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Downloaded from
YTS.MX
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Official YIFY movies site:
YTS.MX
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♪ They bled my mama ♪
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Hell, no, we won't go!
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Hell, no, we won't go!
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Hell, no, we won't go!
Hell, no, we won't go!
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There was a war going on.
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They killed Malcolm...
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King, the president.
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Even the president's brother.
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Vietnam was being shoved down our throats.
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They were shooting us, hosing us, lynching us.
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And in the movies, they was making us look any fucking way they wanted to.
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Did I fuck him?
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Now, see, that's none of your damn business.
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Remember this.
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Good things... do not come... to those who wait.
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1970.
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I’d just finished directing Watermelon Man for Columbia Pictures.
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They were setting me up to become their very first token nigga-ologist.
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Since the movie hadn't come out yet,
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everyone was being extra nice, calling me "Mel, baby."
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Mel, baby, great picture. I loved it.
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Very funny.
Hey, when do we get the next script, huh?
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Three-picture deal with fucking Columbia Pictures.
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Three-picture deal with fucking
Columbia Pictures. Am I good or am I good?
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You gotta start pitching these sons of bitches
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before Watermelon Man comes out, because if we wait and it opens badly,
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these cocksuckers, they'll turn on us, you know, in a second.
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My agent Howard was right.
31
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I had to come up with my next film idea before the money guys got cold.
32
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I mean, it's got to be something funny 'cause they want something funny.
33
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Hollywood liked to show us clowning,
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but America wasn't in a laughing mood.
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Especially Black America.
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Times were changing.
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The Panthers knew it.
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The students knew it.
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Hollywood was ignoring it.
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You happen to be brilliant with something funny.
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What do you —
Maybe, uh, Fried Chicken Man.
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It's 'cause it's not far from Watermelon Man,
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and you could make it funny.
44
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Yeah.
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- I'd grown up on those images.
- Yes, sir... Yes, sir... Yes, sir... Yes, sir...
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But nothing Hollywood ever did reflected who we were.
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This is it?
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This ain't camping.
We don't have a sleeping bag.
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You got the helmet, didn't you?
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Shut up and listen for a while.
51
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What was my next movie gonna be?
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Some idea was lurking back there,
53
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just waiting for the coast to clear.
54
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The military? Somebody, like, a guy who's, like, a cook in the army
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and God knows what happens to him.
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There was even a military flick where a brother can't walk.
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The kindly white doctor gives him a good, old-fashioned dose of racial shock...
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You dirty nigger, get up and walk!
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... to get him back on his feet.
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All for a good cause.
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Melvin!
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Street brother.
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Average hustler turns revolutionary.
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Another comedy?
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Serious as cancer.
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Who's gonna want to see that?
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Black guys always die in the end.
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Can we go now?
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That's it.
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I'd make a film about a real brother.
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Not some bougie or clown, like they always do,
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but a real brother, a street brother, just getting the man's foot out his ass.
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{\an8}Given number one — no cop-outs.
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{\an8}I want a movie where niggas
can walk out the picture standing tall,
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{\an8}instead of having to avoid
each other's eyes.
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{\an8}Given number two —
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{\an8}entertainment-wise,
it had to be a motherfucker.
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{\an8}If folks get bored, it's over.
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{\an8}Given number three —
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{\an8}show business is business.
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The Man has an Achilles pocketbook.
It had to be a moneymaker.
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The Man ain’t gonna carry no messages for you for free,
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especially a relevant one.
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Given number four —
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I wanted this picture to star the community.
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All the community.
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All the faces that
Norman Rockwell never painted.
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♪ They bled my mama... ♪
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I might have had a Leroy once.
I might have had a Leroy once.
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I might have had a Leroy...
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I might have had...
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My secretary, Priscilla,
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turned every entrance into an audition, but she was too late.
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All I could hear were the voices in my head talking to me now.
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Take him. He's our future, brother.
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Take him...
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♪ They bled my papa ♪
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Howie's on the phone.
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♪ They bled my papa ♪
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Mel. Your agent's on the phone.
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I have a dream that one day —
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that all men are created equal.
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We don't see any American dream.
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We've experienced only the American nightmare.
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Wash your car, mister?
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- Wash your car, mister?
- Last car from the rear for you.
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Wash your car, mister?
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Now you go and hibernate like that ol' bear.
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Now you go and hibernate like that ol' bear.
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Too bad the witness
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- has injured himself in a fall.
- Bam. Bam.
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You want to know what they think of you? Just turn on your TV.
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You're nothing but a bunch of ignorant clowns and disturbances.
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The policeman isn't there to create disorder.
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The policeman is there to preserve disorder.
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A riot has broken out in what appears to be
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another case of police brutality.
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Are you anti-cop, or anti-white?
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... to defend the freedom in Vietnam.
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Ask not what your country can do for you.
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Ask what you can do for your country.
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Justice is Black!
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I'd been expecting him.
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I knew he'd show up sooner or later.
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You're out of your fucking mind, you know that?
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You in or out?
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Finished. Only one thing left.
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I'd need bread.
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Money.
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♪ They bled my papa ♪
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- Mel?
- Yeah, yeah.
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After two weeks, you finally decide to pick up.
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- Where the hell have you been?
- I've been in the gold mine, man.
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I struck the mother lode.
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Mel, don't mess with me.
Do you have any idea what's going on?
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They're gonna back-burner the three-picture deal, Mel.
137
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Now. Yesterday they wanted to do it.
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I'm meeting with these executives in less than an hour.
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A brother, a street brother, turns revolutionary.
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Okay, good. So wait.
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- The hero is him or — or the brother?
- Now, listen.
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He's the wrong nigga to fuck with.
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The cops fuck with him, and he whups some ass.
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The man comes after him, full force —
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helicopter, cars, everything — and... he gets away.
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Why are the cops after him if he's the good guy?
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'Cause they're dirty cops, man.
They're racist. Th-They're crooked cops.
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Listen, Mel. Here's what you're gonna do.
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You're gonna meet me on the lot in an hour.
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You're gonna wear a suit, please.
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And Mel, even Cagney didn’t get away with killing cops, right?
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Dirty or otherwise.
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Oh.
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And we're cut.
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Oh, these bags are heavy!
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- I'm tired of this shit.
- Oh, come on.
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He's making money, and he's funny.
Come on. Don't be so touchy.
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It's a western. Everybody loves a western.
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You know what? Speaking of westerns,
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this idea I got is kind of like a ghetto western.
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- In fact...
- Ghetto western?
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...the brother even wears, like, a black kind of cowboy hat.
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And dig this, man, at the end of the movie, when he gets away,
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words come blazing across the screen:
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"Badass nigga's gonna come back and collect some dues."
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"Badass nigga"? Have you lost your mind?
Are you taking drugs now?
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Listen to me. Listen to me.
Melvin, listen to me.
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On Watermelon Man, your white lead is supposed to wake up
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from this nightmare where he's a Black guy and turns back into being white again,
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and you said, "No, no, being Black is not a nightmare."
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And you didn't shoot the ending the studio wanted. Who backed you 100%?
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- You the man, Howie.
- So why are you doing this to me?
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I can't take this kind of inflammatory shit.
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To a major studio, nobody legitimate is gonna touch Baadasssss. No one!
175
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You know how hard we worked to get here?
Melvin, just do the fucking comedy, okay?
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All right, look, they're coming.
Do you know what this is?
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You're terrified you're gonna fail, so you're failing yourself.
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It has nothing to do with being Black or blue or green.
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You hear me? It's self-destruction.
180
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Hey, Marty.
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00:12:29,500 --> 00:12:32,120
- Alan. How are you doing?
- Good to see you.
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00:12:32,210 --> 00:12:34,500
So, listen, you know...
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I was — I was — Melvin, wait.
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He's in a world of his own.
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Melvin.
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What is this, some kind of personal crusade,
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or are you really gonna make a movie?
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I'm making a movie, motherfucker.
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- Yeah?
- First Black power film.
190
00:12:56,060 --> 00:12:59,020
- Yeah, what about people power, man?
- No, you people got the power.
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All you gotta do is get yourself a haircut,
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you join the establishment anytime you want.
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- And you are Black forever.
- Dig it.
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00:13:04,860 --> 00:13:06,120
Mm-hmm. I hear that.
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You just gotta remember the golden rule —
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he who has the gold makes the rules.
197
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You know, if the studio gives you money,
198
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- they're gonna want control.
- That's true.
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Nothing truly revolutionary is gonna come from the studio machine.
200
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Independent money.
201
00:13:23,010 --> 00:13:25,590
That's the answer — independent financing.
202
00:13:25,680 --> 00:13:28,260
Yes. That's exactly what I'm talking about.
203
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A group of radical young filmmakers collaborating, man.
204
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It makes this easier for us to float a loan from the money guy.
205
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You know what I'm talking about?
Diversify our resources, right?
206
00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:41,360
We get a warehouse, a working space.
Share equipment, right? A living space.
207
00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:43,530
Bill, that's more of this hippie commune shit.
208
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That's never gonna fly, man.
209
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Fuck you, man.
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That hurts my feelings, calling me a hippie.
211
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Why you wanna do that?
212
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Look, man, I got film experience.
You gotta let me produce.
213
00:13:55,540 --> 00:13:57,210
You can't even balance your own checkbook.
214
00:13:57,290 --> 00:13:59,880
I got resources, man. Economic resources.
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I got people lined up ready to invest their money in something real.
216
00:14:03,960 --> 00:14:07,470
You help me raise the money, you call yourself whatever you want.
217
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Producer. Produced by Bill Harris.
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Executive producer.
219
00:14:14,930 --> 00:14:16,440
- Oh, another thing.
- Mm-hmm?
220
00:14:16,520 --> 00:14:18,350
I want this motherfucker to be a living workshop.
221
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I want 50% of the people on the crew
222
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to be getting experience, to be third-world folks.
223
00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:25,190
Unions are lily-white.
224
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- Mm-mmm. They'll never go for it.
- Fuck 'em.
225
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Bill was right.
The unions were lily-white.
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Even if I could afford their rates,
227
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they'd never let me have a 50% minority crew.
228
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Whoo, whoo. Whoa, whoa. Hey!
229
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You look like you got a sweet, sweet back.
230
00:14:45,590 --> 00:14:47,510
Why don't you come party with Delicious for a while.
231
00:14:47,590 --> 00:14:49,260
- No, y'all are too much for me.
- Come on, now.
232
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- I can make you say, "Mm-hmm."
- I bet you could, girl.
233
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Well, that's a shame.
234
00:15:09,530 --> 00:15:12,070
The answer was so obvious
I didn't see it at first.
235
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The unions don't bother with smut films.
236
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They consider pornos beneath their dignity.
237
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I'd tell everyone I was making a Black beaver flick.
238
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Maybe they'd leave me the hell alone.
239
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One name kept coming up in the production credits —
240
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Clyde Houston.
241
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Can I get a little bit more emotion, Brenda?
242
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You have to fuck me for that.
243
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More of the same then. That's perfect.
244
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Melvin Van Peebles.
245
00:15:51,780 --> 00:15:54,450
I'm putting together a feature.
I saw your credit on Lily White.
246
00:15:54,530 --> 00:15:56,660
Oh, yeah, man. I got your message. I'm in.
247
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Don't you wanna know what it's about?
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Do they wear clothes?
249
00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:04,040
Yeah.
250
00:16:04,130 --> 00:16:05,790
Well, like I said, I'm in.
251
00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:08,920
One more time from the top, please.
252
00:16:30,690 --> 00:16:32,360
- Hey, Bill.
- Go get it!
253
00:16:32,450 --> 00:16:35,990
- Hey, Nixon.
- Nixon. Hey, baby, look at that.
254
00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:38,080
Nixon loves you, baby.
255
00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:40,620
- What's happening?
- All right.
256
00:16:40,700 --> 00:16:42,080
Here we go.
257
00:16:42,160 --> 00:16:44,790
So this guy used to be an actor.
258
00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:46,670
Used to be in all these black-and-white westerns.
259
00:16:46,750 --> 00:16:49,670
- You'll probably recognize him.
- He's got real money? No, I'm cool.
260
00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:50,760
Real money, my friend.
261
00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:53,380
He's already financed a couple of independent films in Europe,
262
00:16:53,470 --> 00:16:55,550
and he's ready to break big stateside, huh?
263
00:16:55,640 --> 00:16:59,220
Okay. Ostentatious big white house on the left.
264
00:16:59,310 --> 00:17:01,890
- Go ahead. Go on, man.
