Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 8 October 2004 — Page 28

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THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2004

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Cultural Union The skin color in our family ran from w hite as snow to dark as night." L A. photographer V'ulena Broussard Dismukes saw African American dancers in full Native American pow- wow regalia, and started down a path to explore the lives of people who share both heritages—and who arc candid enough to share the celebration and the condemnation they have experienced.

Also hoa on permanent display

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Native Americans: The Red-Black Connection Open now through Oct. 24

Eiteljorg Museum oT American Indiana and Weatem Art I spenence t itrljor e, Discover Something New. White River State Park. 500 W. Washington St. (317) B36-WE8T • www.eitelJorg.orK

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Cheslnul brings ihe heal 1 in ladder 49'

Electronic Urban Roport It doesn’t take long for Morris Chestnut’s shirt to come off in his new film “Ladder 49.” The scene in question features his character, Baltimore firefighter Tommy Drake, accepting a bet from the date (Jacinda Barrett) ofhis (fiend and fellow firefighter Jack Morrison (Joaquin Phoenix). The loser had to run topless around a crowded tavern. Guess who lost the bet? “That scene was not originally in the movie,” laughs Chestnut. “I still don’t know to this day what the discussion was that all of a sudden, it’s a scene in the movie. I came to work one day and one of the producers, he’s normally like a happy go-lucky guy, but he was just kinda somber that day. I was like, ‘What’s going on?’ He kinda hit me up with, “Yeah, we’re gonna be putting a scene in the movie, you know, check it out, just let me know w'hat you think.’ He was all nervous and I was like, ‘Okaaay, what could that be about?’ So 1 w'ent to my trailer and read it and was like, ‘Aw nahhhh.”’ The extreme close-up of his torso drew some audible “oh my damns” from female journalists during a recent press screening. Unfortunately, a shot intended for the fellas, following Chestnut’s strip tease, was left on the editing room floor. “When w'e were shooting the movie, the big thing of the day that kinda made me feel better about everything w'as that once I (took off my shirt), the camera goes beyond me, and you see a woman in the scene with her shirt off, too. But it never made it.” The topless scenes were de-

Morris Chestnut signed by director Jay Russell to show' the prank-filled, close-knit, playful bond shared by firefighters, which serves as an anchor for “Ladder 49’s” main storyline involving the dangerous rescue attempt of Morrison. “I never really thought how difficult it would be going into a burning building,” Chestnut said of his pre-production training. “At the fire academy, they had this one structure that we set afire a few times and you don’t realize that when you go into a burning building, it’s completely dark. You have to keep your hand on the wall so you can get back out. There are so many elements when you go into a burning building that ifyou don’t have to experience it, you don’t even really think about it. When you realize what they do - they go on duty three nights in a row where you’re actually living in the house with guys that you have to trust with your life - it’s that close-knit bond that you build.” The 35-year-old from Cerritos,

Calif, built similar bonds early on as an athlete in team sports through elementary, junior high and high school. 1 didn't really pursue acting until 1 got out of high school,” he says. “I’ve always wanted to play sports. When (acting) came about; I kind of liked the lifestyle that it would allow me to lead. 1 didn’t get into this industry to be famous. I got into this industry to make a good living. I’m not one of the guys that's running for a camera all the time, or seeking out this and that, or going to some nightclub to do something to get in the paper. 1 make a pretty comfortable living and I’m happy doing that.” Chestnut credits his early sports-based “winners never quit” attitude for his success in Hollywood. “I think the motivating factor is that as an athlete, you want to succeed, you don’t want to fail. There are times when, as an actor, nobody knows you and you can’t get an audition and when you go to audition, they don’t think you did a good job. And voure like, ‘Dang, this is really hard.’ 1 think, Well, 1 can’t quit.’ I just knew that 1 couldn’t quit.” Chestnut’s next film ‘The Cave," due in March, takes the actor way down below the Earth’s surface and directly into the bane of his existence. “Man, let me tell you. I can’t stand being wet,” says Chestnut of his role as an underwater cave diver searching for aliens. “I’ve been wet in a lot of movies. These last two, the snake thing (“Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid”) and this cave thing, I’m done with that, tillthesequelorsomething. ‘Cave,’ I hope we have a sequel, but maybe we can go to outer space or something, where I can be dry.”

