0 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:20,000 1 00:00:07,750 --> 00:00:08,983 Hell, no, we won't go! 2 00:00:08,984 --> 00:00:10,683 Hell, no, we won't go! 3 00:00:10,684 --> 00:00:12,483 Hell, no, we won't go! 4 00:00:12,484 --> 00:00:14,749 Hell, no, we won't go! 5 00:00:14,750 --> 00:00:17,116 There was a war going on. 6 00:00:17,117 --> 00:00:19,483 He killed Malcolm, 7 00:00:19,484 --> 00:00:21,016 King, the president, 8 00:00:21,017 --> 00:00:22,283 even the president's brother. 9 00:00:22,284 --> 00:00:25,316 Vietnam was being shoved down our throats. 10 00:00:25,317 --> 00:00:27,450 They were shooting us, hosing us, lynching us, 11 00:00:27,451 --> 00:00:28,650 and in the movies, 12 00:00:28,651 --> 00:00:29,782 they was making us look 13 00:00:29,783 --> 00:00:32,184 any fucking way they wanted to. 14 00:00:33,284 --> 00:00:34,617 Did I fuck him? 15 00:00:34,618 --> 00:00:37,183 Now, see that's none of your damn business. 16 00:00:37,184 --> 00:00:39,816 Remember this... 17 00:00:39,817 --> 00:00:41,350 Good things... 18 00:00:41,351 --> 00:00:43,016 do not come... 19 00:00:43,017 --> 00:00:45,317 to those who wait. 20 00:01:17,817 --> 00:01:19,316 1970. 21 00:01:19,317 --> 00:01:21,983 I'd just finished directing Watermelon Man 22 00:01:21,984 --> 00:01:23,049 for Columbia Pictures. 23 00:01:23,050 --> 00:01:24,416 They were setting me up 24 00:01:24,417 --> 00:01:28,083 to become their very first token nigga-ologist. 25 00:01:28,084 --> 00:01:29,617 Since the movie hadn't come out yet, 26 00:01:29,618 --> 00:01:34,516 everyone was being extra nice, calling me Mel, baby. 27 00:01:34,517 --> 00:01:35,517 Mel, baby, great picture. 28 00:01:35,517 --> 00:01:36,517 I loved it. 29 00:01:36,518 --> 00:01:37,550 Very funny. 30 00:01:37,551 --> 00:01:40,049 Hey, when do we get the next script? 31 00:01:40,050 --> 00:01:41,450 Three picture deal with fucking Columbia Pictures. 32 00:01:41,451 --> 00:01:42,849 Three picture deal with fucking Columbia Pictures. 33 00:01:42,850 --> 00:01:44,483 Am I good or am I good? 34 00:01:44,484 --> 00:01:46,483 Well, you're going to start pitching these sons a bitches 35 00:01:46,484 --> 00:01:48,250 before Watermelon Man comes out, 36 00:01:48,251 --> 00:01:51,049 because if we wait and it opens badly, 37 00:01:51,050 --> 00:01:52,283 these cocksuckers, 38 00:01:52,284 --> 00:01:54,083 they'll turn on us, you know, in a second. 39 00:01:54,084 --> 00:01:55,250 My agent, Howie, was right. 40 00:01:55,251 --> 00:01:57,283 I had to come up with my next film idea 41 00:01:57,284 --> 00:01:59,149 before the money guys got cold. 42 00:01:59,150 --> 00:02:00,749 I mean, it's got to be something funny 43 00:02:00,750 --> 00:02:02,350 because they want something funny. 44 00:02:02,351 --> 00:02:04,383 Hollywood liked to show us clowning, 45 00:02:04,384 --> 00:02:06,484 but America wasn't in a laughing mood... 46 00:02:08,251 --> 00:02:10,251 especially black America. 47 00:02:27,417 --> 00:02:28,417 Times were changing. 48 00:02:29,584 --> 00:02:31,250 The Panthers knew it. 49 00:02:31,251 --> 00:02:33,650 The students knew it. 50 00:02:33,651 --> 00:02:37,184 Hollywood was ignoring it. 51 00:02:54,451 --> 00:02:56,516 You happened to be brilliant at something funny. 52 00:02:56,517 --> 00:02:58,116 What do you... Maybe a fried chicken man. 53 00:02:58,117 --> 00:02:59,882 It's because it's not far 54 00:02:59,883 --> 00:03:00,883 from Watermelon Man, 55 00:03:00,884 --> 00:03:02,116 and you could make it funny. 56 00:03:02,117 --> 00:03:03,949 Yeah. 57 00:03:03,950 --> 00:03:05,782 I'd grown up on those images 58 00:03:05,783 --> 00:03:09,551 and nothing Hollywood ever did reflected who we were. 59 00:03:39,017 --> 00:03:40,417 This is it? 60 00:03:42,050 --> 00:03:43,316 This ain't camping. 61 00:03:43,317 --> 00:03:44,683 We don't have a sleeping bag. 62 00:03:44,684 --> 00:03:46,516 You got the helmet, didn't you? 63 00:03:46,517 --> 00:03:49,150 Shut up and listen for a while. 64 00:03:51,351 --> 00:03:54,584 What was my next movie going to be? 65 00:03:59,351 --> 00:04:00,717 Some idea was lurking back there, 66 00:04:00,718 --> 00:04:03,049 just waiting for the coast to clear. 67 00:04:03,050 --> 00:04:04,083 The military? 68 00:04:04,084 --> 00:04:05,316 Somebody, like, 69 00:04:05,317 --> 00:04:07,116 a guy who's, like, a cook in the Army. 70 00:04:07,117 --> 00:04:08,583 God knows what happens to him. 71 00:04:08,584 --> 00:04:10,882 There was even a military flick 72 00:04:10,883 --> 00:04:12,882 where Bubba can't walk. 73 00:04:12,883 --> 00:04:14,083 The kindly white doctor 74 00:04:14,084 --> 00:04:15,283 gives him a good, old-fashioned dose 75 00:04:15,284 --> 00:04:16,350 of racial shock. 76 00:04:16,351 --> 00:04:18,516 You dirty nigger! Get up and walk! 77 00:04:18,517 --> 00:04:20,984 Get him back on his feet. 78 00:04:24,517 --> 00:04:27,251 All for a good cause. 79 00:04:53,517 --> 00:04:55,817 Melvin! 80 00:05:14,484 --> 00:05:16,116 Street brother, 81 00:05:16,117 --> 00:05:18,016 average hustler turns revolutionary. 82 00:05:18,017 --> 00:05:19,350 Another comedy? 83 00:05:19,351 --> 00:05:20,816 Serious as cancer. 84 00:05:20,817 --> 00:05:22,683 Who's going to want to see that? 85 00:05:22,684 --> 00:05:26,316 Black guys always die in the end. 86 00:05:26,317 --> 00:05:27,317 Can we go now? 87 00:05:33,150 --> 00:05:34,483 That's it. 88 00:05:34,484 --> 00:05:38,383 I'd make a film about a real brother, 89 00:05:38,384 --> 00:05:40,550 not some bourgie or clown, like they always do, 90 00:05:40,551 --> 00:05:43,416 but a real brother, a street brother, 91 00:05:43,417 --> 00:05:44,977 just getting the man's foot out his ass. 92 00:05:47,850 --> 00:05:49,283 Given number one... 93 00:05:49,284 --> 00:05:50,650 No cop-outs. 94 00:05:50,651 --> 00:05:51,882 I want a movie 95 00:05:51,883 --> 00:05:53,283 where niggers can walk out the picture 96 00:05:53,284 --> 00:05:54,717 standing tall 97 00:05:54,718 --> 00:05:56,782 instead of having to avoid each other's eyes. 98 00:05:56,783 --> 00:05:58,550 Given number two... 99 00:05:58,551 --> 00:06:01,516 Entertainment-wise, it had to be a motherfucker. 100 00:06:01,517 --> 00:06:04,283 If folks get bored, it's over. 101 00:06:04,284 --> 00:06:06,183 Given number three... 102 00:06:06,184 --> 00:06:08,650 Show business is business. 103 00:06:08,651 --> 00:06:10,550 The man has an Achilles pocketbook. 104 00:06:10,551 --> 00:06:12,617 It had to be a moneymaker. 105 00:06:12,618 --> 00:06:15,083 The man ain't going to carry no messages for you for free, 106 00:06:15,084 --> 00:06:19,217 especially a relevant one. 107 00:06:48,150 --> 00:06:50,049 Given number four... 108 00:06:50,050 --> 00:06:53,882 I wanted this picture to star the community... 109 00:06:53,883 --> 00:06:55,817 all the community. 110 00:06:58,618 --> 00:06:59,949 All the faces 111 00:06:59,950 --> 00:07:01,310 that Norman Rockwell never painted. 112 00:07:25,084 --> 00:07:27,717 * You bled my mama... * 113 00:07:27,718 --> 00:07:29,583 I might have had a Leroy. 114 00:07:29,584 --> 00:07:32,849 I might have... 115 00:07:32,850 --> 00:07:36,317 I might have had a Leroy... 116 00:07:37,618 --> 00:07:40,383 My secretary, Priscilla, 117 00:07:40,384 --> 00:07:42,683 turned every entrance into an audition, 118 00:07:42,684 --> 00:07:44,083 but she was too late. 119 00:07:44,084 --> 00:07:45,617 All I could hear 120 00:07:45,618 --> 00:07:49,583 were the voices in my head talking to me now. 121 00:07:49,584 --> 00:07:52,084 Take him. Take him. 122 00:07:56,050 --> 00:07:58,451 Howie's on the phone. 123 00:08:01,783 --> 00:08:05,116 Mel, your agent's on the phone. 124 00:08:05,117 --> 00:08:08,083 I have a dream that one day... 125 00:08:08,084 --> 00:08:09,683 that all men are created equal. 126 00:08:09,684 --> 00:08:11,283 We don't see any American dream. 127 00:08:11,284 --> 00:08:14,783 We've experienced only the American nightmare. 128 00:08:16,417 --> 00:08:18,483 Wash your car, mister? 129 00:08:18,484 --> 00:08:20,984 Wash your car, mister? 130 00:08:24,117 --> 00:08:26,183 How you gonna hibernate like that old bear? 131 00:08:26,184 --> 00:08:28,084 Baby, baby. 132 00:08:29,850 --> 00:08:32,016 That's why the man's down on you. 133 00:08:32,017 --> 00:08:34,683 Bam. Bam. 134 00:08:34,684 --> 00:08:36,683 You want to know what they think of you? 135 00:08:36,684 --> 00:08:38,216 Just turn on your TV. 136 00:08:38,217 --> 00:08:41,749 You're nothing but a bunch of ignorant clowns. 137 00:08:41,750 --> 00:08:44,016 The policeman isn't there to create disorder. 138 00:08:44,017 --> 00:08:46,917 The policeman is there to preserve disorder. 139 00:08:49,817 --> 00:08:52,383 The police aren't here to protect and serve. 140 00:08:52,384 --> 00:08:55,983 They're here to patrol and control. 141 00:08:55,984 --> 00:08:57,183 Are you anti-cop, or anti-white? 142 00:08:57,184 --> 00:08:58,683 No, no, no. 143 00:08:58,684 --> 00:09:01,316 We are anti-oppression. 144 00:09:01,317 --> 00:09:03,584 You can't fight racism with racism. 145 00:09:05,651 --> 00:09:07,683 To defend the freedom in Vietnam. 146 00:09:07,684 --> 00:09:08,817 Ask not... 147 00:09:10,417 --> 00:09:12,416 what your country can do for you. 148 00:09:12,417 --> 00:09:14,782 Ask what you can do for your country. 149 00:09:14,783 --> 00:09:17,049 Justice is blind! 150 00:09:17,050 --> 00:09:20,782 I'd been expecting him. 151 00:09:20,783 --> 00:09:23,416 I knew he'd show up sooner or later. 152 00:09:23,417 --> 00:09:24,849 You're out of your fucking mind, 153 00:09:24,850 --> 00:09:26,551 you know that? 154 00:09:31,551 --> 00:09:33,718 You in or out? 155 00:09:49,217 --> 00:09:50,316 Finished. 156 00:09:50,317 --> 00:09:51,983 Only one thing left. 157 00:09:51,984 --> 00:09:53,583 I'd need bread. 158 00:09:53,584 --> 00:09:55,284 Money. 159 00:10:11,950 --> 00:10:13,350 Mel? 160 00:10:13,351 --> 00:10:16,183 After two weeks you finally decide to pick up. 161 00:10:16,184 --> 00:10:17,882 I've been to the gold mine, man. 162 00:10:17,883 --> 00:10:19,116 I struck the mother lode. 163 00:10:19,117 --> 00:10:20,916 Mel. Mel, don't... Don't mess with me. 164 00:10:20,917 --> 00:10:22,516 Do you have any idea what's going on? 165 00:10:22,517 --> 00:10:24,650 They're gonna back-burner the three picture deal, Mel. 166 00:10:24,651 --> 00:10:26,216 Now, yesterday they wanted to do it. 167 00:10:26,217 --> 00:10:27,583 I'm meeting these executives 168 00:10:27,584 --> 00:10:28,849 in less than an hour. 169 00:10:28,850 --> 00:10:32,116 A brother, a street brother, turns revolutionary. 170 00:10:32,117 --> 00:10:34,250 Okay, good. So wait. 171 00:10:34,251 --> 00:10:36,083 The hero is him or the brother. 172 00:10:36,084 --> 00:10:37,216 Mel, listen. 173 00:10:37,217 --> 00:10:38,617 He's the wrong nigger to fuck with. 174 00:10:38,618 --> 00:10:41,383 The cops fuck with him, and he whoops some ass. 175 00:10:41,384 --> 00:10:42,650 The man comes after him, 176 00:10:42,651 --> 00:10:43,749 full force... 177 00:10:43,750 --> 00:10:44,782 Helicopter, cars, everything, 178 00:10:44,783 --> 00:10:47,283 and he gets away. 179 00:10:47,284 --> 00:10:50,183 Why are the cops after him if he's the good guy? 180 00:10:50,184 --> 00:10:52,383 Because they're dirty cops, man. They're racist. 181 00:10:52,384 --> 00:10:53,516 They're crooked cops. 182 00:10:53,517 --> 00:10:54,517 Listen, Mel. 183 00:10:54,518 --> 00:10:56,116 Here's what you're gonna do. 184 00:10:56,117 --> 00:10:58,149 You're gonna meet me on the lot in an hour, 185 00:10:58,150 --> 00:10:59,416 and wear a suit, please. 186 00:10:59,417 --> 00:11:00,417 And Mel, 187 00:11:00,418 --> 00:11:02,149 even Cagney didn't get away 188 00:11:02,150 --> 00:11:03,450 with killing cops, right... 189 00:11:03,451 --> 00:11:04,451 Dirty or otherwise. 190 00:11:15,084 --> 00:11:16,084 And we're cut. 191 00:11:17,084 --> 00:11:18,483 All right. These bags are heavy. 192 00:11:18,484 --> 00:11:19,683 I'm tired of this shit. 193 00:11:19,684 --> 00:11:20,749 Come on, 194 00:11:20,750 --> 00:11:21,949 he's making money, and he's funny. 195 00:11:21,950 --> 00:11:23,149 Come on. Don't be so touchy. 196 00:11:23,150 --> 00:11:24,583 It's a Western. Everybody loves a Western. 197 00:11:24,584 --> 00:11:25,782 You know what? Speaking of Westerns... 198 00:11:25,783 --> 00:11:27,583 This idea I got is kind of like a... 199 00:11:27,584 --> 00:11:28,584 Like a ghetto Western. 200 00:11:28,584 --> 00:11:29,584 In fact... Ghetto western? 201 00:11:29,584 --> 00:11:30,584 The brother even wears, like, 202 00:11:30,585 --> 00:11:32,049 a black kind of cowboy hat... 203 00:11:32,050 --> 00:11:34,049 And dig this, man, at the end of the movie. 204 00:11:34,050 --> 00:11:35,116 When he gets away, 205 00:11:35,117 --> 00:11:36,316 words come blazing across the screen. 206 00:11:36,317 --> 00:11:38,049 Badass niggas gonna come back 207 00:11:38,050 --> 00:11:39,216 and collect some dues. 208 00:11:39,217 --> 00:11:41,216 Have you lost your mind? Are you taking drugs now? 209 00:11:41,217 --> 00:11:43,216 Listen to me. Listen to me. Melvin, listen to me. 210 00:11:43,217 --> 00:11:44,217 On Watermelon Man, 211 00:11:44,218 --> 00:11:45,816 your white lead is supposed to wake up 212 00:11:45,817 --> 00:11:47,782 from this nightmare where he's a black guy 213 00:11:47,783 --> 00:11:49,250 and turns back into being white again, 214 00:11:49,251 --> 00:11:50,483 and you said, "No, no, 215 00:11:50,484 --> 00:11:51,749 being black is not a nightmare," 216 00:11:51,750 --> 00:11:53,550 and you didn't shoot the ending the studio wanted. 217 00:11:53,551 --> 00:11:54,551 Who backed you 100 percent? 218 00:11:54,552 --> 00:11:56,149 So why are you doing this to me? 219 00:11:56,150 --> 00:11:57,782 I can't take this kind of inflammatory shit. 220 00:11:57,783 --> 00:11:58,916 To a major studio, 221 00:11:58,917 --> 00:12:00,283 nobody legitimate is gonna touch Baadasssss. 222 00:12:00,284 --> 00:12:01,416 No one! 223 00:12:01,417 --> 00:12:03,216 You know how hard we worked to get here? 224 00:12:03,217 --> 00:12:05,217 Melvin, just do the fucking comedy, okay? 225 00:12:06,284 --> 00:12:07,383 All right. They're... They're coming. 226 00:12:07,384 --> 00:12:08,583 Do you know what this is? 227 00:12:08,584 --> 00:12:09,584 You're terrified you're gonna fail, 228 00:12:09,585 --> 00:12:10,650 so you're failing yourself. 229 00:12:10,651 --> 00:12:13,617 Nothing to it being black or blue or green. 230 00:12:13,618 --> 00:12:15,316 You hear me? It's self-destruction. 231 00:12:15,317 --> 00:12:16,317 Hey. Marty. 232 00:12:17,417 --> 00:12:19,116 Allen. How you doing? 233 00:12:19,117 --> 00:12:20,117 Good to see you. 234 00:12:20,118 --> 00:12:22,583 So, listen, you know... 235 00:12:22,584 --> 00:12:23,882 I was... I was... 236 00:12:23,883 --> 00:12:25,016 Melvin. Wa... 237 00:12:25,017 --> 00:12:28,383 He's in a world of his own. 238 00:12:28,384 --> 00:12:29,484 Melvin. 239 00:12:35,451 --> 00:12:36,451 What is this, 240 00:12:36,452 --> 00:12:38,416 some kind of personal crusade, 241 00:12:38,417 --> 00:12:40,450 or are you really gonna make a movie? 242 00:12:40,451 --> 00:12:41,650 I'm making a movie, motherfucker. 243 00:12:41,651 --> 00:12:42,651 Yeah? 244 00:12:42,652 --> 00:12:44,016 First black power film. 245 00:12:44,017 --> 00:12:45,283 Yeah, what about people power, man? 246 00:12:45,284 --> 00:12:46,916 No, you people got the power. 247 00:12:46,917 --> 00:12:49,049 All you gotta do is get yourself a haircut. 248 00:12:49,050 --> 00:12:50,650 You join the establishment any time you want. 249 00:12:50,651 --> 00:12:51,651 And you are black forever. 250 00:12:51,651 --> 00:12:52,651 Dig it. 251 00:12:52,652 --> 00:12:54,216 I hear that. 252 00:12:54,217 --> 00:12:56,683 You just gotta remember the golden rule... 253 00:12:56,684 --> 00:12:59,351 He who has the gold makes the rules. 254 00:13:00,517 --> 00:13:02,083 Now, if the studio gives you money, 255 00:13:02,084 --> 00:13:03,084 they're gonna want control. 256 00:13:03,085 --> 00:13:04,116 That's true. 257 00:13:04,117 --> 00:13:05,983 Nothing truly revolutionary 258 00:13:05,984 --> 00:13:08,683 is gonna come from the studio machine. 259 00:13:08,684 --> 00:13:10,849 Independent money. 260 00:13:10,850 --> 00:13:12,416 That's the answer, independent financing. 261 00:13:12,417 --> 00:13:14,516 Yes. 262 00:13:14,517 --> 00:13:15,882 That's exactly what I'm talking about, 263 00:13:15,883 --> 00:13:17,083 a group of radical young filmmakers 264 00:13:17,084 --> 00:13:18,084 collaborating, man. 265 00:13:18,085 --> 00:13:19,283 It makes this easier for us 266 00:13:19,284 --> 00:13:20,882 to float a loan from the money guy. 267 00:13:20,883 --> 00:13:22,216 You know what I'm talking about? 268 00:13:22,217 --> 00:13:24,250 Diversify our resources, right? 269 00:13:24,251 --> 00:13:26,849 We get a warehouse, a working space, 270 00:13:26,850 --> 00:13:27,850 share equipment, right? 271 00:13:27,851 --> 00:13:29,149 A living space... 272 00:13:29,150 --> 00:13:31,116 Bill, that's more of this hippie commune shit. 273 00:13:31,117 --> 00:13:32,117 That's never gonna fly, man. 274 00:13:32,118 --> 00:13:35,717 Fuck you, man. 275 00:13:35,718 --> 00:13:37,350 It's hurts my feelings calling me a hippie. 276 00:13:37,351 --> 00:13:40,149 Why you wanna do that? 277 00:13:40,150 --> 00:13:42,049 Look, man, I got film experience. 278 00:13:42,050 --> 00:13:43,283 You gotta let me produce. 279 00:13:43,284 --> 00:13:44,849 You can't even balance your own checkbook. 280 00:13:44,850 --> 00:13:45,850 I got resources, man, 281 00:13:45,851 --> 00:13:47,882 economic resources. 282 00:13:47,883 --> 00:13:50,183 I got people lined up ready to invest their money 283 00:13:50,184 --> 00:13:51,983 in something real. 284 00:13:51,984 --> 00:13:53,849 You help me raise the money? 285 00:13:53,850 --> 00:13:55,283 You call yourself whatever you want. 286 00:13:55,284 --> 00:13:58,149 Producer, produced by Bill Harris. 287 00:13:58,150 --> 00:14:00,317 Executive producer. 288 00:14:02,651 --> 00:14:03,816 Another thing. 289 00:14:03,817 --> 00:14:06,149 I want this motherfucker to be a living work share. 290 00:14:06,150 --> 00:14:08,882 I want 50 percent of the people on the crew 291 00:14:08,883 --> 00:14:11,216 to be getting experience, to be third world folks. 292 00:14:11,217 --> 00:14:13,283 Unions are lily white. 293 00:14:13,284 --> 00:14:15,483 They'll never go for it. 294 00:14:15,484 --> 00:14:16,484 Fuck 'em. 295 00:14:18,384 --> 00:14:20,350 Bill was right. 296 00:14:20,351 --> 00:14:21,983 The unions were lily white. 297 00:14:21,984 --> 00:14:23,916 Even if I could afford their rates, 298 00:14:23,917 --> 00:14:27,284 they'd never let me have a 50 percent minority crew. 299 00:14:30,317 --> 00:14:31,350 Hey! 300 00:14:31,351 --> 00:14:33,316 You look like you got a sweet, sweet back. 301 00:14:33,317 --> 00:14:35,116 Won't you come party with Delicious for a while. 302 00:14:35,117 --> 00:14:36,717 No, no, y'all are too much for me. 303 00:14:36,718 --> 00:14:38,717 Come on, now. I can make you say 304 00:14:38,718 --> 00:14:39,782 I bet you could, girl. 305 00:14:39,783 --> 00:14:40,783 Well, that's a shame. 306 00:14:57,251 --> 00:14:58,450 The answer was so obvious 307 00:14:58,451 --> 00:15:00,316 I didn't see it at first. 308 00:15:00,317 --> 00:15:02,550 The unions don't bother with smut films. 309 00:15:02,551 --> 00:15:05,683 They consider pornos beneath their dignity. 310 00:15:05,684 --> 00:15:08,283 I tell everyone I was making black beaver flick. 311 00:15:08,284 --> 00:15:10,049 Maybe they'd leave me the hell alone. 312 00:15:10,050 --> 00:15:11,050 One name kept coming up 313 00:15:11,051 --> 00:15:13,550 in the production credits... 314 00:15:13,551 --> 00:15:16,217 Clyde Houston. 315 00:15:24,284 --> 00:15:26,383 Can I get a little bit more emotion, 316 00:15:26,384 --> 00:15:28,250 Brenda? 