- Whoa, whoa. You're not coming?
265
00:17:01,980 --> 00:17:02,980
Oh, no, no, no, man.
266
00:17:03,060 --> 00:17:06,730
He just wants to meet one on one.
You know, artist to artist. All right?
267
00:17:06,810 --> 00:17:08,980
Go get it. Okay. What's this?
268
00:17:10,610 --> 00:17:12,570
Oh, man.
269
00:17:12,650 --> 00:17:15,360
My favorite fucking Danishes, man.
What's this for?
270
00:17:15,450 --> 00:17:17,410
For being a friend, you crazy motherfucker.
271
00:17:17,490 --> 00:17:20,120
Oh! You are my friend!
272
00:17:25,830 --> 00:17:28,750
- Mr. Van Peebles, howdy, howdy.
- Melvin.
273
00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:31,380
- What'll it be? Name your poison.
- Beer's cool.
274
00:17:31,460 --> 00:17:33,130
Aside from the tan,
275
00:17:33,220 --> 00:17:35,720
this guy seemed pretty genuine for Hollywood standards.
276
00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:41,520
My contacts at the studio said that you can be a real stubborn pain in the ass.
277
00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:44,100
They used to say the same thing about me.
278
00:17:44,180 --> 00:17:46,350
I like that. It means you're different.
279
00:17:49,690 --> 00:17:52,320
Different threatens them.
280
00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:55,990
Now tell me about that movie you wanna make.
281
00:17:57,820 --> 00:18:00,200
This is a movie about modern-day colonialism,
282
00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:01,700
about a brother...
283
00:18:01,790 --> 00:18:04,540
He was a no-bullshit guy. No lackeys.
284
00:18:04,620 --> 00:18:06,870
No chicks hanging around the pool for him to impress.
285
00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:08,630
Just straight to the point.
286
00:18:10,290 --> 00:18:11,550
Strong.
287
00:18:13,260 --> 00:18:14,590
Insightful.
288
00:18:15,260 --> 00:18:17,760
Very powerful.
289
00:18:17,840 --> 00:18:19,300
Who's playing the lead?
290
00:18:20,050 --> 00:18:21,050
I don't know yet.
291
00:18:24,180 --> 00:18:26,060
It should be you.
292
00:18:27,480 --> 00:18:29,940
- I'm the writer. I'm the director —
- But you've been living it.
293
00:18:30,020 --> 00:18:31,690
You have the passion for it, don't you?
294
00:18:31,770 --> 00:18:34,650
- Yeah.
- Trust me.
295
00:18:36,110 --> 00:18:39,990
I have the eye. Be honest.
296
00:18:40,910 --> 00:18:42,120
You're beautiful,
297
00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:44,660
sleek, strong.
298
00:18:44,750 --> 00:18:46,710
You're not afraid to be different.
299
00:18:46,790 --> 00:18:50,920
You're not afraid to be who you really are, are you?
300
00:18:54,380 --> 00:18:56,470
How well I know what that is.
301
00:18:58,720 --> 00:19:01,970
How about a little dippity-doo?
302
00:19:03,470 --> 00:19:06,930
Come on, sexy man.
303
00:19:09,560 --> 00:19:12,150
Oh, Melvin. Hey, how'd it go, man?
304
00:19:12,230 --> 00:19:14,650
Give me my motherfucking Danishes.
305
00:19:15,780 --> 00:19:17,950
Hollywood's a close-knit community.
306
00:19:18,030 --> 00:19:22,120
It's easy to make friends, and it's easy to make enemies.
307
00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:24,700
The friends you don't normally keep,
308
00:19:24,790 --> 00:19:27,750
but the enemies you do.
309
00:19:27,830 --> 00:19:30,750
If you wanna be a part of the stew, you really don't want to stir things up,
310
00:19:30,830 --> 00:19:33,170
or you may find yourself in the fire, baby.
311
00:19:33,250 --> 00:19:36,000
MGM, Paramount — they're all losing money.
They're all in the toilet.
312
00:19:36,090 --> 00:19:38,300
MGM's selling off its backlot.
It's selling...
313
00:19:38,380 --> 00:19:42,180
It's selling Dorothy's red shoes, for God's sake.
314
00:19:43,050 --> 00:19:45,260
And he's making them nervous with this kind of material?
315
00:19:45,350 --> 00:19:48,230
The Chicago Seven trial has finally come to an end.
316
00:19:48,310 --> 00:19:50,560
Black Panther Bobby Seale, one of the original defendants
317
00:19:50,640 --> 00:19:51,690
who was earlier —
318
00:20:00,900 --> 00:20:02,030
Mom?
319
00:20:03,370 --> 00:20:04,370
Mom, where are the kids?
320
00:20:04,450 --> 00:20:07,240
Oh, say, Rochester, see that Mr. Kern has some coffee, please.
321
00:20:07,330 --> 00:20:08,330
Yes, sir.
322
00:20:09,080 --> 00:20:10,120
Mom.
323
00:20:17,090 --> 00:20:20,840
Get 'em all. Get 'em all.
Always do a good job.
324
00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:24,050
You crumb-crushers ready?
325
00:20:24,930 --> 00:20:26,600
Get your bathing suits. Let's hit it.
326
00:20:30,600 --> 00:20:31,810
Hey, Dad.
327
00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:35,860
I'm teaching the boy about work.
328
00:20:37,820 --> 00:20:40,570
Man's gotta know how to make a living.
329
00:20:44,410 --> 00:20:45,620
You look tired.
330
00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:47,490
Need anything?
331
00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:50,160
No, I'm — I'm fine.
332
00:20:50,250 --> 00:20:51,250
What about you, Dad?
333
00:20:51,330 --> 00:20:53,920
Peebles?
334
00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:55,500
Peebles!
335
00:20:55,580 --> 00:20:57,880
Guess I better be going.
336
00:20:57,960 --> 00:20:59,710
You know how your mother is.
337
00:21:05,010 --> 00:21:07,140
Melvin, what happened to your motorcycle?
338
00:21:08,430 --> 00:21:10,060
I borrowed a car for the day. Get in.
339
00:21:17,610 --> 00:21:19,440
I want you to start calling me Dad.
340
00:21:20,650 --> 00:21:22,690
Answer me when I talk to you.
341
00:21:22,780 --> 00:21:24,910
Mom lets us call her Maria.
342
00:21:24,990 --> 00:21:27,530
It's less confusing when everyone's calling out for their mother.
343
00:21:27,620 --> 00:21:29,280
I'm not your mother. I'm your father.
344
00:21:29,370 --> 00:21:32,700
And while you're here, you do what the fuck I say. Am I clear?
345
00:21:32,790 --> 00:21:34,250
Yes, Dad.
346
00:21:35,330 --> 00:21:36,500
Okay.
347
00:21:37,790 --> 00:21:39,380
All right.
348
00:21:39,460 --> 00:21:40,920
♪ Do dee, do dee-dee ♪
349
00:21:42,670 --> 00:21:44,510
Sing it for me. Be my piano.
350
00:21:44,590 --> 00:21:47,220
- ♪ Do dee, do dee-dee ♪
- Louder.
351
00:21:47,300 --> 00:21:49,640
- ♪ Do dee, do dee-dee ♪
- Louder.
352
00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:52,100
♪ You bled my mama ♪
353
00:21:52,180 --> 00:21:54,020
♪ Do dee, do dee-dee ♪
354
00:21:54,100 --> 00:21:55,560
♪ You bled my papa ♪
355
00:21:55,640 --> 00:21:57,440
♪ Do dee, do dee-dee ♪
356
00:21:57,520 --> 00:22:00,110
You won't bleed me! Again, louder!
357
00:22:19,040 --> 00:22:22,050
Mel, welcome. How you doing?
358
00:22:22,130 --> 00:22:25,130
- Good, how you doing?
- Doing great. This is my wife, Jennifer.
359
00:22:25,220 --> 00:22:27,680
- Hi, Jennifer.
- That there's Josh and Tracy.
360
00:22:30,800 --> 00:22:32,260
These are my kids, Mario and Megan.
361
00:22:32,350 --> 00:22:34,470
Oh, good thing you brought along your bathing suits, kids.
362
00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:36,940
Why don't you take a dip while your dad and I talk shop, huh?
363
00:22:37,020 --> 00:22:39,810
- Go on.
- Jenn, go and get Mel something to eat.
364
00:22:39,900 --> 00:22:41,690
- You want a drink?
- Sure, water's good.
365
00:22:41,770 --> 00:22:42,980
All right. Help yourself.
366
00:22:43,070 --> 00:22:46,110
So, um, I hear great things from Bill Harris about your project.
367
00:22:46,190 --> 00:22:47,360
Real radical stuff, huh?
368
00:22:47,450 --> 00:22:50,280
The truth is always radical when it's told by the oppressed, right?
369
00:22:51,120 --> 00:22:53,120
Whatever. I make movies.
370
00:22:53,200 --> 00:22:55,870
Hey, Dad, come on. Can we climb the rope?
371
00:22:55,950 --> 00:22:58,790
Well, that's just something I do to keep in shape.
372
00:23:06,090 --> 00:23:07,720
Come on, Dad. You can do it.
373
00:23:23,690 --> 00:23:26,230
Yeah!
374
00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:27,900
That is not easy.
375
00:23:27,990 --> 00:23:30,530
Congratulations.
376
00:23:30,610 --> 00:23:32,070
- You try it.
- Huh?
377
00:23:32,160 --> 00:23:35,330
No, it took me almost a year before I could get to the top.
378
00:23:35,410 --> 00:23:38,750
You gotta be in great shape.
You don't wanna embarrass yourself.
379
00:23:38,830 --> 00:23:40,750
Please? You can do it.
380
00:23:40,830 --> 00:23:43,790
- You know what? Not today, kids.
- Your dad's tired.
381
00:23:43,880 --> 00:23:46,250
Hey, I think we got some cake in the house. Who wants cake?
382
00:23:46,340 --> 00:23:48,550
- I do. I do. I do.
- Okay. Let's go.
383
00:23:48,630 --> 00:23:49,720
Come on.
384
00:23:52,010 --> 00:23:53,140
Please?
385
00:23:54,850 --> 00:23:56,060
Dad?
386
00:24:25,840 --> 00:24:28,550
I should have known better than to make that climb,
387
00:24:28,630 --> 00:24:31,170
considering Black folks' history with ropes.
388
00:24:32,720 --> 00:24:35,720
I gotta be the first nigga in history that hung himself.
389
00:24:45,770 --> 00:24:49,360
Hey, man, all right. You made it.
Hey, you're not still mad, are you?
390
00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:50,900
All right, man, who's your friend?
391
00:24:50,990 --> 00:24:53,200
He is in here, man.
He is ready for you, my friend.
392
00:24:53,280 --> 00:24:56,320
Everybody is flying high. Come on in.
393
00:24:58,290 --> 00:25:01,080
Hey, Moonbeam, Ginnie, this is Melvin.
394
00:25:01,160 --> 00:25:02,660
Ohh!
395
00:25:02,750 --> 00:25:04,420
Moonbeam is pure love, man.
396
00:25:04,500 --> 00:25:06,330
And this is Ginnie. She's from —
397
00:25:06,420 --> 00:25:08,550
- Where you from? Where you from, baby?
- Alabama.
398
00:25:08,630 --> 00:25:10,880
Alabama.
399
00:25:10,960 --> 00:25:13,300
Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill, where's the money guy, man?
400
00:25:13,380 --> 00:25:15,010
He's here, man. He's for real.
401
00:25:15,090 --> 00:25:17,550
I mean, he's ready to do some serious business, man.
402
00:25:17,640 --> 00:25:19,430
- Let's go meet this guy, man.
- Come on.
403
00:25:24,230 --> 00:25:28,570
This time, the brother gets away and we're calling the movie
404
00:25:28,650 --> 00:25:31,030
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song.
405
00:25:33,780 --> 00:25:37,200
- Far out.
- Donovan, what do you think, man?
406
00:25:37,280 --> 00:25:40,040
Everybody needs someone to love, right?
407
00:25:40,120 --> 00:25:43,120
So now I got one question for you, my brother.
408
00:25:43,210 --> 00:25:46,710
Will the collective conscience of the universe be expanded
409
00:25:46,790 --> 00:25:48,540
after people see this flick?
410
00:25:48,630 --> 00:25:50,340
Now I'm not talking individuals here.
411
00:25:50,420 --> 00:25:53,130
I'm talking about the whole fucking universe
412
00:25:53,220 --> 00:25:55,340
moving ahead in time.
