File 4 - Denzel Washington and Norman Jewison

1 audio cassette tape, 2 WAV files (653.1 and 77.4 MB)

Audio recording of an interview with film director Norman Jewison and actor Denzel Washington in front of a live audience undertaken as part of the Guardian sponsored National Film Theatre Guardian interview series.

The recording begins with Hillary Smith of the National Film Theatre who introduces a screening of Jewison and Washington's most recent film together, Hurricane. A background to the true story behind the film is then presented by lawyer Geoffrey Robertson after which host Trevor Philips puts questions to Jewison and Washington. The recording comprises a question and answer session with members of the audience from 39.16 on track 1.

A summary of key topics is included below.

Track 1:
00.00 Introductions
17.00 Denzel Washington’s screen persona
19.12 Washington on what attracted him to Hurricane
20.06 Washington on portraying Rubin Carter
26.55 Jewison on why he chose the film
30.50 Jewison on choices available to characters in the movie
35.38 Jewison on themes of racial prejudice in Hurricane, In the Heat of the Night and A Soldier’s Story
39.16 Jewison and Washington on Rubin Carter’s reaction to the film
41.41 Jewison on editing the film
44.23 Jewison on difficulties in getting the film made
46.35 Washington on whether he has favourite roles
47.55 Washington on differences between Jewison and Spike Lee’s approach to dealing with racial prejudice
49.47 Washington on racism in Hollywood
54.12 Jewison on Heat of the Night
56.45 Jewison on shooting the boxing scenes in black and white
01.00.15 Jewison and Washington on the power of film

Track 2:
00.00 Jewison and Washington on the power of film (cont.)
02.08 Jewison and Washington on making films appeal to black and white audiences.

Films mentioned in the course of this interview include Hurricane, In the Heat of the Night and A Soldier's Story.

Creator: British Film Institute (BFI), 1933-

Creator: Guardian News & Media Ltd, 1967-

Access to recording via GNM Digital Repository

Possible duplicate on audio cassette. Detail at http://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmItems/154344919