April 6, 2012
‘Red Tails’ Lands on ‘Our World with Black Enterprise’ Television Show
Our World with Black Enterprise returns to television this weekend with an all-new Red Tails movie special featuring in-depth interviews and live from the red carpet moments with the film’s stars Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrence Howard, Nate Parker, David Oyelowo and producer George Lucas. Host Marc Lamont Hill and the acclaimed cast discuss the twenty-plus year battle to bring the Tuskegee Airmen story to the big screen; the future of black filmmaking in Hollywood; and the legacy of the legendary WWII flying aces. Plus, Tuskegee Airman and real life hero Dr. Roscoe C. Brown shares his incredible story.
Legendary film producer George Lucas on his twenty-plus year battle to bring Red Tails to the big screen:
I put up $60 million and went to the studios to put in the other $35 million. They didn’t want to so I had to put that up too, just because nobody else would do it. [Red Tails] is a chance to prove that black films can make money. If that happens there will be more black films.
Terrence Howard on working with Lucas and co-star Cuba Gooding Jr.:
Every great accomplishment had someone to champion it along the way. For the black cinematic community it was magical to have been championed by George Lucas. Plus, the use of green screen is one that we really haven’t been afforded.  Now, we’re working with the master of it, the inventor of it–and what we have been able to do is tell an incredible story.
It was an exciting moment when Cuba and I came together because for years I’ve signed his name and everyone thought I was Cuba Gooding Jr. and everyone thought he was Terrence Howard. I sat with President H.W. Bush a week ago and the caption in the newspaper said it was Cuba Gooding Jr.!
Cuba Gooding Jr. on history’s neglect of the Tuskegee Airmen and pressure of having them on the set:
When I was twenty-one doing my first Tuskegee film [for HBO], I had finished my schooling and knew nothing of the Tuskegee Airmen. I have two boys now, ages 15 and 17, and I’ve made it my mission to make sure this doesn’t happen to them. .
We had real airmen on set [Lt. Col. Lee Archer and Dr. Roscoe C. Brown]. What was intimidating was seeing them at the screening. That was scary because all you could do was be judged on how much truth you told. I was looking over the shoulders of a couple of Airmen sitting in the theater and they weren’t really moving. I was like ‘oh man, are they awake?’ Then I noticed one’s shoulders doing ‘this’ as the dog fights were happening on the screen and his hands moving ‘like that’ flying the plane from his seat. I just had tears in my eyes.
Actor Nate Parker on working with the cast:
There was no room for selfish, no room for ego. Worst case scenario, this represents the last time there are [financial] resources.
Our World with Black Enterprise airs its exclusive Red Tails movie special on TV ONE this Sunday, January 15 at 10:00 a.m. EST and on local stations across the country all weekend.
Check your local listings and visit www.blackenterprise.com/ourworld for additional time and station information.