413
00:25:55,430 --> 00:25:59,260
Not horizontally, man. Vertically!
You know, a jump.
414
00:25:59,350 --> 00:26:03,060
You know what I mean? A real jump.
Is that what we got here?
415
00:26:03,140 --> 00:26:05,270
Abso-fucking-lutely, man.
416
00:26:05,350 --> 00:26:06,350
All right.
417
00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:08,730
How do I know they're not narcs?
418
00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:12,900
They're not narcs.
419
00:26:13,690 --> 00:26:15,780
- Okay.
- One minute, gentlemen. Come here.
420
00:26:15,860 --> 00:26:17,610
- How do I know they're real, man?
- He's good.
421
00:26:17,700 --> 00:26:19,700
- How do I know they're fucking real?
- He's for real.
422
00:26:19,780 --> 00:26:21,530
He wants to be a producer, man.
423
00:26:21,620 --> 00:26:23,040
It's all good.
424
00:26:23,120 --> 00:26:25,710
Oh. Hello.
425
00:26:25,790 --> 00:26:28,330
He wants to be loved,
426
00:26:28,420 --> 00:26:30,500
but he'll settle for attention.
427
00:26:31,540 --> 00:26:33,710
Bill, this guy's got real money, right?
428
00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:35,590
It's for real. Relax, man.
429
00:26:35,670 --> 00:26:40,640
And the serious one. Intense.
430
00:26:46,640 --> 00:26:48,060
Loose.
431
00:26:50,860 --> 00:26:52,940
He'll do it.
432
00:26:53,020 --> 00:26:54,480
Here's the conditions.
433
00:26:54,570 --> 00:26:58,610
My client is a silent partner.
His name does not appear anywhere.
434
00:26:58,700 --> 00:27:03,200
All negotiations will be with my firm with all legal fees added to the budget.
435
00:27:03,290 --> 00:27:04,450
This is the deal, gentlemen.
436
00:27:04,540 --> 00:27:08,460
Bottom-feeders always do that, especially bottom-feeding attorneys,
437
00:27:08,540 --> 00:27:11,630
inserting themselves and their fees into the deal.
438
00:27:11,710 --> 00:27:13,210
But fuck it, man.
439
00:27:13,300 --> 00:27:18,010
If this was real, we were a go movie, a green light.
440
00:27:18,090 --> 00:27:20,260
- What did I say, Melvin?
- Have a wonderful evening.
441
00:27:20,340 --> 00:27:22,550
What did I say, man?
442
00:27:22,640 --> 00:27:23,970
It's real.
443
00:27:30,810 --> 00:27:33,190
Whoo!
444
00:27:33,270 --> 00:27:37,110
Yeah! Whoo!
445
00:27:37,190 --> 00:27:39,030
♪ You bled my mama ♪
446
00:27:40,660 --> 00:27:43,450
♪ You bled my papa ♪
447
00:27:43,530 --> 00:27:45,410
♪ Don't bleed me ♪
448
00:27:45,490 --> 00:27:47,120
♪ Don't bleed me ♪
449
00:27:47,200 --> 00:27:50,080
♪ You bled my mama ♪
450
00:27:50,170 --> 00:27:52,080
♪ You bled my papa... ♪
451
00:27:52,170 --> 00:27:55,340
Oh, man. You chewed this motherfucker to death.
452
00:27:55,420 --> 00:27:56,920
- Bill.
- Mmm?
453
00:27:57,010 --> 00:27:58,300
You know what I'm thinking?
454
00:27:58,380 --> 00:28:02,840
When Sweetback's in the desert, he hears the voices of angels.
455
00:28:02,930 --> 00:28:05,560
- But he doesn't see them.
- No, he just hears 'em.
456
00:28:05,640 --> 00:28:08,640
Like a ghetto choir, like voices of the disenfranchised.
457
00:28:08,730 --> 00:28:11,020
Oh, yeah, yeah.
458
00:28:11,100 --> 00:28:13,610
Oh, hello.
459
00:28:13,690 --> 00:28:15,730
- Good morning.
- Upsy-daisy.
460
00:28:15,820 --> 00:28:17,150
- Fantastic.
- Right.
461
00:28:17,230 --> 00:28:20,570
You know, I like it. I like it.
It's surreal.
462
00:28:20,650 --> 00:28:24,490
You know, it takes it all to a whole another dimension, right?
463
00:28:24,570 --> 00:28:26,490
That's good. It's operatic.
464
00:28:26,580 --> 00:28:31,330
And then use superimposition for when he's running through the ghetto? Urban decay?
465
00:28:31,410 --> 00:28:32,790
- Right. Right.
- Huh?
466
00:28:32,870 --> 00:28:36,090
I see it. Oh, hi.
467
00:28:36,170 --> 00:28:38,090
Rise and shine.
468
00:28:38,170 --> 00:28:40,170
- Good morning.
- Hey.
469
00:28:40,260 --> 00:28:42,760
Let's — Whoa. Where am I going? Okay.
470
00:28:42,840 --> 00:28:46,260
Whoa!
471
00:28:46,350 --> 00:28:48,430
Another thing. You listening to me?
472
00:28:48,520 --> 00:28:50,600
Check it out. The music on this motherfucker, right?
473
00:28:50,680 --> 00:28:53,480
It's gotta drive.
It's gotta be up front, man.
474
00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:54,770
Huh?
475
00:28:58,110 --> 00:28:59,570
Who is that bitch?
476
00:28:59,650 --> 00:29:02,070
- Who is that bitch?
- Priscilla...
477
00:29:02,150 --> 00:29:03,320
Don't "Priscilla" me. Bill?
478
00:29:04,490 --> 00:29:06,530
Wait, and you got a dog too?
479
00:29:06,620 --> 00:29:08,120
You nasty, sick motherfucker!
480
00:29:08,200 --> 00:29:09,790
What the fuck you looking at?
481
00:29:09,870 --> 00:29:12,710
I don't believe this shit, Melvin.
482
00:29:12,790 --> 00:29:14,710
What about Melvin Jr.?
483
00:29:14,790 --> 00:29:18,750
What about our baby, Melvin?
How could you...
484
00:29:18,840 --> 00:29:22,220
You know what? I want a divorce! 'Cause you're killing me.
485
00:29:22,300 --> 00:29:23,510
You're killing me!
486
00:29:23,590 --> 00:29:25,680
It's over. Over!
487
00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:39,900
You're married?
488
00:29:39,980 --> 00:29:41,990
Oh, no, no, no, no, man.
That's his secretary.
489
00:29:42,070 --> 00:29:43,950
See, she does this whole audition thing.
490
00:29:57,960 --> 00:29:58,960
Oh, yeah.
491
00:29:59,040 --> 00:30:03,420
That's good! Camera needs another short end, maybe 250 or 300 if you got it.
492
00:30:03,510 --> 00:30:06,680
- Okay.
- Anybody have another towel, please?
493
00:30:08,180 --> 00:30:10,930
Clyde introduced me to his cameraman, Bob Maxwell.
494
00:30:11,010 --> 00:30:12,100
Bob Maxwell...
495
00:30:12,180 --> 00:30:13,980
His wife, Nora, did makeup.
496
00:30:14,060 --> 00:30:16,230
There's a saying in the business:
497
00:30:16,310 --> 00:30:19,190
If you can make an ass look good, then faces were a snap.
498
00:30:19,270 --> 00:30:22,320
It was like there was a whole nonunion movie industry
499
00:30:22,400 --> 00:30:24,820
in existence right then,
500
00:30:24,900 --> 00:30:26,820
and I knew every one of them motherfuckers.
501
00:30:26,910 --> 00:30:29,870
Imagine the kind of opportunity that is lost,
502
00:30:29,950 --> 00:30:32,330
and he had such a chance to be such a credit to his people.
503
00:30:32,410 --> 00:30:34,080
How many Negro directors were there altogether?
504
00:30:34,160 --> 00:30:37,120
Gordon Parks, there's Ossie Davis, and Melvin.
505
00:30:42,250 --> 00:30:43,920
Mel, we don't have a permit for any of this,
506
00:30:44,010 --> 00:30:45,670
so we got to shoot it and get up out of here.
507
00:30:45,760 --> 00:30:47,010
We gonna steal this shit.
508
00:30:47,090 --> 00:30:50,550
Priscilla, don't write the location down till we all agree on it.
509
00:30:50,640 --> 00:30:53,310
And those pads ain't cheap.
Use a pencil next time.
510
00:30:53,390 --> 00:30:57,440
And, girl, put some clothes on.
This ain't Soul Train. Come on, now.
511
00:31:03,440 --> 00:31:04,530
Ew!
512
00:31:04,610 --> 00:31:07,650
Bill, get this mangy mutt off of me, please.
513
00:31:07,740 --> 00:31:09,030
Oh, come on, Nixon.
514
00:31:09,910 --> 00:31:11,240
He just can't resist you.
515
00:31:12,620 --> 00:31:14,870
You look like a lemon Popsicle, girl.
516
00:31:16,450 --> 00:31:19,420
All through here.
All of this is great shit.
517
00:31:19,500 --> 00:31:22,040
And I can sing, dance, model, and act too,
518
00:31:22,130 --> 00:31:25,420
so tell that controlling Leo motherfucker over there to put me in his damn movie.
519
00:31:25,510 --> 00:31:26,550
Hey, Bill.
520
00:31:28,590 --> 00:31:31,180
Jump over the wall and run down here, man.
521
00:31:32,640 --> 00:31:34,680
It's too fucking steep!
522
00:31:34,760 --> 00:31:36,520
Hey, man, this is art, baby.
523
00:31:37,600 --> 00:31:39,480
You can do it.
524
00:31:39,560 --> 00:31:41,850
Okay! Hold this.
525
00:31:45,730 --> 00:31:46,860
Whoa!
526
00:31:46,940 --> 00:31:49,110
Come on, feet! Cruise to me!
527
00:31:49,990 --> 00:31:51,240
Come on, man!
528
00:31:51,320 --> 00:31:52,570
Come on, run.
529
00:31:52,660 --> 00:31:53,910
Come on, Bill.
530
00:31:53,990 --> 00:31:56,790
- Whoa!
- Oh, shit. Oh, shit.
531
00:31:56,870 --> 00:31:57,870
Bill, Bill, Bill.
532
00:31:57,950 --> 00:32:00,040
You know we're gonna need a stuntman if we shoot this.
533
00:32:00,120 --> 00:32:04,840
Oh, yeah! Sweetback is still alive!
534
00:32:04,920 --> 00:32:06,420
Priscilla, make a note.
535
00:32:06,500 --> 00:32:08,340
I want some dogs at the end to chase the brother.
536
00:32:08,420 --> 00:32:10,090
Three dogs. Bloodhounds.
537
00:32:10,170 --> 00:32:12,720
We'll get some modern runaway slave imagery with these dogs, man.
538
00:32:12,800 --> 00:32:14,930
And I can save us time and money if we shoot this handheld,
539
00:32:15,010 --> 00:32:16,220
if you don't mind a little edge.
540
00:32:16,310 --> 00:32:18,810
Edge? Shit, this motherfucker is gonna be nothing but edge.
541
00:32:18,890 --> 00:32:21,020
Ghetto realism like folks ain't never seen.
542
00:32:21,100 --> 00:32:23,100
- Right on, baby.
- You know what I'm saying?
543
00:32:23,190 --> 00:32:24,400
I mean, look at this, man.
544
00:32:24,480 --> 00:32:26,650
- This is beautiful. Look at that.
- This will all play.
545
00:32:27,610 --> 00:32:29,150
Back the fuck up...
546
00:32:29,240 --> 00:32:31,240
bitch.
547
00:32:32,570 --> 00:32:34,490
Pigs ain't got nothing on me.
548
00:32:35,830 --> 00:32:38,290
Okay, again. Contain the hostility more.
549
00:32:40,660 --> 00:32:43,460
Back the fuck up, b-bitch.
550
00:32:44,960 --> 00:32:47,090
Pigs ain't got nothing on me.
551
00:32:47,170 --> 00:32:48,630
Thank you, brother.
552
00:32:54,300 --> 00:32:56,010
S-S-Shit, n-niggas.
553
00:32:59,470 --> 00:33:00,480
Clyde.
554
00:33:00,560 --> 00:33:03,100
Well, he didn't exactly take direction, now, did he?
555
00:33:03,190 --> 00:33:05,560
He's not the lead.
I mean, he's not even SAG.
556
00:33:05,650 --> 00:33:08,150
The guy can't talk.
