“If you want to be a rich hoe, move to hollywood”. 

One day perusing Shadow and Act, I came across a youtube video. In it was Sam Greenlee, vehemently proclaiming the “rich hoe” line above (see for yourself).

I was immediately taken aback. Not so much for his candor. But in remembering that I had met him more than ten years ago.

Sam Greenlee is the author of the book “The Spook Who Sat By the Door”, a fictional tale of the first black man for the CIA who leaves the agency and uses his skills to start a paramilitary revolutionary organization within the hood of Chicago. Sam later acted as a producer for the movie with Ivan Dixon directing. There were exploding cars, negroes with guns and lines like from the star Laurence Cook such as, “What we got now is a colony, what we want is a new nation.”

In 1973 it was rated PG. I’m not so sure it would get that rating in this day and age.

I met him at a poetry set. One of many on the Southside of Chicago before regentrification really set in. He signed my book. I didn’t even know it was a book at the time. I had been force fed the movie by my father at a young age. It’s not everyday a father gets to show his son a black guy start a paramilitary force against oppression on film. Far from the Amos and Andy reruns of late night television.

Fortune smiled on me again as a friend of mine informed me that Sam lives but a block away from me. I then planned a meeting.

We met at Daley’s on 63rd and Cottage Grove, a main area where Mr. Greenlee staged his 1973 film.

And there we were. He told me bits and pieces about what it took to get the movie made. Sam and company didn’t just make a movie. They stole that muthafucka! No permits, no permission, no fear. They filmed the fictional beginning of a revolution on camera. But they filmed the movie as real, film revolutionaries. The Spook Who Sat By the Door is the revolution…televised. Or at least cinema-tized!

All the excuses we think up as filmmakers melted away for me. Sam and Ivan did it. In 1973. Without a permit! Or much else for that matter.

Over chicken and waffles we talked. He mentioned the new documentary about his film and the state of black film as we know it. I expected bitterness. He surprised me with optimism.

He gushed about the Red Camera and all the potential for filmmakers to make films with new technology. He told me how this was somewhat old hat for him. He’s a mentor for many filmmakers in Chicago. I was honored to be one of many. I wondered what took me so long.

His movie has been painfully hard to get a hold of IF you’re not in the know. But now he’s being revered as a cinematic and literary hero by the mainstream. A documentary, “Infiltrating Hollywood: The Rise and Fall of the Spook Who Sat by the Door” is on the festival circuit and is doing quite well. I haven’t seen it yet. But after having lunch with him, I understood the appeal.

We discussed the new Black Film Renaissance.

Me: I feel a lot of people from my generation seem to reinvent the wheel with a lot this stuff. Sometimes we have a hard time seeking out mentors.

Sam: I noticed that.

A documentary featuring Sam Greenlee? What took them so long?

“Infiltrating Hollywood: The Rise and Fall of the Spook Who Sat by the Door” will play at the 17th Annual Black Harvest Film Festival on Sunday, August 21st at 5:30pm and August 25th at 6:15pm. Click here for more information. 

I’m still working.

Mostly writing. The script (for the feature) has been going through some extensive workshopping with various script consultants and it’s almost ready. We’re getting legal paperwork in order while also lining up some potential investors.

In the meantime, in August we’ll be premiering a new commercial we recently created for Tembis Boutique (still shot above) along with launching some really cool things online on the-junc-tion.com.

Onward and upward. Stay tuned.

I was on the lookout for any positive reinforcement. What I’ve learned from reading this literature is that you can always find at least one (1) important takeaway.

I’ve read most of the book the War of Art by Stephen Pressfield in the last few days. I suggest every artist read it. Not because his words are absolute, but simply because it gives you a good kick in the ass.

It’s all about “resistance” which is his concept for what blocks artists (or anyone for that matter) from doing the work they’re passionate about. And my one takeaway is simple.

Do the work.

That’s it. Just show up everyday and do the work. That means not getting writer’s block. Not second guessing yourself and stopping yourself from getting to the end of your text. It’s the same principle most of us use to get through our work day. Head down. Working.

Even when it’s hard, slow, frustrating or enfuriating…just do the work. Show up everyday. Write. Rewrite. Assess. Rewrite again.

Read. Write. Assess. Rewrite. Again and again and again.

Do the work.

The picture at the top of this entry is my “work”. I’m a visual person so I need visuals for motivation. Up top is my motivation. It will take on a life of its own. It will exist by 2012, or possibly sooner. It’s my work.

So…go…do the work! Right now. No, seriously…right now!

-Keith Purvis

He said that making a movie is an unnatural act, so never think that things are supposed to go as planned. You’re bringing something new into the world and fighting against the elements the whole time.

Starting January 1st I’ll be knee deep in the unnatural (in more ways than one)! In 2011, The Junction Group will produce its first feature film with me as writer and director. It’s a daunting task but it’s been inevitable for the past ten years.

Yes. Ten.

I’ve tried to fight the urge. And the more I fought, the more obsessed I became. I’ve spent a considerable amount of time working on the script. And a great deal of time working on myself. Mentally preparing for a year of exhaustion.

Everyone will know more next year. I’ll need everyone’s help soon enough. In the meantime, stay tuned. Feel free to offer help. I take investments, encouragement, healthy criticism, alcohol and hugs.

In the meantime, check out our short film, Online, featured on BET and leave a comment. I like comments alot!

http://www.bet.com/video/1441748

-K

Being broke wasn’t a bad thing or some reason for disgrace in New York. Rent was too damn high all over and no one cared. But I needed to get back to making my own movies, instead of simply editing everyone else’s.

Without the money I needed, I decided I would go back and master the least expensive part of filmmaking. Writing. How hard could it be? Writing’s easy! Right?

Years later. Chicago. Dead of night. KEITH PURVIS, 30 something, sitting at a computer. Staring blankly, distraught.

Writing is hard. I have 3 feature scripts and a bunch of shorts to prove it. I have various drafts, lots of notes from friends, script consultants and the like to give my words weight. 90 to 120 pages of a lively, interesting story that grabs you on page one and doesn’t let you leave until your whole perspective on life has changed.

Shit. Here we go again!

Anyway…5 more pages…

…or go read this stuff.

There’s a 4 1/2 minute preview of the documentary on fashion designer Ozwald Boateng titled “A Man’s Story” posted by the good folks at Shadow and Act.

Definitely, check it out: http://www.shadowandact.com/?p=32801#more-32801

But from here forward, expect to hear quite a bit from The Junction because I’ll be reaching out and sharing with everyone a lot more. Stay in touch. Drop a line.

Stick around. There’ll be drinks later!

-Keith Purvis, media maverick