Kasi Lemmons
The “Black Nativity” Interview
with Kam Williams

A proven talent as an actress, writer and director, Kasi Lemmons continues to tantalize creatively with her thought provoking body of work. Her work as an actress includes roles in Silence of the Lambs opposite Jodie Foster, and Spike Lee’s School Daze, as well as Hard Target, Fear of a Black Hat, Candyman and Vampire’s Kiss.

Kasi’s magical directorial debut, Eve’s Bayou, was the highest-grossing independent film of 1997. The film won the Independent Spirit Award for ‘Best First Feature’ and received seven NAACP Image Award nominations, including Best Picture.

Her sophomore offering, The Caveman’s Valentine, opened the 2002 Sundance Film Festival to audience and critical acclaim. And, in 2008, she received an NAACP Image Award for directing Talk to Me.

Her guest teaching and speaking credits include Yale University, MIT, UCLA, USC, the Los Angeles Film School and the University of Pristina Film School in Kosovo. Currently, Kasi is an associate arts professor at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

Here, she talks about her adaptation of the Langston Hughes musical Black Nativity, which stars Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett, Mary J. Blige, Nas, Tyrese, and her husband, Vondie Curtis-Hall.

Kam Williams: Hi Kasi, thanks for the interview.

Kasi Lemmons: No problem.

KW: What a powerful film! I don’t remember ever seeing a musical that had the audience weeping after the first song.

KL: Yeah, well, that’s Jennifer Hudson. She’s incredible.

KW: Harriet Pakula-Teweles asks: How daunting a task is it to adapt a Langston Hughes stage classic to the screen?

KL: It was very daunting. One of my foolish qualities is to jump boldly, and then think about it later. It was daunting, but I also felt honored, and took the opportunity very seriously. I wanted to pay homage to someone who was such an important literary figure in my life. I think Langston Hughes would be proud of the picture, yet it’s a contemporary story about a family living in Harlem. I named the lead character Langston, put a little bit of poetry in there, and some Langston Hughes quotes, and, of course, his stage play, Black Nativity.

KW: Editor/Legist Patricia Turnier says: Some directors make faithful adaptations; others feel free to take license with the source material. Which approach did you employ here?

KL: Black Nativity certainly lends itself to reinterpretation. It was kind of designed to be infused with the creativity of whoever is putting it on, and every performance is a little bit different. So, this is definitely my version of Black Nativity. It has its own story, which is a family story. Hughes’ Black Nativity informs it, and is contained within it.

KW: Children’s book author Irene Smalls asks: What did it take to contemporize Langston Hughes Black Nativity?

KL: Just imagination. In my case, I decided to make it a contemporary story very relevant to today’s audience. 

KW: Rel Dowdell says: The film is very poignant.  Were there any emotional
moments on set where tears just flowed after you yelled, "Cut!"

KL: Yeah, quite a few actually, especially when it had to do with the music and people were singing, and also the big scene at the end. We were all crying. Absolutely!

KW: Two of your cast members, your husband, Vondie, and Forest Whitaker arealso directors. Did that ever pose a problem on the set?

KL: No, they both came as actors, and were very able to the actor-director process. They came to play, and that’s what we did. However, I did occasionally ask each of them for their advice as fellow filmmakers, because their opinions mattered to me. 

KW: I was very impressed with how moving the songs were and how their lyrics enhanced the storyline.  

KL: Yeah, the songs are very much a part of the story, and not separate

KW: In a movie with so many stars, I was surprised that you took a big chance by casting an unknown, Jacob Latimore, in such a pivotal role. How did you come to cast him as Langston?

KL: I knew that there was a good chance that I would end up with a newcomer in that role. I love working with young artists. Jacob was the first kid that I auditioned. After he walked out, I turned to my husband and said, “I think that’s the kid. I don’t know if I have to look any further. He’s the one!” He’s a real star.

KW: You live in Harlem and, so I’m sure you’re aware that it has been undergoing a lot of change lately. Why did you set the film there? 

KL: It is gentrifying very fast, and I feel proud to have photographed it where it is right now. I’m interested in the history of Harlem and in modern Harlem. It’s a very interesting place.

KW: Did you encounter any racism growing up in Newton, a suburb of Boston? I always ask that of any black person who’s lived in Boston, because it was the most racist city I’ve ever lived in, shockingly so.

KL: Oh, sure, I encountered it when I was growing up, and it has kind of made me who I am, although I came to love Boston. It’s a complicated city. Some of the smartest people in the world are in Boston. How many institutions of higher learning are in that one area? It’s a pool of intelligence. It’s a great town. You can encounter racism anywhere. I have a lot of nostalgic feelings about Boston. It was a cool place to grow up. 

KW: What message do you think people will take away from?

KL: I think the movie has a very clear message. It’s about a family in crisis facing some of the very familiar struggles we face in our communities. It’s really about love, redemption, forgiveness, faith and family, the things that have gotten us through so many hard times, and that continue to get us through them. When times are hard, we need each other. That’s what the movie’s about. And I you’ll leave the theater inspired and ready to enjoy your family.     

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

KL: I see Kasi. [Chuckles] I don’t over-think my existence. I see me. I’m a very imperfect person, like most of us are. I’m also a very busy person. I have a family. I have a career. I’m a professor at NYU. I have a full life for which I feel grateful every day. 

KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?

KL: Standing on the back porch of my home in St. Louis watching the petals fall from a rosebush at about the age of 2.

KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?

KL: Gumbo. I make a really mean gumbo around the holiday season. I have it down pretty good now.

KW: What is your guiltiest pleasure?

KL: Reading a novel with a glass of wine. I love to read voraciously. I always have. And I love to lose myself in a good book.

KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?

KL: I’m reading a lot of books at once. Some of the books lying around my bed right now are a biography of Bob Marley, “The Keep” by Jennifer Egan, “The History of Love,” “The Black Count,” and “Miss Ann in Harlem.” It’s a wonderful book about the white women of the Harlem Renaissance.

KW: Are you going to bless us with your next film sooner?

KL: I would like to. Honestly, I do spend most of my time between films trying to get the next one made.

KW: Do you think the fact that this has been a banner year for black films will make it easier for African-American directors to find funding?

KL: Yes, because the films are performing, and Hollywood is all about the money.

KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?

KL: That my family would be happy, and safe and well.

KW: The Anthony Mackie question: Isthere anything that you promised yourself you’d do if you became famous, that you still haven’t done yet?

KL: I haven’t written a novel. [Chuckles] I am overdue for that. I’ve been wanting to write one for a very long time.

KW: The Gabby Douglas question: If you had to choose another profession, what would that be?

KL: I’d probably be a musician.

KW: The music maven Heather Covington question: What was the last song you listened to? 

KL: I like Kanye, Jay-Z, R&B, classical, jazz and all kinds of music, but I’d say soulful World Music is my favorite.

KW: Harriet also asks: With so many classic films being redone, is there a remake you'd like to do?

KL: If I like a film, I usually appreciate the way it was made the first time. But my cousin would very much like me to redo The Wiz one day.

KW: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

KL: Perseverance is what I tell my students. It’s important that you keep your dream alive, because you’re going to encounter a lot of obstacles, and no one is going to dream big for you. You have to have the fortitude and the resilience to stick with your own dreams. That can be hard.

KW: The Tavis Smiley question: How do you want to be remembered?

KL: As someone who tried to be great. I don’t know if one ever gets to greatness, but I’ve put in a good effort, and will continue to do so. 

KW: Well, you’ve achieved greatness in my book, Kasi, and best of luck with the film.

KL: Thanks, Kam.

To see a trailer for Black Nativity, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfhupIQ1JnE