Doesn't that bother anybody?
557
00:33:08,230 --> 00:33:10,570
I like his fucked-up speech. It's real.
558
00:33:10,650 --> 00:33:12,490
Make a note.
Let's put him somewhere, Priscilla.
559
00:33:12,570 --> 00:33:15,700
Shit, I'm better than half these motherfuckers anyway.
560
00:33:19,160 --> 00:33:20,160
Next.
561
00:33:24,080 --> 00:33:25,920
All right, brother. Sit down right there.
562
00:33:26,000 --> 00:33:27,500
Action.
563
00:33:33,930 --> 00:33:37,260
Finding the lead was turning out to be problematic.
564
00:33:37,350 --> 00:33:40,430
Sweetback would only have six lines in the whole movie.
565
00:33:41,100 --> 00:33:44,020
Those with the grit didn't have the technique,
566
00:33:44,100 --> 00:33:47,480
and those with the technique wanted more lines.
567
00:33:50,070 --> 00:33:52,150
- Hey, crumb-crusher.
- Huh?
568
00:33:52,240 --> 00:33:53,320
Come here.
569
00:33:54,780 --> 00:33:57,200
Why don't you have lunch with your old man, huh?
570
00:33:57,280 --> 00:33:59,030
Wanted me to go see
Howie's daughter, remember?
571
00:33:59,120 --> 00:34:00,120
Oh.
572
00:34:00,200 --> 00:34:03,160
Howie was probably hoping
I'd come to my senses.
573
00:34:03,250 --> 00:34:06,080
His wife, Roz, was taking Mario for the day.
574
00:34:07,670 --> 00:34:10,670
We were gonna be shooting in some rough-ass places,
575
00:34:10,750 --> 00:34:12,880
so we'd need some ghetto muscle.
576
00:34:25,480 --> 00:34:27,100
Aw, hell, we damn proud.
577
00:34:27,190 --> 00:34:29,270
Colored folks tired of singin' about it, start swingin'.
578
00:34:29,360 --> 00:34:31,610
- Hello?
- Detroit, Chicago, LA.
579
00:34:31,690 --> 00:34:33,780
Nonviolence is dead, y'all!
580
00:34:33,860 --> 00:34:35,530
Hey!
581
00:34:35,610 --> 00:34:38,490
Bein' colored didn't work. We Black now.
582
00:34:38,570 --> 00:34:41,120
- Come on, y'all.
- Say it loud!
583
00:34:41,200 --> 00:34:43,040
I'm black and I'm proud!
584
00:34:43,120 --> 00:34:44,540
Afro. Afro-conscious.
585
00:34:48,750 --> 00:34:51,500
Latinos, Asians, hippies, or women.
586
00:34:51,590 --> 00:34:54,920
Niggas talking about education, voting, organizing,
587
00:34:55,010 --> 00:34:56,970
and getting the man's foot out of they ass.
588
00:34:57,050 --> 00:34:58,510
- See, now, you a problem.
- Hello?
589
00:34:58,590 --> 00:35:01,010
- You mean you're anti-white?
- We anti-oppression.
590
00:35:01,100 --> 00:35:02,850
You can't fight racism with racism.
591
00:35:02,930 --> 00:35:06,430
What, niggas talking revolution is crossing the picket line? Hell no.
592
00:35:08,520 --> 00:35:10,940
No more Mr. Nice Guy.
593
00:35:11,020 --> 00:35:14,820
The man takes off the old sheets and picks up the badge and the gun.
594
00:35:14,900 --> 00:35:17,780
- To protect and serve?
- To patrol and control.
595
00:35:17,860 --> 00:35:19,910
- Keeping your Black ass in check.
- Hello.
596
00:35:19,990 --> 00:35:22,990
Will "just-us"prevail or will it just be us in jail?
597
00:35:23,080 --> 00:35:25,080
Oh, shit. That's right, brother.
598
00:35:25,160 --> 00:35:28,250
From shackles to cuffs, he's still got his foot in your ass.
599
00:35:28,330 --> 00:35:29,960
One size fits all, nigga.
600
00:35:30,040 --> 00:35:32,630
One size fits all, nigga.
601
00:35:32,710 --> 00:35:34,880
One size fits all.
602
00:35:35,590 --> 00:35:37,510
One size fits all, nigga.
603
00:35:43,050 --> 00:35:44,430
T.J., down, boy.
604
00:35:49,940 --> 00:35:51,310
T.J. alpha male.
605
00:35:52,100 --> 00:35:54,320
They do what he do.
606
00:35:56,280 --> 00:35:58,820
Last motherfucker broke in here,
607
00:35:58,900 --> 00:36:01,070
they tore his arm off.
608
00:36:02,280 --> 00:36:03,950
That pipe wouldn't have helped.
609
00:36:08,120 --> 00:36:09,370
You eat pig?
610
00:36:10,410 --> 00:36:13,290
- Yeah.
- Pig bad for you.
611
00:36:13,380 --> 00:36:15,040
This here's smoked turkey.
612
00:36:16,090 --> 00:36:17,710
Tastes better than pig.
613
00:36:29,600 --> 00:36:31,520
I heard you spent six months in film school.
614
00:36:31,600 --> 00:36:34,190
So you gonna be in the smoked meat business,
615
00:36:34,270 --> 00:36:36,690
or you gonna be in the movie business?
616
00:36:37,860 --> 00:36:39,360
Besides security,
617
00:36:39,440 --> 00:36:42,200
T could double as the boom man for the sound guy.
618
00:36:42,280 --> 00:36:45,580
Only drawback — he didn't know shit about recording sound.
619
00:36:45,660 --> 00:36:47,160
Check it out.
620
00:36:47,240 --> 00:36:48,200
What?
621
00:36:54,460 --> 00:36:58,210
Honey. Melvin, it's Mario on the phone.
He's gonna be a little late.
622
00:36:58,300 --> 00:37:00,340
Tell him to get his ass on home.
623
00:37:00,420 --> 00:37:03,090
Okay — Hey! Mwah!
624
00:37:03,180 --> 00:37:05,550
Your dad is busy right now, honey.
You better come on home.
625
00:37:05,640 --> 00:37:07,760
All right.
626
00:37:07,850 --> 00:37:10,060
First thing you need to know about movie making —
627
00:37:10,140 --> 00:37:13,600
when the director says, "Listen up," you listen the fuck up, okay?
628
00:37:13,690 --> 00:37:14,980
We start shooting in three days.
629
00:37:15,060 --> 00:37:17,610
This is a family affair.
This is Bob and his lovely wife, Nora.
630
00:37:17,690 --> 00:37:19,980
Nora does makeup.
Bob is our cinematographer.
631
00:37:20,070 --> 00:37:23,200
We'll have two cameras working, so we also have, from New York,
632
00:37:23,280 --> 00:37:26,490
Black Latino Filmmaker's Coalition,
Jose Garcia.
633
00:37:26,570 --> 00:37:28,080
¡Que viva Puerto Rico libre!
634
00:37:28,160 --> 00:37:30,330
Exactly.
635
00:37:30,410 --> 00:37:33,080
All right. On script, we got Randy over here.
636
00:37:33,160 --> 00:37:34,790
And our genius of sound is Tommy,
637
00:37:34,870 --> 00:37:37,880
backed up by Big T, who'll also be heading up security.
638
00:37:37,960 --> 00:37:39,460
Oh, no, no, man. Hey, hey.
639
00:37:39,550 --> 00:37:41,050
Why do I gotta answer to a white man
640
00:37:41,130 --> 00:37:44,050
on a movie about a brother finally breaking the chains, you dig?
641
00:37:44,130 --> 00:37:46,390
We been answering to whitey for 400 years, blood.
642
00:37:46,470 --> 00:37:47,760
Well, T, now, hold up.
643
00:37:47,850 --> 00:37:49,560
Tommy here is risking his career to be here.
644
00:37:49,640 --> 00:37:52,220
He's one of the few motherfuckers here who really knows what he's doing.
645
00:37:52,310 --> 00:37:55,770
So do yourself a favor. Learn something.
Listen to this man.
646
00:37:55,850 --> 00:37:58,690
When your big ass has been listening to whitey for 400 years,
647
00:37:58,770 --> 00:38:00,610
another month won't hurt.
648
00:38:00,690 --> 00:38:04,860
All right, last but not least, right here, my foxy production secretary
649
00:38:04,950 --> 00:38:06,740
and star of the first day of shooting
650
00:38:06,820 --> 00:38:09,660
of Sweet Sweetback's
Baadasssss Song, Priscilla.
651
00:38:10,950 --> 00:38:12,200
That's right.
652
00:38:13,410 --> 00:38:15,670
Listen up. The speech. Come here, baby.
653
00:38:15,750 --> 00:38:17,120
Look around you.
654
00:38:17,210 --> 00:38:18,580
No crew has ever looked like this.
655
00:38:18,670 --> 00:38:20,090
We're not supposed to get along,
656
00:38:20,170 --> 00:38:22,300
let alone be able to make a movie together, okay?
657
00:38:22,380 --> 00:38:24,470
Once we get started, there's no quitting.
658
00:38:24,550 --> 00:38:27,680
So anybody want out, hit the door now.
659
00:38:29,470 --> 00:38:31,310
I'm sorry.
660
00:38:31,390 --> 00:38:32,890
It's all right. Anybody else?
661
00:38:35,390 --> 00:38:36,940
Ah, Mr. Harris.
662
00:38:37,020 --> 00:38:39,270
We'll have none of this WPT, Mr. Harris.
663
00:38:39,360 --> 00:38:41,860
- What's WPT?
- White people time, T.
664
00:38:42,570 --> 00:38:44,610
- We have to talk.
- All right.
665
00:38:44,690 --> 00:38:46,530
Let's do it. Let's make a movie.
666
00:38:46,610 --> 00:38:48,030
- Yeah!
- All right!
667
00:38:50,830 --> 00:38:52,160
- Hey, Melvin.
- What's up?
668
00:38:52,240 --> 00:38:53,540
The script guy,
669
00:38:53,620 --> 00:38:56,660
he says you only got a 65-minute movie here.
670
00:38:56,750 --> 00:38:58,460
Listen, I know what I got.
671
00:38:58,540 --> 00:39:02,290
Let him keep track of the shots, okay?
I got it in my head. Cool?
672
00:39:02,380 --> 00:39:05,550
- We're all right, brother. Don't worry.
- Hey, Melvin. It's Clyde.
673
00:39:05,630 --> 00:39:07,840
- He gotta talk to you.
- We gotta talk now.
674
00:39:07,930 --> 00:39:10,800
All right, well, find out what he wants, okay? Come on, Bill.
675
00:39:10,890 --> 00:39:11,970
Hey, Clyde.
676
00:39:14,020 --> 00:39:15,270
He got arrested.
677
00:39:15,350 --> 00:39:16,850
- Who?
- Donovan.
678
00:39:16,930 --> 00:39:18,480
Our financing man.
679
00:39:18,560 --> 00:39:19,850
Motherfucker. What for?
680
00:39:22,860 --> 00:39:24,690
What about that attorney? We had a deal.
681
00:39:24,780 --> 00:39:27,740
Yeah, let's just say that, uh, financing for this film
682
00:39:27,820 --> 00:39:30,870
has been put on the back burner for the foreseeable future,
683
00:39:30,950 --> 00:39:33,370
like the next five to ten years, man.
684
00:39:35,120 --> 00:39:36,950
You gotta go in there.
685
00:39:37,870 --> 00:39:39,290
You gotta cancel.
686
00:39:44,750 --> 00:39:47,550
Fuck it. I’ll use my own bread.
687
00:39:47,630 --> 00:39:50,890
Oh, no, no, no, man. Nobody uses their own money to finance a movie, man.
688
00:39:50,970 --> 00:39:52,220
What if the movie's a bomb?
689
00:39:52,300 --> 00:39:54,850
Or you spend your money on it and you can't get a distributor?
690
00:39:54,930 --> 00:39:57,390
I can raise $72,450.
691
00:39:57,480 --> 00:40:00,060
Make that 72,000.
I haven't paid next month's rent.
692
00:40:00,140 --> 00:40:01,650
But that's enough to get the train rolling.
693
00:40:01,730 --> 00:40:04,270
I get the train rolling, investors are gonna see we got something good
694
00:40:04,360 --> 00:40:06,900
- and they're gonna jump on board.
- And what if they don't, man?
695
00:40:06,980 --> 00:40:09,610
That 72,000 is not even gonna get you through preproduction.