317 00:15:28,251 --> 00:15:29,717 You have to fuck me for that. 318 00:15:29,718 --> 00:15:31,250 More of the same then. 319 00:15:31,251 --> 00:15:33,384 That's perfect. 320 00:15:37,684 --> 00:15:38,949 Melvin Van Peebles. 321 00:15:38,950 --> 00:15:40,016 I'm putting together a feature. 322 00:15:40,017 --> 00:15:41,337 I saw your credit on "Lily White." 323 00:15:42,551 --> 00:15:44,684 Yeah, man. I got your message. I'm in. 324 00:15:46,651 --> 00:15:48,183 Don't you wanna know what it's about? 325 00:15:48,184 --> 00:15:51,049 Do they wear clothes? 326 00:15:51,050 --> 00:15:52,149 Yeah. 327 00:15:52,150 --> 00:15:54,617 Well, like I said, I'm in. 328 00:15:54,618 --> 00:15:56,618 One more time from the top, please. 329 00:16:18,384 --> 00:16:19,384 Hey, Bill. 330 00:16:19,385 --> 00:16:20,483 Go get it! 331 00:16:20,484 --> 00:16:21,484 Hey, Nixon. 332 00:16:21,485 --> 00:16:23,816 Nixon. Hey, baby, look at that. 333 00:16:23,817 --> 00:16:25,916 Nixon loves you, baby. 334 00:16:25,917 --> 00:16:26,917 Howdy. 335 00:16:26,917 --> 00:16:27,917 All right. 336 00:16:28,917 --> 00:16:30,383 Here we go. 337 00:16:30,384 --> 00:16:32,516 So this guy used to be an actor. 338 00:16:32,517 --> 00:16:34,516 Used to be in all these black and white westerns. 339 00:16:34,517 --> 00:16:36,116 You probably recognize him. 340 00:16:36,117 --> 00:16:37,749 He's got real money? 341 00:16:37,750 --> 00:16:38,750 Real money, my friend. 342 00:16:38,750 --> 00:16:39,750 He's already financed 343 00:16:39,751 --> 00:16:41,216 a couple of independent films in Europe, 344 00:16:41,217 --> 00:16:43,516 and he's ready to break big state side? 345 00:16:43,517 --> 00:16:44,517 Okay. 346 00:16:44,518 --> 00:16:47,016 Ostentatious big white house on the left. 347 00:16:47,017 --> 00:16:48,149 Go ahead. Go on, man. 348 00:16:48,150 --> 00:16:49,350 You're not coming? 349 00:16:49,351 --> 00:16:50,550 No, no, no, man. 350 00:16:50,551 --> 00:16:52,550 He just wants to meet one on one, you know? 351 00:16:52,551 --> 00:16:54,550 Artist to artist, all right? 352 00:16:54,551 --> 00:16:55,617 Go get it. 353 00:16:55,618 --> 00:16:56,917 Okay. What's this? 354 00:16:58,684 --> 00:17:00,617 Man. 355 00:17:00,618 --> 00:17:02,350 My favorite fucking danishes, man. 356 00:17:02,351 --> 00:17:03,516 What's this for? 357 00:17:03,517 --> 00:17:05,250 For being your friend, you crazy motherfucker. 358 00:17:05,251 --> 00:17:07,284 You are my friend! 359 00:17:13,817 --> 00:17:15,849 Mr. Van Peebles, howdy, howdy. 360 00:17:15,850 --> 00:17:18,183 What'll it be? Name your poison. 361 00:17:18,184 --> 00:17:19,184 Beer's cool. 362 00:17:19,185 --> 00:17:20,617 Aside from the tan, 363 00:17:20,618 --> 00:17:23,516 this guy seemed pretty genuine for Hollywood standards. 364 00:17:23,517 --> 00:17:25,516 My contacts at the studio said 365 00:17:25,517 --> 00:17:26,517 that you can be 366 00:17:26,518 --> 00:17:29,350 a real stubborn pain in the ass. 367 00:17:29,351 --> 00:17:32,149 They used to say the same thing about me. 368 00:17:32,150 --> 00:17:34,017 I like that. It means you're different. 369 00:17:37,783 --> 00:17:40,149 Different threatens them. 370 00:17:40,150 --> 00:17:43,618 Now tell me about that movie you wanna make. 371 00:17:45,883 --> 00:17:48,016 This is a movie about modern-day colonialism, 372 00:17:48,017 --> 00:17:49,516 about a brother... 373 00:17:49,517 --> 00:17:51,383 He was a no bullshit guy. 374 00:17:51,384 --> 00:17:52,483 No lackey. 375 00:17:52,484 --> 00:17:53,683 No chicks hanging around the pool 376 00:17:53,684 --> 00:17:55,049 for him to impress. 377 00:17:55,050 --> 00:17:56,284 Just straight to the point. 378 00:17:58,417 --> 00:18:01,216 Strong. 379 00:18:01,217 --> 00:18:02,383 Insightful. 380 00:18:02,384 --> 00:18:06,083 Very powerful. 381 00:18:06,084 --> 00:18:07,116 Who's playing the lead? 382 00:18:07,117 --> 00:18:08,718 I don't know yet. 383 00:18:11,917 --> 00:18:13,718 It should be you. 384 00:18:15,384 --> 00:18:16,583 I'm the writer. I'm the director... 385 00:18:16,584 --> 00:18:17,749 No, you've been living it. 386 00:18:17,750 --> 00:18:19,516 You have the passion for it, don't you? 387 00:18:19,517 --> 00:18:21,450 Yeah. 388 00:18:21,451 --> 00:18:22,451 Trust me. 389 00:18:24,150 --> 00:18:28,816 I have the eye. Be honest. 390 00:18:28,817 --> 00:18:29,916 You're beautiful, 391 00:18:29,917 --> 00:18:32,450 sleek, strong... 392 00:18:32,451 --> 00:18:34,516 You're not afraid to be different. 393 00:18:34,517 --> 00:18:35,782 You're not afraid to be 394 00:18:35,783 --> 00:18:38,584 who you really are, are you? 395 00:18:42,484 --> 00:18:44,217 How well I know what that is. 396 00:18:46,783 --> 00:18:49,651 How about a little dippety-doo? 397 00:18:51,618 --> 00:18:54,817 Come on, sexy mon. 398 00:18:57,284 --> 00:18:58,749 Melvin. 399 00:18:58,750 --> 00:18:59,949 Hey, how'd it go, man? 400 00:18:59,950 --> 00:19:02,184 Give me my motherfucking danishes. 401 00:19:04,451 --> 00:19:06,049 Hollywood's a close-knit community. 402 00:19:06,050 --> 00:19:10,049 It's easy to make friends, and it's easy to make enemies. 403 00:19:10,050 --> 00:19:12,216 The friends you don't normally keep, 404 00:19:12,217 --> 00:19:15,583 but the enemies, you do. 405 00:19:15,584 --> 00:19:17,383 If you wanna be a part of the stew, 406 00:19:17,384 --> 00:19:18,983 you really don't want to stir things up, 407 00:19:18,984 --> 00:19:20,983 or you may find yourself in the fire, baby. 408 00:19:20,984 --> 00:19:22,483 MGM, Paramount... 409 00:19:22,484 --> 00:19:24,283 They're all losing money. They're all in the toilet. 410 00:19:24,284 --> 00:19:25,483 MGM's selling off its back lot. 411 00:19:25,484 --> 00:19:26,650 It's selling... 412 00:19:26,651 --> 00:19:28,250 It's selling Dorothy's red shoes, 413 00:19:28,251 --> 00:19:31,049 for God's sake... 414 00:19:31,050 --> 00:19:33,083 and he's making them nervous with this kind of material. 415 00:19:33,084 --> 00:19:34,550 The Chicago Seven trial 416 00:19:34,551 --> 00:19:35,983 has finally come to an end. 417 00:19:35,984 --> 00:19:37,250 Black Panther Bobby Seale, 418 00:19:37,251 --> 00:19:38,651 one of the original defendants... 419 00:19:48,651 --> 00:19:49,651 Mom? 420 00:19:51,184 --> 00:19:52,184 Mom, where are the kids? 421 00:19:52,185 --> 00:19:53,516 Rochester, 422 00:19:53,517 --> 00:19:55,116 see that Mr. Kern has some coffee, please. 423 00:19:55,117 --> 00:19:56,149 Yassir. 424 00:19:56,150 --> 00:19:58,017 Mom. 425 00:20:03,618 --> 00:20:05,483 Get 'em all. 426 00:20:05,484 --> 00:20:07,049 Get 'em all. 427 00:20:07,050 --> 00:20:08,750 Always do a good job. 428 00:20:10,750 --> 00:20:11,916 You crumb-crushers ready? 429 00:20:11,917 --> 00:20:14,150 Get your bathing suits. Let's hit it. 430 00:20:18,750 --> 00:20:20,283 Hey, Dad. 431 00:20:20,284 --> 00:20:23,517 I'm teaching the boy about work. 432 00:20:25,551 --> 00:20:28,251 Man's gotta know how to make a living. 433 00:20:31,984 --> 00:20:33,416 You look tired. 434 00:20:33,417 --> 00:20:36,149 Need anything? 435 00:20:36,150 --> 00:20:38,049 No, I'm fine. 436 00:20:38,050 --> 00:20:39,050 What about you, Dad? 437 00:20:39,051 --> 00:20:41,983 Peebles. 438 00:20:41,984 --> 00:20:43,316 Peebles! 439 00:20:43,317 --> 00:20:45,849 Guess I better be going. 440 00:20:45,850 --> 00:20:48,750 You know how your mother is. 441 00:20:52,984 --> 00:20:54,584 Melvin, what happened to your motorcycle? 442 00:20:56,251 --> 00:20:57,718 I bought a car for today. Get in. 443 00:21:05,850 --> 00:21:07,130 I want you start calling me Dad. 444 00:21:08,384 --> 00:21:10,350 Answer me when I talk to you. 445 00:21:10,351 --> 00:21:12,782 Mom lets us call her Maria. 446 00:21:12,783 --> 00:21:14,083 It's less confusing 447 00:21:14,084 --> 00:21:15,483 when everyone's calling off for their mother. 448 00:21:15,484 --> 00:21:17,116 I'm not your mother. I'm your father. 449 00:21:17,117 --> 00:21:18,117 But while you're here, 450 00:21:18,118 --> 00:21:19,516 you do what the fuck I say. 451 00:21:19,517 --> 00:21:20,517 Am I clear? 452 00:21:20,518 --> 00:21:21,883 Yes, Dad. 453 00:21:23,484 --> 00:21:24,484 Okay. 454 00:21:25,651 --> 00:21:27,049 All right. 455 00:21:27,050 --> 00:21:28,584 * Doo-dee-doo-dee-dee * 456 00:21:30,417 --> 00:21:32,316 Sing it for me. Be my piano. 457 00:21:32,317 --> 00:21:34,450 * Doo-dee-doo-dee-dee * 458 00:21:34,451 --> 00:21:35,451 Louder. 459 00:21:35,451 --> 00:21:36,451 * Doo-dee-doo-dee-dee * 460 00:21:36,451 --> 00:21:37,451 Louder. 461 00:21:37,452 --> 00:21:40,183 * You bled my mama * 462 00:21:40,184 --> 00:21:41,816 * Doo-dee-doo-dee-dee * 463 00:21:41,817 --> 00:21:43,483 * You bled my papa * 464 00:21:43,484 --> 00:21:45,683 * Doo-dee-doo-dee-dee * 465 00:21:45,684 --> 00:21:47,984 You won't bleed me! Again, louder! 466 00:22:06,783 --> 00:22:09,683 Mel, welcome. How you doing? 467 00:22:09,684 --> 00:22:10,782 Good, how you doing? 468 00:22:10,783 --> 00:22:13,116 Doing great. This is my wife, Jennifer. 469 00:22:13,117 --> 00:22:14,117 Hi, Jennifer. 470 00:22:14,118 --> 00:22:15,351 That there's Josh and Tracey. 471 00:22:18,517 --> 00:22:19,916 These are my kids, Mario and Megan. 472 00:22:19,917 --> 00:22:21,916 Good thing you brought along your bathing suits, kids. 473 00:22:21,917 --> 00:22:23,116 Why don't you take a dip 474 00:22:23,117 --> 00:22:24,717 while your dad and I talk shop, 475 00:22:24,718 --> 00:22:25,983 Go on. 476 00:22:25,984 --> 00:22:27,882 Jen, go and get Mel something to eat. 477 00:22:27,883 --> 00:22:28,883 You want a drink? 478 00:22:28,883 --> 00:22:29,883 Sure, water's good. 479 00:22:29,884 --> 00:22:30,916 All right. Help yourself. 480 00:22:30,917 --> 00:22:31,983 So... 481 00:22:31,984 --> 00:22:33,383 I hear great things from Bill Harris 482 00:22:33,384 --> 00:22:34,384 about your project. 483 00:22:34,384 --> 00:22:35,384 Real radical stuff? 484 00:22:35,385 --> 00:22:36,583 Well, the truth is always radical 485 00:22:36,584 --> 00:22:39,049 when it's told by the oppressed, right? 486 00:22:39,050 --> 00:22:41,149 Whatever. I make movies. 487 00:22:41,150 --> 00:22:43,882 Hey, Dad, come on. Can we climb the rope? 488 00:22:43,883 --> 00:22:45,383 Well, that's just something I do 489 00:22:45,384 --> 00:22:48,284 to keep in shape. 490 00:22:52,817 --> 00:22:53,817 Come on, Dad. 491 00:22:53,818 --> 00:22:55,384 You can do it. 492 00:23:14,817 --> 00:23:16,283 That is not easy. 493 00:23:16,284 --> 00:23:17,284 Congratulations. 494 00:23:18,718 --> 00:23:19,883 You try it. 495 00:23:20,883 --> 00:23:22,283 No, it took me almost a year 496 00:23:22,284 --> 00:23:23,683 before I could get to the top. 497 00:23:23,684 --> 00:23:25,049 You gotta be in great shape. 498 00:23:25,050 --> 00:23:26,583 You don't wanna embarrass yourself. 499 00:23:26,584 --> 00:23:27,584 Please? 500 00:23:27,584 --> 00:23:28,584 You can do it. 501 00:23:28,585 --> 00:23:29,782 You know what? Not today, kids. 502 00:23:29,783 --> 00:23:30,983 Your dad's tired. 503 00:23:30,984 --> 00:23:32,983 Hey, I think we got some cake in the house. 504 00:23:32,984 --> 00:23:33,984 Who wants cake? 505 00:23:33,985 --> 00:23:35,183 I do. I do. I do. 506 00:23:35,184 --> 00:23:36,483 Let's go. 507 00:23:36,484 --> 00:23:37,484 Come on. 508 00:23:39,950 --> 00:23:40,950 Please? 509 00:23:42,584 --> 00:23:43,718 Dad? 510 00:24:12,417 --> 00:24:14,617 I should have known better 511 00:24:14,618 --> 00:24:16,550 than to make that climb, 512 00:24:16,551 --> 00:24:20,450 considering black folk's history with ropes. 513 00:24:20,451 --> 00:24:22,216 I gotta be the first nigga in history 514 00:24:22,217 --> 00:24:23,984 that hung himself. 515 00:24:33,484 --> 00:24:35,949 Man, all right. You made it. 516 00:24:35,950 --> 00:24:37,383 Hey, you're not so mad, are you? 517 00:24:37,384 --> 00:24:38,782 All right, man, who's your friend? 518 00:24:38,783 --> 00:24:39,849 He is in here, man. 519 00:24:39,850 --> 00:24:41,250 He is ready for you, my friend. 520 00:24:41,251 --> 00:24:44,017 Everybody is flying high. Come on in. 521 00:24:46,017 --> 00:24:47,149 Hey, Moonbeam... 522 00:24:47,150 --> 00:24:50,617 Ginnie, this is Melvin. 523 00:24:50,618 --> 00:24:52,250 Moonbeam is pure love, man. 524 00:24:52,251 --> 00:24:54,149 This is Ginnie. She's from... 525 00:24:54,150 --> 00:24:55,550 Where you from? Where you from, baby? 526 00:24:55,551 --> 00:24:56,551 Alabama. 527 00:24:56,552 --> 00:24:57,684 Alabama. 528 00:24:58,684 --> 00:24:59,816 Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill... 529 00:24:59,817 --> 00:25:01,116 Where's the money guy, man? 530 00:25:01,117 --> 00:25:02,117 He's here, man. 531 00:25:02,118 --> 00:25:03,483 He's for real, 532 00:25:03,484 --> 00:25:05,283 and he's ready to do some serious business, man. 533 00:25:05,284 --> 00:25:06,450 Well, let's go meet... 534 00:25:06,451 --> 00:25:07,917 Let's go meet this guy, man. Come on. 535 00:25:13,384 --> 00:25:16,516 This time, the brother gets away and at the end... 536 00:25:16,517 --> 00:25:18,684 Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song. 537 00:25:21,883 --> 00:25:23,683 Far out. 538 00:25:23,684 --> 00:25:25,016 Donovan, what do you think, man? 539 00:25:25,017 --> 00:25:27,849 Well, everybody needs someone to love, right, 540 00:25:27,850 --> 00:25:29,650 and I got one question for you, 541 00:25:29,651 --> 00:25:30,949 my brother. 542 00:25:30,950 --> 00:25:33,083 For the collective conscience 543 00:25:33,084 --> 00:25:34,316 of the universe be expanded 544 00:25:34,317 --> 00:25:35,483 after people see this flick, 545 00:25:35,484 --> 00:25:38,116 and I'm not talking individuals here. 546 00:25:38,117 --> 00:25:41,116 I'm talking about the whole fucking universe, 547 00:25:41,117 --> 00:25:43,350 moving ahead in time, 548 00:25:43,351 --> 00:25:45,316 not horizontally, man. 549 00:25:45,317 --> 00:25:47,049 Vertically, you know, a jump. 550 00:25:47,050 --> 00:25:49,083 You know what I mean? A real jump. 551 00:25:49,084 --> 00:25:50,882 Is that what we got here? 552 00:25:50,883 --> 00:25:53,083 Abso-fucking-lutely, man. 553 00:25:53,084 --> 00:25:54,450 All right. 554 00:25:54,451 --> 00:25:56,417 How do I know they're not narcs? 555 00:25:58,551 --> 00:26:01,483 They're not narcs. 556 00:26:01,484 --> 00:26:03,583 One minute, gentlemen. Come here. 557 00:26:03,584 --> 00:26:04,983 How do I know they're real, man? 558 00:26:04,984 --> 00:26:06,583 How do I know they're fucking real, man? 559 00:26:06,584 --> 00:26:07,584 He's for real. 560 00:26:07,585 --> 00:26:09,483 He wants to be a producer, man. 561 00:26:09,484 --> 00:26:10,916 It's all good. 562 00:26:10,917 --> 00:26:14,316 Hello. 563 00:26:14,317 --> 00:26:15,317 He wants to be loved, 564 00:26:15,318 --> 00:26:19,250 but he'll settle for attention. 565 00:26:19,251 --> 00:26:20,251 Bill... 566 00:26:20,252 --> 00:26:21,450 this guy's got real money, right? 567 00:26:21,451 --> 00:26:22,550 It's for real. 568 00:26:22,551 --> 00:26:23,782 Relax, man. 569 00:26:23,783 --> 00:26:26,516 You're the serious one. 570 00:26:26,517 --> 00:26:28,217 Intense. 571 00:26:34,850 --> 00:26:36,417 He's... 572 00:26:38,584 --> 00:26:40,749 He'll do it. 573 00:26:40,750 --> 00:26:42,283 Here's the conditions. 574 00:26:42,284 --> 00:26:44,583 My client is a silent partner. 575 00:26:44,584 --> 00:26:46,416 His name does not appear anywhere. 576 00:26:46,417 --> 00:26:48,483 All negotiations will be with my firm 577 00:26:48,484 --> 00:26:50,083 with all legal fees added to the budget. 578 00:26:50,084 --> 00:26:52,183 This is the deal... 579 00:26:52,184 --> 00:26:54,283 Bottom-feeders always do that, 580 00:26:54,284 --> 00:26:56,350 especially bottom-feeding attorneys, 581 00:26:56,351 --> 00:26:59,782 inserting themselves and their fees into the deal... 582 00:26:59,783 --> 00:27:01,049 but fuck it, man, 583 00:27:01,050 --> 00:27:05,149 if this was real, we were a gold movie, 584 00:27:05,150 --> 00:27:06,550 a green light. 585 00:27:06,551 --> 00:27:08,149 Hey, Melvin. Have a wonderful evening. 586 00:27:08,150 --> 00:27:10,516 What did I say, man? 587 00:27:10,517 --> 00:27:11,584 It's real. 588 00:27:21,251 --> 00:27:25,049 Yeah... 589 00:27:25,050 --> 00:27:28,283 * You bled my momma * 590 00:27:28,284 --> 00:27:30,149 * You bled my poppa * 591 00:27:30,150 --> 00:27:33,550 * Won't bleed me * 592 00:27:33,551 --> 00:27:34,949 * Won't bleed me * 593 00:27:34,950 --> 00:27:38,350 * You bled my momma * 594 00:27:38,351 --> 00:27:40,350 * You bled my poppa... * 595 00:27:40,351 --> 00:27:41,383 Man. 596 00:27:41,384 --> 00:27:43,550 You chewed this motherfucker to death. 597 00:27:43,551 --> 00:27:44,849 Bill. 598 00:27:44,850 --> 00:27:45,983 You know what I'm thinking? 599 00:27:45,984 --> 00:27:47,816 When Sweetback's in the desert. 600 00:27:47,817 --> 00:27:50,849 He hears the voice of angels. 601 00:27:50,850 --> 00:27:52,149 But he doesn't see them. 602 00:27:52,150 --> 00:27:53,350 No, he just hears them, man. 603 00:27:53,351 --> 00:27:54,583 Like the ghetto choir. 604 00:27:54,584 --> 00:27:55,849 Like voices of the disenfranchised. 605 00:27:55,850 --> 00:27:59,116 Yeah, yeah. 606 00:27:59,117 --> 00:28:01,416 Hello. 607 00:28:01,417 --> 00:28:02,849 Good morning. Upsy-daisy. 608 00:28:02,850 --> 00:28:03,850 Fantastic. 609 00:28:03,851 --> 00:28:04,882 Right. 610 00:28:04,883 --> 00:28:06,483 You know, I like it. I like it. 611 00:28:06,484 --> 00:28:09,882 It's surreal. You know, it takes it all 612 00:28:09,883 --> 00:28:12,617 to a whole other dimension, right? 613 00:28:12,618 --> 00:28:14,617 That's good. It's operatic. 614 00:28:14,618 --> 00:28:16,049 And then you superimposition 615 00:28:16,050 --> 00:28:17,782 for when he's running... 616 00:28:17,783 --> 00:28:19,216 through the ghetto, urban decay. 617 00:28:19,217 --> 00:28:20,217 Right. 618 00:28:20,218 --> 00:28:23,184 Right. I see it. Hi. 619 00:28:24,484 --> 00:28:26,116 Rise and shine. 620 00:28:26,117 --> 00:28:27,117 Morning. 621 00:28:27,118 --> 00:28:28,416 Hey. 622 00:28:28,417 --> 00:28:30,083 This could... Where am I going... 623 00:28:30,084 --> 00:28:32,917 Okay, 624 00:28:34,317 --> 00:28:35,757 Another thing... You listening to me? 625 00:28:36,783 --> 00:28:38,650 Check it out. The music on this motherfucker, right? 626 00:28:38,651 --> 00:28:42,351 It's got to drive. It's got to be up front, man. 627 00:28:45,850 --> 00:28:47,383 Who is that bitch? 628 00:28:47,384 --> 00:28:48,882 Who is that bitch? 629 00:28:48,883 --> 00:28:49,883 Priscilla... 630 00:28:49,884 --> 00:28:51,150 Don't Priscilla me. Bill? 631 00:28:52,484 --> 00:28:54,350 Wait, and you got a dog too, 632 00:28:54,351 --> 00:28:55,983 you nasty, sick motherfucker. 633 00:28:55,984 --> 00:28:57,583 What the fuck you looking at? 634 00:28:57,584 --> 00:29:01,083 I don't believe this shit, Melvin. 635 00:29:01,084 --> 00:29:02,749 What about Melvin Jr.? 636 00:29:02,750 --> 00:29:05,217 What about our baby, Melvin? How could you... 637 00:29:06,217 --> 00:29:07,217 You know what? 638 00:29:07,218 --> 00:29:08,916 I want a divorce 639 00:29:08,917 --> 00:29:10,016 because you're killing me. 640 00:29:10,017 --> 00:29:11,516 You're killing me. 641 00:29:11,517 --> 00:29:13,451 It's over. Over! 642 00:29:25,517 --> 00:29:27,650 You married? 643 00:29:27,651 --> 00:29:30,116 No, no, no, no, man. That's his secretary. 644 00:29:30,117 --> 00:29:31,750 See, she does this whole audition thing. 645 00:29:45,783 --> 00:29:47,550 Yeah. 646 00:29:47,551 --> 00:29:48,551 Let's cut. 647 00:29:48,552 --> 00:29:52,083 The gaffer needs another shorty. 648 00:29:52,084 --> 00:29:53,950 Anybody have another towel, please? 649 00:29:55,917 --> 00:29:58,749 Clyde introduced me to his cameraman, Bob Maxwell. 650 00:29:58,750 --> 00:30:00,216 Bob Maxwell... 651 00:30:00,217 --> 00:30:01,782 His wife, Nora, did makeup. 652 00:30:01,783 --> 00:30:04,183 There's a saying in the business... 