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SUNDAY POPCORN CONVERSATION
Where Leaders Failed, A King And Queen Rose For
Humanity's Sake
By
Omar P.L. Moore/The Popcorn Reel
Sunday,
February 8, 2009
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SAN FRANCISCO, California --
Kimberly Roberts wouldn't call herself a hero. Her husband Scott probably
wouldn't call himself Superman either. But to the objective eye the documentary "Trouble The
Water", first released in the U.S. and Canada last summer after debuting at
Sundance, shows spouses rising to the occasion as the waters rose almost four
years ago in New Orleans during the onslaught of Hurricane Katrina, its wrath
partly responsible for thousands and thousands of deaths along the U.S. Gulf
Coast, most of those occurring in the southern city's Lower Ninth Ward district,
which was decimated as was neighboring St. Bernard's Parish.
With baby daughter Skyy ("spelled just like the vodka", advised Scott)
doing what babies do, Kimberly, Scott and the film's co-director and co-producer
Tia Lessin spoke to The Popcorn Reel last week about their ordeal and the
documentary, which was nominated last month for an Academy Award for Best
Documentary Feature.
"You've got to come to New Orleans for Mardi Gras," beckoned Mr.
Roberts, a
husky-sized man whose smile illuminated the room. Here at a local hotel the
dynamic and enthusiastic couple were firmly on higher ground -- the 21st floor to be exact --
far higher up than they had been in the initial hours of August 29, 2005 when
an imperious and unrelenting force of nature bearing a woman's name battered this
famous city.
"Trouble The Water" is vivid, penetrating and unforgettable.
A Gotham Independent Film Award winner and Grand Jury Prize Award winner at Sundance last year, Miss Lessin and Carl Deal's film
is impossible for a viewer to sit through without feeling angry and ashamed at
a failure of political leadership. At the same time however, the film is a
salute to profiles in courage where much of the mainstream press coverage
focused solely on the helplessness of the devastated communities. The film
played this weekend in San Francisco at the Sundance Kabuki's Theater on the San
Francisco Film Society Screen, and is re-opening in select markets in North
America now that it has gained renewed attention following almost universal
acclaim from film critics and reviewers nationwide last year.
One of the things that strikes audiences is the remarkable calm both Kimberly
and Scott exhibit during the violent nature of the storm. With a hand-held
video camera Ms. Roberts shot incredible footage that spoke volumes about the
neglect and callous indifference by all levels of government from municipal to
state to federal. With people the couple knew who were dying and 911 phone operators dispassionately telling people on roofs that they had been abandoned,
how did the Robertses maintain their calm? "I was thinking that as long as
my wife was alright . . . I'm alright. As long as she is not panicking
then everything is all good, so as long as I was just staying busy . . .
trying to get people out the water . . . I was alright. That's how I kept
myself sane," Mr. Roberts said. "You couldn't really worry or think about
what's going on. All you could do is just face it."
Ms. Roberts, a youthful and fortifying presence, looks slightly shorter in person
than she did as a then-24-year-old in "Trouble The Water". Since its
filming almost four years have passed and changes have occurred. One thing that has not changed for the
Robertses
however, is locale, as the couple remains firmly rooted to New Orleans, where
they were both born and raised. "Growing up in New Orleans, growing up in
poverty, we learned from surviving you know -- things -- the worst of the worst
of our community, broken education system, lack of guidance, surviving so much .
. . to kind of stay positive in the worst negative situations", revealed Ms.
Roberts, who with her husband took turns holding little Skyy while the other
spoke. "I mean, when you were growing up in a neighborhood with a lot of
negativity going on and a lot of jealousy and hatred because of poverty and a
lack of education, police brutality . . . . my life is not everyone's life but
some of the things I experienced you know growing up, a lot of people experienced
and worser but through it all . . . [it] kind of helped us [through the
situation]." Ms. Roberts also credited "faith and God" as vital components of
her own fortitude in the troubled waters of late summer 2005.
"We had to be leaders . . . and we did that."
How does Ms. Roberts evaluate a political calling for herself following her
leadership efforts in a time when elected or at least assumed leadership
was wanting?
"I've been encouraged to get into politics, to get into
leadership in our city because . . . this movie helped me see the beautiful person
that I was and the people around me encouraging me and kind of telling me that I
can be that, inspiring me to want to do that. So I feel confident that I
can. And I probably will do it," said Ms. Roberts, who added that "in a lot
of poor neighborhoods in America young people who could be your best, your
brightest and could bring you to the next level -- but the inspiration is
not there so the dream and the feel for them to do that isn't -- so they probably
won't."
"Trouble The Water" was shown last year at both the Democratic and Republican
National Conventions, the former from which there emerged deeply emotional
reactions, including from such politicians as U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu of
Louisiana. "She was moved to tears by the film. She encouraged
Kimberly to run for mayor. So I think Mayor [Ray] Nagin -- you might give
Ray a run for his money. Watch out Ray!", declared Miss Lessin, with a
smile and a laugh.