696
00:40:09,700 --> 00:40:11,200
Bill, do you have money for me?
697
00:40:12,950 --> 00:40:14,910
Melvin, we got a problem.
698
00:40:19,410 --> 00:40:20,410
Yeah?
699
00:40:20,500 --> 00:40:23,210
They're asking for one week's payroll up front, Melvin.
700
00:40:23,290 --> 00:40:25,040
Well, I ain't got that kind of bread, Clyde.
701
00:40:27,300 --> 00:40:28,340
Fuck it.
702
00:40:28,420 --> 00:40:29,920
Well, but SAG is gonna —
703
00:40:34,800 --> 00:40:36,390
We can't use any SAG actors.
704
00:40:36,470 --> 00:40:37,640
What?
705
00:40:37,720 --> 00:40:41,350
Shit, we shoot in three days.
We're gonna have to postpone, right?
706
00:40:43,480 --> 00:40:46,070
We start shooting May 11th as planned.
707
00:40:46,150 --> 00:40:47,440
Everybody got that?
708
00:40:48,190 --> 00:40:50,820
Everybody got that?
709
00:40:50,900 --> 00:40:53,610
All right, get back to work. We'll recast.
710
00:40:54,410 --> 00:40:55,620
Shit.
711
00:40:55,700 --> 00:40:57,410
Who's gonna play Sweetback?
712
00:40:57,490 --> 00:40:59,790
I was starting to believe my own bullshit.
713
00:41:00,790 --> 00:41:02,620
Chomping on an unlit cigar.
714
00:41:05,580 --> 00:41:07,710
Hey, Mel. Come on.
715
00:41:09,510 --> 00:41:11,300
Ta-da!
716
00:41:11,380 --> 00:41:13,300
Howie says hello.
717
00:41:13,380 --> 00:41:16,010
You've got a great kid here.
718
00:41:26,400 --> 00:41:27,520
What you got there?
719
00:41:27,610 --> 00:41:29,820
Mrs. Kaufman bought it for me.
I didn't ask for it.
720
00:41:29,900 --> 00:41:31,650
Tomorrow you bring it back.
721
00:41:32,530 --> 00:41:33,650
Bring it back?
722
00:41:34,410 --> 00:41:35,780
You losing your hearing?
723
00:41:36,490 --> 00:41:39,790
When I want a favor from Howie, I’ll call it in, okay?
724
00:41:39,870 --> 00:41:42,160
You don't let people use you to get to me.
725
00:41:42,910 --> 00:41:44,330
What people?
726
00:41:46,710 --> 00:41:47,790
Get in the house.
727
00:41:51,510 --> 00:41:55,340
Melvin had not submitted the proper paperwork to the Screen Actors Guild.
728
00:41:55,430 --> 00:41:57,890
I think when you've heard "no" all of your life,
729
00:41:57,970 --> 00:41:59,890
you just don't listen anymore.
730
00:41:59,970 --> 00:42:03,020
Who had to go down there and sort everything out? Mr. Clyde.
731
00:42:03,100 --> 00:42:04,600
Of course, you don't hear about that.
732
00:42:04,690 --> 00:42:06,770
We were following him, you know?
733
00:42:06,850 --> 00:42:10,980
He was our leader, so if he was crazy, we were fucking lunatics.
734
00:42:11,070 --> 00:42:13,280
I just looked around and I knew we were in trouble.
735
00:42:16,410 --> 00:42:19,280
In LA, you can't even see the stars at night.
736
00:42:19,370 --> 00:42:21,450
It's not the city lights. It's the smog.
737
00:42:21,540 --> 00:42:23,540
Shut the fuck up, man.
I'm trying to calculate.
738
00:42:23,620 --> 00:42:25,080
What you trying to calculate?
739
00:42:25,160 --> 00:42:27,670
You ain't got shit.
You ain't even got your lead.
740
00:42:27,750 --> 00:42:29,500
No, no, I’ll play the lead. I’ll play Sweetback.
741
00:42:29,590 --> 00:42:31,750
Fuck it. I know the lines.
I'm not union, right?
742
00:42:31,840 --> 00:42:32,960
I'm not taking a salary.
743
00:42:33,050 --> 00:42:35,340
Fool, ain't nobody investing in this shit.
744
00:42:35,420 --> 00:42:37,380
I’ll cut more days out of the schedule.
745
00:42:39,050 --> 00:42:41,430
Hey, look, it takes 40 days to make a studio movie.
746
00:42:41,510 --> 00:42:43,270
You settle for 27.
747
00:42:43,350 --> 00:42:46,020
Then you cut it down to 24, minimum. Now what?
748
00:42:48,350 --> 00:42:49,400
Twenty.
749
00:42:49,480 --> 00:42:52,520
Twenty with some ragtag crew that don't know shit?
750
00:42:52,610 --> 00:42:54,610
Man, you're about to lose every fucking thing.
751
00:42:54,690 --> 00:42:56,360
Kids' college funds, all of it.
752
00:42:56,450 --> 00:42:57,740
Just get the fuck off my roof.
753
00:42:57,820 --> 00:42:59,700
Look around you, man.
754
00:42:59,780 --> 00:43:02,030
Every fucking sign is saying, "Don't do this."
755
00:43:02,120 --> 00:43:04,080
You're about to be a Hollywood joke.
756
00:43:04,160 --> 00:43:08,420
Go back to the studio. Do a comedy.
Do whatever. Do it with their money.
757
00:43:08,500 --> 00:43:11,250
- Make a real movie with their money.
- Get the fuck off my roof!
758
00:43:14,550 --> 00:43:16,720
Get the fuck off my roof.
759
00:43:16,800 --> 00:43:19,050
Get the fuck off my roof. You hear me?
760
00:43:19,970 --> 00:43:22,350
Melvin, who are you talking to?
761
00:43:22,430 --> 00:43:24,010
Running lines.
762
00:43:24,930 --> 00:43:26,600
Been a long fucking time since I acted.
763
00:43:29,190 --> 00:43:31,900
I'm sorry to bother you, but I need to talk to you about something.
764
00:43:31,980 --> 00:43:34,440
Whoa, whoa, hold on.
Now, is this something negative?
765
00:43:34,530 --> 00:43:37,030
Because if it's negative,
I can't even deal with it right now.
766
00:43:37,110 --> 00:43:39,950
I'm a broke, pissed-off nigga from Chicago, Priscilla,
767
00:43:40,030 --> 00:43:42,450
and I'm down to my last cigar, okay?
768
00:43:42,530 --> 00:43:43,660
Don't leave.
769
00:43:43,740 --> 00:43:45,160
Cheer up a guy.
770
00:43:49,080 --> 00:43:50,710
About...
771
00:43:50,790 --> 00:43:52,500
About tomorrow...
772
00:43:54,630 --> 00:43:56,800
- I can't be in the movie.
- What?
773
00:43:56,880 --> 00:44:00,010
My boyfriend doesn't think I should do it.
774
00:44:00,090 --> 00:44:03,140
Hold up. Hold up. I thought you discussed this with your boyfriend.
775
00:44:03,220 --> 00:44:06,770
I did, but not about all the sexy stuff exactly.
776
00:44:06,850 --> 00:44:08,810
We're making a sexy fucking movie, right?
777
00:44:08,890 --> 00:44:11,100
Now, I've been straight about that from the get-go.
778
00:44:11,770 --> 00:44:13,110
I know.
779
00:44:14,020 --> 00:44:15,360
I'm sorry.
780
00:44:15,440 --> 00:44:17,690
Tomorrow's our first day of shooting.
781
00:44:18,690 --> 00:44:21,160
With all the other shit
I got coming down on my head right now,
782
00:44:21,240 --> 00:44:22,320
you're fucking sorry?
783
00:44:22,410 --> 00:44:24,660
I’ll leave production if you want me to.
784
00:44:24,740 --> 00:44:27,450
Leave production? Are you crazy?
785
00:44:27,540 --> 00:44:29,330
That's your final decision? You can't?
786
00:44:29,410 --> 00:44:31,330
Okay. You know what you fucking need to do?
787
00:44:31,420 --> 00:44:35,210
You need to get off my fucking roof before I throw you off this motherfucker.
788
00:44:35,290 --> 00:44:36,880
All right?
789
00:44:36,960 --> 00:44:38,510
Get the fuck out of here!
790
00:44:39,800 --> 00:44:41,050
I'm trying to do something,
791
00:44:41,130 --> 00:44:45,850
and sorry motherfuckers come along and "sorry" your ass to death.
792
00:44:53,900 --> 00:44:54,980
Hello?
793
00:44:55,060 --> 00:44:56,940
Hey, Ginnie, it's Mel.
794
00:44:58,030 --> 00:44:59,820
- Who?
- Melvin.
795
00:44:59,900 --> 00:45:03,820
- Bill's friend.
- Oh, yeah.
796
00:45:03,910 --> 00:45:06,700
- What do you want?
- Girl, you grin, you win.
797
00:45:06,780 --> 00:45:07,990
How about a date?
798
00:45:08,080 --> 00:45:09,540
So you're asking me out?
799
00:45:09,620 --> 00:45:11,040
Yeah, why the fuck not?
800
00:45:11,830 --> 00:45:13,170
Hmm.
801
00:45:14,670 --> 00:45:15,830
- Why not?
- Okay.
802
00:45:16,540 --> 00:45:17,880
It's gonna be special, though.
803
00:45:17,960 --> 00:45:21,550
I want you to meet me at 52730 Alameda tomorrow morning,
804
00:45:21,630 --> 00:45:22,880
7:00 a.m.
805
00:45:22,970 --> 00:45:24,970
A.M.? Man, shit, you're tripping.
806
00:45:25,050 --> 00:45:26,760
Wait, now. This is gonna be special.
807
00:45:26,850 --> 00:45:30,520
I told you, you're never gonna forget it.
And don't go getting shy on me, girl.
808
00:45:30,600 --> 00:45:32,640
Gonna be a couple of people watching.
809
00:45:32,730 --> 00:45:35,900
Now, see, I knew you was a real kinky motherfucker.
810
00:45:35,980 --> 00:45:37,110
So, are we on?
811
00:45:39,980 --> 00:45:42,440
- Yeah, we're on.
- All right.
812
00:45:42,530 --> 00:45:44,410
Tomorrow morning. Don't be late.
813
00:45:48,370 --> 00:45:49,830
Clyde, Clyde, come here.
814
00:45:49,910 --> 00:45:51,580
Melvin's gonna use his own dad for this scene?
815
00:45:51,660 --> 00:45:54,370
We ain't got enough extras, and Melvin's dad'll do it for free.
816
00:45:54,460 --> 00:45:56,080
You dig? But that's Melvin.
817
00:45:56,170 --> 00:45:59,130
He told me to get a dildo. What's a dildo?
818
00:45:59,210 --> 00:46:01,090
Tommy. Tommy.
819
00:46:03,510 --> 00:46:05,380
Why are you doing this movie, man?
820
00:46:06,220 --> 00:46:08,680
You wanna see how the other half lives, huh?
821
00:46:09,390 --> 00:46:12,060
Hey, look, there's your fairy godmother, right here.
822
00:46:12,140 --> 00:46:14,180
Melvin, Melvin, we got to start shooting, man,
823
00:46:14,270 --> 00:46:17,060
before the husband comes home and kicks us the hell out of here.
824
00:46:17,150 --> 00:46:18,770
Where's Ginnie, man? Come on.
825
00:46:18,860 --> 00:46:20,860
We were shooting our sexiest scene up first,
826
00:46:20,940 --> 00:46:24,070
so if the union showed, they'd be convinced we were doing a Black porno.
827
00:46:24,150 --> 00:46:26,610
The problem was, my date, Ginnie, got the same impression.
828
00:46:26,700 --> 00:46:28,160
- You're an hour late.
- Oh, fuck you, nigga!
829
00:46:28,240 --> 00:46:30,370
- I don't do this kind of shit!
- Listen, I want you to be —
830
00:46:30,450 --> 00:46:33,660
Bill Harris, get your sorry motherfucking ass over here.
831
00:46:33,750 --> 00:46:35,160
- Sister, listen —
- No, no.
832
00:46:35,250 --> 00:46:37,880
Your sorry-ass friend wants me to be in his fucking porno.
833
00:46:37,960 --> 00:46:39,840
Did you know about this?
Give me my goddamn hat.
834
00:46:39,920 --> 00:46:42,380
Okay, okay.
It's not a porno, Ginnie, I swear.
835
00:46:42,460 --> 00:46:44,010
Okay, here we go.