653 00:30:04,184 --> 00:30:05,782 If you can make an ass look good, 654 00:30:05,783 --> 00:30:08,116 then faces were a snap. 655 00:30:08,117 --> 00:30:10,216 It was like there was a whole non-union movie industry 656 00:30:10,217 --> 00:30:12,782 in existence right then, 657 00:30:12,783 --> 00:30:15,650 and I knew every one of them motherfuckers. 658 00:30:15,651 --> 00:30:17,483 Imagine the kind of opportunity that he's lost, 659 00:30:17,484 --> 00:30:19,116 and he had such a chance to be 660 00:30:19,117 --> 00:30:20,516 such a credit to his people. 661 00:30:20,517 --> 00:30:22,083 How many Negro directors were there altogether? 662 00:30:22,084 --> 00:30:23,516 Gordon Parks, there's Ossie Davis... 663 00:30:23,517 --> 00:30:25,451 and Melvin. 664 00:30:29,584 --> 00:30:31,782 Mel, we don't have a permit for any of this 665 00:30:31,783 --> 00:30:34,183 so we got to shoot it and get up out of here. 666 00:30:34,184 --> 00:30:35,650 We gonna steal this shit. 667 00:30:35,651 --> 00:30:37,383 Priscilla, don't write the location down 668 00:30:37,384 --> 00:30:38,583 until we all agree on it, 669 00:30:38,584 --> 00:30:39,617 and those pads ain't cheap. 670 00:30:39,618 --> 00:30:41,116 Use a pencil next time. 671 00:30:41,117 --> 00:30:42,650 Hey, girl, put some clothes on. 672 00:30:42,651 --> 00:30:45,084 This ain't soul train. Come on, now. 673 00:30:51,284 --> 00:30:52,583 Ew! 674 00:30:52,584 --> 00:30:55,483 Bill, get this mangy mutt off of me, please. 675 00:30:55,484 --> 00:30:57,882 Come on, Nixon. 676 00:30:57,883 --> 00:30:58,917 He just can't resist you. 677 00:31:00,651 --> 00:31:04,216 You look like a lemon Popsicle, girl. 678 00:31:04,217 --> 00:31:05,217 All through here. 679 00:31:05,218 --> 00:31:08,016 This is great shit. 680 00:31:08,017 --> 00:31:09,849 And I can sing, dance, model, and act too, 681 00:31:09,850 --> 00:31:11,816 so tell that controlling Leo motherfucker over there 682 00:31:11,817 --> 00:31:13,216 to put me in his damn movie. 683 00:31:13,217 --> 00:31:14,217 Hey, Bill. 684 00:31:16,317 --> 00:31:17,550 Jump over the water 685 00:31:17,551 --> 00:31:18,551 and run down here, man. 686 00:31:21,351 --> 00:31:22,749 It's too fucking steep. 687 00:31:22,750 --> 00:31:24,150 Hey, man. This is art, baby. 688 00:31:25,817 --> 00:31:27,516 You can do it. 689 00:31:27,517 --> 00:31:29,517 Okay. Hold this. 690 00:31:34,684 --> 00:31:36,216 Come on, feet! 691 00:31:36,217 --> 00:31:37,217 Cruise with me! 692 00:31:37,218 --> 00:31:39,049 Come on, Max. 693 00:31:39,050 --> 00:31:40,250 Come on, run. 694 00:31:40,251 --> 00:31:41,718 Come on, Bill. 695 00:31:42,718 --> 00:31:44,583 Shit. Sh... it. 696 00:31:44,584 --> 00:31:46,849 You know we're gonna need a stunt man 697 00:31:46,850 --> 00:31:47,850 when we shoot this. 698 00:31:47,851 --> 00:31:50,250 Yeah. 699 00:31:50,251 --> 00:31:52,650 Sweetback is still alive! 700 00:31:52,651 --> 00:31:54,216 Priscilla, make a note 701 00:31:54,217 --> 00:31:56,717 I want some dogs at the end to chase the brothers. 702 00:31:56,718 --> 00:31:57,882 Three dogs, bloodhounds. 703 00:31:57,883 --> 00:31:59,283 We'll get some modern runaway slave imagery 704 00:31:59,284 --> 00:32:00,383 with these dogs, man. 705 00:32:00,384 --> 00:32:02,183 And I can save us some time and money 706 00:32:02,184 --> 00:32:03,184 if we shoot this hand-held. 707 00:32:03,185 --> 00:32:04,683 A little edge. 708 00:32:04,684 --> 00:32:06,683 Edge? Shit, this motherfucker is gonna be nothing but edge. 709 00:32:06,684 --> 00:32:08,083 Ghetto realism like folks ain't never seen. 710 00:32:08,084 --> 00:32:09,084 Right on, baby. 711 00:32:09,085 --> 00:32:11,450 Don't you know what I'm saying? 712 00:32:11,451 --> 00:32:12,650 I mean, look at this, man. 713 00:32:12,651 --> 00:32:14,450 This is beautiful. Look at that. 714 00:32:14,451 --> 00:32:17,882 Back the fuck up... 715 00:32:17,883 --> 00:32:20,283 bitch. 716 00:32:20,284 --> 00:32:22,117 Pigs ain't got nothing on me. 717 00:32:23,850 --> 00:32:26,083 Okay, again. Contain the hostility more. 718 00:32:26,084 --> 00:32:28,383 B-b... 719 00:32:28,384 --> 00:32:31,150 Back the fuck up, b-bitch. 720 00:32:32,718 --> 00:32:35,450 Pigs ain't got nothing on me. 721 00:32:35,451 --> 00:32:36,451 Thank you, brother. 722 00:32:43,017 --> 00:32:44,584 Yeah, nigga. 723 00:32:48,284 --> 00:32:50,882 Well, he didn't exactly take direction, now, did he? 724 00:32:50,883 --> 00:32:51,883 He's not the lead. 725 00:32:51,884 --> 00:32:53,516 I mean, he's not even SAG. 726 00:32:53,517 --> 00:32:55,816 The guy can't talk. Doesn't that bother anybody? 727 00:32:55,817 --> 00:32:58,717 I like his fucked-up speech. It's real. 728 00:32:58,718 --> 00:33:00,316 Make a note. Let's put him somewhere, Priscilla. 729 00:33:00,317 --> 00:33:03,351 Shit, I'm better than half these motherfuckers anyway. 730 00:33:06,984 --> 00:33:07,984 Next. 731 00:33:12,251 --> 00:33:13,749 All right, brother. Sit down right there. 732 00:33:13,750 --> 00:33:15,184 Action. 733 00:33:21,584 --> 00:33:22,749 Finding the lead 734 00:33:22,750 --> 00:33:25,316 was turning out to be problematic. 735 00:33:25,317 --> 00:33:26,983 Sweetback would only have six lines 736 00:33:26,984 --> 00:33:28,983 in the whole movie. 737 00:33:28,984 --> 00:33:32,049 Those with the grit didn't have the technique, 738 00:33:32,050 --> 00:33:37,782 and those with the technique wanted more lines. 739 00:33:37,783 --> 00:33:39,251 Hey, crumb-crusher. 740 00:33:40,251 --> 00:33:41,251 Come here. 741 00:33:42,917 --> 00:33:45,350 Why don't you have lunch with your old man? 742 00:33:45,351 --> 00:33:47,450 You're going to go see Howie, remember? 743 00:33:47,451 --> 00:33:49,216 Howie was probably hoping 744 00:33:49,217 --> 00:33:51,316 I'd come to my senses. 745 00:33:51,317 --> 00:33:55,683 His wife, Roz, was taking Mario for the day. 746 00:33:55,684 --> 00:33:58,717 We were gonna be shooting in some rough-ass places, 747 00:33:58,718 --> 00:34:00,484 so we'd need some ghetto muscle. 748 00:34:17,117 --> 00:34:18,684 Hello? 749 00:34:21,984 --> 00:34:24,384 Hey! 750 00:34:39,451 --> 00:34:42,782 Talking about education, protesting, organizing, 751 00:34:42,783 --> 00:34:44,583 and getting the man's foot out of they ass. 752 00:34:44,584 --> 00:34:45,617 See, now, you're a problem. 753 00:34:45,618 --> 00:34:46,618 Hello? 754 00:34:46,618 --> 00:34:47,618 You mean you're anti-white? 755 00:34:47,619 --> 00:34:48,849 We're anti-oppression. 756 00:34:48,850 --> 00:34:50,383 You can't fight racism with racism. 757 00:34:50,384 --> 00:34:51,650 What, niggas talking revolution 758 00:34:51,651 --> 00:34:53,049 is crossing the color line? 759 00:34:53,050 --> 00:34:55,217 Hell, no. 760 00:34:56,251 --> 00:34:58,816 No more Mr. Nice Guy. 761 00:34:58,817 --> 00:35:00,250 The man takes off the old sheets 762 00:35:00,251 --> 00:35:01,983 and picks up the badge and the gun 763 00:35:01,984 --> 00:35:03,583 to protect and serve. 764 00:35:03,584 --> 00:35:05,583 To patrol and control. 765 00:35:05,584 --> 00:35:07,916 Hello. 766 00:35:07,917 --> 00:35:09,583 Will justice prevail 767 00:35:09,584 --> 00:35:11,183 or will it just be us in jail? 768 00:35:11,184 --> 00:35:12,316 Shit. 769 00:35:12,317 --> 00:35:13,317 That's right, brother. 770 00:35:13,318 --> 00:35:14,550 From shackles to cuffs, 771 00:35:14,551 --> 00:35:16,149 he still got his foot in yo' ass. 772 00:35:16,150 --> 00:35:17,782 One size fits all, nigga. 773 00:35:17,783 --> 00:35:20,450 One size fits all, nigga. 774 00:35:20,451 --> 00:35:22,717 One size fits all... 775 00:35:22,718 --> 00:35:25,451 One size fits all, nigga. 776 00:35:29,317 --> 00:35:32,084 T.J., down, boy. 777 00:35:37,651 --> 00:35:39,216 T.J.'s the alpha male. 778 00:35:39,217 --> 00:35:40,750 They do what he do. 779 00:35:43,984 --> 00:35:46,617 Last motherfucker broke in here, 780 00:35:46,618 --> 00:35:48,883 they tore his arm off. 781 00:35:49,984 --> 00:35:51,584 That pipe wouldn't have helped. 782 00:35:56,284 --> 00:35:57,650 You eat pig? 783 00:35:57,651 --> 00:35:58,882 Yeah. 784 00:35:58,883 --> 00:36:00,250 Pig's bad for you. 785 00:36:00,251 --> 00:36:02,316 This here's smoked turkey. 786 00:36:02,317 --> 00:36:06,517 Taste better than pig. 787 00:36:16,150 --> 00:36:19,316 Howard, you spent six months in film school, 788 00:36:19,317 --> 00:36:20,782 so are you going to be 789 00:36:20,783 --> 00:36:21,983 in the smoked meat business 790 00:36:21,984 --> 00:36:24,516 or are you going to be in the movie business? 791 00:36:24,517 --> 00:36:27,183 Besides security, 792 00:36:27,184 --> 00:36:30,016 T could double as the boom man for the sound guy. 793 00:36:30,017 --> 00:36:31,316 Only drawback, 794 00:36:31,317 --> 00:36:32,816 he didn't know shit about recording sound. 795 00:36:32,817 --> 00:36:34,983 Check it out. 796 00:36:34,984 --> 00:36:35,984 What? 797 00:36:42,184 --> 00:36:43,416 Honey. 798 00:36:43,417 --> 00:36:44,617 Melvin, it's Mario on the phone. 799 00:36:44,618 --> 00:36:46,016 He's going to be a little late. 800 00:36:46,017 --> 00:36:48,149 Tell him to get his ass on home. 801 00:36:48,150 --> 00:36:50,882 Okay. Hey. 802 00:36:50,883 --> 00:36:52,283 Your dad is busy right now, honey. 803 00:36:52,284 --> 00:36:53,284 You better come on home. 804 00:36:54,284 --> 00:36:55,550 All right. 805 00:36:55,551 --> 00:36:57,350 First thing you need to know about movie making... 806 00:36:57,351 --> 00:36:59,250 When the director says listen up, 807 00:36:59,251 --> 00:37:00,416 you listen the fuck up, 808 00:37:00,417 --> 00:37:01,417 okay? 809 00:37:01,418 --> 00:37:02,617 We start shooting in three days. 810 00:37:02,618 --> 00:37:03,618 This is a family affair. 811 00:37:03,619 --> 00:37:05,316 This is Bob and his lovely wife, Nora. 812 00:37:05,317 --> 00:37:06,416 Nora does makeup. 813 00:37:06,417 --> 00:37:07,516 Bob is our cinematographer. 814 00:37:07,517 --> 00:37:08,583 We'll have two cameras working, 815 00:37:08,584 --> 00:37:10,683 so we also have, from New York, 816 00:37:10,684 --> 00:37:12,650 Black Latino Filmmaker's Coalition, 817 00:37:12,651 --> 00:37:13,949 José Garcia. 818 00:37:13,950 --> 00:37:16,683 Que vivo Puerto Rico libre. 819 00:37:16,684 --> 00:37:17,882 Exactly. 820 00:37:17,883 --> 00:37:18,883 All right. 821 00:37:18,884 --> 00:37:20,283 On script, we got Randy over here, 822 00:37:20,284 --> 00:37:22,083 and our genius of sound is Tommy, 823 00:37:22,084 --> 00:37:23,650 backed up by Big T, 824 00:37:23,651 --> 00:37:25,016 who'll also be heading up security. 825 00:37:25,017 --> 00:37:26,017 No, no, man. 826 00:37:26,018 --> 00:37:27,083 Hey, hey. 827 00:37:27,084 --> 00:37:29,083 Why do I got to answer to a white man 828 00:37:29,084 --> 00:37:31,083 on a movie about a brother finally breaking the chains, 829 00:37:31,084 --> 00:37:32,350 you dig? 830 00:37:32,351 --> 00:37:34,149 We been answering to whitey for 400 years, blood. 831 00:37:34,150 --> 00:37:35,150 Well, T, now, hold up. 832 00:37:35,151 --> 00:37:36,350 Tommy here is risking his career 833 00:37:36,351 --> 00:37:37,383 to be here. 834 00:37:37,384 --> 00:37:38,782 He's one of the few motherfuckers here 835 00:37:38,783 --> 00:37:39,983 who really knows what he's doing, 836 00:37:39,984 --> 00:37:41,583 so why don't you do yourself a favor? 837 00:37:41,584 --> 00:37:43,016 You'll learn something. Listen to this man. 838 00:37:43,017 --> 00:37:44,017 When your big ass 839 00:37:44,018 --> 00:37:45,049 has been listening to whitey 840 00:37:45,050 --> 00:37:46,116 for 400 years, 841 00:37:46,117 --> 00:37:47,782 another month won't hurt. 842 00:37:47,783 --> 00:37:49,683 All right, last but not least, 843 00:37:49,684 --> 00:37:50,684 right here, 844 00:37:50,685 --> 00:37:51,782 my foxy production secretary 845 00:37:51,783 --> 00:37:54,683 and star of the first day of shooting 846 00:37:54,684 --> 00:37:56,350 of Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song, 847 00:37:56,351 --> 00:37:57,484 Priscilla. 848 00:37:58,883 --> 00:37:59,883 That's right. 849 00:38:01,117 --> 00:38:02,637 Listen up. The speech. Come here, baby. 850 00:38:03,451 --> 00:38:04,949 Look around you. 851 00:38:04,950 --> 00:38:06,350 No crew has ever looked like this. 852 00:38:06,351 --> 00:38:07,916 We're not supposed to get along, 853 00:38:07,917 --> 00:38:10,116 let alone be able to make a movie together, okay? 854 00:38:10,117 --> 00:38:12,283 Once we get started, there's no quitting, 855 00:38:12,284 --> 00:38:15,351 so anybody want out, hit the door now. 856 00:38:17,984 --> 00:38:19,183 I'm sorry. 857 00:38:19,184 --> 00:38:20,551 It's all right. Anybody else? 858 00:38:22,917 --> 00:38:24,316 Mr. Harris. 859 00:38:24,317 --> 00:38:25,516 We'll have none of this WPT, 860 00:38:25,517 --> 00:38:26,749 Mr. Harris. 861 00:38:26,750 --> 00:38:28,016 What's WPT? 862 00:38:28,017 --> 00:38:29,384 White People Time, T. 863 00:38:30,551 --> 00:38:31,717 We have to talk. 864 00:38:31,718 --> 00:38:32,782 All right. 865 00:38:32,783 --> 00:38:34,383 Let's do it. Let's make a movie. 866 00:38:34,384 --> 00:38:36,017 Yeah! 867 00:38:38,217 --> 00:38:39,749 Hey, Melvin. 868 00:38:39,750 --> 00:38:40,949 The script guy, 869 00:38:40,950 --> 00:38:42,750 he says you only got a 65-minute movie here. 870 00:38:44,417 --> 00:38:46,149 Listen, I know what I got. 871 00:38:46,150 --> 00:38:47,882 Let him keep track of the shots, okay? 872 00:38:47,883 --> 00:38:50,116 I got it in my head. Cool? 873 00:38:50,117 --> 00:38:51,316 Don't worry about it. Don't worry. 874 00:38:51,317 --> 00:38:53,083 Hey, Melvin. It's Clyde. 875 00:38:53,084 --> 00:38:54,283 He's got to talk to you. 876 00:38:54,284 --> 00:38:55,516 We got to talk now. 877 00:38:55,517 --> 00:38:57,450 All right, well, find out what he wants, okay? 878 00:38:57,451 --> 00:38:59,618 Hey, Clyde. 879 00:39:01,618 --> 00:39:03,083 He got arrested. 880 00:39:03,084 --> 00:39:04,650 Who? Donovan. 881 00:39:04,651 --> 00:39:06,283 Our financing man. 882 00:39:06,284 --> 00:39:07,484 Motherfucker. What for? 883 00:39:10,251 --> 00:39:11,416 What about that attorney? 884 00:39:11,417 --> 00:39:12,516 We had a deal. 885 00:39:12,517 --> 00:39:14,149 Yeah, let's just say that... 886 00:39:14,150 --> 00:39:16,550 the financing for this film has been put on the back burner 887 00:39:16,551 --> 00:39:18,683 for the foreseeable future, 888 00:39:18,684 --> 00:39:21,184 like the next five to 10 years, man. 889 00:39:22,484 --> 00:39:24,782 You got to go in there. 890 00:39:24,783 --> 00:39:27,551 You got to cancel. 891 00:39:32,618 --> 00:39:34,782 Fuck it. I'll use my own bread. 892 00:39:34,783 --> 00:39:36,049 No, no, no, man. 893 00:39:36,050 --> 00:39:38,450 Nobody uses their own money to finance a movie, man. 894 00:39:38,451 --> 00:39:40,016 What if the movie's a bomb 895 00:39:40,017 --> 00:39:41,416 or you spend your money on it 896 00:39:41,417 --> 00:39:42,617 and you can't get a distributor...? 897 00:39:42,618 --> 00:39:44,416 I can raise $72,450. 898 00:39:44,417 --> 00:39:46,149 Make that $72,000... 899 00:39:46,150 --> 00:39:47,416 I haven't paid next month's rent... 900 00:39:47,417 --> 00:39:49,016 But that's enough to get the train rolling. 901 00:39:49,017 --> 00:39:50,283 I get the train rolling, 902 00:39:50,284 --> 00:39:52,083 investors are going to see we got something good 903 00:39:52,084 --> 00:39:53,483 and they're going to jump on board. 904 00:39:53,484 --> 00:39:54,949 And what if they don't, man? 905 00:39:54,950 --> 00:39:56,949 That $72,000's not going to get you through pre-production... 906 00:39:56,950 --> 00:39:58,850 Bill, do you have money for me? 907 00:40:00,917 --> 00:40:02,584 Melvin, we got a problem. 908 00:40:06,317 --> 00:40:07,317 Yeah? 909 00:40:07,318 --> 00:40:08,550 They're asking 910 00:40:08,551 --> 00:40:10,749 for one week's payroll up front. 911 00:40:10,750 --> 00:40:12,684 Well, I ain't got that kind of bread, Clyde. 912 00:40:15,017 --> 00:40:16,216 Fuck it. 913 00:40:16,217 --> 00:40:18,150 SAG is... 914 00:40:22,117 --> 00:40:23,916 We can't use any SAG actors. 915 00:40:23,917 --> 00:40:25,516 What? 916 00:40:25,517 --> 00:40:26,983 Shit, we shoot in three days. 917 00:40:26,984 --> 00:40:29,149 We're going to have to postpone, right? 918 00:40:29,150 --> 00:40:32,816 We start shooting May 11 as planned. 919 00:40:32,817 --> 00:40:35,450 Everybody got that? 920 00:40:35,451 --> 00:40:36,749 Everybody got that? 921 00:40:36,750 --> 00:40:38,450 Yeah. Right. 922 00:40:38,451 --> 00:40:39,916 All right, get back to work. 923 00:40:39,917 --> 00:40:41,083 We'll recast. 924 00:40:41,084 --> 00:40:42,084 Shit. 925 00:40:43,417 --> 00:40:44,717 Who's going to play Sweetback? 926 00:40:44,718 --> 00:40:47,583 I was starting to believe my own bullshit. 927 00:40:47,584 --> 00:40:50,284 Chomping on an unlit cigar... 928 00:40:52,783 --> 00:40:54,216 Hey, Mel. 929 00:40:54,217 --> 00:40:55,384 Come on. 930 00:40:57,317 --> 00:40:58,783 Ta-da. 931 00:40:59,883 --> 00:41:01,116 Howie says hello. 932 00:41:01,117 --> 00:41:03,684 You've got a great kid here. 933 00:41:14,117 --> 00:41:15,316 What you got there? 934 00:41:15,317 --> 00:41:16,550 Miss Kaufman bought it for me. 935 00:41:16,551 --> 00:41:17,617 I didn't ask for it. 936 00:41:17,618 --> 00:41:19,450 Tomorrow you bring it back. 937 00:41:19,451 --> 00:41:21,450 Bring it back? 938 00:41:21,451 --> 00:41:23,550 You losing your hearing? 939 00:41:23,551 --> 00:41:26,149 When I want a favor from Howie, 940 00:41:26,150 --> 00:41:27,782 I'll call it in, okay? 941 00:41:27,783 --> 00:41:30,016 You don't let people use you to get to me. 942 00:41:30,017 --> 00:41:32,017 What people? 943 00:41:34,251 --> 00:41:35,451 Get in the house. 944 00:41:37,651 --> 00:41:41,149 Melvin had not submitted the proper paperwork 945 00:41:41,150 --> 00:41:43,149 to the Screen Actors Guild. 946 00:41:43,150 --> 00:41:45,650 I think when you've heard Mel all of your life, 947 00:41:45,651 --> 00:41:47,683 you just don't listen anymore. 948 00:41:47,684 --> 00:41:49,683 Who had to go down there and sort everything out? 949 00:41:49,684 --> 00:41:50,816 Mr. Clyde. 950 00:41:50,817 --> 00:41:53,516 Of course, you don't hear about that. 951 00:41:53,517 --> 00:41:54,717 We were following him, you know? 952 00:41:54,718 --> 00:41:55,949 He was our leader, 953 00:41:55,950 --> 00:41:58,816 so if he was crazy, we were fucking lunatics. 954 00:41:58,817 --> 00:42:00,950 I just looked around and I knew we were in trouble. 955 00:42:04,017 --> 00:42:05,116 In L.A., 956 00:42:05,117 --> 00:42:07,383 you can't even see the stars at night. 957 00:42:07,384 --> 00:42:09,550 It's not the city lights. It's the smog. 958 00:42:09,551 --> 00:42:11,350 Shut the fuck up, man. I'm trying to calculate. 959 00:42:11,351 --> 00:42:12,882 What're you trying to calculate? 960 00:42:12,883 --> 00:42:13,883 You ain't got shit. 961 00:42:13,884 --> 00:42:15,083 You ain't even got your lead. 962 00:42:15,084 --> 00:42:16,283 No, no, I'll play the lead. 963 00:42:16,284 --> 00:42:17,284 I'll play Sweetback. 964 00:42:17,285 --> 00:42:18,483 Fuck it. I know the lines. 965 00:42:18,484 --> 00:42:19,550 I'm not union, right? 966 00:42:19,551 --> 00:42:20,650 I'm not taking a salary. 967 00:42:20,651 --> 00:42:23,149 Fool, ain't nobody investing in this shit. 968 00:42:23,150 --> 00:42:26,316 I'll cut more days out of the schedule. 969 00:42:26,317 --> 00:42:27,450 Hey, look, 970 00:42:27,451 --> 00:42:29,250 it'll take 40 days to make a studio movie. 971 00:42:29,251 --> 00:42:31,016 You settle for 27. 972 00:42:31,017 --> 00:42:32,650 Then you cut it down to 24, minimum. 973 00:42:32,651 --> 00:42:33,684 Now what? 974 00:42:35,984 --> 00:42:37,216 20. 975 00:42:37,217 --> 00:42:39,782 20 with some ragtag crew that don't know shit? 976 00:42:39,783 --> 00:42:41,916 Man, you're about to lose every fucking thing. 977 00:42:41,917 --> 00:42:43,383 Kids' college funds, all of it. 978 00:42:43,384 --> 00:42:45,550 Just get the fuck off my roof. 979 00:42:45,551 --> 00:42:47,782 Look around you, man. 980 00:42:47,783 --> 00:42:49,849 Every fucking sign is saying, "Don't do this." 981 00:42:49,850 --> 00:42:51,882 You're about to be a Hollywood joke. 982 00:42:51,883 --> 00:42:53,717 Go back to the studio. Do a comedy. 