Industry Spotlight

I spent some time last week with a very intriguing individual who has spent a good portion of his life doing the thing he loves to do and that’s making quality films, and you know he’s been very ardent at it if he’s collected 7 Emmy Awards, amongst the many awards he’s received throughout his lengthy career.  I had the pleasure to interview Byran Hickox, executive producer of "The Painting", starring Clifton Davis, Debbie Allen, Ben Vereen, and Stacey Dash amongst others in a talented ensemble cast.  The following is my interview with this very passionate and dedicated filmmaker:

A.S.—So, Mr. Hickcox, how many awards have you won over the span of your career?  

B.H.—I’ve been producing television movies most of my adult life [for about] 45 years, and in that period of time, I’ve produced 70 movies for TV, 10 network series, 10 feature films, probably 300 hours of syndicated television.  My films have been nominated for 16 Emmys—I’ve won 7—and a George Foster Peabody [Award].  I’ve won about 200 or so national and international film festival awards…so I’ve been really blessed; I’ve had a very blessed career.  

A.S.—What is your guiding motivation in making a film?  

B.H.—Now, if you don’t believe in “absolute truth”, that means truth is whatever you want it to be, which means you have no accountability, and I think that’s part of the problem with our society today.  People don’t believe in “absolute truth.”

 A.S.—Now how do you define “absolute truth”?  

B.H.—Right or wrong—Biblical principles.  I’m not trying to thump a Bible over anyone’s head but there are such things as “right” and “wrong”, and we’ve tended to dismiss or overlook or forgive a lot of things that we know are wrong.  So, I’m really interested in doing things that have a moral under-pinning, and raising up an army of people to do the same thing.There are two emerging markets of young filmmakers—one is the Christian community and the other’s the urban community.  The [urban community is] very inspired by John Singleton and Spike Lee and all the younger filmmakers who are making very important statements. The problem with these two emerging markets is that they traditionally criticize society because that’s what they feel art needs to do.  Well, we need to take those groups of people and tell them, “hey, you can tell stories that can change people’s lives, and you can be taken seriously by Hollywood.” 
There’s a hundred “don’ts” that if you do any of one of them, it guarantees your script will not be read; from the design of the cover to the size of the type, but those things are not taught in film school.  What I’m trying to do is amass a group of working professionals and have them teach these groups of young people how to be taken seriously in Hollywood, and how to be have a shot at being  a respected  filmmaker in our society and changing our culture.  When I turn on the TV set and I get “Fear Factor” and I’m watching a woman eat a horse’s rectum I say, “wait a minute!”  There’s gotta be a better use of this tool to disseminate information and impart values that are substantial.  Now I make the distinction of “working professionals” because most of the film schools are taught by “never weres” or “has beens.”  What we’re doing with this “Conquering Hollywood” Tour is trying to dispel the myths of not making it in within the “ol’ boys network.”  [These young filmmakers] wonder, “how can I break in”; well…you can break in!  You just need to know some ground rules.  

A.S.—Are your contemporaries as/working professionals as passionate and dedicated as you seem to be?  

B.H.—Even more!  Most of these people have been in the business a long time, and they are passionate about training an emerging group of young people.  Our people who are teaching our Screenwriting class include those like John Sheppard, right here in town shooting “The Bobby Jones Story”, or Ralph Winter who produced four of the most successful “Star Trek” pictures, “The Planet of the Apes”, “Inspector Gadget”, and also produced “X-Men”, and “X2”, which had the fourth most successful opening in the history of film—$176 million in four days!  These are the [type of] guys that our faculty is composed of.  So, to have these young filmmakers being able to sit one-on-one, like you and I are doing, with these professionals…that experience doesn’t come around often.  

A.S.—Tell us a little about “The Painting”.  

B.H.—“The Painting” is a story that’s been around for around 100 years, and just recently it’s circulated on the Internet, and we saw this and said, “what a great story!”  So, we hired a writer and gave him a back story for the characters and set it in the 60s, which was a very difficult time in terms of race relations, and set it in the South.  It gave it a lot of levels of meaning.  I’m not real interested in making religious movies; what I’m interested in is taking Biblical truths and weaving them into a commercial dramatic structure so that people can walk out of [“The Painting] and are profoundly moved.  I don’t care what your religious beliefs are…you will not walk out the same person—I guarantee it!  I was really blessed when Debbie Allen came on board and acted in it, and we made her a co-Executive Producer.  Clifton Davis was wonderful to work with, and Ben Vereen was extraordinary, as well as Stacey Dash—a wonderful, young Black actress.  It was just a wonderful experience.  

A.S.—Out of all you’ve done and accomplished in your career, what is the one level you haven’t breached or story you haven’t told as yet but want to?  

B.H.—I want to make a religious film about the Apostle Paul.  Actually, it’s really Saul of Tarsus.  It is the story about a Jewish terrorist—that’s who Saul of Tarsus was.  From his experience on the “road to Damascus” his entire life changed from being Christianity’s greatest adversary to becoming its greatest proponent.  I really believe that God has gifted me to use filmmaking to impact and affect people in a positive way!  

A.S.—Mr. Hickox, I really enjoyed this interview and I’ll see you when your tour kicks off on the 17^th.  

B.H.—It’s been my pleasure and thank you!  

For more information about the "Conquering Hollywood" Tour, including registration fees and class schedules, please visit www.entertainmentindustryseminars.com.  Believe me when I say the fees are WAY LOWER than most other fees (check around if you wish).  The list of professionals and their credits speak for themselves!

In other news...

Halle and Eric split up (which means a sliver of chance still exists--LOL)...The Chicago Cubs may do the impossible and make it to the World Series...well, as long as they don't screw up like they did in that ridiculously tight 10-inning game (or was it 11?) this last night when it looked like they had it! I hope they win so they can face the NY Yankees so that me and my girlfriend (who's from Chicago) can make interesting wagers based on whomever's home town team wins...heh, heh, heh! Ja Rule lied and is coming out with a new album next month...yyyyeeeahhh who cares!

Former Met's star pitcher Dwight Gooden's son, Dwight Gooden, Jr., got busted for selling $200 in crack--another example of something that should NOT read, "like father, like son." On a positive note, though they took so long to do this, "The Color Purple " will be hitting Broadway in 2005--I'm beginning to wonder if every Black woman I've encountered knows EVERY SINGLE LINE of that movie!! Anyway, this is where you need to go next after reading this article:

Yup, Jill Scott makes her directorial debut as well as starring in Jeff Bradshaw's first video for his upcoming album, Bone Deep. Go to this link: http://hidde6.temp.veriohosting.com/JeffBradshaw/main.htm and see it before you catch it on TV, Cable, DirectTV, Satellite, whateva!  You can also hear samples, and all I gotta say is PLATINUM MATERIAL!!!  You'll love it! I GUA-RUN-TEE! Keep it light 'cause times are getting heavy, so you gotta stay mobile and you gotta keep it movin' (that's for you Angie)!

peace2ya!