Charles Dutton - Interview - The Express "...Obama don't change a thing"

Published on: Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:16:20 -0700

He was an outstanding young man of great character who served? and my hope is, will continue to serve?as an inspiration to the young people of this country. ?John F. Kennedy on Ernie Davis In America in the late 1950s and early 60s, one young man became a symbol for a country grappling to move past its long-held views of people of color. His unprecedented journey unfolded as he shattered not only sports records, but also perceptions of what was possible for an African-American at the time. His name was Ernie Davis, but fans knew him better as The Elmira Express. This film is a tribute to his courage. Based on a true story, The Express follows the extraordinary life of college football hero Ernie Davis (ROB BROWN of Finding Forrester, Coach Carter). His quiet fight for equality and respect forever changed the face of the game, and his civil rights story continues to inspire new generations. Born in 1939 and raised in poverty in Pennsylvania coal-mining country by his grandmother and grandfather (CHARLES S. DUTTON of Secret Window, Gothika), before moving to Elmira, New York, Davis hurdled social and economic obstacles to become one of the greatest running backs in college football history. Under the guidance of legendary Syracuse coach Ben Schwartzwalder (DENNIS QUAID of The Rookie, Any Given Sunday), he became a hero who surpassed Jim Browns achievements and became the first African-American player to be awarded the Heisman Trophy, college footballs highest individual honor. A graduate of the Yale School of Drama, CHARLES S. DUTTON (Willie Pops Davis) has a career spanning theater, television and film, and is one of the few actors to earn Tony, Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominations for the same role. He created the lead roles in three of August Wilsons early plays: Ma Raineys Black Bottom, Jo Turners Come and Gone and The Piano Lesson. He received multiple award nominations, including a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor (Featured Role in a Play), for Ma Raineys Black Bottom and The Piano Lesson. He was also nominated for an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for the Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation of The Piano Lesson. Dutton starred in and executive produced the FOX comedy-drama Roc, produced by HBO, for which he received several NAACP Image Award nominations. He has numerous television credits, including the miniseries The Murder of Mary Phagan, The 60s, Deadlocked and Aftershock: Earthquake in New York. His episodic appearances include House M.D., The Sopranos and the HBO series Oz, among others. He won Emmy Awards for his guest-starring roles in Without a Trace and The Practice. Dutton is a veteran of numerous feature films such as Q & A; Alien3; Menace II Society; Rudy; A Low Down Dirty Shame; Cry, the Beloved Country; Nick of Time; A Time to Kill; Get on the Bus; Cookies Fortune (for which he received an Independent Spirit Award nomination); Gothika; and Secret Window. This winter, he can be seen in the new John Sayles film Honeydripper. Dutton made his directorial debut in 1997 with the HBO movie First Time Felon. He also directed the award-winning HBO miniseries The Corner, for which he received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special in 2000. Duttons feature film directorial debut was the 2004 Paramount Pictures film Against the Ropes. In 2006, he directed multiple episodes of the Showtime series Sleeper Cell, for which he received a Directors Guild of America Award nomination. Most recently, he directed the Lifetime Television movie Racing for Time and the pilot Under for A&E. Dutton recently finished shooting the Screen Gems feature Legion, co-starring Paul Bettany and Dennis Quaid. Footage Courtesy of Universal Pictures A BlackTree Media Production Hosted by Ms. Ameerah Banks Produced by Jamaal Finkley Edited at BlackTree TV Studios Culver City CA http://www.blacktree.tv join us on our social network at http://my.blacktree.tv

Author: blacktreemedia
Keywords: football ernie davis Rob Brown charles dutton the express film filmmaker reel interview trailer
Added: October 9, 2008