She is only half kidding.
By contrast Ms. Roberts is 100% serious about her encounter with Ray Nagin, the mayor of her
city, during the Democratic Convention last August. "I tried to kind of
like talk with him at the DNC . . . I felt compelled to do it
'cause I felt like I'd probably never get to see him again." She said she
wanted to supply some ideas to Mr. Nagin and raise some of her concerns to him
about the citizens of New Orleans. "He may have given me his best answer
-- in his best answer to the questions of what's happening to the poor people in
neglect -- what's going on with the people in power, why are you neglecting your
citizens before, during and after Katrina? -- he referred me to a Po' Boys shop
in New Orleans and told me that I can go there and get a good job. And we
all know making sandwiches is not job skills at all -- technical skills at
least. I can't raise a family off of making sandwiches -- come on,"
exclaimed Ms. Roberts, citing the increasing cost of living in the Crescent
City.
"It still shows you where he's at in his mind, you know, as far as where he's
going -- no love or concern for the people," she added.
After following up with one of the Mayor's aides Ms. Roberts received no further
response from Mayor Nagin, who walked out of the screening of "Trouble The
Water" at the Convention after just two minutes according to Ms. Roberts,
who recalled that Mayor Nagin said that he "didn't want to see a movie that depicts
New Orleans in a negative way." Apparently Mr. Nagin, whom last year
won another term in office as mayor of New Orleans, still has yet to see
the film in its entirety, although "Trouble The Water" may become harder for the
mayor to avoid with its recent Oscar recognition.
Speaking of Oscar recognition,
Miss Lessin dismissed the notion that she would rather have received an Oscar
nomination for a film conceived in more uplifting circumstances. "The thing
is, the film opens with this tragedy but this film is about resilience.
You know, it's about Kimberly and Scott and their strength of character and
their decision to keep moving forward and their optimism, which is really at
odds with what they've experienced in their lives." As the director speaks
there is a trace of the American South in her voice. Born and raised in
Washington, D.C., which is south enough for some, Tia Lessin has been part of
the team soldiering on in the world of independent filmmaking together as part
of Michael Moore's production team. Ms. Lessin and Mr. Deal were key to
"Fahrenheit 9/11" and "Bowling For Columbine", Cannes and Oscar-winning
documentaries respectively. Both came to "Trouble The Water" with a sense of
possibility of a transformative impact with the story the Riverses were telling. The film dispenses of a conventional introduction as one is
thrust into the documentary the way the storm thrust itself onto a public who
knew what was approaching but in many cases had neither the means nor transportation to
escape the conditions.
And just as some of the events in the documentary depict, the journey for
"Trouble The Water" wasn't plain sailing either. "We had a lot of struggle
trying to get backing for the film," said Miss Lessin. "We had a lot of
doors slammed in our face. We really initially were interested in just
getting a broadcast commission so that we could get this film out as soon as
possible because we felt that this was urgent. And we heard a lot of
excuses -- let me just say -- they were excuses. But we decided, 'no,
we're gonna do this.'" Miss Lessin and Mr. Deal assembled some grant money
and found support from the Sundance Institute, the Creative Capital Foundation,
Women In Film, The Open Society Institute. She cited help from someone
whom she called the big force. "Danny (Glover) came on board. He saw
this film, he was really moved by it. You know, he has fought all his life
I think for so many issues that are in this film and he and his producing
partner Joslyn Barnes found us some money.
"We couldn't even get two dimes to rub together from any studio or distributor
and then it took many months after we premiered this film actually to find
somebody who could put it in theaters," Miss Lessin said, acknowledging the
film's acclaim and admitting to "bragging on the film." Without any
prompting the director-producer said that "I think it's hard because folks are
afraid of documentaries. They think that documentaries don't have, you
know, the capacity to bring people in. We've seen with this film that it
does. They love the story and the story resonates with them. So
we're sort of on a mission with this film . . . filmmakers should be able to
create these stories about real people making change in their lives, because we
know that audiences want to see that."
Of the studios and distributors that turned down "Trouble The Water", Miss
Lessin stated "hopefully they'll learn a lesson -- they've already learned a
lesson."
As for New Orleans, which to this day is still largely unrepaired and identical
to how it looked in the aftermath of late August 2005, Miss Lessin said that
"[f]olks still continue to go down there. They cash in their vacation time.
They go to rebuild. They send in their checks. I mean, it's kind of
stirring to know that even though the leadership -- even though the American
people demanded better leadership -- the government didn't step up but we did,"
the filmmaker explained. "So I think the film is a celebration of that.
It's a celebration of these two people and their community. And it's also
got a pretty darn good soundtrack with the music of Black Kold Madina.
It's not just about tragic. It's about America -- it's all the good and
the bad."
In the background, Mr. Roberts agrees.
By the way, Black Kold Madina is the rap alias of Kimberly Rivers Roberts, who raps to
powerful effect during "Trouble The Water". Mr. Roberts spoke of his
ongoing quest to get a distribution deal for their record company label Born Hustler Records,
which was founded in 2006. "We're trying
to get Born Hustler Records and Black Kold Madina heard worldwide, you know?
