winning piece of fiction the right choice for film adaptation in 2013? Turning this wonderful book into a film has
been a nine year journey for us together.
While we wish it was realized a long time ago, with our persistence and
never give up attitude, the film was ready when the timing was right. Now it is the 50th anniversary of the events
that we depict in the film and we have a chance to remind young people of our
shared American history. The film and
the issues we discuss are especially poignant as the Supreme Court rolled back
on Voting Rights so that young people understand why the Voting Rights Act and
Civil Rights Act were needed in the first place. It is important for us all to know where we
came from in order to understand why we are where we are to plan for the future
and where we want to go.
As a 20-year resident of Alabama, I know first-hand that racism is
alive and well. I also know that it is a
two-way street. What percentage of the general populace feels as though they
are the target of prejudice in the 21st century? While racial prejudice can go both ways,
institutional racism truly impacts African-Americans disproportionately and
especially poor African-Americans. When
we look at the disparity in economics, education, health and criminal justice,
African-Americans are still at the losing end.
This is not because African-Americans lack the intelligence or the
wherewithal, but because generations of systems, laws and legislation work
against them. So while we have made
progress in the last fifty years by eliminating legal segregation and civil
rights legislation was enacted to protect the rights of people of color in
America, the fight continues.
Byron seems to be the
focus and purpose behind the trip to Birmingham, yet he not the only one
profoundly changed by the events of the film.
The scene between him and Kenny by the side of the pond was especially
touching! What was the most challenging
part of his particular role? In
writing the script, the most challenging aspect of Byron was making sure we
understood the complexity of who Byron is as a teenager who is trying to figure
out life and to make sure we understood how and why he changes by being in
Birmingham. Byron is a teenager and like
so many he makes mistakes --he hangs with the wrong crowd, he rebels against
his parents, he picks on his little brother -- and yet he loves his family.
When he discovers true meaning in the world and begins to see a purpose in his
own life he becomes more focused on his own possibilities. He begins to understand that he can make a
difference in his world just like his cousins.
Mrs. Watson seems to be a particularly complex role, because she has
really turned a blind eye to the reality of racial tension. She even says, at
one point, that her mother is stronger than she is. Kenny reflects the same dichotomy of strong
and weak. What challenges did these two
roles present in the transition from novel to film? Each character had its own unique challenges,
but Mrs. Watson and Kenny represent the raw pain of dealing with
segregation...they internalize the societal slights and express the devastating
impact that living as a second class citizen has on a people.
We would argue that Mrs. Watson has not turned a blind eye to the
reality of racial tension, but in fact feels it intensely and hence does not
want to deal with the pain and does not want that inflicted on her family. She thinks of her mother as stronger because
her mother can withstand the daily degradation seemingly without anger,
frustration and sadness. I don't believe
it is true, but we often think of those who can face difficulty as strong and those
who walk away from it as weak...
Do you think the film
will draw attention back to the original novel? Why or why not? We certainly hope the film draws attention to
this wonderful novel as any adaptation often does. When people enjoy these characters on screen
we hope they decide to read the novel, which is slightly different than the
film. And Walden has created such a
wonderful curriculum for educators to use in teaching both the film and the
book that we hope teachers and parents will take the opportunity to really
inform young people about our history.
Hallmark Channel and Walden Media are in a partnership with
Cable in the Classroom (CIC) and will offer educators a new framework for
teaching their students about the Civil
Rights Movement with a customized curriculum created around “The Watsons Go To
Birmingham.”
Developed by Walden Media, in partnership with Zaner-Bloser
Educational Publishers, and designed for students, grades 4-12, “The Watsons Go
To Birmingham” Teacher Guide offers parents and educators a turnkey lesson
plan, streaming video resources, and archival photographs, giving fresh context
to the Civil Rights Movement. Using the themes and messages explored in the
movie as a narrative backdrop, the Guide is based on the Zaner-Bloser Voices
Curriculum and was written in collaboration with a team led by Professor Robert
Selman of the Harvard Graduate School of Education. “The Watsons Go To
Birmingham” Teacher Guide, which will be free of charge on a dedicated Hallmark
Channel microsite (http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/thewatsonsgotobirmingham/educatorsguide
) and the Walden Media website www.walden.com , integrates social-emotional
learning, literacy, writing, and character education designed to reinforce
critical thinking and deep comprehension skills.
Without spoilers,
what is your most satisfying scene in the film? This is hard to answer because each scene
matters, but I would say the last scene of the film. I love seeing this family together and the
last scene sums up the entire sentiment of the film. A touching example of how
people come-together and support one another during difficult times and is
played out beautifully in both the book and the movie. Their experiences give them a newfound
courage to stand up for what is right and helps them grow stronger as a family
in the process. The Watsons Go To Birmingham demonstrates the power of family,
the power of children to learn and grow and the power of love over evil.
What is the take-away
message you hope fans of film will take away from the Watson’s go to
Birmingham? The take-away message
that we would like people to have with The Watsons Go To Birmingham is the
message for young people that, like the young people in the children's crusade
in Birmingham, if they see something in their world that is wrong they can fix
it by being committed and raising their voices.
Despite the ugly brutality that they faced, these young people made a
difference in the lives of us all by standing up with courage and letting the
world know they deserved to be treated like human beings. As cliche as it may sound we hope that people come away from the film
understanding that love truly overcomes
hate.
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