836
00:46:44,090 --> 00:46:46,260
It's not a porno. It's a social statement.
837
00:46:46,340 --> 00:46:47,970
- Tell her, Mel.
- A social statement?
838
00:46:48,050 --> 00:46:50,140
I should whup both y'all fucking asses.
I'm out of here.
839
00:46:50,220 --> 00:46:52,470
No, no, wait.
Sister, listen, listen, listen.
840
00:46:52,560 --> 00:46:54,560
We have been marginalized sexually for years.
841
00:46:54,640 --> 00:46:56,140
We've been Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben.
842
00:46:56,230 --> 00:46:58,600
We've never had a Marilyn Monroe, never had our own Mae West.
843
00:46:58,690 --> 00:47:00,900
This thing is going to be breaking all the taboos.
844
00:47:00,980 --> 00:47:02,860
It's about getting the man's foot out your ass.
845
00:47:02,940 --> 00:47:05,190
Exactly.
This could be totally revolutionary.
846
00:47:05,280 --> 00:47:07,240
Ginnie was at least listening now.
847
00:47:07,320 --> 00:47:10,240
I rapped on about this being the opportunity of lifetime
848
00:47:10,320 --> 00:47:13,450
for her to be the first soul sister sex goddess.
849
00:47:13,540 --> 00:47:14,620
That was the clincher.
850
00:47:14,700 --> 00:47:18,330
Revolutionary or not,
I still need to get paid.
851
00:47:20,080 --> 00:47:23,340
Plus, the couple of emergency
Benjamins I laid on her didn't hurt.
852
00:47:23,420 --> 00:47:25,300
Don't fuck with me.
853
00:47:25,380 --> 00:47:26,840
He ain't budging on the camera.
854
00:47:26,920 --> 00:47:28,970
Okay, let's get her dressed.
I wanna shoot right now.
855
00:47:29,050 --> 00:47:31,050
Mel, let me handle this.
Gonna be outta sight, baby.
856
00:47:31,140 --> 00:47:32,890
Talk to me, Bob. I am the producer.
857
00:47:32,970 --> 00:47:35,020
Speed.
858
00:47:42,560 --> 00:47:44,400
And... action.
859
00:48:04,590 --> 00:48:07,710
Bet you ain't never seen no shit like this before.
860
00:48:14,260 --> 00:48:19,430
♪ I can hardly wait to feel your loving' ♪
861
00:48:19,520 --> 00:48:23,440
♪ You leave your love behind ♪
862
00:48:55,010 --> 00:48:56,390
You all right?
863
00:48:56,470 --> 00:48:58,850
Uh, yeah, yeah, I've got a heart thing.
864
00:48:59,890 --> 00:49:00,980
It's no big deal.
865
00:49:01,060 --> 00:49:03,100
♪ I want you up and down ♪
866
00:49:03,190 --> 00:49:05,310
Does someone else have a sweet back?
867
00:49:06,520 --> 00:49:10,400
♪ Beautiful chocolate brown ♪
868
00:49:12,150 --> 00:49:13,660
What are they watching?
869
00:49:13,740 --> 00:49:16,990
Some kind of Black porn thing.
I don't know.
870
00:49:18,830 --> 00:49:20,950
She's hot, right?
871
00:49:21,750 --> 00:49:22,910
Let's go.
872
00:49:31,920 --> 00:49:34,090
The union seemed to buy our porno scam.
873
00:49:35,590 --> 00:49:37,470
We were on our way.
874
00:49:39,260 --> 00:49:41,270
Huh? Huh?
875
00:49:41,350 --> 00:49:43,440
- ¡Dios mío!
- Yeah.
876
00:49:43,520 --> 00:49:46,560
- You dig that sound?
- Yeah, the sound of your jaw dropping.
877
00:49:46,650 --> 00:49:48,150
Brother, good work.
878
00:49:48,230 --> 00:49:51,360
Man, it was great.
Great first assembly.
879
00:49:52,150 --> 00:49:53,990
Hey, Cosby, man.
880
00:49:54,070 --> 00:49:56,910
Say, hey, when you gonna light that cigar, man?
881
00:49:56,990 --> 00:49:58,030
Yeah!
882
00:49:58,120 --> 00:50:00,620
- When I can afford to buy me another one.
- Oh, please, please.
883
00:50:00,700 --> 00:50:03,460
Listen, I heard about the three-picture deal, man.
884
00:50:03,540 --> 00:50:05,290
Listen, listen,
I'm doing an independent right now.
885
00:50:05,370 --> 00:50:07,880
We just had our first day of dailies.
Powerful shit.
886
00:50:07,960 --> 00:50:09,540
Got a second? I’ll string 'em up for you.
887
00:50:09,630 --> 00:50:11,550
Excuse me, Mr. Cosby.
We gotta get to the airport, sir.
888
00:50:11,630 --> 00:50:13,840
I gotta take care of some business, but check this out.
889
00:50:13,920 --> 00:50:15,970
They get three strikes, we only get one.
890
00:50:16,050 --> 00:50:18,850
You sure you know what you get into with this whole independent stuff?
891
00:50:18,930 --> 00:50:21,720
- Let me show you.
- Hey, listen, I’ll call you, okay?
892
00:50:21,810 --> 00:50:23,140
Number's still the same.
893
00:50:23,230 --> 00:50:26,020
Listen, you're looking good too.
Keep on doing what you're doing.
894
00:50:26,100 --> 00:50:28,020
Hey, man, listen, man...
895
00:50:53,260 --> 00:50:55,300
Shit.
896
00:50:55,380 --> 00:50:57,050
Priscilla, get a flashlight.
897
00:50:57,130 --> 00:50:59,680
- Melvin, we lost the generator again.
- I see that shit, Clyde.
898
00:50:59,760 --> 00:51:01,850
Reroute the cables.
Get that motherfucker back on.
899
00:51:01,930 --> 00:51:04,390
Clyde made another one of his cut-rate deals on a generator.
900
00:51:04,470 --> 00:51:05,890
You get what you pay for.
901
00:51:05,980 --> 00:51:07,100
- Bill.
- Okay.
902
00:51:07,190 --> 00:51:08,350
- Huh?
- All right.
903
00:51:08,440 --> 00:51:10,150
Miss Bougie is here with the kids.
904
00:51:10,230 --> 00:51:12,820
All right, listen, we gotta cut another day out of the schedule, man.
905
00:51:12,900 --> 00:51:15,400
No way, man.
The schedule's too tight already.
906
00:51:15,490 --> 00:51:17,900
What about all those investors that were jumping on the train?
907
00:51:17,990 --> 00:51:19,780
You got ten grand to loan me, huh?
908
00:51:19,870 --> 00:51:22,330
That'll buy me another day, baby.
It is what it is.
909
00:51:23,030 --> 00:51:25,120
- What?
- We low on bread.
910
00:51:25,200 --> 00:51:28,250
But you're not really going to use your own son in that scene, are you?
911
00:51:28,330 --> 00:51:29,790
Everybody's somebody's son.
912
00:51:29,880 --> 00:51:32,880
Why would I not use my own kid if I'd use somebody else's, huh?
913
00:51:33,840 --> 00:51:36,510
Have Nora meet me on the set with hair and makeup right now.
914
00:51:36,590 --> 00:51:38,380
Bill, hold this. Hold this.
915
00:51:39,260 --> 00:51:40,680
Melvin, listen.
916
00:51:40,760 --> 00:51:43,560
I know it's none of my business, but you can't be doing this to your own...
917
00:51:43,640 --> 00:51:45,810
- Generator's back up.
- The other generator's up. Come on.
918
00:51:45,890 --> 00:51:47,560
Let's go on the other set. Come on, Bill.
919
00:51:51,230 --> 00:51:53,270
This kid got an eye, man.
920
00:51:54,190 --> 00:51:56,940
See, your father's too cheap to use 35-millimeter film.
921
00:51:57,030 --> 00:51:59,860
- That's why we're shooting 16.
- You don't need to shoot 35 all the time.
922
00:51:59,950 --> 00:52:01,950
It depends on the shot.
T, that's not a toy.
923
00:52:02,030 --> 00:52:04,490
- You're sound department.
- Yes, sir, boss.
924
00:52:04,580 --> 00:52:07,330
All right. You crumb-crushers are going to be in the movie.
925
00:52:07,410 --> 00:52:08,580
All right.
926
00:52:08,660 --> 00:52:11,250
You're gonna blow up a cop car, and you're gonna help Sweetback escape.
927
00:52:11,330 --> 00:52:12,540
Do I get to wear makeup?
928
00:52:12,630 --> 00:52:15,300
Pretty little girls do not need to wear makeup.
929
00:52:16,170 --> 00:52:18,420
- You. You a good actor?
- Yeah.
930
00:52:18,510 --> 00:52:20,130
- You are?
- Yeah.
931
00:52:20,220 --> 00:52:22,550
Good, 'cause I got another role for you.
932
00:52:22,640 --> 00:52:25,180
- I get to play two roles?
- That's right.
933
00:52:25,260 --> 00:52:29,350
I'm gonna open the movie with you playing Sweetback losing his cherry.
934
00:52:30,310 --> 00:52:33,270
Having sex for the first time.
Nora, take a look at his 'fro.
935
00:52:33,360 --> 00:52:36,020
- What will I be wearing?
- Nothing. It's a sex scene.
936
00:52:36,110 --> 00:52:39,570
Cut this all real short and then cut some bald patches in it.
937
00:52:39,650 --> 00:52:41,490
Melvin, we need you.
938
00:52:41,570 --> 00:52:44,280
- I gotta cut my 'fro?
- Yeah.
939
00:52:44,370 --> 00:52:47,370
You're a malnutritioned street kid.
It's the Depression era, okay?
940
00:52:47,450 --> 00:52:50,040
Put some makeup on the bald patches.
Make it look like ringworm.
941
00:52:50,120 --> 00:52:52,500
- What? What?
- We got a problem with the actor...
942
00:52:55,460 --> 00:52:57,550
- What the hell's holding us up?
- Melvin.
943
00:52:57,630 --> 00:52:59,050
- Bob.
- Camera's ready.
944
00:52:59,130 --> 00:53:01,220
- Let's do it.
- Roll sound.
945
00:53:01,300 --> 00:53:02,430
Rolling!
946
00:53:02,510 --> 00:53:05,390
- Speed.
- Slate. Camera set.
947
00:53:05,470 --> 00:53:07,060
And... action.
948
00:53:07,140 --> 00:53:09,140
I have not seen Sweetback.
949
00:53:09,220 --> 00:53:11,560
Cut. What the fuck happened to his stutter?
950
00:53:11,640 --> 00:53:14,690
He took speech lessons.
That's what I was trying to tell you.
951
00:53:14,770 --> 00:53:15,900
He's got a piece.
952
00:53:18,860 --> 00:53:21,070
All right, brother, look,
I need to have that piece, man.
953
00:53:21,150 --> 00:53:22,780
Well, I-I thought there might be some trouble.
954
00:53:22,860 --> 00:53:24,780
What the f-fuck you doing?
955
00:53:24,870 --> 00:53:27,280
Good! Back at the mic! That's it! Again!
956
00:53:27,370 --> 00:53:31,200
Fuck you. Give me my gun.
957
00:53:31,290 --> 00:53:33,670
Right here. Right here.
The line. The line.
958
00:53:33,750 --> 00:53:34,750
Action!
959
00:53:34,830 --> 00:53:37,920
S-Sweetback ain't here, m-motherfucker!
960
00:53:38,000 --> 00:53:39,210
Pissed off. Go ahead. Again.
961
00:53:39,300 --> 00:53:43,170
S-Sweetback ain't here, m-motherfucker.
962
00:53:43,260 --> 00:53:44,590
- Perfect. Bob?
- Got it.
963
00:53:44,680 --> 00:53:46,180
Perfect. Beautiful. Beautiful.
964
00:53:46,260 --> 00:53:49,260
Priscilla, put this somewhere safe.
All right. Next set. Let's go.
965
00:53:50,220 --> 00:53:53,810
- Melvin, can I speak to you for a minute?
- Yeah.
966
00:53:53,890 --> 00:53:56,860
All right, the script supervisor says we need to shoot the reverse.
967
00:53:56,940 --> 00:53:59,860
I got the whole thing edited in my head.
I know just what I need here, Clyde.
968
00:53:59,940 --> 00:54:00,940
- Melvin.
- What?
969
00:54:01,030 --> 00:54:03,360
He said it's not gonna cut unless we get the reverse.
970
00:54:03,450 --> 00:54:06,490
All right, I’ll handle this. You. Script.