983 00:42:53,718 --> 00:42:54,983 Do whatever. 984 00:42:54,984 --> 00:42:56,216 Do it with their money. 985 00:42:56,217 --> 00:42:57,416 Make a real movie. 986 00:42:57,417 --> 00:42:58,917 Get the fuck off my roof! 987 00:43:02,084 --> 00:43:04,149 Get the fuck off my roof. 988 00:43:04,150 --> 00:43:07,183 Get the fuck off my roof, you hear me? 989 00:43:07,184 --> 00:43:10,183 Melvin, who are you talking to? 990 00:43:10,184 --> 00:43:11,483 Running lines. 991 00:43:11,484 --> 00:43:14,284 Been a long fucking time since I acted. 992 00:43:16,017 --> 00:43:17,316 I'm sorry to bother you, 993 00:43:17,317 --> 00:43:19,116 but I need to talk to you about something... 994 00:43:19,117 --> 00:43:20,383 Hold on, now. 995 00:43:20,384 --> 00:43:21,683 Is this something negative? 996 00:43:21,684 --> 00:43:23,083 Because if it's negative, 997 00:43:23,084 --> 00:43:24,717 I can't even deal with it right now. 998 00:43:24,718 --> 00:43:27,749 I'm a broke, pissed-off nigga from Chicago, Priscilla, 999 00:43:27,750 --> 00:43:30,250 and I'm down to my last cigar, okay? 1000 00:43:30,251 --> 00:43:31,450 Don't leave. 1001 00:43:31,451 --> 00:43:34,850 Chill. 1002 00:43:37,117 --> 00:43:38,516 About... 1003 00:43:38,517 --> 00:43:41,782 About tomorrow... 1004 00:43:41,783 --> 00:43:43,949 I can't be in the movie. 1005 00:43:43,950 --> 00:43:45,450 What? 1006 00:43:45,451 --> 00:43:46,617 My boyfriend doesn't... 1007 00:43:46,618 --> 00:43:47,618 think I should do it. 1008 00:43:47,619 --> 00:43:48,882 Hold up. Hold up. 1009 00:43:48,883 --> 00:43:50,483 I thought you discussed this with the boyfriend. 1010 00:43:50,484 --> 00:43:51,650 I did, 1011 00:43:51,651 --> 00:43:54,450 but not about all the sexy stuff exactly. 1012 00:43:54,451 --> 00:43:56,683 Well, we're making a sexy fucking movie, right? 1013 00:43:56,684 --> 00:43:57,882 Now, I've been straight about that 1014 00:43:57,883 --> 00:43:58,883 from the get-go. 1015 00:43:58,884 --> 00:44:01,016 I know. 1016 00:44:01,017 --> 00:44:03,149 I'm sorry. 1017 00:44:03,150 --> 00:44:05,283 Tomorrow's our first day of shooting. 1018 00:44:05,284 --> 00:44:06,916 With all the other shit 1019 00:44:06,917 --> 00:44:08,717 I got coming down on my head right now, 1020 00:44:08,718 --> 00:44:10,116 you're fucking sorry? 1021 00:44:10,117 --> 00:44:12,483 I'll leave production if you want me to. 1022 00:44:12,484 --> 00:44:13,583 Leave production? 1023 00:44:13,584 --> 00:44:15,283 Are you crazy? 1024 00:44:15,284 --> 00:44:16,284 That's your final decision? 1025 00:44:16,284 --> 00:44:17,284 You can't? Okay. 1026 00:44:17,285 --> 00:44:18,882 You know what you fucking need to do? 1027 00:44:18,883 --> 00:44:20,483 You need to get off my fucking roof 1028 00:44:20,484 --> 00:44:22,083 before I throw you off this motherfucker, 1029 00:44:22,084 --> 00:44:23,849 all right? 1030 00:44:23,850 --> 00:44:25,783 Get the fuck out of here! 1031 00:44:27,584 --> 00:44:29,250 I'm trying to do something, 1032 00:44:29,251 --> 00:44:30,816 and sorry motherfuckers come along 1033 00:44:30,817 --> 00:44:33,517 and sorry your ass to death. 1034 00:44:41,150 --> 00:44:42,782 Hello? 1035 00:44:42,783 --> 00:44:44,749 Hey, Ginnie, it's Mel. 1036 00:44:44,750 --> 00:44:46,550 Who? 1037 00:44:46,551 --> 00:44:47,650 Melvin. 1038 00:44:47,651 --> 00:44:48,651 Bill's friend. 1039 00:44:48,652 --> 00:44:51,049 Yeah. 1040 00:44:51,050 --> 00:44:52,416 What do you want? 1041 00:44:52,417 --> 00:44:55,583 How about a date? 1042 00:44:55,584 --> 00:44:57,083 So you're asking me out? 1043 00:44:57,084 --> 00:45:00,017 Yeah, why the fuck not? 1044 00:45:01,317 --> 00:45:02,516 Why not? 1045 00:45:02,517 --> 00:45:03,650 Great. 1046 00:45:03,651 --> 00:45:05,683 It's going to be special, though. 1047 00:45:05,684 --> 00:45:08,183 I want you to meet me at 52730 Alameda 1048 00:45:08,184 --> 00:45:09,350 tomorrow morning, 1049 00:45:09,351 --> 00:45:10,683 7:00 a.m. 1050 00:45:10,684 --> 00:45:12,450 A.m.? Man, shit, you're tripping. 1051 00:45:12,451 --> 00:45:13,483 Wait, wait, wait, 1052 00:45:13,484 --> 00:45:14,882 now, this is going to be special. 1053 00:45:14,883 --> 00:45:16,683 I told you, you're never going to forget it, 1054 00:45:16,684 --> 00:45:18,283 and don't go getting shy on me, girl. 1055 00:45:18,284 --> 00:45:19,916 Going to be a couple of people watching. 1056 00:45:19,917 --> 00:45:23,717 Now, see, now, I knew you was a real kinky motherfucker... 1057 00:45:23,718 --> 00:45:24,750 So, are we on? 1058 00:45:27,883 --> 00:45:29,149 Yeah, we're on. 1059 00:45:29,150 --> 00:45:30,250 All right. 1060 00:45:30,251 --> 00:45:32,217 Tomorrow morning. Don't be late. 1061 00:45:35,150 --> 00:45:36,816 Clyde, Clyde, come here. 1062 00:45:36,817 --> 00:45:39,049 Melvin going to use his own dad for this scene? 1063 00:45:39,050 --> 00:45:40,450 Yeah, well, we ain't got enough actors, 1064 00:45:40,451 --> 00:45:42,483 and Melvin's dad'll do it for free, you dig? 1065 00:45:42,484 --> 00:45:43,650 But that's Melvin. 1066 00:45:43,651 --> 00:45:46,882 He told me to get a dildo. What's a dildo? 1067 00:45:46,883 --> 00:45:48,750 Thomas. Thomas. 1068 00:45:50,950 --> 00:45:52,650 Why are you doing this movie, man? 1069 00:45:52,651 --> 00:45:57,116 You want to see how the other half lives? 1070 00:45:57,117 --> 00:45:58,677 Hey, look, there's your fairy godmother. 1071 00:45:59,351 --> 00:46:00,351 Melvin, Melvin, 1072 00:46:00,352 --> 00:46:01,550 we got to start shooting, man, 1073 00:46:01,551 --> 00:46:02,583 before the husband comes home 1074 00:46:02,584 --> 00:46:04,183 and kicks us the hell out of here. 1075 00:46:04,184 --> 00:46:05,184 Where's Ginnie, man? 1076 00:46:05,185 --> 00:46:06,383 Come on. 1077 00:46:06,384 --> 00:46:08,183 I was shooting our sexiest scene up first 1078 00:46:08,184 --> 00:46:09,816 so if the union showed, 1079 00:46:09,817 --> 00:46:11,882 they'd be convinced we were doing a black porno. 1080 00:46:11,883 --> 00:46:13,149 The problem was, 1081 00:46:13,150 --> 00:46:14,650 my date, Ginnie, got the same impression. 1082 00:46:14,651 --> 00:46:15,651 Fuck you, nigger! 1083 00:46:15,652 --> 00:46:17,049 I don't do this kind of shit! 1084 00:46:17,050 --> 00:46:18,650 No, no, listen, I want you to be... 1085 00:46:18,651 --> 00:46:20,849 Bill Harris, get your sorry motherfucking ass 1086 00:46:20,850 --> 00:46:21,850 over here. 1087 00:46:21,850 --> 00:46:22,850 Sister... 1088 00:46:22,851 --> 00:46:24,049 Look, no, no. Your sorry-ass friend 1089 00:46:24,050 --> 00:46:25,717 wants me to be in his fucking porno. 1090 00:46:25,718 --> 00:46:27,749 Did you know about this? Give me my goddamn hat. 1091 00:46:27,750 --> 00:46:28,782 Okay, okay. 1092 00:46:28,783 --> 00:46:30,183 It's not a porno, Ginnie, I swear. 1093 00:46:30,184 --> 00:46:31,583 Okay, here we go. 1094 00:46:31,584 --> 00:46:33,516 It's not a porno. It's a social statement. 1095 00:46:33,517 --> 00:46:34,517 Tell her, Mel. 1096 00:46:34,518 --> 00:46:35,617 A social statement? 1097 00:46:35,618 --> 00:46:37,016 I'll should whoop both your fucking asses. 1098 00:46:37,017 --> 00:46:38,049 I'm out of here. 1099 00:46:38,050 --> 00:46:39,050 No, no, no, wait. Sister... 1100 00:46:39,051 --> 00:46:40,149 Listen, listen, listen, listen. 1101 00:46:40,150 --> 00:46:41,350 We have been marginalized sexually 1102 00:46:41,351 --> 00:46:42,450 for years. 1103 00:46:42,451 --> 00:46:43,650 We've been Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben. 1104 00:46:43,651 --> 00:46:44,849 We've never had a Marilyn Monroe, 1105 00:46:44,850 --> 00:46:46,149 never had our own Mae West. 1106 00:46:46,150 --> 00:46:48,149 This thing is going to be breaking all the taboos. 1107 00:46:48,150 --> 00:46:50,316 It's about getting the man's foot out yo' ass. 1108 00:46:50,317 --> 00:46:52,749 Exactly. This could be totally revolutionary. 1109 00:46:52,750 --> 00:46:54,650 Ginnie was at least listening now. 1110 00:46:54,651 --> 00:46:56,016 I rapped on 1111 00:46:56,017 --> 00:46:57,949 about this being the opportunity of a lifetime 1112 00:46:57,950 --> 00:47:00,250 for her to be the first soul sister sex goddess. 1113 00:47:00,251 --> 00:47:02,316 That was the clincher. 1114 00:47:02,317 --> 00:47:07,916 Revolutionary or not, I still need to get paid. 1115 00:47:07,917 --> 00:47:09,250 Plus, the couple of emergency Benjamins 1116 00:47:09,251 --> 00:47:10,316 I laid on her 1117 00:47:10,317 --> 00:47:11,483 didn't hurt. 1118 00:47:11,484 --> 00:47:12,484 Don't fuck with me. 1119 00:47:12,484 --> 00:47:13,484 We're on the camera. 1120 00:47:13,484 --> 00:47:14,484 Okay, let's get her dressed. 1121 00:47:14,485 --> 00:47:15,683 I want to shoot right now. 1122 00:47:15,684 --> 00:47:16,849 Mel, let me handle this. 1123 00:47:16,850 --> 00:47:18,450 It's going to be out of sight, baby. 1124 00:47:18,451 --> 00:47:19,451 Talk to me, Bob. 1125 00:47:19,452 --> 00:47:20,882 I am the producer. 1126 00:47:20,883 --> 00:47:22,817 Speed. 1127 00:47:30,284 --> 00:47:32,217 And... action. 1128 00:47:37,017 --> 00:47:41,850 * ...With the rising tide * 1129 00:47:52,050 --> 00:47:54,050 Bet you ain't never seen no shit like this before. 1130 00:48:01,050 --> 00:48:07,117 * I can hardly wait To feel your lovin' * 1131 00:48:43,017 --> 00:48:44,316 You all right? 1132 00:48:44,317 --> 00:48:46,350 Yeah, yeah, I've got a heart thing. 1133 00:48:46,351 --> 00:48:48,782 It's no big deal. 1134 00:48:48,783 --> 00:48:50,916 * I want you up and down * 1135 00:48:50,917 --> 00:48:54,283 Does someone else have a sweet back? 1136 00:48:54,284 --> 00:48:59,882 * Beautiful chocolate brown * 1137 00:48:59,883 --> 00:49:01,717 What are they watching? 1138 00:49:01,718 --> 00:49:03,350 Some kind of... black porn thing. 1139 00:49:03,351 --> 00:49:04,651 I don't know. 1140 00:49:06,551 --> 00:49:07,618 She's hot, right? 1141 00:49:09,317 --> 00:49:11,284 Let's go. 1142 00:49:19,651 --> 00:49:21,750 The union seemed to buy our little porno scam. 1143 00:49:23,351 --> 00:49:24,950 We were on our way. 1144 00:49:30,351 --> 00:49:31,416 Yeah. 1145 00:49:31,417 --> 00:49:32,450 You dig that sound? 1146 00:49:32,451 --> 00:49:34,183 Yeah, the sound of your jaw dropping. 1147 00:49:34,184 --> 00:49:35,617 Brother, good work. 1148 00:49:35,618 --> 00:49:37,782 Man, it was great. 1149 00:49:37,783 --> 00:49:39,882 Great first assembly. 1150 00:49:39,883 --> 00:49:41,116 Hey, Cosby, man. 1151 00:49:41,117 --> 00:49:42,250 Say, hey, 1152 00:49:42,251 --> 00:49:45,149 when you going to light that cigar, man? 1153 00:49:45,150 --> 00:49:46,983 When I can afford to buy me another one. 1154 00:49:46,984 --> 00:49:48,283 Please, please. 1155 00:49:48,284 --> 00:49:49,916 Listen, I heard about the three-picture deal, man. 1156 00:49:49,917 --> 00:49:50,917 Listen, listen, 1157 00:49:50,918 --> 00:49:52,116 I'm doing an independent right now. 1158 00:49:52,117 --> 00:49:53,717 We just had our first day of dailies. 1159 00:49:53,718 --> 00:49:54,916 Powerful shit. You got a second? 1160 00:49:54,917 --> 00:49:56,516 I'll string them up for you right now. 1161 00:49:56,517 --> 00:49:57,583 Excuse me, Mr. Cosby. 1162 00:49:57,584 --> 00:49:59,183 We've really got to get to the airport. 1163 00:49:59,184 --> 00:50:00,782 I got to take care of some business. 1164 00:50:00,783 --> 00:50:01,916 Check this out. 1165 00:50:01,917 --> 00:50:03,516 They get three strikes, we only get one. 1166 00:50:03,517 --> 00:50:05,149 You sure you know what you're getting into 1167 00:50:05,150 --> 00:50:06,416 with this whole independent stuff? 1168 00:50:06,417 --> 00:50:07,550 Bill, we've got to go. 1169 00:50:07,551 --> 00:50:09,016 Hey, listen, I'll call you, okay? 1170 00:50:09,017 --> 00:50:10,650 Number's still the same? 1171 00:50:10,651 --> 00:50:12,183 Listen, you're looking good too. 1172 00:50:12,184 --> 00:50:13,650 Keep on doing what you're doing. 1173 00:50:13,651 --> 00:50:16,351 Hey, man... 1174 00:50:42,451 --> 00:50:43,583 Shit. 1175 00:50:43,584 --> 00:50:44,717 Someone get a flashlight. 1176 00:50:44,718 --> 00:50:46,116 Melvin, we lost the generator again. 1177 00:50:46,117 --> 00:50:47,416 I see that shit, Clyde. 1178 00:50:47,417 --> 00:50:49,183 Reroute the cables, get that motherfucker back on. 1179 00:50:49,184 --> 00:50:51,049 Clyde made another one of his cut-rate deals 1180 00:50:51,050 --> 00:50:52,050 on a generator. 1181 00:50:52,051 --> 00:50:53,283 You get what you pay for. 1182 00:50:53,284 --> 00:50:54,516 Bill. Okay. 1183 00:50:54,517 --> 00:50:55,517 All right. 1184 00:50:55,518 --> 00:50:56,916 Miss Bourgie is here with the kids. 1185 00:50:56,917 --> 00:50:58,250 All right, listen, 1186 00:50:58,251 --> 00:51:00,450 we got to cut another day out of the schedule, man. 1187 00:51:00,451 --> 00:51:01,550 No way, man. 1188 00:51:01,551 --> 00:51:02,551 The schedule's too tight already. 1189 00:51:02,552 --> 00:51:04,216 What about all those investors 1190 00:51:04,217 --> 00:51:05,416 that were jumping on the train? 1191 00:51:05,417 --> 00:51:07,016 You got 10 grand to loan me? 1192 00:51:07,017 --> 00:51:08,416 That'll buy me another day, baby. 1193 00:51:08,417 --> 00:51:10,149 It is what it is. 1194 00:51:10,150 --> 00:51:11,550 What? 1195 00:51:11,551 --> 00:51:12,749 We're low on bread, 1196 00:51:12,750 --> 00:51:14,949 but you're not really going to use your own son 1197 00:51:14,950 --> 00:51:16,216 in that scene, are you? 1198 00:51:16,217 --> 00:51:17,949 Everybody's somebody's son. 1199 00:51:17,950 --> 00:51:20,816 Why would I not use my own kid if I'd use somebody else's? 1200 00:51:20,817 --> 00:51:23,683 Have Nora meet me on the set with hair and makeup right now. 1201 00:51:23,684 --> 00:51:25,183 Bill, hold this. 1202 00:51:25,184 --> 00:51:26,350 Hold this. 1203 00:51:26,351 --> 00:51:27,516 Melvin, listen. 1204 00:51:27,517 --> 00:51:30,049 I know it's none of my business, 1205 00:51:30,050 --> 00:51:31,849 but you can't be doing this to your own... 1206 00:51:31,850 --> 00:51:33,116 The other generator's up. Come on. 1207 00:51:33,117 --> 00:51:34,316 Let's go on the other set. 1208 00:51:34,317 --> 00:51:35,618 Come on, Bill. 1209 00:51:38,950 --> 00:51:40,950 This kid's got an eye. 1210 00:51:42,451 --> 00:51:43,451 See, your father's too cheap 1211 00:51:43,452 --> 00:51:44,583 to use 35 millimeter film. 1212 00:51:44,584 --> 00:51:45,782 That's why we're shooting 16. 1213 00:51:45,783 --> 00:51:47,583 You don't need to shoot 35 all the time. 1214 00:51:47,584 --> 00:51:48,683 It depends on the shot. 1215 00:51:48,684 --> 00:51:49,749 T, that's not a toy. 1216 00:51:49,750 --> 00:51:50,816 The sound department. 1217 00:51:50,817 --> 00:51:51,983 You're the boss. 1218 00:51:51,984 --> 00:51:53,717 All right. You crumb crushers 1219 00:51:53,718 --> 00:51:55,116 are going to be in the movie. 1220 00:51:55,117 --> 00:51:56,117 All right. 1221 00:51:56,118 --> 00:51:57,717 You're going to blow up a cop car, 1222 00:51:57,718 --> 00:51:59,149 and you're going to help Sweetback escape. 1223 00:51:59,150 --> 00:52:00,882 Do I get to wear makeup? 1224 00:52:00,883 --> 00:52:03,116 Pretty little girls do not need to wear makeup. 1225 00:52:03,117 --> 00:52:04,882 You. You a good actor? 1226 00:52:04,883 --> 00:52:05,883 Yeah. 1227 00:52:05,883 --> 00:52:06,883 You are? 1228 00:52:06,883 --> 00:52:07,883 Yeah. 1229 00:52:07,884 --> 00:52:08,949 Good, 1230 00:52:08,950 --> 00:52:10,383 because I got another role for you. 1231 00:52:10,384 --> 00:52:12,250 I get to play two roles? 1232 00:52:12,251 --> 00:52:13,251 That's right. 1233 00:52:13,252 --> 00:52:14,450 I'm going to open the movie 1234 00:52:14,451 --> 00:52:17,550 with you playing Sweetback losing his cherry. 1235 00:52:17,551 --> 00:52:20,149 Having sex for the first time. Nora, take a look at his 'fro. 1236 00:52:20,150 --> 00:52:22,483 What'll I be wearing? 1237 00:52:22,484 --> 00:52:23,816 Nothing. It's a sex scene. 1238 00:52:23,817 --> 00:52:24,882 Cut this all real short 1239 00:52:24,883 --> 00:52:26,617 and then cut some bald patches in it. 1240 00:52:26,618 --> 00:52:29,283 Melvin, we need you. 1241 00:52:29,284 --> 00:52:30,916 I got to cut my 'fro? 1242 00:52:30,917 --> 00:52:32,116 Yeah. 1243 00:52:32,117 --> 00:52:33,516 You're a malnutritioned street kid. 1244 00:52:33,517 --> 00:52:34,916 It's the Depression era, okay? 1245 00:52:34,917 --> 00:52:36,383 Put some makeup on the bald patches. 1246 00:52:36,384 --> 00:52:37,849 Make it look like ringworm. What? What? 1247 00:52:37,850 --> 00:52:39,618 We got a problem with the actor... 1248 00:52:43,984 --> 00:52:45,383 What the hell's holding us up? 1249 00:52:45,384 --> 00:52:46,949 Bob. Camera's ready. 1250 00:52:46,950 --> 00:52:47,983 Let's do it. 1251 00:52:47,984 --> 00:52:49,016 Roll sound. 1252 00:52:49,017 --> 00:52:50,250 Rolling. 1253 00:52:50,251 --> 00:52:51,583 Speed. 1254 00:52:51,584 --> 00:52:53,183 Slate. Camera set. 1255 00:52:53,184 --> 00:52:54,882 And... action. 1256 00:52:54,883 --> 00:52:56,283 I have not seen Sweetback. 1257 00:52:56,284 --> 00:52:57,383 Cut. 1258 00:52:57,384 --> 00:52:58,782 What the fuck happened to his stutter? 1259 00:52:58,783 --> 00:52:59,882 He took speech lessons. 1260 00:52:59,883 --> 00:53:01,483 That's what I was trying to tell you. 1261 00:53:01,484 --> 00:53:03,551 He's got a piece. 1262 00:53:05,584 --> 00:53:07,650 All right, brother, look, 1263 00:53:07,651 --> 00:53:09,049 I need to have that piece, man. 1264 00:53:09,050 --> 00:53:10,650 Well, I-I thought there might be some trouble. 1265 00:53:10,651 --> 00:53:12,617 What the f-fuck you doing? 1266 00:53:12,618 --> 00:53:13,782 Good, back to the mic. 1267 00:53:13,783 --> 00:53:15,116 That's it. Again. 1268 00:53:15,117 --> 00:53:16,183 Fuck you. 1269 00:53:16,184 --> 00:53:19,016 G-give me my g-gun. 1270 00:53:19,017 --> 00:53:20,183 Right here. Right here. 1271 00:53:20,184 --> 00:53:21,483 The line. The line. 1272 00:53:21,484 --> 00:53:22,617 Action. 1273 00:53:22,618 --> 00:53:24,617 S-Sweetback ain't here, m-motherfucker. 1274 00:53:24,618 --> 00:53:26,450 Pissed off. Go ahead. Again. 1275 00:53:26,451 --> 00:53:30,416 S-Sweetback ain't here, m-motherfucker. 1276 00:53:30,417 --> 00:53:31,816 Perfect. Bob? 1277 00:53:31,817 --> 00:53:32,849 Got it. 1278 00:53:32,850 --> 00:53:33,850 Perfect. Beautiful. Beautiful. 1279 00:53:33,851 --> 00:53:35,550 Priscilla, put this somewhere safe. 1280 00:53:35,551 --> 00:53:37,049 All right. Next set. Let's go. 1281 00:53:37,050 --> 00:53:41,250 Melvin, can I speak to you for a minute? 1282 00:53:41,251 --> 00:53:42,251 All right, the script supervisor 1283 00:53:42,252 --> 00:53:43,650 says we need to shoot the reverse. 1284 00:53:43,651 --> 00:53:45,650 No, I got the whole thing edited in my head. 1285 00:53:45,651 --> 00:53:47,450 I know just what I need here, Clyde, okay? 1286 00:53:47,451 --> 00:53:48,451 Melvin. What? 1287 00:53:48,452 --> 00:53:49,849 He said it's not going to cut 1288 00:53:49,850 --> 00:53:50,850 unless we get the reverse. 1289 00:53:50,850 --> 00:53:51,850 All right, I'll handle this. 1290 00:53:51,850 --> 00:53:52,850 You, Script, come over here. 1291 00:53:52,851 --> 00:53:53,882 Come over here. 1292 00:53:53,883 --> 00:53:55,483 Tell you what. Give me this right here. 1293 00:53:55,484 --> 00:53:56,484 Here, okay. 1294 00:53:56,485 --> 00:53:57,683 Now, you are getting a promotion. 1295 00:53:57,684 --> 00:53:58,882 You're going to be an actor. 1296 00:53:58,883 --> 00:54:00,483 I want you to stand right over there 1297 00:54:00,484 --> 00:54:02,350 in that light. 1298 00:54:02,351 --> 00:54:03,683 Go ahead. In the light. 