Entertainment
Why Line Up for ‘Red Tails’ and Not ‘Pariah’?
Writer Charing Bell wrote an interesting article questioning George Lucas statement that black films are at risk if his film Red Tails fails at the box office. Bell cites the success of Pariah, insinuating that statement may not be true.
Writer Charing Bell wrote an interesting article questioning George Lucas statement that black films are at risk if his film Red Tails fails at the box office. Bell cites the success of Pariah, insinuating Lucas statement may not be true.
Red Tails ended the weekend with box office sales of 19.1 million, landing in at the number two spot.
“The awesomeness of Pariah has been pretty much been overshadowed by the hype over Red Tails. Despite the film, which centers on the plight and fight of the Tuskegee airmen, being well in the works for well over two decades, the hype around it didn’t start until recently, when folks began to spread the fear of God that if the film is not a box office success then all hope for the future of black films is doomed.”
“So why there is such a heavy emphasis on supporting Lucas’ Red Tails while genuine black films like Pariah are left to their own devices?
First off, I take issue with what essentially has been a fear and race-based marketing campaign by Lucas to persuade moviegoers, particularly Black moviegoers, to see this film. We are told that it would be the end of Black filmmaking as we know it. Never mind, if the film is interesting or compelling or even entertaining. We have a racial duty to unite to see this film or else we make Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. weep?
All may not be lost in the world of Black filmmaking if Red Tails tanks. As reported, [Pariah writer and director Dee] Rees is currently working on a project for HBO that will feature actress Viola Davis and a thriller flick called “Bolo.” And on Sunday night, Pariah received a special shout-out at the Golden Globes by legendary film actress Meryl Streep. Likewise the African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement, also known as AFFRM, has been steadily pushing for the theatrical release of quality independent African-American films through simultaneous limited engagements in select cities including I Will Follow and Kinyarwanda. In short, the future of Black film – with or without the success of Red Tails – will survive.”