More Down Low TV: Wendell Pierce To Play Closeted Character in New Movie
Jesus, take the wheel!: It seems like yet another “down-low” story is about to hit the big screen.
Wendell Pierce, who recently starred as the trumpeter trombone player down on his luck in the HBO series Treme, will be starring in a upcoming movie called Four, playing a closeted man who meets a a 16-year old white boy on the internet. I just can’t. From the film’s website.
On the 4th of July in Hartford, CT, June, a 16-year-old white boy, meets up with Joe, a closeted, married black man he met on the Internet. On the same night, in the same city, the black man’s 16-year-old daughter Abigayle, agrees to go out with Dexter, a white 20-year-old low-level drug dealer. In and around the city, on the American night of Independence, these 2 couples get to know each other, moving from strangers to intimates. In lonely landscapes of movie theaters, fast food restaurants, darkened churches and public parks, they discover the limits of desire and the possibilities of transcendence. Four juxtaposes the relationships of the 2 couples struggling with their desires and demons.
So both father and daughter are having some kind of longing (from what I can tell from what I’ve read of the stage play reviews online) that seems to stem from a Black wife/mother who is never seen in the play, whom is ailing and taken to bed, seemingly from depression or some unknown psychosomatic ailment. So not only is this a creepy down-low story, both father and daughter seem to be escaping the black mother figure, and running to white men for escape. It sounds like Monster’s Ball meets…something else equally tacky.
According to the Black Hollywood newsite Shadow and Act, the film is an adaptation of the play of the same name, written by white playwright Christopher Shinn in 1998. I haven’t read the play in fairness, but it does make one wonder why this film and this depiction is getting any kind of backing. Think about it-it’s been three years since Noah’s Arc: Jumpin the Broom was released-and it was the last film (that I know of) released featured black gay men who weren’t tragic, creepy or some homophobic punchline (see: Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married, Too).
Kenyon, honest and open criticism is a welcomed thing. But to publicly critize something you are to lazy to even read, discredits everything you have to say. You are shamelessly looking for publicity so let me help you out; ” Hollywood Actor in war of words with activist blogger!” There. Now we both can get our followers numbers up on twitter. We might even be asked to shout it out on Fox, MSNBC, or CNN. I certainly need the publicity as much as you. By the way the movie is called FOUR, because it follows 4 characters. If 2 are white and 2 are black, how is it a black movie? There are many positive portrayals of Gay Black characters.I produced on 3years ago, DIRTY LAUNDRY. I thought that might give me some room to play a man many will find despicable. By the way I play the trombone on TV, not the trumpet ( to know that would take to much valuable time from your unprepared writings)
Hi Wendell,
Thanks for responding.
OK first things first. I am not “looking for publicity.” I’d make very different political and career choices if I was looking for publicity-(have you read some of the stuff I write? Hardly a person who gets on TV or blows up. LOL). It’s not about numbers on twitter–I am not even sure I was using twitter (certainly not with a lot of regularity) when I wrote this blog.
It’s true. I haven’t read the play and as I told the playwright in a different email after this blog post–I’d be glad to review it once the film comes out. I have no problem admitting I’m wrong if it comes out and I think it doesn’t do us more harm in its depiction than good.
I actually really like your work as an actor (and I own the Dirty Laundry DVD)–I tweeted that Treme was robbed by the Emmy’s this year in every category–but I have been too busy to do much blogging about it. But because I like your work as an actor, doesn’t trump my political problems with the lack of good representation of Black gay men in television & film. Dirty Laundry is in the minority on that one, sir. And I certainly understand that Black actors don’t always want to play nice goody-goodies. That’s boring and I know that from many Black friends of mine (including my partner) who are actors. Even if I like your work, I still may not like the politics of the film per se, there’s a difference. And as I said in the post, I raised it as a concern–which may change once I see it (or read the play first which it doesn’t look like I am going to do).
In terms of the comment correcting on the trombone and not trumpet playing in relationship to your character on Treme–thanks. I watch the show avidly and that was obviously a typo, as I know the difference. It’s changed.
Please take time to read some other things of mine online or here on the blog. I don’t think you’ll find most of it “unprepared” or “lazy.”
Even if you don’t like this post, I still dig your work.
Oooh, baby. Let me write something bad about Wendell Pierce so he comes after me… I have these ridiculous sexual fantasies about him. (He’s a great actor, is probably why.) Reading this stuff gave me short breath. And that angry energy is so hot. God, please find that lump of talent some more work so he’s not sitting around tweeting like this. Pssst, if you need lessons for the character….