1299 00:54:03,684 --> 00:54:05,816 Everybody, 1300 00:54:05,817 --> 00:54:07,350 I'm doing the fucking script now, okay? 1301 00:54:07,351 --> 00:54:08,817 Next set. Let's go. 1302 00:54:16,783 --> 00:54:18,350 The scene with the dirty cops 1303 00:54:18,351 --> 00:54:19,882 was the one that divided the crew. 1304 00:54:19,883 --> 00:54:21,283 He doesn't look very tough to me. 1305 00:54:21,284 --> 00:54:22,483 Does he look tough to you? 1306 00:54:22,484 --> 00:54:23,849 Nah. 1307 00:54:23,850 --> 00:54:24,883 Don't look too tough. 1308 00:54:25,883 --> 00:54:27,617 Don't mark his face. 1309 00:54:27,618 --> 00:54:29,749 Hey, Sweetback. 1310 00:54:29,750 --> 00:54:30,882 I'm sorry, man. 1311 00:54:30,883 --> 00:54:32,816 I forgot you two were attached together. 1312 00:54:32,817 --> 00:54:34,016 Let's see if we can get... 1313 00:54:34,017 --> 00:54:35,550 White folks 1314 00:54:35,551 --> 00:54:38,283 would never experience racial brutality. 1315 00:54:38,284 --> 00:54:40,116 Couldn't really believe that a double standard existed 1316 00:54:40,117 --> 00:54:42,516 for minorities. 1317 00:54:42,517 --> 00:54:44,450 Stay home at night, you wouldn't... 1318 00:54:44,451 --> 00:54:45,617 Black folks, 1319 00:54:45,618 --> 00:54:47,216 who had lived it, 1320 00:54:47,217 --> 00:54:49,316 were more than ready to see someone 1321 00:54:49,317 --> 00:54:50,450 stand up against racism... 1322 00:54:50,451 --> 00:54:52,049 Fuck the pigs up! 1323 00:54:52,050 --> 00:54:53,816 Even when it hid behind a badge. 1324 00:54:53,817 --> 00:54:56,417 Help the brother out, Sweetback. 1325 00:54:59,551 --> 00:55:01,149 Got a new thing right there. 1326 00:55:01,150 --> 00:55:02,450 Come on, Sweetback. 1327 00:55:02,451 --> 00:55:06,483 Fuck him up. Right on, Sweetback. 1328 00:55:06,484 --> 00:55:07,816 Yeah. 1329 00:55:07,817 --> 00:55:09,049 It's about time. 1330 00:55:09,050 --> 00:55:11,317 Never seen nothing like this. 1331 00:55:13,783 --> 00:55:15,316 Thanks, man. 1332 00:55:15,317 --> 00:55:17,383 Righteous. 1333 00:55:17,384 --> 00:55:20,117 He's just a child. 1334 00:55:21,950 --> 00:55:24,049 Mario. 1335 00:55:24,050 --> 00:55:25,718 He's barely 13, Melvin. 1336 00:55:27,618 --> 00:55:30,350 When I was 8, I was already working the cash register 1337 00:55:30,351 --> 00:55:32,749 at my dad's tailor shop. 1338 00:55:32,750 --> 00:55:34,550 He gave me old clothes to sell. 1339 00:55:34,551 --> 00:55:37,316 Old reject shit that folks left behind. 1340 00:55:37,317 --> 00:55:39,316 Here comes this skinny little kid 1341 00:55:39,317 --> 00:55:42,283 with a wagonload full of shitty clothes. 1342 00:55:42,284 --> 00:55:45,149 Boy, you got to work often, 1343 00:55:45,150 --> 00:55:46,684 and that's only the beginning. 1344 00:55:49,351 --> 00:55:50,584 You think I liked that? 1345 00:55:53,050 --> 00:55:57,049 You think I even liked my dad back then? 1346 00:55:57,050 --> 00:55:59,216 I got my ass whooped damn near every day, 1347 00:55:59,217 --> 00:56:00,350 and every day, 1348 00:56:00,351 --> 00:56:01,949 Daddy sent me right back on the streets, 1349 00:56:01,950 --> 00:56:04,250 selling them old, fucked up clothes, 1350 00:56:04,251 --> 00:56:07,949 until I learned 1351 00:56:07,950 --> 00:56:12,516 how to give the gangsters some free shit 1352 00:56:12,517 --> 00:56:14,683 to protect me from those bullies 1353 00:56:14,684 --> 00:56:16,383 while I sold those clothes 1354 00:56:16,384 --> 00:56:19,049 to the winos and the junkies. 1355 00:56:19,050 --> 00:56:21,882 My dad had taught me how to survive, 1356 00:56:21,883 --> 00:56:23,149 how to hustle. 1357 00:56:23,150 --> 00:56:25,550 I'm not in the tailor business anymore. 1358 00:56:25,551 --> 00:56:27,882 I'm in the movie business. 1359 00:56:27,883 --> 00:56:30,550 My kids want to be in this shit, hey. 1360 00:56:30,551 --> 00:56:32,284 It is what it is. 1361 00:56:35,584 --> 00:56:37,250 I just think he's ready to go home 1362 00:56:37,251 --> 00:56:39,650 and be with his mama. 1363 00:56:39,651 --> 00:56:40,983 No shit. 1364 00:56:40,984 --> 00:56:42,183 Shit. 1365 00:56:42,184 --> 00:56:43,583 We don't always get what we want, 1366 00:56:43,584 --> 00:56:44,816 do we? 1367 00:56:44,817 --> 00:56:46,250 What if his friends see the movie? 1368 00:56:46,251 --> 00:56:47,483 He's going to be embarrassed. 1369 00:56:47,484 --> 00:56:48,617 Fuck his friends. 1370 00:56:48,618 --> 00:56:50,718 His friends ain't paying college. 1371 00:56:52,384 --> 00:56:56,084 Well, at least let him keep his afro. 1372 00:56:58,351 --> 00:57:00,583 That wig lady thinks she can make him a skin wig. 1373 00:57:00,584 --> 00:57:01,849 It'll look natural. 1374 00:57:01,850 --> 00:57:03,583 It'll be perfect. 1375 00:57:03,584 --> 00:57:06,882 Of course she does, and a skin wig costs money. 1376 00:57:06,883 --> 00:57:09,717 I don't have the bread to pamper him, 1377 00:57:09,718 --> 00:57:10,749 or you, 1378 00:57:10,750 --> 00:57:12,216 or any other motherfucker, 1379 00:57:12,217 --> 00:57:13,283 and if I did, 1380 00:57:13,284 --> 00:57:14,882 I'd fix the focus on B Camera first 1381 00:57:14,883 --> 00:57:15,883 and I'd buy more film. 1382 00:57:15,884 --> 00:57:17,283 Mario can grow more hair later. 1383 00:57:17,284 --> 00:57:18,450 I can't grow more film. 1384 00:57:18,451 --> 00:57:19,683 Melvin, listen to yourself. 1385 00:57:19,684 --> 00:57:21,250 You're cutting the boy's hair off 1386 00:57:21,251 --> 00:57:22,550 and you're forcing him 1387 00:57:22,551 --> 00:57:23,849 to be in a sex scene. 1388 00:57:23,850 --> 00:57:25,782 It's not real. It's acting. 1389 00:57:25,783 --> 00:57:27,350 He wants to act. 1390 00:57:27,351 --> 00:57:28,351 He's in a motherfucking movie. 1391 00:57:28,351 --> 00:57:29,351 He should be happy. 1392 00:57:29,351 --> 00:57:30,351 What? 1393 00:57:30,352 --> 00:57:31,849 He's tough. He's resilient. 1394 00:57:31,850 --> 00:57:33,450 He's an ambitious little motherfucker. 1395 00:57:33,451 --> 00:57:34,583 He can handle it. 1396 00:57:34,584 --> 00:57:36,183 What if he can't handle it? 1397 00:57:36,184 --> 00:57:38,016 Are you going to risk fucking up his childhood 1398 00:57:38,017 --> 00:57:39,216 just because yours was fucked up? 1399 00:57:39,217 --> 00:57:41,516 You want to turn him into some macho stud man 1400 00:57:41,517 --> 00:57:44,216 like you think you're supposed to be? 1401 00:57:44,217 --> 00:57:46,250 I'm going to split. 1402 00:57:46,251 --> 00:57:47,782 I'm out. 1403 00:57:47,783 --> 00:57:49,050 Of course you are. 1404 00:57:51,050 --> 00:57:54,183 You got to go screw everything that moves? 1405 00:57:54,184 --> 00:57:56,450 That's what this shit is about? 1406 00:57:56,451 --> 00:57:57,583 Me and chicks? 1407 00:57:57,584 --> 00:57:59,183 No, it's not about you and your chicks. 1408 00:57:59,184 --> 00:58:01,617 It's about you not respecting anyone. 1409 00:58:01,618 --> 00:58:02,916 Not even your own son. 1410 00:58:02,917 --> 00:58:06,116 You know what you are? 1411 00:58:06,117 --> 00:58:07,149 You're a nice sister 1412 00:58:07,150 --> 00:58:08,550 who has no idea what it's like 1413 00:58:08,551 --> 00:58:09,949 on the other side of the tracks. 1414 00:58:09,950 --> 00:58:12,149 None. And maybe you don't respect the fact 1415 00:58:12,150 --> 00:58:14,350 that I know my own kid better than he knows himself. 1416 00:58:14,351 --> 00:58:15,749 I know what the fuck I'm doing 1417 00:58:15,750 --> 00:58:16,949 and he can handle it. 1418 00:58:16,950 --> 00:58:18,583 He can handle it. 1419 00:58:18,584 --> 00:58:21,116 Why don't you ask Bill, 1420 00:58:21,117 --> 00:58:22,250 or Clyde, 1421 00:58:22,251 --> 00:58:23,650 or that crazy-ass assistant of yours, 1422 00:58:23,651 --> 00:58:24,916 Priscilla? 1423 00:58:24,917 --> 00:58:27,983 If they ain't too scared to tell you the truth. 1424 00:58:27,984 --> 00:58:30,049 My grandmother used to call it,... 1425 00:58:30,050 --> 00:58:31,983 listening with half an ear. 1426 00:58:31,984 --> 00:58:33,450 Dig? 1427 00:58:33,451 --> 00:58:36,316 Well, Melvin, 1428 00:58:36,317 --> 00:58:39,550 he'll listen with, like, a third of an ear. 1429 00:58:39,551 --> 00:58:41,483 It was Melvin. 1430 00:58:41,484 --> 00:58:42,749 His kids. 1431 00:58:42,750 --> 00:58:44,083 His dad. 1432 00:58:44,084 --> 00:58:45,084 A family affair. 1433 00:58:45,085 --> 00:58:46,717 And we were all a part of it. 1434 00:58:46,718 --> 00:58:51,283 We all had a role to play in it, like it or not. 1435 00:58:51,284 --> 00:58:53,483 Black man's got to work twice as hard to get hits. 1436 00:58:53,484 --> 00:58:54,617 That's what I'm talking about. 1437 00:58:54,618 --> 00:58:56,183 Can't be afraid of hard work. 1438 00:58:56,184 --> 00:58:58,316 I wasn't hard on the boy. 1439 00:58:58,317 --> 00:59:00,551 That's a fact. 1440 00:59:19,351 --> 00:59:20,650 How much? 1441 00:59:20,651 --> 00:59:22,450 Short answer's all I could get for 50 bucks. 1442 00:59:22,451 --> 00:59:23,782 Fucking actors kept dropping lines. 1443 00:59:23,783 --> 00:59:24,816 Eight fucking takes. 1444 00:59:24,817 --> 00:59:26,216 You got to buy enough film, man. 1445 00:59:26,217 --> 00:59:27,516 Well, film costs money. 1446 00:59:27,517 --> 00:59:28,717 So does down-time, Clyde. 1447 00:59:28,718 --> 00:59:30,316 Every minute that crew's sitting on their ass, 1448 00:59:30,317 --> 00:59:31,317 that's costing us. 1449 00:59:31,317 --> 00:59:32,317 Just get what you need. 1450 00:59:32,318 --> 00:59:33,350 With what? 1451 00:59:33,351 --> 00:59:34,949 How the fuck was I supposed to know 1452 00:59:34,950 --> 00:59:36,650 the bitch wouldn't know her damn lines? 1453 00:59:36,651 --> 00:59:37,651 Why aren't we shooting? 1454 00:59:37,652 --> 00:59:38,717 Camera's reloading, chief. 1455 00:59:38,718 --> 00:59:39,816 How long's he been waiting? 1456 00:59:39,817 --> 00:59:40,817 Too long. 1457 00:59:40,817 --> 00:59:41,817 Quiet on the set. 1458 00:59:41,818 --> 00:59:43,516 Quiet on the set. 1459 00:59:43,517 --> 00:59:44,550 Roll sound. 1460 00:59:44,551 --> 00:59:45,551 Rolling! 1461 00:59:45,552 --> 00:59:47,083 Speed. 1462 00:59:47,084 --> 00:59:48,116 A Camera. 1463 00:59:48,117 --> 00:59:49,583 A Camera's rolling. 1464 00:59:49,584 --> 00:59:50,650 B Camera. 1465 00:59:50,651 --> 00:59:51,684 B Camera ready. 1466 00:59:52,384 --> 00:59:56,116 And... action. 1467 00:59:56,117 --> 00:59:57,550 Little smile, ladies. 1468 00:59:57,551 --> 01:00:00,083 Looking at me right here. 1469 01:00:00,084 --> 01:00:01,782 At me, me, me. 1470 01:00:01,783 --> 01:00:04,216 And good and cut. 1471 01:00:04,217 --> 01:00:06,416 You're up next, little man. 1472 01:00:06,417 --> 01:00:07,618 Time to get ready. 1473 01:00:09,417 --> 01:00:10,816 Hey, Clyde, what time tomorrow? 1474 01:00:10,817 --> 01:00:12,749 Can you wait for the call sheets? 1475 01:00:12,750 --> 01:00:13,983 I got to go to court. 1476 01:00:13,984 --> 01:00:17,250 José, you're killing me. All right? 1477 01:00:17,251 --> 01:00:20,849 Show me the sides. 1478 01:00:20,850 --> 01:00:23,250 There, right above the ear. 1479 01:00:23,251 --> 01:00:24,283 See that, Nora? 1480 01:00:24,284 --> 01:00:25,316 Smooth that down. 1481 01:00:25,317 --> 01:00:26,317 Yeah, we can see. 1482 01:00:26,317 --> 01:00:27,317 Cover it with makeup. 1483 01:00:27,318 --> 01:00:28,516 I think it'll work fine. 1484 01:00:28,517 --> 01:00:30,217 I didn't ask you what you think, Clyde. 1485 01:00:32,950 --> 01:00:34,283 All right, let's do it. 1486 01:00:34,284 --> 01:00:35,782 We got a movie to shoot. 1487 01:00:35,783 --> 01:00:37,949 Scene two, opening sequence. 1488 01:00:37,950 --> 01:00:40,817 Young Sweetback loses his virginity. 1489 01:00:45,384 --> 01:00:48,250 Thank you for letting him wear the skin wig 1490 01:00:48,251 --> 01:00:49,882 and not cutting his hair off. 1491 01:00:49,883 --> 01:00:50,883 That's just the way 1492 01:00:50,883 --> 01:00:51,883 things worked out this time. 1493 01:00:51,884 --> 01:00:53,316 We've still got a scene to shoot. 1494 01:00:53,317 --> 01:00:56,316 Am I going to see you later? 1495 01:00:56,317 --> 01:00:57,583 I don't know. 1496 01:00:57,584 --> 01:00:58,683 I don't think so. 1497 01:00:58,684 --> 01:01:02,116 Suit yourself. 1498 01:01:02,117 --> 01:01:06,216 Megan wants to go shopping with me. 1499 01:01:06,217 --> 01:01:08,083 Don't buy her anything you can't afford, 1500 01:01:08,084 --> 01:01:09,551 because I ain't paying it back. 1501 01:01:11,817 --> 01:01:13,217 Bye, Melvin. 1502 01:01:14,783 --> 01:01:16,351 Come on, baby. 1503 01:01:18,984 --> 01:01:21,450 Hey, I'm going to pick a second meal, man. 1504 01:01:21,451 --> 01:01:22,949 What should I get? 1505 01:01:22,950 --> 01:01:25,583 Something cheap. Real cheap. 1506 01:01:25,584 --> 01:01:27,483 Want some licorice? 1507 01:01:27,484 --> 01:01:29,251 Nora, can I see you here? 1508 01:01:31,050 --> 01:01:34,516 Hey, little man. 1509 01:01:34,517 --> 01:01:36,451 Come here. 1510 01:01:38,451 --> 01:01:39,451 Get these clothes off. 1511 01:01:39,451 --> 01:01:40,451 Damn. 1512 01:01:44,584 --> 01:01:46,050 Unbutton it. 1513 01:01:48,317 --> 01:01:50,149 Don't worry, sugar. 1514 01:01:50,150 --> 01:01:52,250 You ain't getting your picture taken. 1515 01:01:52,251 --> 01:01:53,949 Come on. 1516 01:01:53,950 --> 01:01:55,416 Move. 1517 01:01:55,417 --> 01:01:56,417 Yeah. 1518 01:01:56,417 --> 01:01:57,417 That's it. 1519 01:01:58,417 --> 01:02:00,049 Damn, man, I wish that shit was me. 1520 01:02:00,050 --> 01:02:02,250 I didn't get my dick wet till I was 18 1521 01:02:02,251 --> 01:02:05,117 and she was double bag ugly. 1522 01:02:08,150 --> 01:02:10,516 Well... 1523 01:02:10,517 --> 01:02:11,650 Darling, 1524 01:02:11,651 --> 01:02:13,049 we're going to go grab some dinner. 1525 01:02:13,050 --> 01:02:14,250 All right, cool. Get a bite. 1526 01:02:14,251 --> 01:02:15,251 I'll catch up to you. 1527 01:02:15,252 --> 01:02:16,750 All right, let's go. 1528 01:02:19,750 --> 01:02:20,750 Hungry? 1529 01:02:20,750 --> 01:02:21,750 Melvin? 1530 01:02:21,750 --> 01:02:22,750 What? 1531 01:02:22,751 --> 01:02:24,149 My boyfriend wants to talk to you. 1532 01:02:24,150 --> 01:02:25,450 What the fuck is wrong now? 1533 01:02:25,451 --> 01:02:26,849 He just wants to talk to you. 1534 01:02:26,850 --> 01:02:28,250 I ain't got time for this shit. 1535 01:02:28,251 --> 01:02:29,251 This is my man, Maurice. 1536 01:02:29,252 --> 01:02:30,316 Hey, brother. 1537 01:02:30,317 --> 01:02:31,516 It's good to meet you, brother. 1538 01:02:31,517 --> 01:02:33,183 Look, man, I got to tell you, 1539 01:02:33,184 --> 01:02:34,617 the shit you are putting down 1540 01:02:34,618 --> 01:02:35,650 is right on. 1541 01:02:35,651 --> 01:02:37,049 Now, I know you don't know me, 1542 01:02:37,050 --> 01:02:39,049 but I need to do the music on this, man. 1543 01:02:39,050 --> 01:02:40,250 I can do whatever you need. 1544 01:02:40,251 --> 01:02:41,251 Look, man... 1545 01:02:41,252 --> 01:02:42,650 No, Priscilla, she hipped me to it, 1546 01:02:42,651 --> 01:02:43,782 all right? 1547 01:02:43,783 --> 01:02:45,583 I know you don't have a lot of cash, 1548 01:02:45,584 --> 01:02:47,283 but we could really use this chance. 1549 01:02:47,284 --> 01:02:48,516 We? 1550 01:02:48,517 --> 01:02:49,683 My new band. 1551 01:02:49,684 --> 01:02:50,717 What do y'all call yourselves? 1552 01:02:50,718 --> 01:02:53,049 Earth, Wind & Fire. 1553 01:02:53,050 --> 01:02:55,216 All right, this is how it works. 1554 01:02:55,217 --> 01:02:56,683 What I sing, you play. 1555 01:02:56,684 --> 01:02:59,083 If I like what I hear... If I like what I hear... 1556 01:02:59,084 --> 01:03:00,316 We got a deal. 1557 01:03:00,317 --> 01:03:01,882 All right. Sounds good, man. 1558 01:03:01,883 --> 01:03:03,650 You ain't me heard sing yet. 1559 01:03:03,651 --> 01:03:05,383 I don't know shit about no gun, man! 1560 01:03:05,384 --> 01:03:08,516 Fuck! 1561 01:03:08,517 --> 01:03:10,916 What's your malfunction, man? 1562 01:03:10,917 --> 01:03:12,782 G-go get my... 1563 01:03:12,783 --> 01:03:14,551 my piece, nigga. 1564 01:03:16,251 --> 01:03:17,683 Slow your roll. 1565 01:03:17,684 --> 01:03:18,816 My apologies. 1566 01:03:18,817 --> 01:03:20,416 I thought you got your piece back, okay? 1567 01:03:20,417 --> 01:03:21,417 Priscilla, 1568 01:03:21,418 --> 01:03:22,683 what happened to his .357? 1569 01:03:22,684 --> 01:03:23,717 The pistol? 1570 01:03:23,718 --> 01:03:25,016 Yeah, from the other day. 1571 01:03:25,017 --> 01:03:26,816 I put it in the prop box 1572 01:03:26,817 --> 01:03:28,551 with the other guns. 1573 01:03:31,551 --> 01:03:33,683 What? 1574 01:03:33,684 --> 01:03:35,284 A loaded gun in the prop box? 1575 01:03:38,251 --> 01:03:41,849 The actors had been in and out of that prop box 1576 01:03:41,850 --> 01:03:44,049 at least 100 times, 1577 01:03:44,050 --> 01:03:45,316 all to get their guns... 1578 01:03:45,317 --> 01:03:46,816 Police specials, 1579 01:03:46,817 --> 01:03:49,083 just like that brother's loaded one. 1580 01:03:49,084 --> 01:03:51,216 What? 1581 01:03:51,217 --> 01:03:54,016 Sometime, I suppose when I get the time, 1582 01:03:54,017 --> 01:03:55,782 I'll have reoccurring nightmares 1583 01:03:55,783 --> 01:03:57,217 about that escape. 1584 01:04:02,883 --> 01:04:04,683 Mario. 1585 01:04:04,684 --> 01:04:06,417 Hey. 1586 01:04:09,317 --> 01:04:10,950 I know you're awake. 1587 01:04:15,484 --> 01:04:18,618 Look, son, I want to tell you that... 1588 01:04:23,984 --> 01:04:25,583 you don't have to sleep on the floor. 1589 01:04:25,584 --> 01:04:27,350 Sleep... Sleep on the bed. 1590 01:04:27,351 --> 01:04:30,650 I'll take the couch. 1591 01:04:30,651 --> 01:04:32,983 Mario. 1592 01:04:32,984 --> 01:04:35,817 Suit yourself. 1593 01:04:43,850 --> 01:04:46,883 President Nixon had no comment... 1594 01:04:48,850 --> 01:04:51,783 Your dick's on fire too? 1595 01:04:52,950 --> 01:04:53,950 Where's second unit, man? 1596 01:04:53,951 --> 01:04:55,350 I thought they'd be here by now. 1597 01:04:55,351 --> 01:04:56,450 The lab called 1598 01:04:56,451 --> 01:04:58,049 and the dailies aren't going to be ready 1599 01:04:58,050 --> 01:04:59,117 till Monday. 1600 01:05:03,718 --> 01:05:04,749 Yeah. 1601 01:05:04,750 --> 01:05:05,949 We got arrested, Mel. 1602 01:05:05,950 --> 01:05:07,949 You got to come down here and get us out. 1603 01:05:07,950 --> 01:05:09,116 What the hell happened? 1604 01:05:09,117 --> 01:05:10,757 We were heading back from the shoot and... 1605 01:05:12,217 --> 01:05:13,517 * Yeah, yeah, yeah * 1606 01:05:16,917 --> 01:05:18,184 * Yeah * 1607 01:05:21,451 --> 01:05:23,284 The pigs, they pulled us over. 1608 01:05:24,750 --> 01:05:25,949 You're not going to believe this. 1609 01:05:25,950 --> 01:05:29,717 They thought my telephoto lens was a bazooka. 1610 01:05:29,718 --> 01:05:31,238 Outside of the truck. Hands against it. 1611 01:05:32,384 --> 01:05:33,717 Let's go. Come on! 1612 01:05:33,718 --> 01:05:35,283 Put that down! Put that down! 1613 01:05:35,284 --> 01:05:36,284 Right here. Right here. 1614 01:05:37,883 --> 01:05:41,283 You one of them Black Panthers, boy? 1615 01:05:41,284 --> 01:05:42,483 What are they holding you for? 1616 01:05:42,484 --> 01:05:43,683 Grand theft. 1617 01:05:43,684 --> 01:05:45,083 They saw us with all that equipment, 1618 01:05:45,084 --> 01:05:46,483 they figured it must have been stolen, 1619 01:05:46,484 --> 01:05:47,683 so they impounded all of it, 1620 01:05:47,684 --> 01:05:48,684 including the truck. 1621 01:05:48,685 --> 01:05:50,083 Did you show them your receipts, José? 1622 01:05:50,084 --> 01:05:51,416 Yeah. 1623 01:05:51,417 --> 01:05:53,250 I showed them everything. They thought it was funny. 1624 01:05:53,251 --> 01:05:54,583 Excuse me. I'm not through yet. 1625 01:05:54,584 --> 01:05:55,584 José. 1626 01:05:59,651 --> 01:06:01,416 Get on it, man. Call a lawyer. 1627 01:06:01,417 --> 01:06:05,283 What lawyer, man? With what money? 1628 01:06:05,284 --> 01:06:07,949 Come on, for crying out loud. 1629 01:06:07,950 --> 01:06:09,049 This is our equipment. 1630 01:06:09,050 --> 01:06:11,483 Some of that's my personal stuff. 1631 01:06:11,484 --> 01:06:12,950 What's the charge? 1632 01:06:14,217 --> 01:06:15,882 Charge of being black. 