And we're trying to get her out there, then my album's gonna come," Mr.
Roberts
said. His wife made it clear however, that there were more important things
on the table with their efforts than
self-promotion. "We're also trying to use this movie as a platform to draw
awareness to the needs of the citizens of New Orleans. Maybe we can be a
starting point for people to kind of see what we doing and maybe kind of adapt
[to] what we're doing," she said.
The Robertses had additional news. "We're also starting a non-profit
organization called Troubled Water Awakening Minds," Ms. Roberts announced.
"It's gonna be aimed
at drug rehabilitation for the citizens of New Orleans starting with the Ninth
Ward." Ms. Roberts, who along with her husband used to sell drugs on the
New Orleans streets for survival said that "when you have drugs that alters
peoples' decision . . . so we figure we can help some of those people rehab and
the people that really want help, try to get them job training and try to give
them some kind of system of living to try to help them or give them hope in
hopeless situation, we can bring some productive citizens back to themselves and
help save lives." Recalling her past behavior which she and her husband
said they were not proud of, Ms. Roberts explained that "we were doing what our options
gave us to do, you know, to trying to fight against the negative environment
that we was forced to live in, to try to change that."
Citing her faith in God, Ms. Roberts said that "this is gonna happen -- ain't no
doubt about it."
Speaking about the film's impact across the United States, Miss Lessin stated
that
"we've shown this film in so many communities, you know, from New Orleans to
North Dakota . . . from Boston down to New Mexico, and whether it's been in
theatrical settings or in community groups or in churches or what have
you, you know, people are really responding to the story. And they're
really using this -- a lot of organizations -- like the one that Kimberly and
Scott are starting, have used this film . . . to uplift their world," said Miss
Lessin, comfortably attired in a charcoal gray cardigan sweater and dark jeans.
"And
that's heartening to us. We hope -- I mean, it's amazing to be nominated for an
Academy Award, no doubt about it. But this attention and this increased exposure
for this film also enables us to call more attention to what's happening in New
Orleans, in San Francisco, in Oakland, in Richmond, you know, in the South
Bronx, in Brooklyn near where I live. You know, this is not just about New
Orleans."
The co-director knew exactly what she'd do if "Trouble The Water" was announced
after the words, "And the Oscar goes to . . . ".
"They're on stage with us, absolutely!
We'll probably -- with our knees waddling! I know Kimberly's knees will be
waddling."
"If I'm up there I'm gonna bust out a rap," Ms. Roberts said.
Everyone laughs.
"And we got 45 seconds up there, so it's gonna have to be a 25-second rap,"
advised Mr. Roberts.
"It's a beautiful thing to think about being up there, " Miss Lessin confessed.
"But with just the honor of this nomination we feel like we've already won.
It's a big deal. It's a big deal to be recognized by this venerable
institution as one of the top five you know, best five documentary features this
year. That's just -- it's just, we're floored by it. We're very
ecstatic. And we've got a lot of love, you know, since that nomination was
announced."
Ms. Roberts spoke about some of that love: "The best actresses of 2008.
And they had Kimberly Rivers Roberts as herself . I was nominated
for that, for
Time Magazine for that. Everybody else
was playing a person and they had me as myself. It was wonderful."
At that moment, baby Skyy cried out loudly with a sound of joy, perhaps
anticipating the glory of what could be just two Sundays from today.
"Trouble The Water" will play in Denver at the Film Society at the Starz
(February 13-15), at Connecticut's Avon Theater on February 21 only, at
Florida's Ola Fest in Orlando on February 13 and 14; in New Orleans'
Multi-disciplinary Art Center on February 15, 17 and 27 through March 5; at the
Railroad Square Cinema in Maine on February 21 and 22 and the River City Cinema
in Bangor, Maine on February 27, as well as Cinema Salem in Massachusetts from
February 27-March 5, in Michigan at the Urban Institute for Contemporary for Art
now through February 12 and at the State Theater in Traverse City on February
22; in New York at the Westcott Center in Liverpool on February 21; in North
Dakota at the Grand Theater in Bismarck on February 12; at the State College
State Theater in Pennsylvania now through February 12; at the University of El
Paso in Texas on February 20 and 21; and at Bennet Street Films in Buffalo,
Wyoming on March 8 and 9; at the Black Box Theater in Providence, Rhode Island
on February 9, at the Darkside Cinema in Corvalis, California now through
February 12; at the FM Kirby Center in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania on March 11;
at the Cinema 320 in Worcester, Massachusetts on March 17-22 and at the Hammer
Musuem in Los Angeles on March 27. For more dates check
here.
Popcorn Reel Trailer Grazer - "Trouble The Water"
trailer
"Trouble The Water" Official Website:
http://www.troublethewaterfilm.com
Born Hustler Records website:
http://www.bornhustlerrecords.com
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