"Mr. Soul," from Award-Winning Director Melissa Haizlip, Opens August
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- Category: Entertainment News
- Published on Wednesday, 19 August 2020 14:51
- Written by Janet Walker
The award-winning director Melissa Haizlip and her production company Shoes In The Bed Productions unveiled the brand new theatrical trailer for the award winning documentary "MR. SOUL!" along with the film's new theatrical poster.
The trailer features incredible scenes and footage from the much praised film. The trailer can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5bLjXSFR7o and on the film's website www.mrsoulmovie.com.
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MR. SOUL! is slated to open over 50+ theaters in the virtual cinema space on August 28. The film world premiered at TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL where audiences embraced the film and went on to win a number of awards on the festival circuit playing over 30 film festivals including HOT DOCS, AFI Docs, BFI London, Woodstock Film Fest, Pan African Film Festival, Urban World, Los Angeles Film Festival and more.
The film has won over 17 awards including the International Documentary Association (IDA) Best Music Documentary; the Finalist Award for the Inaugural Library of Congress Lavine-Ken Burns For Film Prize; AFI Docs Audience Award; Woodstock Best Documentary; and many more.
In the time of the Black Power Movement and the Civil Rights Movement, one fearless Black pioneer ushered giants and rising stars of Black American culture onto the national television stage. He was hip. He was smart. He was innovative, political and gay.
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In his personal fight for social equality, this man ensured the revolution would be televised. The man was Ellis Haizlip. The Revolution was SOUL! - an incredibly unique weekly television show that aired on public television from 1968 - 1973 celebrating Black American culture, art, life, love and community and sharing it with households across the nation in their living rooms every week.
Featuring rare live performances and interviews from the legendary Al Green, heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, Sidney Poitier, Cicely Tyson, James Baldwin, Nikki Giovanni, The Last Poets, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire, Ashford & Simpson, Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes, Billy Preston, Black Ivory, The Delfonics, Bill Withers, Sonia Sanchez, Wilson Pickett, Odetta, Merry Clayton, Mandrill, Kool & the Gang, Toni Morrison, Kathleen Cleaver, Betty Shabazz, Stokely Carmichael, Mrs. Georgia Jackson, George Faison, Patti LaBelle, Roberta Flack, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, and many more, SOUL! was the first national show to provide expanded images of African Americans on television, shifting the gaze from inner-city poverty and violence to the vibrancy of the Black Arts Movement.
With participants' recollections and a bevy of great rarely seen archival clips, MR. SOUL! captures that critical moment in our nation's cultural rise, and whose impact continues to resonate across generations and cultures.
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"We are so excited and proud to bring MR. SOUL! to everyone across America beginning August 28," said filmmaker Melissa Haizlip. "Every week on the SOUL! show, Ellis Haizlip featured our nation's cultural icons in front of and behind the camera, who then went on to become important cultural and artistic leaders in America. With the current ongoing Black Lives Matter movement, as our nation is on the eve of a great racial reckoning, Ellis Haizlip's mission, his show and the artists he gave a platform to have become even more important now. That inspiration and that courage during that time period is a road map for our young leaders and the movement today. This will be great to share with everyone."
MR. SOUL! is directed, written and produced by Melissa Haizlip featuring music composed and performed by Grammy® winning musician/composer Robert Glasper with narration by Grammy® and Emmy® winner Blair Underwood - one of the film's Executive Producers. The virtual cinema release is presented together by Shoes In The Bed Productions and Open Your Eyes & Think MF.
In addition to the virtual cinema theatrical opening, the filmmakers are planning a number of special events with the first one on opening weekend on Sunday, August 30 at 4pm PT featuring a live talkback with filmmaker Melissa Haizlip; composer Robert Glasper; Executive Producer/Voice of Ellis Haizlip Blair Underwood; the R&B singing group Black Ivory, and more to be announced. Those who purchase virtual cinema tickets the first weekend will also have access to this very special event. More information is available on the website: www.mrsoulmovie.com Other events will be announced this week on the film's website and Facebook page.
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As of this date, MR. SOUL! will open in virtual cinemas in the following 50+ partnering theaters and cities on August 28, 2020.