Come over here. Come over here.
971
00:54:06,570 --> 00:54:09,330
Tell you what.
Give me this right here. Here, okay.
972
00:54:09,410 --> 00:54:11,950
Now, you are getting a promotion.
You're going to be an actor.
973
00:54:12,040 --> 00:54:14,540
I want you to stand right over there in that light. Got it? Go.
974
00:54:15,330 --> 00:54:16,710
Go ahead. In the light.
975
00:54:16,790 --> 00:54:19,750
Everybody, I'm doing the fucking script now, okay?
976
00:54:19,840 --> 00:54:21,170
Next set. Let's go.
977
00:54:24,720 --> 00:54:27,890
Why don't you step out over here.
Get some fresh air.
978
00:54:28,680 --> 00:54:32,180
The scene with the dirty cops was the one that divided the crew.
979
00:54:32,270 --> 00:54:34,480
He doesn't look very tough to me.
Does he look tough to you?
980
00:54:34,560 --> 00:54:35,690
- Nah.
- Huh?
981
00:54:35,770 --> 00:54:38,060
He don't look too tough.
982
00:54:38,150 --> 00:54:39,810
- Ooh!
- Don't mark his face.
983
00:54:39,900 --> 00:54:42,860
Hey, Sweetback. I'm sorry, man.
984
00:54:42,940 --> 00:54:46,110
Forgot you two were attached together.
Let's see if we can get...
985
00:54:46,200 --> 00:54:50,490
White folks who had never experienced racial brutality
986
00:54:50,580 --> 00:54:54,450
couldn't really believe that a double standard existed for minorities.
987
00:54:54,540 --> 00:54:56,620
Stay home at night, and you wouldn't...
988
00:54:56,710 --> 00:54:59,380
Black folks, who had lived it,
989
00:54:59,460 --> 00:55:02,630
were more than ready to see someone stand up against racism...
990
00:55:02,710 --> 00:55:04,210
Fuck them pigs up!
991
00:55:04,300 --> 00:55:06,590
... even when it hid behind a badge.
992
00:55:06,680 --> 00:55:08,760
Help the brother out, Sweetback!
993
00:55:08,840 --> 00:55:10,350
Yeah!
994
00:55:11,810 --> 00:55:13,720
Got a new thing right there!
Come on, Sweetback!
995
00:55:13,810 --> 00:55:15,230
- Yeah!
- Yeah!
996
00:55:15,310 --> 00:55:16,770
- Fuck 'em up.
- Right on, Sweetback.
997
00:55:16,850 --> 00:55:18,690
- Fuck 'em up, Sweetback!
- Get them crackers!
998
00:55:18,770 --> 00:55:21,230
Yeah. It's about time.
999
00:55:21,310 --> 00:55:22,820
Never seen nothing like this.
1000
00:55:26,360 --> 00:55:27,530
Thanks, man.
1001
00:55:27,610 --> 00:55:29,820
- Yup. Mm-hmm.
- Righteous. Righteous.
1002
00:55:29,910 --> 00:55:31,700
He's just a child.
1003
00:55:32,370 --> 00:55:33,620
Huh?
1004
00:55:35,120 --> 00:55:38,040
Mario. He's barely 13, Melvin.
1005
00:55:39,580 --> 00:55:43,170
When I was eight,
I was already working the cash register
1006
00:55:43,250 --> 00:55:45,210
at my dad's tailor shop.
1007
00:55:45,300 --> 00:55:46,840
He gave me old clothes to sell.
1008
00:55:46,920 --> 00:55:50,390
Old reject shit that folks left behind.
1009
00:55:50,470 --> 00:55:55,180
Here comes this skinny little kid with a wagon-load full of shitty clothes.
1010
00:55:55,270 --> 00:55:59,020
Boy, you gotta work hard.
And that's only the beginning.
1011
00:56:01,270 --> 00:56:02,610
You think I liked that?
1012
00:56:04,230 --> 00:56:05,280
Hmm?
1013
00:56:07,110 --> 00:56:09,240
You think I even liked my dad back then?
1014
00:56:09,320 --> 00:56:11,740
I got my ass whupped damn near every day,
1015
00:56:11,820 --> 00:56:14,120
and every day
Daddy sent me right back on the streets,
1016
00:56:14,200 --> 00:56:16,200
selling them old, fucked-up clothes.
1017
00:56:17,450 --> 00:56:20,170
Until I learned...
1018
00:56:21,250 --> 00:56:24,090
how to give the gangsters some free shit
1019
00:56:24,750 --> 00:56:26,880
to protect me from those bullies
1020
00:56:26,960 --> 00:56:31,260
while I sold those clothes to the winos and the junkies.
1021
00:56:31,340 --> 00:56:35,350
My dad had taught me how to survive, how to hustle.
1022
00:56:36,060 --> 00:56:40,140
I'm not in the tailor business anymore.
I'm in the movie business.
1023
00:56:40,230 --> 00:56:44,560
My kids want to be in this shit, hey... it is what it is.
1024
00:56:48,150 --> 00:56:51,820
I just think he's ready to go home and be with his mama, honey.
1025
00:56:51,910 --> 00:56:53,320
No shit.
1026
00:56:53,410 --> 00:56:54,780
Shit.
1027
00:56:54,870 --> 00:56:56,990
We don't always get what we want, do we?
1028
00:56:57,080 --> 00:56:59,910
What if his friends see the movie?
He's gonna be embarrassed.
1029
00:57:00,000 --> 00:57:02,710
Fuck his friends.
His friends ain't paying college.
1030
00:57:06,170 --> 00:57:08,340
Well, at least let him keep his Afro.
1031
00:57:10,630 --> 00:57:13,050
That wig lady thinks she can make him a skin wig.
1032
00:57:13,130 --> 00:57:15,760
It'll look natural. It'll be perfect.
1033
00:57:16,430 --> 00:57:20,140
Of course she does.
And a skin wig costs money.
1034
00:57:20,230 --> 00:57:24,400
I don't have the bread to pamper him, or you, or any other motherfucker,
1035
00:57:24,480 --> 00:57:26,690
and if I did,
I'd fix the focus on B camera first
1036
00:57:26,770 --> 00:57:28,190
and I'd buy more film.
1037
00:57:28,270 --> 00:57:30,530
Mario can grow more hair later.
I can't grow more film.
1038
00:57:30,610 --> 00:57:32,780
Melvin, listen to yourself.
1039
00:57:32,860 --> 00:57:36,200
You're cutting the boy's hair off and you're forcing him to be in a sex scene.
1040
00:57:36,280 --> 00:57:38,910
It's not real. It's acting.
He wants to act.
1041
00:57:38,990 --> 00:57:41,700
He's in a motherfucking movie.
He should be happy.
1042
00:57:41,790 --> 00:57:44,000
What? He's tough. He's resilient.
1043
00:57:44,080 --> 00:57:46,250
He's an ambitious little motherfucker.
He can handle it.
1044
00:57:46,330 --> 00:57:47,590
What if he can't handle it?
1045
00:57:47,670 --> 00:57:51,380
You're gonna risk fucking up his childhood just because yours was fucked up?
1046
00:57:51,460 --> 00:57:54,470
You wanna turn him into some macho stud man
1047
00:57:54,550 --> 00:57:56,390
like you think you're supposed to be?
1048
00:57:57,430 --> 00:57:58,430
I'm gonna split.
1049
00:57:59,430 --> 00:58:01,390
- I'm out.
- Of course you are.
1050
00:58:03,940 --> 00:58:06,350
You got to go screw everything that moves?
1051
00:58:06,440 --> 00:58:08,650
That's what this shit is about? Huh?
1052
00:58:08,730 --> 00:58:11,320
- Me and chicks?
- No, it's not about you and your chicks.
1053
00:58:11,400 --> 00:58:13,820
It's about you not respecting anyone.
1054
00:58:13,900 --> 00:58:15,910
Not even your own son.
1055
00:58:15,990 --> 00:58:18,280
You know what you are?
1056
00:58:18,370 --> 00:58:20,370
You're a nice sister who has no idea what it's like
1057
00:58:20,450 --> 00:58:22,500
on the other side of the tracks — none.
1058
00:58:22,580 --> 00:58:24,040
And maybe you don't respect the fact
1059
00:58:24,120 --> 00:58:26,540
that I know my own kid better than he knows himself.
1060
00:58:26,620 --> 00:58:29,130
I know what the fuck I'm doing and he can handle it.
1061
00:58:29,210 --> 00:58:31,300
He can handle it!
1062
00:58:31,380 --> 00:58:34,380
Why don't you ask Bill, or Clyde,
1063
00:58:34,470 --> 00:58:36,590
or that crazy-ass assistant of yours, Priscilla?
1064
00:58:37,680 --> 00:58:40,010
If they ain't too scared to tell you the truth.
1065
00:58:40,100 --> 00:58:44,850
My grandmother used to call it, uh, listening with half an ear.
1066
00:58:44,930 --> 00:58:46,690
Dig?
1067
00:58:46,770 --> 00:58:48,400
Well, Melvin,
1068
00:58:48,480 --> 00:58:51,820
he'll listen with, like, a third of an ear.
1069
00:58:51,900 --> 00:58:55,950
It was Melvin. His kids. His dad.
1070
00:58:56,030 --> 00:58:57,860
It was a family affair.
1071
00:58:57,950 --> 00:59:00,830
And we were all a part of it.
We all had a role to play in it.
1072
00:59:01,660 --> 00:59:02,830
Like it or not.
1073
00:59:02,910 --> 00:59:05,120
Black man's got to work twice as hard to get his.
1074
00:59:05,210 --> 00:59:06,830
That's what I taught Melvin.
1075
00:59:06,920 --> 00:59:08,790
Can't be afraid of hard work.
1076
00:59:09,670 --> 00:59:12,750
I wasn't hard on the boy. That's a fact.
1077
00:59:31,610 --> 00:59:32,730
How much?
1078
00:59:32,820 --> 00:59:34,820
Short ends is all I could get for 50 bucks.
1079
00:59:34,900 --> 00:59:37,150
Fucking actors kept dropping lines.
Eight fucking takes.
1080
00:59:37,240 --> 00:59:40,070
- You gotta buy enough film, man.
- Well, film costs money.
1081
00:59:40,160 --> 00:59:41,620
So does downtime, Clyde.
1082
00:59:41,700 --> 00:59:44,080
Every minute that crew's sitting on their ass, that's costing us.
1083
00:59:44,160 --> 00:59:45,950
- Get what you need.
- With what?
1084
00:59:46,040 --> 00:59:48,830
How the fuck was I supposed to know the bitch wouldn't know her damn lines?
1085
00:59:48,920 --> 00:59:51,420
- Why aren't we shooting?
- Camera's reloading, chief.
1086
00:59:51,500 --> 00:59:53,250
- How long has he been waiting?
- Too long.
1087
00:59:53,340 --> 00:59:55,710
- Quiet on the set.
- Quiet on the set.
1088
00:59:55,800 --> 00:59:57,970
- Roll sound.
- Rolling!
1089
00:59:58,050 --> 01:00:00,550
- Speed.
- A camera.
1090
01:00:00,640 --> 01:00:02,680
- A camera is rolling.
- B camera.
1091
01:00:02,760 --> 01:00:04,060
B camera ready.
1092
01:00:04,640 --> 01:00:07,810
And... action.
1093
01:00:07,890 --> 01:00:09,350
Little smile, ladies.
1094
01:00:09,440 --> 01:00:11,350
Looking at me right here.
1095
01:00:11,440 --> 01:00:13,480
At me. Looking at me.
1096
01:00:13,560 --> 01:00:17,360
Fine. And good. And cut.
1097
01:00:17,440 --> 01:00:19,570
You're up next, little man.
Time to get ready.
1098
01:00:21,360 --> 01:00:25,030
- Hey, Clyde, what time tomorrow?
- Can you wait for the call sheets?
1099
01:00:25,120 --> 01:00:28,120
- I gotta go to court.
- Jose, you're killing me. All right?
1100
01:00:29,830 --> 01:00:31,370
Show me the sides.
1101
01:00:34,130 --> 01:00:35,460
There. Right above the ear.
1102
01:00:35,550 --> 01:00:37,510
See that, Nora? Smooth that down.
1103
01:00:37,590 --> 01:00:40,590
We conceal it. Cover it with makeup.
I think it'll be fine.
1104
01:00:40,680 --> 01:00:42,930
I didn't ask you what you think, Clyde.