1633 01:06:15,883 --> 01:06:18,949 Welcome aboard. 1634 01:06:18,950 --> 01:06:20,984 You're a real nigga now. 1635 01:06:39,551 --> 01:06:40,782 When's Van Peebles getting us out? 1636 01:06:40,783 --> 01:06:41,983 Soon. He's coming soon. 1637 01:06:41,984 --> 01:06:43,083 Yeah. 1638 01:06:43,084 --> 01:06:44,084 He fucking better. 1639 01:06:44,085 --> 01:06:45,416 Shit. 1640 01:06:45,417 --> 01:06:47,717 He fucking better. 1641 01:06:47,718 --> 01:06:50,217 Sick of this shit. 1642 01:07:02,783 --> 01:07:03,916 Hello. 1643 01:07:03,917 --> 01:07:05,618 Yeah, man, it's me, Melvin. 1644 01:07:12,251 --> 01:07:15,617 Hold on a second, man. 1645 01:07:15,618 --> 01:07:19,550 Learn how to play some tennis. 1646 01:07:19,551 --> 01:07:22,882 Hey, Mel, you okay? 1647 01:07:22,883 --> 01:07:24,116 My crew just got arrested. 1648 01:07:24,117 --> 01:07:25,916 I don't know if I'm going to make it. 1649 01:07:25,917 --> 01:07:27,416 I'm tapped out. 1650 01:07:27,417 --> 01:07:28,882 I got to finish this movie. 1651 01:07:28,883 --> 01:07:30,350 I got to do it right. 1652 01:07:30,351 --> 01:07:32,116 So how much you need? 1653 01:07:32,117 --> 01:07:34,483 To get me through post, a lot. 1654 01:07:34,484 --> 01:07:36,016 Well, how much? 1655 01:07:36,017 --> 01:07:38,817 50,000. 1656 01:07:47,117 --> 01:07:48,316 Cosby came through. 1657 01:07:48,317 --> 01:07:49,317 He fucked us, man. 1658 01:07:49,318 --> 01:07:50,583 It's the start of the weekend. 1659 01:07:50,584 --> 01:07:52,584 There're no judges available till Monday. 1660 01:07:56,251 --> 01:07:58,350 You go down there and you visit him. 1661 01:07:58,351 --> 01:08:00,949 It'll do the troops good for them to see you. 1662 01:08:00,950 --> 01:08:02,216 No. 1663 01:08:02,217 --> 01:08:03,816 What the fuck are you talking about? 1664 01:08:03,817 --> 01:08:04,817 No. No. 1665 01:08:04,818 --> 01:08:05,882 Right now, to those cops, 1666 01:08:05,883 --> 01:08:06,983 Melvin Van Peebles 1667 01:08:06,984 --> 01:08:08,283 is some white, aristocratic Dutch guy, 1668 01:08:08,284 --> 01:08:09,284 right? 1669 01:08:09,285 --> 01:08:10,683 I show up with my black ass 1670 01:08:10,684 --> 01:08:11,882 to start singing "We Shall Overcome" 1671 01:08:11,883 --> 01:08:12,883 with the troops, 1672 01:08:12,884 --> 01:08:14,749 they throw us all the fuck in jail. 1673 01:08:14,750 --> 01:08:15,750 We got three days left 1674 01:08:15,751 --> 01:08:16,782 of filming this motherfucker. 1675 01:08:16,783 --> 01:08:17,983 We'll jeopardize the whole film, man. 1676 01:08:17,984 --> 01:08:19,183 Fuck the film, man! Fuck it! 1677 01:08:19,184 --> 01:08:20,483 Fuck the fucking film, man. 1678 01:08:20,484 --> 01:08:22,882 This is our crew behind bars on bullshit charges. 1679 01:08:22,883 --> 01:08:23,883 Doesn't that bother you? 1680 01:08:23,884 --> 01:08:25,049 Yeah, 1681 01:08:25,050 --> 01:08:26,483 it's been bothering me for 400 years! 1682 01:08:26,484 --> 01:08:27,882 That's why we're shooting this shit, Bill! 1683 01:08:27,883 --> 01:08:29,283 Man, don't give me that 400... 1684 01:08:29,284 --> 01:08:30,483 Fuck it, I'll go by myself. 1685 01:08:30,484 --> 01:08:32,483 No, no, no, no, no, no. Hold the fuck up. 1686 01:08:32,484 --> 01:08:33,683 Here's what the fuck you do. 1687 01:08:33,684 --> 01:08:35,283 You go home. You cool the fuck down. 1688 01:08:35,284 --> 01:08:36,284 Monday morning, 1689 01:08:36,285 --> 01:08:37,882 you put on a nice white guy suit, 1690 01:08:37,883 --> 01:08:39,683 you go down there, and you bail them out. 1691 01:08:39,684 --> 01:08:41,683 Any emotional liberal shit you do right now 1692 01:08:41,684 --> 01:08:44,316 will only jeopardize our crew. 1693 01:08:44,317 --> 01:08:45,416 Do you hear me? 1694 01:08:45,417 --> 01:08:48,016 Yeah. 1695 01:08:48,017 --> 01:08:51,150 I hear you. 1696 01:08:55,117 --> 01:08:56,849 Hey, he'd sacrifice his friends, 1697 01:08:56,850 --> 01:08:59,650 his family, 1698 01:08:59,651 --> 01:09:01,416 even me. 1699 01:09:01,417 --> 01:09:03,216 Well, a black man in jail who's not afraid 1700 01:09:03,217 --> 01:09:04,316 is a fool, 1701 01:09:04,317 --> 01:09:07,250 but I heard Big T was crying like a bitch, 1702 01:09:07,251 --> 01:09:11,416 crying for his mama. 1703 01:09:11,417 --> 01:09:13,216 I wasn't scared of shit in that jail, man. 1704 01:09:13,217 --> 01:09:15,384 I was scared of being hungry, that's all. 1705 01:09:19,917 --> 01:09:22,083 Please, folks, this is sound equipment. 1706 01:09:22,084 --> 01:09:23,250 Sound equipment? 1707 01:09:23,251 --> 01:09:24,251 Please stand back. 1708 01:09:24,252 --> 01:09:25,916 Y'all making a movie? 1709 01:09:25,917 --> 01:09:29,983 I can do Flip Wilson. 1710 01:09:29,984 --> 01:09:31,383 Get the fuck out of the way. 1711 01:09:31,384 --> 01:09:32,816 Move. 1712 01:09:32,817 --> 01:09:34,149 How many extras we got? 1713 01:09:34,150 --> 01:09:35,216 Seven. 1714 01:09:35,217 --> 01:09:36,617 I need more. 1715 01:09:36,618 --> 01:09:37,749 Melvin, we got a problem. 1716 01:09:37,750 --> 01:09:39,350 We only got four mags of film. 1717 01:09:39,351 --> 01:09:40,583 Fuck. 1718 01:09:40,584 --> 01:09:42,683 If everything went perfect, I'd need five. 1719 01:09:42,684 --> 01:09:44,749 I told Clyde six. Where's Clyde? 1720 01:09:44,750 --> 01:09:46,016 Clyde! 1721 01:09:46,017 --> 01:09:47,782 Two men, two women? 1722 01:09:47,783 --> 01:09:48,882 Fine. 1723 01:09:48,883 --> 01:09:50,617 Damage control. 1724 01:09:50,618 --> 01:09:51,816 Some of them are pissed 1725 01:09:51,817 --> 01:09:53,416 about spending the weekend in jail. 1726 01:09:53,417 --> 01:09:55,383 Now, if T quits, the others might follow. 1727 01:09:55,384 --> 01:09:56,583 Bill tells me we only have 1728 01:09:56,584 --> 01:09:58,183 four mags of film for the whole day. 1729 01:09:58,184 --> 01:09:59,816 Really, that should be plenty. 1730 01:09:59,817 --> 01:10:01,683 I asked you for six. 1731 01:10:01,684 --> 01:10:03,483 Well, I needed the money for the stunt man 1732 01:10:03,484 --> 01:10:04,683 for the L.A. river chase. 1733 01:10:04,684 --> 01:10:06,283 Now you saw what happened when Bill tried. 1734 01:10:06,284 --> 01:10:08,083 Clyde, I can do that stunt myself. 1735 01:10:08,084 --> 01:10:09,983 What I can't do is shoot without film. 1736 01:10:09,984 --> 01:10:11,183 Did you sign off on this? 1737 01:10:11,184 --> 01:10:12,583 No, no. 1738 01:10:12,584 --> 01:10:13,849 Okay, here's what I want. 1739 01:10:13,850 --> 01:10:15,250 You, Bill, go get all those people 1740 01:10:15,251 --> 01:10:16,251 away from the sound equipment. 1741 01:10:16,252 --> 01:10:17,650 I want to start our first shot 1742 01:10:17,651 --> 01:10:18,651 in 20 minutes. 1743 01:10:18,652 --> 01:10:19,782 We're going to start 1744 01:10:19,783 --> 01:10:20,983 with the cops bringing Sweetback out. 1745 01:10:20,984 --> 01:10:21,984 Isn't that Clyde's job, man? 1746 01:10:21,985 --> 01:10:23,183 Not anymore. Clyde, you're fired. 1747 01:10:23,184 --> 01:10:24,483 This shit is not my fault. 1748 01:10:24,484 --> 01:10:26,683 Now, there's only so much I can do with no money, 1749 01:10:26,684 --> 01:10:28,650 but if you're looking for somebody to blame... 1750 01:10:28,651 --> 01:10:29,816 Right, it's my fault. 1751 01:10:29,817 --> 01:10:31,617 I got you in over your head. I'm sorry. 1752 01:10:31,618 --> 01:10:33,617 When I get a bigger budget or a smaller film, 1753 01:10:33,618 --> 01:10:35,583 I'll give you a call. 1754 01:10:35,584 --> 01:10:37,984 This is bullshit, Melvin! 1755 01:10:40,984 --> 01:10:42,251 T, I need to talk to you. 1756 01:10:51,484 --> 01:10:52,882 We got a problem? 1757 01:10:52,883 --> 01:10:55,882 Yeah, brother, we got a problem. 1758 01:10:55,883 --> 01:10:59,882 I work with niggas, I end up in jail. 1759 01:10:59,883 --> 01:11:02,283 Some shit like that go down again, 1760 01:11:02,284 --> 01:11:04,083 I'm going to break me 1761 01:11:04,084 --> 01:11:06,283 some little motherfucker neck. 1762 01:11:06,284 --> 01:11:08,650 T, you're a big motherfucker. 1763 01:11:08,651 --> 01:11:10,550 In a fair fight, you'd whoop my ass. 1764 01:11:10,551 --> 01:11:12,250 I ain't fought fair in a long time, 1765 01:11:12,251 --> 01:11:13,650 and if I was afraid of you, 1766 01:11:13,651 --> 01:11:15,049 I wouldn't be the kind of nigga 1767 01:11:15,050 --> 01:11:16,183 to get that shit done 1768 01:11:16,184 --> 01:11:17,782 in the first motherfucking place! 1769 01:11:17,783 --> 01:11:20,483 I got everything I own on the line, 1770 01:11:20,484 --> 01:11:22,283 and all my family's shit, 1771 01:11:22,284 --> 01:11:23,416 but it's bigger than me, 1772 01:11:23,417 --> 01:11:25,216 and it's bigger than your two days in jail. 1773 01:11:25,217 --> 01:11:27,550 This is a war, 1774 01:11:27,551 --> 01:11:29,416 it's our war, 1775 01:11:29,417 --> 01:11:31,416 and if you don't know by now that's your war, 1776 01:11:31,417 --> 01:11:33,016 take your big ass back to your shed 1777 01:11:33,017 --> 01:11:34,350 and your smoked meat. 1778 01:11:34,351 --> 01:11:35,617 No hard feelings, brother. 1779 01:11:35,618 --> 01:11:39,316 We got three days left to shoot, 1780 01:11:39,317 --> 01:11:41,116 so if you stay, 1781 01:11:41,117 --> 01:11:43,016 and brother, I hope you do, 1782 01:11:43,017 --> 01:11:45,383 don't ever threaten me again. 1783 01:11:45,384 --> 01:11:47,882 Just step to me and take me the fuck out, 1784 01:11:47,883 --> 01:11:49,583 before I take you, 1785 01:11:49,584 --> 01:11:54,983 because I'm going to have to take you seriously, T. 1786 01:11:54,984 --> 01:11:58,684 T, this is our shit. 1787 01:12:08,517 --> 01:12:09,916 Hey, yo, that fool with the glasses 1788 01:12:09,917 --> 01:12:11,717 said he gonna put me in the movie, man. 1789 01:12:11,718 --> 01:12:13,650 Please, you got to move these people back. 1790 01:12:13,651 --> 01:12:15,350 Okay, all right... 1791 01:12:15,351 --> 01:12:16,782 Hey, my good brothers and sisters, 1792 01:12:16,783 --> 01:12:17,783 let's... 1793 01:12:17,784 --> 01:12:18,983 let's move it on back, please. 1794 01:12:18,984 --> 01:12:20,550 I ain't your brother, Casper. 1795 01:12:20,551 --> 01:12:22,749 Man, I'll beat your white ass back across that freeway. 1796 01:12:22,750 --> 01:12:23,782 Don't come here 1797 01:12:23,783 --> 01:12:25,250 telling us where we can't be. 1798 01:12:25,251 --> 01:12:27,250 Peace, peace, okay? 1799 01:12:27,251 --> 01:12:29,216 Let's just, back it up. 1800 01:12:29,217 --> 01:12:31,650 All right. All right. Excellent. 1801 01:12:31,651 --> 01:12:33,416 That's exactly what I'm talking about. 1802 01:12:33,417 --> 01:12:34,484 Thank you. 1803 01:12:50,850 --> 01:12:52,684 Sound is ready, boss. 1804 01:12:56,883 --> 01:12:58,149 Camera set. 1805 01:12:58,150 --> 01:13:00,016 Kids, get in. 1806 01:13:00,017 --> 01:13:01,150 Frame up. 1807 01:13:05,451 --> 01:13:07,284 It's out of focus. 1808 01:13:11,017 --> 01:13:13,117 Looks sharp to me, chief. 1809 01:13:15,150 --> 01:13:16,150 Okay, frame up. 1810 01:13:16,151 --> 01:13:17,184 T. 1811 01:13:18,217 --> 01:13:19,383 Rolling. 1812 01:13:19,384 --> 01:13:20,916 Slate. 1813 01:13:20,917 --> 01:13:21,917 Action. 1814 01:13:21,918 --> 01:13:23,116 Wash your car, mister? 1815 01:13:23,117 --> 01:13:24,617 No charge if you don't like it. 1816 01:13:24,618 --> 01:13:27,083 Yeah, no charge if you don't like it. 1817 01:13:27,084 --> 01:13:29,350 Okay, Bob? Got it. 1818 01:13:29,351 --> 01:13:30,583 Okay, cut! All right, everybody out. 1819 01:13:30,584 --> 01:13:31,983 We're going to blow this motherfucker up. 1820 01:13:31,984 --> 01:13:32,984 I need everybody back. 1821 01:13:32,985 --> 01:13:34,425 Get all those people back over there. 1822 01:13:43,284 --> 01:13:45,283 Fire engine! They called a fire engine! 1823 01:13:45,284 --> 01:13:46,683 Someone must have called the fire department. 1824 01:13:46,684 --> 01:13:48,483 We got to get the hell out of here. 1825 01:13:48,484 --> 01:13:49,683 No, no, no, hold on. 1826 01:13:49,684 --> 01:13:51,283 That's why we got the permits on Friday, 1827 01:13:51,284 --> 01:13:52,683 so they couldn't notify the fire department. 1828 01:13:52,684 --> 01:13:54,404 You can't buy this kind of production value. 1829 01:13:55,050 --> 01:13:56,383 Tommy, get over here. 1830 01:13:56,384 --> 01:13:58,583 Listen, fire department's going to show up soon. 1831 01:13:58,584 --> 01:14:00,583 Don't show them the permit till the last possible second. 1832 01:14:00,584 --> 01:14:01,882 I'll get the production value. 1833 01:14:01,883 --> 01:14:03,250 Sweetback's going to make his escape. 1834 01:14:03,251 --> 01:14:05,384 Roll the cameras. Go! 1835 01:14:11,451 --> 01:14:14,350 Somehow we got that shot. 1836 01:14:14,351 --> 01:14:15,450 With the Cosby money, 1837 01:14:15,451 --> 01:14:17,016 a deal from the labs, 1838 01:14:17,017 --> 01:14:19,816 and my borrowing from anyone I could, 1839 01:14:19,817 --> 01:14:21,216 our little ragtag crew 1840 01:14:21,217 --> 01:14:23,650 managed to make it through the end of the shoot. 1841 01:14:23,651 --> 01:14:25,749 Trial by fire will singe your ass, 1842 01:14:25,750 --> 01:14:28,016 but it also bonds. 1843 01:14:28,017 --> 01:14:30,550 We'd become more than comrades in arms. 1844 01:14:30,551 --> 01:14:32,517 We were family. 1845 01:14:39,217 --> 01:14:40,516 Smoked turkey? 1846 01:14:40,517 --> 01:14:42,116 Last you're going to see in a while. 1847 01:14:42,117 --> 01:14:44,816 Tommy's taking me on his next film. 1848 01:14:44,817 --> 01:14:48,250 Teach him how to make sound. 1849 01:14:48,251 --> 01:14:49,550 Somebody's got to learn this shit 1850 01:14:49,551 --> 01:14:51,450 before I retire. 1851 01:14:51,451 --> 01:14:54,116 That's fucking great. 1852 01:14:54,117 --> 01:14:55,650 That's beautiful. 1853 01:14:55,651 --> 01:14:56,651 Beautiful. 1854 01:14:56,652 --> 01:14:58,516 Come here. 1855 01:14:58,517 --> 01:14:59,750 Hey, Melvin. 1856 01:15:00,850 --> 01:15:01,850 Allow me to introduce you. 1857 01:15:01,851 --> 01:15:03,016 This is Jimmy, 1858 01:15:03,017 --> 01:15:05,683 the best editor no money can buy. 1859 01:15:05,684 --> 01:15:07,250 Jimmy, you up for spending 1860 01:15:07,251 --> 01:15:08,916 long hours in a dark room with me? 1861 01:15:08,917 --> 01:15:11,283 Because I'm a motherfucker to work with. 1862 01:15:11,284 --> 01:15:13,016 Fun is the enemy, sir. 1863 01:15:13,017 --> 01:15:14,250 I see you've been briefed. 1864 01:15:14,251 --> 01:15:18,184 All right, welcome aboard. 1865 01:15:19,850 --> 01:15:22,116 I'll tell you one thing right now. 1866 01:15:22,117 --> 01:15:23,450 Independent filmmaking would not exist 1867 01:15:23,451 --> 01:15:27,283 had Melvin not put a "Van" in the middle of his name. 1868 01:15:27,284 --> 01:15:31,083 You know, when you're clowning and making the man laugh, 1869 01:15:31,084 --> 01:15:33,416 you can do anything, 1870 01:15:33,417 --> 01:15:36,749 but when you get serious, you see, 1871 01:15:36,750 --> 01:15:38,983 that's when you become dangerous. 1872 01:15:38,984 --> 01:15:43,617 Yeah, it kind of went, like, * You bled my mama * 1873 01:15:43,618 --> 01:15:46,116 * You bled my papa * 1874 01:15:46,117 --> 01:15:50,783 * But you won't bleed me ** 1875 01:15:52,284 --> 01:15:54,283 Good news was, 1876 01:15:54,284 --> 01:15:55,916 Earth, Wind & Fire came through 1877 01:15:55,917 --> 01:15:57,983 with some of the music. 1878 01:15:57,984 --> 01:15:59,250 We played it against the movie, 1879 01:15:59,251 --> 01:16:01,783 and it worked like a motherfucker. 1880 01:16:22,651 --> 01:16:23,816 Now! 1881 01:16:23,817 --> 01:16:26,949 * You bled my mama * 1882 01:16:26,950 --> 01:16:28,783 * You bled my papa * 1883 01:16:30,750 --> 01:16:32,451 * Won't bleed me * 1884 01:16:34,551 --> 01:16:35,782 * Won't bleed me ** 1885 01:16:35,783 --> 01:16:37,617 Yeah! That's it! 1886 01:16:37,618 --> 01:16:38,618 That is it! 1887 01:16:38,619 --> 01:16:39,650 We got it, baby! 1888 01:16:39,651 --> 01:16:40,651 You know what you want. 1889 01:16:40,651 --> 01:16:41,651 You niggas going home 1890 01:16:41,652 --> 01:16:43,049 to make some more of this music. 1891 01:16:43,050 --> 01:16:45,049 I need it. I need all of it right now. 1892 01:16:45,050 --> 01:16:47,149 Time is money. Go, go, go, go, go. 1893 01:16:47,150 --> 01:16:49,316 Jimmy, whenever you're ready. 1894 01:16:49,317 --> 01:16:51,016 Speaking of which, we need some bread, man. 1895 01:16:51,017 --> 01:16:52,083 Got it. 1896 01:16:52,084 --> 01:16:53,483 Got to give you a check, though. 1897 01:16:53,484 --> 01:16:55,049 No problem. 1898 01:16:55,050 --> 01:16:56,517 Okay. 1899 01:16:58,618 --> 01:17:00,782 All right. 1900 01:17:00,783 --> 01:17:01,983 Bring it back to me now. 1901 01:17:01,984 --> 01:17:02,984 Right on. 1902 01:17:05,817 --> 01:17:07,516 That check was $500. 1903 01:17:07,517 --> 01:17:09,250 You ain't got that. 1904 01:17:09,251 --> 01:17:11,383 Get me some coffee. 1905 01:17:11,384 --> 01:17:13,150 Go on. Get me some coffee. 1906 01:17:36,284 --> 01:17:38,317 * You bled my mama * 1907 01:17:40,917 --> 01:17:42,183 The bad news was 1908 01:17:42,184 --> 01:17:44,016 that with the rental of the editing room 1909 01:17:44,017 --> 01:17:45,983 and all the money I owed, 1910 01:17:45,984 --> 01:17:47,683 interest was piling up. 1911 01:17:47,684 --> 01:17:50,250 Time was of the essence. 1912 01:17:50,251 --> 01:17:51,849 I couldn't make a dime on the movie 1913 01:17:51,850 --> 01:17:53,550 until I sold it, 1914 01:17:53,551 --> 01:17:57,849 and I couldn't sell it until I finished it. 1915 01:17:57,850 --> 01:18:00,650 My ass was dragging. 1916 01:18:00,651 --> 01:18:04,083 Name's Sweetback. 1917 01:18:04,084 --> 01:18:05,084 Sweetback! 1918 01:18:17,384 --> 01:18:18,651 Yeah. 1919 01:18:20,718 --> 01:18:22,016 I told you, 1920 01:18:22,017 --> 01:18:24,284 I got nothing to pay you with until I sell this thing. 1921 01:18:26,417 --> 01:18:27,916 Yeah. No, no. 1922 01:18:27,917 --> 01:18:30,350 I don't know. Two weeks? 1923 01:18:30,351 --> 01:18:31,717 Unacceptable. 1924 01:18:31,718 --> 01:18:33,450 They want it now, get it? 1925 01:18:33,451 --> 01:18:34,816 Is that a threat? 1926 01:18:34,817 --> 01:18:36,216 Take it any way you want to. 1927 01:18:36,217 --> 01:18:38,316 Is that a threat, motherfucker? 1928 01:18:38,317 --> 01:18:41,251 Is that a fucking threat? 1929 01:18:47,817 --> 01:18:49,550 Where's Sweetback? Where is he? 1930 01:18:49,551 --> 01:18:51,117 I don't know where's Sweetback. 1931 01:18:54,484 --> 01:18:55,749 Where's Sweetback? 1932 01:18:55,750 --> 01:18:57,150 Come on, boy! 1933 01:19:01,251 --> 01:19:02,683 Where's Sweetback? 1934 01:19:02,684 --> 01:19:05,416 Where is he? 1935 01:19:05,417 --> 01:19:06,583 Sweetback! 1936 01:19:06,584 --> 01:19:07,917 Come on, boy! 1937 01:19:13,384 --> 01:19:14,849 Are you okay? 1938 01:19:14,850 --> 01:19:15,850 You all right? 1939 01:19:20,684 --> 01:19:22,882 I'm okay. 1940 01:19:22,883 --> 01:19:25,583 Yeah, get... Give me some coffee. 1941 01:19:25,584 --> 01:19:27,216 You got to see a doctor. 1942 01:19:27,217 --> 01:19:30,816 Go get me some coffee. 1943 01:19:30,817 --> 01:19:32,450 About your eyes. 1944 01:19:32,451 --> 01:19:34,183 You got to see a doctor. 1945 01:19:34,184 --> 01:19:35,883 Please, Dad. 1946 01:19:42,184 --> 01:19:43,316 Get the man some coffee. 1947 01:19:43,317 --> 01:19:44,650 Go ahead. I'm fine. Go ahead. 1948 01:19:44,651 --> 01:19:45,717 And that was it... 1949 01:19:45,718 --> 01:19:46,916 Go ahead, I'm fine. 1950 01:19:46,917 --> 01:19:53,849 The first time my kid ever called me Dad. 1951 01:19:53,850 --> 01:19:57,949 You worry about your kids until they put you in the grave. 1952 01:19:57,950 --> 01:20:00,550 He looked like he needed a good meal and a good rest. 1953 01:20:00,551 --> 01:20:01,551 Circles under his eyes. 1954 01:20:01,552 --> 01:20:04,216 Melvin had lost a lot of weight. 