Mario and Melvin Van Peebles Interview 2004

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A Conversation with Mario & Melvin Van Peebles

The true meaning of Father’s Day

by George O. Singleton

Legendary filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles was in Chicago recently with his son and best friend Mario to promote their new film "Baadasssss!" which opens on June 11. In the film Mario Van Peebles portrays his father, during the making of Melvin Van Peebles 1971 classic, "Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song," which became the most successful independent film to date at the time, increasing the vitality of Independent films.

It’s odd that Peter Biskind’s best selling book on independent films, "Easy Riders, Raging Bulls," seems to have been blind to "Sweetback," in that the film was totally omitted from the discussion, as if it were a non-event.

"Sweetback" is credited with not only opening doors for non-comedic roles for blacks in front of the camera but for professionals behind the scenes as well. Now mainstream movies, like "The Italian Job" and "King Arthur" (opening July 7) are headed by Black directors. Depending on how you view "Sweetback" and "Baadasssss," you can carry away one of three different messages. First is the changing role of people of color in film, second, the maturing of independent film and third, what's really involved in making a movie that turns a handsome profit.

The studios feared Peebles not so much because of his controversial filmmaking but because other writer/directors might also see a way to make money in films by bypassing the studio system.

What struck me most during the interview was not the business of filmmaking, which these two men certainly understand, but the father and son relationship. With Fathers’ day right in front of us, I could not help but be reminded of how much I missed being able to say the words, "My dad." Although the memory of my father is as fresh as five minutes ago, he passed away in 1985. The way that Mario said this throughout the interview had an emotional impact upon me that words cannot adequately describe. It reminded me of what I had and gave me great pleasure to see that Mario truly values his father today. Somehow I know that if Melvin’s next heartbeat was his last one, that there would not be anything left unsaid between this father and son. That indeed is a blessing. It reminds me of how blessed I am.

Okay, now that we have the mushy and important men stuff out of the way, let’s get to the interview.

George to Melvin and Mario: From seeing both films (I rented "Sweetback" before going to the interview), and listening and looking at both of you, clearly the two of you are not only father and son, but also best friends. (Directing the question to Mario), at what point did you realize that you had this bond with your father?

Mario: Referring to Mark Twain, ‘All my life my father was an idiot, and at 21 he was a genius.’ I came to understand him by walking in those shoes a little bit. After having directed "New Jack City"…it came to me more and more, I started to realize that my dad in 18 days did what I did in 30-40 days. I grew up in a family that was ‘by any means necessary filmmaking.’

Melvin: I never came to the set (while the film was being made). It was very easy not to be hands-on because I have a great trust in his creative ability and political consciousness. I saw the film in Toronto for the first time. At the end of the screening Mario said, ‘Dad, what do you think?’ At that time, 600 people leaped to their feet and were applauding. As a writer, I thought he got it exactly right. I did not try and second-guess him. I’m very pleased.

Mario: I was willing to sell out (tongue in cheek, for he would have liked to have big money behind him to make the film), but no one wanted to buy me out and let me have the vision I wanted. In Hollywood, film is commerce or a form of expression. The majors tend to chase an audience, while the independents tend to lead an audience. (George’s side note: This is probably the best description I’ve heard of why you see a film at an art house theater, such as The Music Box or Landmark Theaters, rather than the local multiplex). I wanted to make a movie that had my father’s spirit. Here’s a brother from the south side of Chicago who has the French Legion of Honor Award. We (African-Americans) sometimes get tricked into this thing of not wanting to succeed too much because ‘I might forget who I am.’ This cat had no complex about being the boss at all. Although I made the movie in 18 days, no one was shooting at me (figuratively) like they were with him.

I’ve had the pleasure in recent years of interviewing interesting people such as Ben Kingsley, Jack Black, Diane Lane, Mark Wahlberg, and John Sayles, but I was only moved to applaud Melvin Van Peebles after our discussion. It’s people like him, somewhat like a surrogate father, that cut his own path and made not only his life better but the lives of others, such as myself, as well. For that, he deserves a standing ovation. My hat is off to him as well as other unsung fathers that are heroes to their sons. It’s what Fathers day is all about. He defines the word "icon" in the very best way.

george@reelmoviecritic.com