LaBelle helps reopen arts center ENGLEWOOD, N.J.(AP)— ing Arts, located in downtown told the sellout crowd of 1,400 Soul diva Patti LaBelle ushered Englewood, closed in April 2003 people. in a “new day” for a reopened after it could not repay $2.3 mil- County officials approved the performing arts center in lion borrowed for renovations, issuance of $1.9 million in bonds Bergen County. Jazz guitarist and Englewood resi- to help revive the arts center, to LaBelle started her show last dent George Benson was among be paid off with future concert week with the gospel song “It’s members of the Bergen arts com- revenues. The center also plans a a New Day” for the first official munity who pleaded with the $15 million capital and endowconcert at bergenPAC. county to help save the center. ment drive. The formerly named John “You have two choices, to make Harms Center for the Perform- a positive or negative,” LaBelle

By KAM WILLIAMS Recorder Correspondent

At an early age, Kimberly Elise already exhibited an interest in artistic endeavors. As a pre-teen, she was writing plays and short stories; in high school, shedeveloped an interest in acting. After graduation, she studied filmmaking at a junior college in her native Minneapolis before going on to earn a degree in communications at the University of Minnesota. Next, she headed to Los Angeles where she enrolled at the American Film Institute before embarking on a critically-acclaimed

acting career.

A four-time nominee for an NAACP Image Award, Kimberly has a string of stellar performances on her resu me’wh ich started with Set It Off and was followed by such movies as Beloved, John Q and The Manchurian Candidate opposite Denzel Washington. She has received further kudos for her Oscar-quality work in her latest film, Woman, Thou Art Loosed. I recently spoke with the attractive actress about her role in the movie as a child molestation victim-turncd-drug-ad-dict-turned prostitute-turned murdererwhoendsupon Death Row', an outing in which afforded her a chance to exhibit her considerable range. I know others have been raving about you foryears, butyour

Kudos for Kimberly performance in this film really sold me on you as an actress. Kimberly Elise: “Really? Oh w'ovv, thanks.” How did you enjoy making the movie? “Well, it was pretty intense playing an abuse victim. It got pretty dark, though it doesn’t cornpart* to the real deal, of course. But just doing it pretend was very trying on the spirit.” How does it measure up for you against some of your other

roles?

“This had a special place, because it was an opportunity for me to give face and body and voice to millions and millions of souls who have been silenced by abuse. And to make real what is kept so quiet in society. 1 hope that being a part ofth is will help some people in their process of healing. “To me, it’s a service piece, more so than most films. I want everything I do to have a purpose and a certain quality. So, this one was definitely one I wanted to he a part of.” I found it to be a breath of fresh air after recent blaxploitation flicks like Soul Plane and the Cookout. “One of Woman, Thou Art Loosed’s qualities is that it’s just a universal story being told by black people. I think we need more films like that whieh just deal w ith us as human beings." Like The Visit? Did you see

that?

“I loved that film? Hill [actor Hill Harper | was amazing in it.” You’re from Minneapolis. Do

you still have roots there? “Yeah, my parents and the rest of my family is there. I get home a few times ayear, but I’m based in Los Angeles.” You’ve studied not only acting, but writing and moviemaking. Which is your favorite? "I’ve always been interested in both sides of the camera, because 1 like to create. Acting is definitely my first love, hut there arc so many stories I'd like to tell. As an actor, you’re voice is very limited in any production. They don’t even want you to see it till it’s all done. So, you really don't have much control. I’ve been lucky enough to have worked with great directors.” What was it like making Be-

loved?

"I loved making Beloved. That was definitely a highlight in my filmmaking experience. Between Jonathan [director Jonathan Demme 1 and Oprah [producer Oprah Winfrey], it was a very positive environment. And Toni Morrison I the book’s author] w as on the set, too."

Kimberly Elise

Controversial Michael Moore Documentary Arrives in DVD Just in time to cash in on the featurettes, and a half-dozen de- who not only fixed the election contentious political fervor of leted scenes, including one shot that brought him to power, but a the impending presidential elec- outside Abu Ghraib prison. lout who preferred to waste his tion, Michael Moore’s Fahren- Fahrenheit 9/11 isanun- days golfing and fishing while laheit 9/11 has been released in relentingand unapologcticdocu- zily ignoring all the warningsigns DVD. The already incendiary mentary condemning the Presi- of the impending Al-Qaida atdocumentary arrives suhstan- dent for the quagmire in Iraq. If tack of .9/11. tially augmented with an inter- it’s prevailing theses are to be he- Excellent (4 stars) view of a Marine Corporal, 3 lieved, George Bush is a crook Rated R.

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