1955 01:20:04,217 --> 01:20:06,416 He was in trouble, you see, 1956 01:20:06,417 --> 01:20:09,718 because I could see it in his eyes. 1957 01:20:14,017 --> 01:20:15,550 Things had gotten so bad, 1958 01:20:15,551 --> 01:20:17,350 I had to sell the bike. 1959 01:20:17,351 --> 01:20:19,782 From now, on we'd be hoofing it. 1960 01:20:19,783 --> 01:20:21,416 I also had to collect all my debts 1961 01:20:21,417 --> 01:20:24,618 by any motherfucking means necessary. 1962 01:20:28,084 --> 01:20:29,483 Doctor said if I didn't rest soon, 1963 01:20:29,484 --> 01:20:31,083 I could lose sight in my left eye. 1964 01:20:31,084 --> 01:20:36,117 Rest wasn't an option, so I got an eye patch. 1965 01:20:38,618 --> 01:20:40,450 I need the edit list from yesterday. 1966 01:20:40,451 --> 01:20:41,717 Hey, can we talk? 1967 01:20:41,718 --> 01:20:42,849 We just did. 1968 01:20:42,850 --> 01:20:44,783 I said I need the edit list from yesterday. 1969 01:20:48,284 --> 01:20:50,150 I'm quitting. 1970 01:20:52,584 --> 01:20:53,983 What the fuck did you say? 1971 01:20:53,984 --> 01:20:54,984 I have to quit. 1972 01:20:54,984 --> 01:20:55,984 Man, I'm really sorry. 1973 01:20:55,985 --> 01:20:57,183 But I got this other thing. 1974 01:20:57,184 --> 01:20:58,782 You come in here, 1975 01:20:58,783 --> 01:21:00,451 telling me what the fuck you going to do? 1976 01:21:02,117 --> 01:21:04,116 But... You gonna leave this fucking film 1977 01:21:04,117 --> 01:21:05,550 when I tell you you can! 1978 01:21:05,551 --> 01:21:06,882 Melvin! 1979 01:21:06,883 --> 01:21:08,149 What the fuck, man? 1980 01:21:08,150 --> 01:21:09,749 We had a deal! We had a deal! 1981 01:21:09,750 --> 01:21:10,750 You're the only other motherfucker 1982 01:21:10,750 --> 01:21:11,750 in here besides me 1983 01:21:11,751 --> 01:21:13,149 that knows all these elements! 1984 01:21:13,150 --> 01:21:15,350 If I don't sell this shit and make some bread soon, 1985 01:21:15,351 --> 01:21:16,650 I'm gonna lose every fucking thing! 1986 01:21:16,651 --> 01:21:19,417 You got it? 1987 01:21:21,251 --> 01:21:22,983 * You bled my mama * 1988 01:21:22,984 --> 01:21:25,983 * You bled my papa * 1989 01:21:25,984 --> 01:21:27,383 Things had gotten out of hand, 1990 01:21:27,384 --> 01:21:31,416 but somehow I managed to get the movie done. 1991 01:21:31,417 --> 01:21:36,016 All 97 minutes of it. 1992 01:21:36,017 --> 01:21:37,650 I was desperate to sell. 1993 01:21:37,651 --> 01:21:40,216 Plan was to have distributors come 1994 01:21:40,217 --> 01:21:41,683 to a cast and crew screening, 1995 01:21:41,684 --> 01:21:45,316 so the buyers would see it with an enthusiastic audience. 1996 01:21:45,317 --> 01:21:48,383 You know, T, the Temptations called. 1997 01:21:48,384 --> 01:21:49,949 They want their suit back. 1998 01:21:49,950 --> 01:21:52,017 I'd have to put on my best game face. 1999 01:21:54,050 --> 01:21:55,450 Never let the buyers see you bleed. 2000 01:21:55,451 --> 01:21:56,617 Action. 2001 01:21:56,618 --> 01:21:59,283 No, we have not seen Sweetback. 2002 01:21:59,284 --> 01:22:02,717 And cut. 2003 01:22:02,718 --> 01:22:04,316 The apple don't fall far from the tree, 2004 01:22:04,317 --> 01:22:05,317 does it? 2005 01:22:05,318 --> 01:22:06,516 You're so right. 2006 01:22:06,517 --> 01:22:08,617 Comes a point 2007 01:22:08,618 --> 01:22:11,183 where you got to let the kids go, 2008 01:22:11,184 --> 01:22:14,383 and just be supportive of them. 2009 01:22:14,384 --> 01:22:16,016 This was a movie 2010 01:22:16,017 --> 01:22:18,882 by the brothers for the brothers 2011 01:22:18,883 --> 01:22:20,550 about the brothers, 2012 01:22:20,551 --> 01:22:22,049 and you know what? 2013 01:22:22,050 --> 01:22:26,116 We're all brothers. 2014 01:22:26,117 --> 01:22:28,350 They didn't even invite me to the cast and crew screening. 2015 01:22:28,351 --> 01:22:30,749 Do you believe that shit? It's not like I would have gone. 2016 01:22:30,750 --> 01:22:32,350 I mean, who the fuck am I? Blame-a-Nigga? 2017 01:22:32,351 --> 01:22:34,116 Like everything bad that happened 2018 01:22:34,117 --> 01:22:35,583 is Clyde's fault. 2019 01:22:35,584 --> 01:22:37,183 Motherfucker. 2020 01:22:37,184 --> 01:22:38,416 And that Bill Harris, 2021 01:22:38,417 --> 01:22:39,650 that white boy, 2022 01:22:39,651 --> 01:22:41,049 with all that peace and love bullshit, 2023 01:22:41,050 --> 01:22:42,483 now, that was one honky 2024 01:22:42,484 --> 01:22:44,483 that was out to get me from the very beginning. 2025 01:22:44,484 --> 01:22:45,916 I knew it. I could feel it. 2026 01:22:45,917 --> 01:22:48,383 I was supposed to have the lead in this motherf-fucking movie, 2027 01:22:48,384 --> 01:22:52,949 but I had two f-fucking lines. 2028 01:22:52,950 --> 01:22:54,149 Well, it was very uncomfortable. 2029 01:22:54,150 --> 01:22:55,650 To be honest, I didn't feel safe. 2030 01:22:55,651 --> 01:22:56,749 It was embarrassing. 2031 01:22:56,750 --> 01:22:57,949 The distributors were tripping over themselves 2032 01:22:57,950 --> 01:22:59,149 to get out of the theater. 2033 01:22:59,150 --> 01:23:01,250 What can I say? Listen, we like Mel. 2034 01:23:01,251 --> 01:23:03,049 Well, we both do. That's not the point. 2035 01:23:03,050 --> 01:23:04,583 It's just... the movie wasn't entertaining... 2036 01:23:04,584 --> 01:23:06,283 and who wants to see something like that? 2037 01:23:06,284 --> 01:23:07,916 First thing is, when you make a movie, 2038 01:23:07,917 --> 01:23:09,516 you have to know who your audience is 2039 01:23:09,517 --> 01:23:11,083 and that's a lesson Mel completely forgot, 2040 01:23:11,084 --> 01:23:12,749 went completely out of his head. 2041 01:23:12,750 --> 01:23:13,750 Very sad. 2042 01:23:13,751 --> 01:23:14,949 There's the guy from Stax Records. 2043 01:23:14,950 --> 01:23:16,283 He says the album's ready. 2044 01:23:16,284 --> 01:23:18,083 Just wants to know when the movie's coming out. 2045 01:23:18,084 --> 01:23:19,683 Well, tell him to give me some vinyl 2046 01:23:19,684 --> 01:23:21,283 and I'll let him know when we know. 2047 01:23:21,284 --> 01:23:22,284 Okay? Hey, brother. 2048 01:23:22,285 --> 01:23:23,650 Man, it's beautiful, beautiful. 2049 01:23:23,651 --> 01:23:25,650 Congratulations. 2050 01:23:25,651 --> 01:23:27,416 Thank you, baby. 2051 01:23:27,417 --> 01:23:28,550 You're welcome. 2052 01:23:28,551 --> 01:23:30,983 Bill. Hey. 2053 01:23:30,984 --> 01:23:32,016 What's happening? 2054 01:23:32,017 --> 01:23:34,583 Let me borrow him for one second. 2055 01:23:34,584 --> 01:23:36,183 So what do the fucking the distributors think? 2056 01:23:36,184 --> 01:23:37,184 I don't know, man. 2057 01:23:37,184 --> 01:23:38,184 They split halfway through. 2058 01:23:38,185 --> 01:23:39,316 One guy left his card. 2059 01:23:39,317 --> 01:23:41,450 I don't even know them. Cinemation? 2060 01:23:41,451 --> 01:23:42,516 Wait, wait, 2061 01:23:42,517 --> 01:23:43,717 what about the guy from Spotlight? 2062 01:23:43,718 --> 01:23:45,316 Yeah, he says, once you get it rated, 2063 01:23:45,317 --> 01:23:47,350 if it gets nothing harder than an R, 2064 01:23:47,351 --> 01:23:48,416 then he'll screen it. 2065 01:23:48,417 --> 01:23:49,816 Melvin, we're going to have to run, 2066 01:23:49,817 --> 01:23:51,216 so I just want to congratulate you 2067 01:23:51,217 --> 01:23:53,216 and tell you a lot of hard work up there. 2068 01:23:53,217 --> 01:23:54,217 Good. 2069 01:23:54,218 --> 01:23:56,683 Who would believe this bullshit artist? 2070 01:23:56,684 --> 01:23:57,782 Come on, come on. 2071 01:23:57,783 --> 01:23:59,782 What did you really think? 2072 01:23:59,783 --> 01:24:02,683 Honestly? 2073 01:24:02,684 --> 01:24:05,149 You know, it's... it's... 2074 01:24:05,150 --> 01:24:06,749 it's a dangerous film. What can I say? 2075 01:24:06,750 --> 01:24:08,949 But it's not dangerous when John Wayne has the gun. 2076 01:24:08,950 --> 01:24:12,116 See, most of America looks like John Wayne, 2077 01:24:12,117 --> 01:24:13,717 so I'm just a little nervous 2078 01:24:13,718 --> 01:24:15,350 people aren't going to be able 2079 01:24:15,351 --> 01:24:17,116 to identify with it. 2080 01:24:17,117 --> 01:24:18,916 I don't know. I always identified with the Indians. 2081 01:24:18,917 --> 01:24:20,383 You know what? I don't know anything, 2082 01:24:20,384 --> 01:24:21,983 so leave me out of it, all right? 2083 01:24:21,984 --> 01:24:23,083 When's it rated? 2084 01:24:23,084 --> 01:24:24,283 When and if I submit it. 2085 01:24:24,284 --> 01:24:25,683 Okay, Melvin, no, no, no, no, no. 2086 01:24:25,684 --> 01:24:27,882 You had the whole porn thing that worked with the unions, 2087 01:24:27,883 --> 01:24:29,216 but the ratings board, 2088 01:24:29,217 --> 01:24:31,216 they're just gonna want to cut out a few tits, 2089 01:24:31,217 --> 01:24:32,217 they're gonna want 2090 01:24:32,218 --> 01:24:33,882 to get rid of a few swear words. 2091 01:24:33,883 --> 01:24:35,083 Just get your R and go. 2092 01:24:35,084 --> 01:24:36,483 You know what? It's an all-white jury. 2093 01:24:36,484 --> 01:24:39,483 This board has been doing this since the year zero. 2094 01:24:39,484 --> 01:24:40,650 Somebody has to tell parents 2095 01:24:40,651 --> 01:24:42,550 what kids can see, what they can't see. 2096 01:24:42,551 --> 01:24:45,149 I don't know nothing about birthing babies! 2097 01:24:45,150 --> 01:24:46,583 It wasn't just the blacks 2098 01:24:46,584 --> 01:24:47,983 who were being portrayed negatively. 2099 01:24:47,984 --> 01:24:49,383 It was all of us. 2100 01:24:49,384 --> 01:24:50,983 I'm telling you, 2101 01:24:50,984 --> 01:24:53,049 all the Mexicans who kept saying, 2102 01:24:53,050 --> 01:24:55,016 "Badges! I got no stinking badges!" 2103 01:24:55,017 --> 01:24:57,116 It was the Chinese... 2104 01:24:57,117 --> 01:24:58,617 You speak to me? 2105 01:24:58,618 --> 01:25:01,617 The Indians, you name it. 2106 01:25:01,618 --> 01:25:02,849 The truth is, 2107 01:25:02,850 --> 01:25:04,983 if you weren't white, you were the joke. 2108 01:25:04,984 --> 01:25:08,383 Only thing is, we weren't laughing. 2109 01:25:08,384 --> 01:25:10,083 And any white actor could play us. 2110 01:25:10,084 --> 01:25:13,049 Yellow face, red face, black face, or brown face. 2111 01:25:13,050 --> 01:25:14,782 Get yourself a feather or a turban. 2112 01:25:14,783 --> 01:25:16,516 Who said that was okay? 2113 01:25:16,517 --> 01:25:18,016 Making us mammies and butlers, 2114 01:25:18,017 --> 01:25:19,949 kissing Shirley Temple's little ass. 2115 01:25:19,950 --> 01:25:21,983 Didn't I tell you to bring this water? 2116 01:25:21,984 --> 01:25:23,116 That's right. It was you. 2117 01:25:23,117 --> 01:25:24,717 And it fucked up white kids too, 2118 01:25:24,718 --> 01:25:27,783 because they'd think that's who we were. 2119 01:25:29,317 --> 01:25:30,717 No all-white jury has the right 2120 01:25:30,718 --> 01:25:33,116 to tell the black community what it may or may not see. 2121 01:25:33,117 --> 01:25:35,316 Now the rest of you want to submit to that program, 2122 01:25:35,317 --> 01:25:36,317 that's your business. 2123 01:25:36,318 --> 01:25:37,450 Honestly, 2124 01:25:37,451 --> 01:25:38,849 aren't you doing this for the press? 2125 01:25:38,850 --> 01:25:40,049 Whose press? Whose press? 2126 01:25:40,050 --> 01:25:41,149 I'm not doing it 2127 01:25:41,150 --> 01:25:42,150 for the white media's consumption, 2128 01:25:42,150 --> 01:25:43,150 or yours either. 2129 01:25:43,151 --> 01:25:44,283 I'm telling the truth, brother. 2130 01:25:44,284 --> 01:25:46,083 You take it however you want to take it. 2131 01:25:46,084 --> 01:25:50,384 Melvin, you just bought yourself an X. 2132 01:25:51,850 --> 01:25:54,583 I was hemorrhaging cash, every day bleeding more. 2133 01:25:54,584 --> 01:25:59,749 Calls for money were constant. Even death threats now. 2134 01:25:59,750 --> 01:26:01,516 I devised a signal for the inner circle. 2135 01:26:01,517 --> 01:26:03,016 Ring twice, hang up, then call back. 2136 01:26:03,017 --> 01:26:04,316 We had... 2137 01:26:04,317 --> 01:26:06,116 We had a couple of calls about the picture. 2138 01:26:06,117 --> 01:26:07,516 Nothing much, 2139 01:26:07,517 --> 01:26:10,149 but I thought I'd tell you about it anyway. 2140 01:26:10,150 --> 01:26:13,049 One of them's... they'll... 2141 01:26:13,050 --> 01:26:14,316 they'll distribute Sweetback worldwide, 2142 01:26:14,317 --> 01:26:15,717 but they want their fee up front, 2143 01:26:15,718 --> 01:26:16,916 and they want 2144 01:26:16,917 --> 01:26:18,717 a 70 percentage for perpetuity, so... 2145 01:26:18,718 --> 01:26:20,250 We're losing bread. 2146 01:26:20,251 --> 01:26:21,617 I know, I know, it's ridiculous. 2147 01:26:21,618 --> 01:26:23,816 I don't even want to think about it. 2148 01:26:23,817 --> 01:26:25,350 Listen, it only gets worse. 2149 01:26:25,351 --> 01:26:27,849 The other one, it's a very low-ball buyer. 2150 01:26:27,850 --> 01:26:29,317 I'm not going to insult you with it. 2151 01:26:31,917 --> 01:26:33,617 You ever hear of Cinemation? 2152 01:26:33,618 --> 01:26:34,949 Cinemation? Yeah. 2153 01:26:34,950 --> 01:26:36,316 Yeah, they're a very low-level distributor 2154 01:26:36,317 --> 01:26:37,617 doing mostly schlock, 2155 01:26:37,618 --> 01:26:38,950 if they're even still in business. 2156 01:26:41,883 --> 01:26:43,450 Kid, you all right? 2157 01:26:43,451 --> 01:26:45,718 Yeah, I'm fine. 2158 01:26:51,084 --> 01:26:52,683 Dad. 2159 01:26:52,684 --> 01:26:54,149 The patch. 2160 01:26:54,150 --> 01:26:56,484 Yeah. 2161 01:27:01,883 --> 01:27:03,016 How do I look? 2162 01:27:03,017 --> 01:27:04,083 H.N.I.C. 2163 01:27:04,084 --> 01:27:05,817 Head Nigga In Charge? 2164 01:27:09,917 --> 01:27:11,516 So, I got to be honest here. 2165 01:27:11,517 --> 01:27:15,849 What we got is an X-rated black film 2166 01:27:15,850 --> 01:27:17,650 with no stars. 2167 01:27:17,651 --> 01:27:20,717 No Sidney Poitier, no Diahann Carroll. 2168 01:27:20,718 --> 01:27:22,283 In this film, 2169 01:27:22,284 --> 01:27:24,083 a black hustler beats up two white cops, 2170 01:27:24,084 --> 01:27:26,250 screws a white chick, 2171 01:27:26,251 --> 01:27:27,650 and gets away with it. 2172 01:27:27,651 --> 01:27:29,416 Black folks are gonna fucking love it, Jerry. 2173 01:27:29,417 --> 01:27:30,650 They're gonna love it. 2174 01:27:30,651 --> 01:27:32,116 Black folks don't own theaters in America. 2175 01:27:32,117 --> 01:27:33,950 Old white guys do. 2176 01:27:35,684 --> 01:27:37,283 On Watermelon Man, we had a nice opening. 2177 01:27:37,284 --> 01:27:41,617 Sweetback has gotta open big. You with me? Bam! 2178 01:27:41,618 --> 01:27:43,016 How many theaters can you get me? 2179 01:27:43,017 --> 01:27:45,116 Two if we're lucky. 2180 01:27:45,117 --> 01:27:46,650 Just two in L.A.? 2181 01:27:46,651 --> 01:27:48,717 Two in the U.S. of A, my friend. 2182 01:27:48,718 --> 01:27:50,949 The second's in Atlanta. 2183 01:27:50,950 --> 01:27:53,350 The first in Detroit, the Grand Circus. 2184 01:27:53,351 --> 01:27:54,618 It's run by the Goldberg twins. 2185 01:27:56,217 --> 01:27:58,916 Believe me, I begged. 2186 01:27:58,917 --> 01:28:00,083 I want to get us 2187 01:28:00,084 --> 01:28:02,450 in as many theaters as possible. 2188 01:28:02,451 --> 01:28:04,916 My money is where your money is, 2189 01:28:04,917 --> 01:28:08,316 and even if they run it, 2190 01:28:08,317 --> 01:28:09,717 they're gonna play it safe. 2191 01:28:09,718 --> 01:28:11,650 They're gonna sandwich it between two other flicks. 2192 01:28:11,651 --> 01:28:13,949 Only two theaters in all of America, 2193 01:28:13,950 --> 01:28:16,483 and it won't even run alone, not even first run. 2194 01:28:16,484 --> 01:28:19,949 They don't run X-rated films, Melvin. 2195 01:28:19,950 --> 01:28:22,617 You know you can't even print the title? 2196 01:28:22,618 --> 01:28:23,983 Sweet Sweetback's 2197 01:28:23,984 --> 01:28:25,516 Baadasssss Song? 2198 01:28:25,517 --> 01:28:27,650 You can't put it in the newspapers. 2199 01:28:27,651 --> 01:28:32,184 You can't even put it up on the marquee. 2200 01:28:36,017 --> 01:28:37,317 Let's get the fuck out of here. 2201 01:28:42,684 --> 01:28:46,016 No peeking. 2202 01:28:46,017 --> 01:28:47,584 All right, open up. 2203 01:28:51,551 --> 01:28:53,316 What you got there? 2204 01:28:53,317 --> 01:28:55,216 For finishing your movie. 2205 01:28:55,217 --> 01:28:58,117 Congratulations, honey. 2206 01:29:03,150 --> 01:29:05,650 What's wrong? 2207 01:29:05,651 --> 01:29:07,516 I still got to pick out a still photo 2208 01:29:07,517 --> 01:29:09,583 for the poster. 2209 01:29:09,584 --> 01:29:14,483 I can't even see straight. 2210 01:29:14,484 --> 01:29:17,516 Okay. 2211 01:29:17,517 --> 01:29:19,483 Okay, honey. 2212 01:29:19,484 --> 01:29:22,149 Listen, go to bed, rest your eye, 2213 01:29:22,150 --> 01:29:23,683 and I'll help you with that. 2214 01:29:23,684 --> 01:29:25,117 I'll take care of it. 2215 01:29:29,351 --> 01:29:31,017 Congratu-fucking-lations. 2216 01:29:41,351 --> 01:29:43,317 Fuck! 2217 01:30:15,284 --> 01:30:17,916 All right, I'll do this fucking deal. 2218 01:30:17,917 --> 01:30:20,316 I just want to meet these guys that run this theater. 2219 01:30:20,317 --> 01:30:21,550 Absolutely not. 2220 01:30:21,551 --> 01:30:23,250 You'll fuck it up for us. 2221 01:30:23,251 --> 01:30:24,316 Come on, man. 2222 01:30:24,317 --> 01:30:26,116 They're premiering my movie. 2223 01:30:26,117 --> 01:30:31,783 All right, go charm the shit out of them. 2224 01:30:34,351 --> 01:30:36,350 Look, do us a favor, okay? 2225 01:30:36,351 --> 01:30:39,583 Why don't you take a shave, put on a suit? 2226 01:30:39,584 --> 01:30:41,250 These guys are very sharp dressers, 2227 01:30:41,251 --> 01:30:42,782 you understand? 2228 01:30:42,783 --> 01:30:44,550 All right, here's where you're going. 2229 01:30:44,551 --> 01:30:46,183 To say that this is self indulgent 2230 01:30:46,184 --> 01:30:47,416 to make this movie, 2231 01:30:47,417 --> 01:30:49,949 that's too good. 2232 01:30:49,950 --> 01:30:51,116 The thing is, 2233 01:30:51,117 --> 01:30:52,749 if you want to make political statements, 2234 01:30:52,750 --> 01:30:55,316 you can't be concerned about box office as well. 2235 01:30:55,317 --> 01:30:56,849 We were so busy talking shit 2236 01:30:56,850 --> 01:30:58,749 about bringing a message to the people, 2237 01:30:58,750 --> 01:31:01,949 we never stopped to bother whether the people gave a shit 2238 01:31:01,950 --> 01:31:04,316 about the message we were bringing to them. 2239 01:31:04,317 --> 01:31:07,084 We were just wondering if they would come. 2240 01:31:14,217 --> 01:31:16,016 Fernando! 2241 01:31:16,017 --> 01:31:17,483 Fernando! 2242 01:31:17,484 --> 01:31:18,650 Hello. 2243 01:31:18,651 --> 01:31:20,049 Look at what you're doing, will you? 2244 01:31:20,050 --> 01:31:21,283 Excuse me. 2245 01:31:21,284 --> 01:31:23,049 The show don't start till 2:00. 2246 01:31:23,050 --> 01:31:25,049 Fernando, I told you, 2247 01:31:25,050 --> 01:31:27,583 just copy off the damn poster! 2248 01:31:27,584 --> 01:31:30,316 It's Zombie with a Z, not an S. 2249 01:31:30,317 --> 01:31:31,749 I'm Melvin Van Peebles. 2250 01:31:31,750 --> 01:31:33,250 You're premiering my movie. 2251 01:31:33,251 --> 01:31:34,516 The box office ain't open yet. 2252 01:31:34,517 --> 01:31:35,916 You must be Mr. Goldberg, correct? 2253 01:31:35,917 --> 01:31:38,016 Yeah. 2254 01:31:38,017 --> 01:31:39,550 I'm Melvin Van Peebles. 2255 01:31:39,551 --> 01:31:40,683 I'm the producer-director 2256 01:31:40,684 --> 01:31:41,882 of Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song, 2257 01:31:41,883 --> 01:31:43,383 This is my son, Mario. 2258 01:31:43,384 --> 01:31:46,149 Can we take a look at your theater? 2259 01:31:46,150 --> 01:31:47,250 Hold on a second. 2260 01:31:47,251 --> 01:31:51,149 Okay. 2261 01:31:51,150 --> 01:31:53,250 All right, Ethel, tell Manny I want to see him, 2262 01:31:53,251 --> 01:31:56,316 and get rid of this crazy fucking shrasse, okay? 2263 01:31:56,317 --> 01:31:58,782 Yeah. See you. 2264 01:31:58,783 --> 01:32:00,116 That's him. 2265 01:32:00,117 --> 01:32:02,116 Some wild movie. 2266 01:32:02,117 --> 01:32:04,216 You really schtupping those girls? 