Filmmaker Craig Brewer recently opened up about being a white man who chooses to tell Black stories in his films, including the recently-released Coming 2 America film.
"I don't want to be at odds with the struggle of a lot of African-American filmmakers," Brewer stated to IndieWire. "But it wasn't until Dolemite Is My Name that I asked myself, 'Should I feel bad about doing these?' Up until then, I felt kind of good about it," he added.
Brewer clarified that his decision to tell Black stories comes in part from being inspired by his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee -- a predominantly African-American city -- and cited late director John Singleton as a "major mentor."
"There's something about the music I've been raised on," the director said. "There's something about the movies I've always responded to. And there was something about the '80s into the '90s, where there was a call to Blackness that did not feel as if white appreciation was not welcomed. I couldn't help it."
Brewer added, however, that he started to seriously question whether he should be telling Black stories when he directed the Eddie Murphy-led Dolemite Is My Name. He ultimately decided he was a good fit for the job. "I have to be very honest with myself about why I want to make the movie," he explained. "For me, Dolemite was very easy because I lived that life. I know what it's like to put a ragtag group of people together to make a movie -- to come from the South to Hollywood and then make a career for yourself."
He added, "I just have to be right with my soul. Listen and surround myself with as many people as I can. Build up as many people as I can around me. And if ever I'm doing something wrong, I hope people can tell me."
Prior to Coming 2 America, Brewer told Black-centered stories like The Poor & Hungry, Hustle & Flow and Dolemite Is My Name. He also served as a co-executive producer on Fox's Empire, starring Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson. His upcoming projects include a film on late country singer Charley Pride and a series about Memphis' Stax Records.
Directed by Craig Brewer, Coming 2 America stars Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Jermaine Fowler, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, KiKi Layne, Shari Headley, Wesley Snipes, James Earl Jones, John Amos, Teyana Taylor, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Paul Bates, Nomzamo Mbatha and Bella Murphy. The film is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Source: IndieWire