2267 01:32:04,217 --> 01:32:05,650 What movie? What fucking movie? 2268 01:32:05,651 --> 01:32:08,049 Hey, hey, you eat it, 2269 01:32:08,050 --> 01:32:09,483 you pay for it. 2270 01:32:09,484 --> 01:32:12,083 Right there. Triple feature. 2271 01:32:12,084 --> 01:32:13,316 Desert Killers, 40-Foot Woman, 2272 01:32:13,317 --> 01:32:14,617 Sweetback's Baadasssss Song. 2273 01:32:14,618 --> 01:32:15,816 Now, now, listen. Don't short-change yourself 2274 01:32:15,817 --> 01:32:17,583 by playing it as a triple feature, man. 2275 01:32:17,584 --> 01:32:20,016 Kid, 2276 01:32:20,017 --> 01:32:21,416 when white people lived in this neighborhood, 2277 01:32:21,417 --> 01:32:22,782 we got first-run flicks. 2278 01:32:22,783 --> 01:32:24,650 Now we got a half-empty barn 2279 01:32:24,651 --> 01:32:27,049 playing second-run triple features, 2280 01:32:27,050 --> 01:32:29,250 because your people want a lot of movie for their buck. 2281 01:32:29,251 --> 01:32:30,416 Of course they do, 2282 01:32:30,417 --> 01:32:32,216 but you're not giving them a lot of movie. 2283 01:32:32,217 --> 01:32:34,049 You're giving them second-rate B stuff that's... 2284 01:32:34,050 --> 01:32:35,683 that's got nothing to do with their lives. 2285 01:32:35,684 --> 01:32:37,717 Melvin, I saw the movie, and I don't think... 2286 01:32:37,718 --> 01:32:39,250 Manny, 2287 01:32:39,251 --> 01:32:40,516 no offense, 2288 01:32:40,517 --> 01:32:41,882 but you guys aren't the audience. 2289 01:32:41,883 --> 01:32:43,650 Hey, son. 2290 01:32:43,651 --> 01:32:44,651 Excuse me for a second. 2291 01:32:44,651 --> 01:32:45,651 What did you get? 2292 01:32:45,652 --> 01:32:47,749 3,200 seats total. 2293 01:32:47,750 --> 01:32:50,216 The balcony's been closed for years. 2294 01:32:50,217 --> 01:32:51,383 2,062 seats working, 2295 01:32:51,384 --> 01:32:52,650 a dollar a ticket, 2296 01:32:52,651 --> 01:32:54,083 three shows a day. 2297 01:32:54,084 --> 01:32:55,084 Look, kid, 2298 01:32:55,085 --> 01:32:56,483 even if we ran your movie alone, 2299 01:32:56,484 --> 01:32:58,216 it's rated X. 2300 01:32:58,217 --> 01:33:02,316 Reputable newspapers won't run X-rated ads. 2301 01:33:02,317 --> 01:33:03,816 How's anyone going to know it's playing? 2302 01:33:03,817 --> 01:33:07,083 Early to bed. Early to rise. 2303 01:33:07,084 --> 01:33:09,083 Work like a dog, and... 2304 01:33:09,084 --> 01:33:11,083 advertise. 2305 01:33:11,084 --> 01:33:15,384 Sweetback soundtrack and T-shirt. 2306 01:33:16,284 --> 01:33:17,284 A record? 2307 01:33:17,285 --> 01:33:19,116 We don't sell records. 2308 01:33:19,117 --> 01:33:21,049 This is a Sweetback soundtrack. 2309 01:33:21,050 --> 01:33:23,083 I'm gonna be all over the local radio station 2310 01:33:23,084 --> 01:33:24,617 to play this soundtrack, 2311 01:33:24,618 --> 01:33:26,617 wear that fucking t-shirt, 2312 01:33:26,618 --> 01:33:27,882 and talk about the world premiere 2313 01:33:27,883 --> 01:33:29,383 of Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song 2314 01:33:29,384 --> 01:33:30,516 right here, 2315 01:33:30,517 --> 01:33:32,782 at Goldberg's spectacular 2316 01:33:32,783 --> 01:33:34,749 Grand Circus Theater. 2317 01:33:34,750 --> 01:33:36,583 It's still got to be a triple feature. 2318 01:33:36,584 --> 01:33:38,617 I'll make you a bet. 2319 01:33:38,618 --> 01:33:39,618 I'll bet you 2320 01:33:39,619 --> 01:33:40,949 a brand new suit 2321 01:33:40,950 --> 01:33:42,183 that if you run Sweetback alone, 2322 01:33:42,184 --> 01:33:43,617 the way it should be, 2323 01:33:43,618 --> 01:33:45,016 you'll make more money in one day 2324 01:33:45,017 --> 01:33:48,650 than you did all last week. 2325 01:33:48,651 --> 01:33:49,717 Chutzpah, this fucking kid. 2326 01:33:49,718 --> 01:33:50,816 A suit? 2327 01:33:50,817 --> 01:33:52,717 Three pieces, our tailor? 2328 01:33:52,718 --> 01:33:54,149 Your tailor. 2329 01:33:54,150 --> 01:33:55,816 There's two of us. 2330 01:33:55,817 --> 01:33:56,916 And one of me. 2331 01:33:56,917 --> 01:34:00,383 If I lose, I lose double. 2332 01:34:00,384 --> 01:34:03,116 * They bled your mama * 2333 01:34:03,117 --> 01:34:04,383 * Won't bleed me * 2334 01:34:04,384 --> 01:34:08,016 * They bled your papa * 2335 01:34:08,017 --> 01:34:09,618 * Your mama And your sister too * 2336 01:34:14,883 --> 01:34:16,683 Hey, Detroit, this is the main man, 2337 01:34:16,684 --> 01:34:17,816 J.J. Davis, 2338 01:34:17,817 --> 01:34:18,849 right here at KLST, 2339 01:34:18,850 --> 01:34:20,049 and we're here in the studio 2340 01:34:20,050 --> 01:34:22,183 with Mr. Melvin Van Peebles, 2341 01:34:22,184 --> 01:34:24,683 the soul brother of cinema. 2342 01:34:24,684 --> 01:34:26,450 We're taking calls for Mr. Van Peebles. 2343 01:34:26,451 --> 01:34:28,916 KLST. Rap on. 2344 01:34:28,917 --> 01:34:29,917 Mr. Van Peebles, 2345 01:34:29,918 --> 01:34:31,316 are you gonna be in the theater 2346 01:34:31,317 --> 01:34:32,383 in person tonight? 2347 01:34:32,384 --> 01:34:34,084 That depends, girl. Are you on the pill? 2348 01:34:35,251 --> 01:34:38,516 KLST. Rap on, brother. 2349 01:34:38,517 --> 01:34:40,183 - Hey, I seen your comedy - Watermelon Man 2350 01:34:40,184 --> 01:34:41,717 with Godfrey Cambridge, man. 2351 01:34:41,718 --> 01:34:43,516 Does Sweetback have any stars in it? 2352 01:34:43,517 --> 01:34:44,949 Yeah, you, me... 2353 01:34:44,950 --> 01:34:47,216 The black community. We're the star, brother. 2354 01:34:47,217 --> 01:34:48,450 Shit, 2355 01:34:48,451 --> 01:34:50,516 I look out my window and see that for free. 2356 01:34:50,517 --> 01:34:52,483 Not on the big screen, brother. 2357 01:34:52,484 --> 01:34:56,116 Sweetback opens tomorrow at the Grand Circus. 2358 01:34:56,117 --> 01:34:57,916 Where else? 2359 01:34:57,917 --> 01:34:59,316 Right here in Detroit, Grand Circus Theater, 2360 01:34:59,317 --> 01:35:01,217 world premiere. 2361 01:35:03,317 --> 01:35:05,882 What y'all showing? 2362 01:35:05,883 --> 01:35:09,116 First-run movie, brand new. 2363 01:35:09,117 --> 01:35:10,717 Sweetback's. 2364 01:35:10,718 --> 01:35:11,916 What else shows with it? 2365 01:35:11,917 --> 01:35:13,049 Nothing. 2366 01:35:13,050 --> 01:35:14,849 Nothing? For a dollar? 2367 01:35:14,850 --> 01:35:17,450 Let's go over to the Greek Theater. 2368 01:35:17,451 --> 01:35:19,750 These people are tripping. 2369 01:35:35,984 --> 01:35:38,717 Can't keep forgetting to eat. 2370 01:35:38,718 --> 01:35:40,383 You hungry? 2371 01:35:40,384 --> 01:35:41,882 Yeah. 2372 01:35:41,883 --> 01:35:44,183 Go get some food. 2373 01:35:44,184 --> 01:35:47,017 Here. Here you go. 2374 01:35:48,750 --> 01:35:49,816 You don't want anything? 2375 01:35:49,817 --> 01:35:52,117 I'm fine. Go ahead. 2376 01:36:17,184 --> 01:36:19,416 * * 2377 01:36:19,417 --> 01:36:21,849 * Doo, doo, doo, doo Doo-doo-doo * 2378 01:36:21,850 --> 01:36:23,216 You've got a... 2379 01:36:23,217 --> 01:36:26,317 You've got a... sweet back. 2380 01:36:40,718 --> 01:36:42,316 Sir, I think we've discovered the weapon 2381 01:36:42,317 --> 01:36:43,317 on one of the assailants. 2382 01:36:44,317 --> 01:36:45,550 Sweetback. Yeah. 2383 01:36:45,551 --> 01:36:47,149 We have a new development in the case. 2384 01:36:47,150 --> 01:36:48,316 Wash your car, mister? 2385 01:36:48,317 --> 01:36:50,450 Get away from here. 2386 01:36:50,451 --> 01:36:52,016 No charge if you don't like it. 2387 01:36:52,017 --> 01:36:53,983 Yeah, no charge if you don't like it. 2388 01:36:53,984 --> 01:36:56,916 Too bad the witness has injured himself in a fall. 2389 01:36:56,917 --> 01:36:59,116 Okay. 2390 01:36:59,117 --> 01:37:00,216 Right, sir. 2391 01:37:00,217 --> 01:37:01,550 Commissioner says 2392 01:37:01,551 --> 01:37:02,983 get the information out on the nigger 2393 01:37:02,984 --> 01:37:04,384 before we get into the station. 2394 01:37:26,417 --> 01:37:29,516 Well? 2395 01:37:29,517 --> 01:37:34,684 Lord. Let's go. 2396 01:37:47,117 --> 01:37:48,516 I mean, it's gotta be something funny, 2397 01:37:48,517 --> 01:37:50,250 because they want something funny. 2398 01:37:50,251 --> 01:37:52,049 You sure you know what you gettin' into 2399 01:37:52,050 --> 01:37:54,317 with this whole independent stuff? 2400 01:37:57,551 --> 01:38:00,149 Average hustler turns revolutionary. 2401 01:38:00,150 --> 01:38:01,983 Another comedy? 2402 01:38:01,984 --> 01:38:04,583 Serious as cancer. 2403 01:38:04,584 --> 01:38:06,049 Who's gonna want to see that? 2404 01:38:06,050 --> 01:38:07,730 Who's gonna see that? Who's gonna see that? 2405 01:38:26,284 --> 01:38:29,083 Well? 2406 01:38:29,084 --> 01:38:31,116 They'll show. 2407 01:38:31,117 --> 01:38:34,283 They'd better. 2408 01:38:34,284 --> 01:38:37,749 It's 15 minutes till the 7:00 show. 2409 01:38:37,750 --> 01:38:40,983 If your soul brothers don't show by then, 2410 01:38:40,984 --> 01:38:42,450 we have to cut our losses 2411 01:38:42,451 --> 01:38:44,316 and switch to the other movies 2412 01:38:44,317 --> 01:38:47,117 while we still can. 2413 01:39:03,517 --> 01:39:06,949 Eagles ain't nothin' but a bird. 2414 01:39:06,950 --> 01:39:10,083 White man ain't nothin' but a turd. 2415 01:39:10,084 --> 01:39:12,650 Niggas ain't shit. 2416 01:39:12,651 --> 01:39:14,650 Fuck you. 2417 01:39:14,651 --> 01:39:16,883 No, you fucked us. 2418 01:39:30,750 --> 01:39:32,683 Change the marquee. 2419 01:39:32,684 --> 01:39:34,583 Switch to Zombies and 40-Foot Woman, 2420 01:39:34,584 --> 01:39:35,651 rápido! 2421 01:40:05,817 --> 01:40:07,984 All right, all right. 2422 01:40:11,217 --> 01:40:14,583 Hello, five for Sweetback. 2423 01:40:14,584 --> 01:40:15,717 I... I'm sorry. 2424 01:40:15,718 --> 01:40:17,350 We're not playing that one anymore. 2425 01:40:17,351 --> 01:40:18,650 I can give you tickets 2426 01:40:18,651 --> 01:40:21,083 to 40-Foot Woman and Killer Zombie. 2427 01:40:21,084 --> 01:40:24,717 Well, the the marquee says "Sweetback." 2428 01:40:24,718 --> 01:40:25,849 You got a problem? 2429 01:40:25,850 --> 01:40:27,049 Well, I sure hope not, 2430 01:40:27,050 --> 01:40:28,816 because we drove a long-ass way 2431 01:40:28,817 --> 01:40:29,817 to see Sweetback. 2432 01:40:33,050 --> 01:40:35,883 Customer's always right, Ethel. 2433 01:40:40,950 --> 01:40:41,950 Hi, sweetie. 2434 01:40:41,950 --> 01:40:42,950 Hi. 2435 01:40:42,951 --> 01:40:44,216 Where's Daddy? 2436 01:40:44,217 --> 01:40:45,683 I don't know. 2437 01:40:45,684 --> 01:40:46,684 Hey. 2438 01:40:46,685 --> 01:40:48,317 J.T. 2439 01:41:08,584 --> 01:41:10,816 Look, Manny. 2440 01:41:10,817 --> 01:41:12,450 We've got a problem. 2441 01:41:12,451 --> 01:41:14,416 There was this guy... He was in here before... 2442 01:41:14,417 --> 01:41:16,083 Acting suspicious. 2443 01:41:16,084 --> 01:41:19,849 Gang members, more of them keep gathering. 2444 01:41:19,850 --> 01:41:21,750 They're up to something. I know it. 2445 01:41:24,883 --> 01:41:27,583 Black Panthers. What do they want? 2446 01:41:27,584 --> 01:41:29,250 Get Melvin. 2447 01:41:29,251 --> 01:41:30,383 He left. 2448 01:41:30,384 --> 01:41:32,717 We don't give refunds. 2449 01:41:32,718 --> 01:41:34,217 That's our policy. 2450 01:41:36,783 --> 01:41:38,351 Give him his refund, Ethel. 2451 01:41:40,517 --> 01:41:43,384 No, lady, I wanna buy some tickets. 2452 01:41:46,251 --> 01:41:48,683 Yes, sir. - How many? 2453 01:41:48,684 --> 01:41:50,782 Twenty-two. 2454 01:41:50,783 --> 01:41:51,783 Twenty-three. 2455 01:41:51,784 --> 01:41:53,651 Make it 23. 2456 01:42:16,984 --> 01:42:18,782 Manny... 2457 01:42:18,783 --> 01:42:20,782 you're never gonna believe this. 2458 01:42:20,783 --> 01:42:23,050 Outside. 2459 01:42:25,517 --> 01:42:28,416 My God. 2460 01:42:28,417 --> 01:42:29,584 Will you look at that? 2461 01:42:33,783 --> 01:42:35,316 Morty. 2462 01:42:35,317 --> 01:42:37,149 Come here. 2463 01:42:37,150 --> 01:42:39,217 You ain't from around here. 2464 01:42:42,984 --> 01:42:44,284 L.A. 2465 01:42:46,783 --> 01:42:49,551 Long way to come for a drink. 2466 01:42:51,917 --> 01:42:53,150 Yeah. 2467 01:42:54,417 --> 01:42:55,883 What the fuck are they showing? 2468 01:43:04,618 --> 01:43:06,916 We're getting more, sir. It'll be just one minute. 2469 01:43:06,917 --> 01:43:08,216 We're sold out. 2470 01:43:08,217 --> 01:43:10,983 Like hell we are. We'll open the balcony. 2471 01:43:10,984 --> 01:43:14,216 We're out of popcorn, and there's no hot dogs left. 2472 01:43:14,217 --> 01:43:15,650 I'll take over the stand. 2473 01:43:15,651 --> 01:43:17,049 You go down to the Greek Theater. 2474 01:43:17,050 --> 01:43:20,116 Buy whatever they got. Fernando can help you carry it. 2475 01:43:20,117 --> 01:43:21,683 Don't slop up my Caddy. 2476 01:43:21,684 --> 01:43:22,717 Hot dogs too? 2477 01:43:22,718 --> 01:43:24,149 Don't they have to be Kosher? 2478 01:43:24,150 --> 01:43:25,550 We're not eating them, schmuck. 2479 01:43:25,551 --> 01:43:28,050 We're just selling them. Now go. 2480 01:43:34,783 --> 01:43:36,049 Told you, man. 2481 01:43:36,050 --> 01:43:37,782 I told you it'd be bad, man. 2482 01:43:37,783 --> 01:43:38,783 Shut up man. Shut up. 2483 01:43:38,784 --> 01:43:41,617 * They bled your mama * 2484 01:43:41,618 --> 01:43:43,316 Won't bleed me! 2485 01:43:43,317 --> 01:43:44,882 Go, baby! 2486 01:43:44,883 --> 01:43:46,916 He's got to get to the border. 2487 01:43:46,917 --> 01:43:48,983 You see him? 2488 01:43:48,984 --> 01:43:50,083 They're coming, Sweetback. 2489 01:43:50,084 --> 01:43:51,084 Run, Sweetback. 2490 01:43:51,085 --> 01:43:52,984 Run motherfucker, run. 2491 01:44:09,117 --> 01:44:10,950 Down in front! 2492 01:44:21,950 --> 01:44:23,749 Look, he's getting away. He's getting away. 2493 01:44:23,750 --> 01:44:25,670 We've gotta get him before he gets to the border. 2494 01:44:27,017 --> 01:44:28,617 The man knows everything, Sweetback. 2495 01:44:28,618 --> 01:44:31,583 Then he oughta know what's coming to him 2496 01:44:31,584 --> 01:44:33,618 for fucking with me. 2497 01:44:53,084 --> 01:44:54,250 Well... 2498 01:44:54,251 --> 01:44:56,516 Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song 2499 01:44:56,517 --> 01:45:00,617 became the top grossing independent hit of 1971. 2500 01:45:00,618 --> 01:45:04,316 Folks started calling me "Mel Baby" again. 2501 01:45:04,317 --> 01:45:06,650 Cinemation got out of bankruptcy. 2502 01:45:06,651 --> 01:45:08,983 Bill Cosby got paid back. 2503 01:45:08,984 --> 01:45:11,183 Earth, Wind & Fire blew up... 2504 01:45:11,184 --> 01:45:13,483 and yeah, those Goldberg twins... 2505 01:45:13,484 --> 01:45:15,251 They made me that suit. 2506 01:45:21,351 --> 01:45:22,983 I had a little bit of the money, 2507 01:45:22,984 --> 01:45:27,216 and I went to Mrs. Cosby, 2508 01:45:27,217 --> 01:45:31,183 and, she said sure, and that... 2509 01:45:31,184 --> 01:45:33,350 It was done as far as I was concerned. 2510 01:45:33,351 --> 01:45:35,350 The first time I found out about Sweetback 2511 01:45:35,351 --> 01:45:37,749 was one day when I went to visit Melvin, 2512 01:45:37,750 --> 01:45:40,782 and he came to the door with a big gun in his hands. 2513 01:45:40,783 --> 01:45:42,183 "Okay, that's enough. I heard enough. 2514 01:45:42,184 --> 01:45:43,184 Lock him up." 2515 01:45:43,185 --> 01:45:45,016 Suspected grand larceny 2516 01:45:45,017 --> 01:45:48,350 and impersonating L.A.P.D. police officers. 2517 01:45:48,351 --> 01:45:50,816 So we spent the weekend in jail. 2518 01:45:50,817 --> 01:45:54,416 So I brought the dildo back to Melvin, 2519 01:45:54,417 --> 01:45:56,116 and Melvin said, "It's brown." 2520 01:45:56,117 --> 01:45:58,949 I said "So? What's the big deal? 2521 01:45:58,950 --> 01:46:02,350 He said, "Go back and get me a black one." 2522 01:46:02,351 --> 01:46:04,450 And he was almost like a conductor. 2523 01:46:04,451 --> 01:46:07,183 Melvin would show us clips of the film 2524 01:46:07,184 --> 01:46:08,816 and say, "Okay, this is gonna go here. 2525 01:46:08,817 --> 01:46:10,316 This is gonna go there." 2526 01:46:10,317 --> 01:46:11,550 Melvin was the time filler. 2527 01:46:11,551 --> 01:46:13,516 My brother Maurice knew Melvin. 2528 01:46:13,517 --> 01:46:14,882 He was very tight with Melvin, 2529 01:46:14,883 --> 01:46:18,283 so Melvin had this idea about doing this crazy film. 2530 01:46:18,284 --> 01:46:19,782 The thing I remember most of all 2531 01:46:19,783 --> 01:46:22,617 is that he gave me a check for $500. 2532 01:46:22,618 --> 01:46:25,983 That check was $500. You ain't got that. 2533 01:46:25,984 --> 01:46:28,983 That check bounced all over, all over... 2534 01:46:28,984 --> 01:46:30,483 all over the world, you dig? 2535 01:46:30,484 --> 01:46:33,683 I do remember singing with Earth, Wind & Fire... 2536 01:46:33,684 --> 01:46:34,749 Wash your car, mister? 2537 01:46:34,750 --> 01:46:36,849 For the soundtrack. 2538 01:46:36,850 --> 01:46:38,483 And my voice is so bad. 2539 01:46:38,484 --> 01:46:39,882 No charge if you don't like it. 2540 01:46:39,883 --> 01:46:41,550 Yeah. No charge if you don't like it. 2541 01:46:41,551 --> 01:46:43,882 It was because of Melvin's commitment 2542 01:46:43,883 --> 01:46:46,483 and Melvin's focus and his passion about this. 2543 01:46:46,484 --> 01:46:47,717 Nothing was gonna prevent him. 2544 01:46:47,718 --> 01:46:49,316 If he had to die making this film, 2545 01:46:49,317 --> 01:46:50,683 he would make this film. 2546 01:46:50,684 --> 01:46:54,016 The Panthers... identified with the part 2547 01:46:54,017 --> 01:46:55,916 that I played as Mu-Mu. 2548 01:46:55,917 --> 01:46:57,849 We had every one of our chapters 2549 01:46:57,850 --> 01:47:00,749 mobilize community support to go see that movie 2550 01:47:00,750 --> 01:47:02,916 because we were so inspired 2551 01:47:02,917 --> 01:47:06,016 by this first revolutionary piece of cinema. 2552 01:47:06,017 --> 01:47:07,049 Very important film. 2553 01:47:07,050 --> 01:47:09,016 It was a great deal of solidarity. 2554 01:47:09,017 --> 01:47:10,450 That's what brought us together. 2555 01:47:10,451 --> 01:47:13,049 Hollywood ain't seen nothing like Melvin, ever before. 2556 01:47:13,050 --> 01:47:16,882 He was a combination of arrogance, insecurity, 2557 01:47:16,883 --> 01:47:18,450 and boastfulness. 2558 01:47:18,451 --> 01:47:20,416 We've come full circle, 2559 01:47:20,417 --> 01:47:23,149 and some of the things that were happening 2560 01:47:23,150 --> 01:47:24,849 at that particular time, 2561 01:47:24,850 --> 01:47:27,782 the message that was delivered in that particular film, 2562 01:47:27,783 --> 01:47:29,983 we're still experiencing some of that today. 2563 01:47:29,984 --> 01:47:31,350 We supported that film 2564 01:47:31,351 --> 01:47:36,650 to the extent that we put the film in our newspapers. 2565 01:47:36,651 --> 01:47:40,450 People keep saying, "Follow your dream," 2566 01:47:40,451 --> 01:47:42,083 and I say, "Okay," 2567 01:47:42,084 --> 01:47:45,550 but I think there's more to it than that. 2568 01:47:45,551 --> 01:47:48,949 I think follow your dream... 2569 01:47:48,950 --> 01:47:51,049 The first thing you do is you wake up. 2570 01:47:51,050 --> 01:47:56,450 Shaft, I think, was being written for a white actor, 2571 01:47:56,451 --> 01:47:58,049 and after "Sweetback," 2572 01:47:58,050 --> 01:47:59,983 they changed it over for a black person. 2573 01:47:59,984 --> 01:48:01,016 It was before Shaft. 2574 01:48:01,017 --> 01:48:04,782 It was before... New Jack City. 2575 01:48:04,783 --> 01:48:06,383 It was... It was really the prelude 2576 01:48:06,384 --> 01:48:07,983 of all the films that we see now. 2577 01:48:07,984 --> 01:48:12,782 I think that Melvin Van Peebles is a wonderful example, 2578 01:48:12,783 --> 01:48:14,416 and not the only example, 2579 01:48:14,417 --> 01:48:17,416 but a wonderful example of a person 2580 01:48:17,417 --> 01:48:25,250 who had a thought, dreamt, woke up, did it, 2581 01:48:25,251 --> 01:48:28,149 and it's still good. 2582 01:48:28,150 --> 01:48:30,216 * You bled your mama * 2583 01:48:30,217 --> 01:48:31,749 * You bled your papa * 2584 01:48:31,750 --> 01:48:33,618 * But you won't bleed me *