1105
01:00:44,890 --> 01:00:47,890
All right, let's do it.
We got a movie to shoot.
1106
01:00:47,970 --> 01:00:50,140
Scene two, opening sequence.
1107
01:00:50,230 --> 01:00:52,770
Young Sweetback loses his virginity.
1108
01:00:57,650 --> 01:01:02,070
Thank you for letting him wear the skin wig and not cutting his hair off.
1109
01:01:02,160 --> 01:01:04,120
That's just the way things worked out this time.
1110
01:01:04,200 --> 01:01:05,950
We still got a scene to shoot.
1111
01:01:06,910 --> 01:01:08,490
Am I gonna see you later?
1112
01:01:09,450 --> 01:01:10,870
I don't know. I don't think so.
1113
01:01:12,210 --> 01:01:13,620
Suit yourself.
1114
01:01:14,500 --> 01:01:17,590
Megan wants to go shopping with me.
1115
01:01:19,130 --> 01:01:21,720
Don't buy her anything you can't afford, 'cause I ain't paying it back.
1116
01:01:24,550 --> 01:01:25,550
Bye, Melvin.
1117
01:01:26,600 --> 01:01:28,350
Come on, baby.
1118
01:01:31,270 --> 01:01:34,150
Hey, uh, I'm gonna pick up second meal, man.
1119
01:01:34,230 --> 01:01:37,520
- What should I get?
- Something cheap. Real cheap.
1120
01:01:37,610 --> 01:01:39,360
Want some licorice?
1121
01:01:39,440 --> 01:01:40,820
Nora, can I see you here?
1122
01:01:42,780 --> 01:01:44,280
Hey, little man.
1123
01:01:47,780 --> 01:01:48,790
Come here.
1124
01:01:49,870 --> 01:01:51,580
Mmm. Let's get these clothes off.
1125
01:01:51,660 --> 01:01:52,660
Damn.
1126
01:01:56,210 --> 01:01:57,670
Unbutton this.
1127
01:02:00,590 --> 01:02:02,840
Yeah, don't worry, sugar.
1128
01:02:02,920 --> 01:02:05,010
You ain’t getting your picture taken.
1129
01:02:05,090 --> 01:02:07,350
Come on. Move.
1130
01:02:07,430 --> 01:02:09,720
Yeah. That's it.
1131
01:02:09,810 --> 01:02:13,140
Damn, little man,
I wish that shit was me.
1132
01:02:13,230 --> 01:02:16,850
I didn't get my dick wet till I was 18 and she was double-bag ugly.
1133
01:02:17,860 --> 01:02:20,110
Some distributor's gotta be crazy not to buy this.
1134
01:02:20,190 --> 01:02:21,400
Well...
1135
01:02:23,320 --> 01:02:25,070
Darlin', we're gonna go grab some dinner.
1136
01:02:25,150 --> 01:02:26,950
All right, cool. Get a bite. I’ll catch up to you.
1137
01:02:27,030 --> 01:02:28,570
- All right, let's go.
- Go ahead.
1138
01:02:32,370 --> 01:02:34,160
- Hungry?
- Melvin?
1139
01:02:34,250 --> 01:02:36,830
- What?
- My boyfriend wants to talk to you.
1140
01:02:36,920 --> 01:02:39,210
- What the fuck is wrong now?
- He just wants to talk to you.
1141
01:02:39,290 --> 01:02:41,550
- Haven't got time for this shit.
- This is my man, Maurice.
1142
01:02:41,630 --> 01:02:44,050
- Hey, brother.
- It's good to meet you, brother.
1143
01:02:44,130 --> 01:02:48,590
Look, man, I gotta tell you, the shit you are putting down is right on.
1144
01:02:48,680 --> 01:02:51,810
Now, I know you don't know me, but I need to do the music on this, man.
1145
01:02:51,890 --> 01:02:53,470
- I can do whatever you need.
- Look, man —
1146
01:02:53,560 --> 01:02:55,810
No, Priscilla, she hipped me to the deal, all right?
1147
01:02:55,890 --> 01:02:59,900
I know you don't have a lot of cash, but we could really use this chance.
1148
01:02:59,980 --> 01:03:01,860
- "We"?
- My new band.
1149
01:03:01,940 --> 01:03:04,650
- What do y'all call yourselves?
- Earth, Wind and Fire.
1150
01:03:06,320 --> 01:03:09,200
All right, here's how it works.
What I sing, you play.
1151
01:03:09,280 --> 01:03:13,040
If I like what I hear — if I like what I hear — we got a deal.
1152
01:03:13,120 --> 01:03:15,750
- All right. Sounds good, man.
- You ain't me heard sing yet.
1153
01:03:15,830 --> 01:03:17,620
I don't know shit about no gun, nigga!
1154
01:03:17,710 --> 01:03:21,460
The f-fuck y-you don't!
1155
01:03:21,540 --> 01:03:23,340
What's your malfunction, man?
1156
01:03:23,420 --> 01:03:27,720
Go get my... my piece, nigga!
1157
01:03:27,800 --> 01:03:29,930
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow your roll.
1158
01:03:30,010 --> 01:03:32,310
My apologies.
I thought you got your piece back, okay?
1159
01:03:32,390 --> 01:03:34,770
Priscilla, what happened to his.357?
1160
01:03:35,560 --> 01:03:37,480
- The pistol?
- Yeah, from the other day.
1161
01:03:38,060 --> 01:03:40,900
Oh, I put it in the prop box with the other guns.
1162
01:03:44,230 --> 01:03:45,860
What?
1163
01:03:45,940 --> 01:03:48,360
A loaded gun in the prop box?
1164
01:03:51,280 --> 01:03:55,290
The actors had been in and out of that prop box at least a hundred times,
1165
01:03:56,000 --> 01:03:57,870
all to get their guns —
1166
01:03:57,960 --> 01:04:01,250
police specials, just like that brother's loaded one.
1167
01:04:02,460 --> 01:04:03,590
What?
1168
01:04:03,670 --> 01:04:06,010
Sometime, I suppose, when I get the time,
1169
01:04:06,800 --> 01:04:09,510
I’ll have reoccurring nightmares about that escape.
1170
01:04:14,850 --> 01:04:16,020
Mario.
1171
01:04:17,140 --> 01:04:18,230
Hey.
1172
01:04:20,690 --> 01:04:22,650
Hey, come on. I know you're awake.
1173
01:04:27,360 --> 01:04:29,450
Look, son, I want to tell you that...
1174
01:04:36,540 --> 01:04:40,040
You don't have to sleep on the floor.
Sleep — Sleep on the bed.
1175
01:04:40,120 --> 01:04:41,670
I-I’ll take the couch.
1176
01:04:43,080 --> 01:04:44,250
Mario.
1177
01:04:47,260 --> 01:04:48,420
Suit yourself.
1178
01:04:56,640 --> 01:04:59,020
President Nixon had no comment on...
1179
01:04:59,100 --> 01:05:01,980
Ooh!
1180
01:05:02,060 --> 01:05:04,900
Your dick's on fire too?
1181
01:05:04,980 --> 01:05:08,400
- Where the second unit, man?
- I thought they'd be here by now.
1182
01:05:08,480 --> 01:05:11,450
Oh, the lab called and the dailies aren't gonna be ready till Monday.
1183
01:05:16,240 --> 01:05:18,120
- Yeah.
- We got arrested, Mel.
1184
01:05:18,200 --> 01:05:21,410
- You gotta come down here and get us out.
- What the hell happened?
1185
01:05:21,500 --> 01:05:23,330
We were heading back from the shoot and...
1186
01:05:24,500 --> 01:05:25,880
♪ Yeah-eah-eah ♪
1187
01:05:29,210 --> 01:05:30,550
♪ Yeah ♪
1188
01:05:33,720 --> 01:05:35,600
The pigs, they pulled us over.
1189
01:05:37,100 --> 01:05:38,140
You're not gonna believe this.
1190
01:05:38,220 --> 01:05:40,850
They thought my telephoto lens was a bazooka.
1191
01:05:40,930 --> 01:05:43,980
- ♪ They bled your mama ♪
- Out of the truck. Hands against it.
1192
01:05:44,060 --> 01:05:45,310
Let's go. Come on!
1193
01:05:45,400 --> 01:05:47,480
Put that down! Put that down!
1194
01:05:47,570 --> 01:05:49,320
- ♪ They bled your papa ♪
- Right here. Right here.
1195
01:05:51,030 --> 01:05:53,570
You one of them Black Panthers, boy?
1196
01:05:53,650 --> 01:05:55,870
- What are they holding you for?
- Grand theft.
1197
01:05:55,950 --> 01:05:58,700
They saw us with all that equipment, they figured it must have been stolen,
1198
01:05:58,780 --> 01:06:00,490
so they impounded all of it.
1199
01:06:00,580 --> 01:06:03,040
- Including the truck.
- Did you show them your receipts, Jose?
1200
01:06:03,120 --> 01:06:05,210
Yeah. I showed them everything.
They thought it was funny.
1201
01:06:05,290 --> 01:06:07,840
- Excuse me, Officer. I'm not through yet.
- Jose?
1202
01:06:11,800 --> 01:06:13,970
Get on it, man. Call a lawyer.
1203
01:06:14,050 --> 01:06:17,390
What lawyer, man? With what money?
1204
01:06:18,350 --> 01:06:20,140
Oh, come on, for crying out loud.
1205
01:06:20,220 --> 01:06:23,680
This is our equipment.
Some of that's my personal stuff. Huh?
1206
01:06:23,770 --> 01:06:26,270
What's the charge?
1207
01:06:26,350 --> 01:06:28,020
Charged with being Black.
1208
01:06:30,020 --> 01:06:31,480
Welcome aboard.
1209
01:06:31,570 --> 01:06:33,440
You's a real nigga now.
1210
01:06:51,170 --> 01:06:53,090
When Van Peebles getting us out?
1211
01:06:53,170 --> 01:06:55,090
Soon. He's coming soon. Yeah.
1212
01:06:55,170 --> 01:06:58,510
He fucking better. Shit.
1213
01:06:58,590 --> 01:07:00,010
He fucking better.
1214
01:07:00,760 --> 01:07:02,560
Sick of this shit.
1215
01:07:14,900 --> 01:07:17,320
- Hello.
- Yeah, man, it's me, Melvin.
1216
01:07:25,000 --> 01:07:27,540
"Oh, Bill" nothing. Hold on a second, man.
1217
01:07:28,540 --> 01:07:30,380
Learn how to play some tennis.
1218
01:07:32,630 --> 01:07:34,300
Hey, Mel, you okay?
1219
01:07:35,550 --> 01:07:37,130
My crew just got arrested.
1220
01:07:37,220 --> 01:07:40,340
I don't know if I'm gonna make it.
I'm tapped out.
1221
01:07:40,430 --> 01:07:42,560
I gotta finish this movie.
I gotta do it right.
1222
01:07:42,640 --> 01:07:44,310
So how much you need?
1223
01:07:44,390 --> 01:07:46,640
To get me through post, a lot.
1224
01:07:46,730 --> 01:07:48,190
Well, how much?
1225
01:07:49,310 --> 01:07:51,150
50,000.
1226
01:07:59,570 --> 01:08:01,780
- Cosby came through.
- They fucked us, man.
1227
01:08:01,870 --> 01:08:04,910
It's the start of the weekend.
There's no judges available till Monday.
1228
01:08:09,120 --> 01:08:10,540
You go down there and you visit 'em.
1229
01:08:10,620 --> 01:08:13,460
Yeah. It'll do the troops good for them to see you.
1230
01:08:13,540 --> 01:08:16,010
- No.
- What the fuck are you talking about?
1231
01:08:16,090 --> 01:08:18,550
No. No. Right now, to those cops,
1232
01:08:18,630 --> 01:08:21,470
"Melvin Van Peebles" is some white, aristocratic Dutch guy, right?
1233
01:08:21,550 --> 01:08:23,140
I show up with my Black ass
1234
01:08:23,220 --> 01:08:25,430
to start singing "We Shall Overcome" with the troops,
1235
01:08:25,510 --> 01:08:26,930
they throw us all the fuck in jail.
1236
01:08:27,020 --> 01:08:28,930
We got three days left of filming this motherfucker.
1237
01:08:29,020 --> 01:08:31,560
- We'll jeopardize the whole film, man.
- Fuck the film, man! Fuck it!
1238
01:08:31,650 --> 01:08:32,650
Fuck the fucking film.
1239
01:08:32,730 --> 01:08:36,440
This is our crew behind bars on bullshit charges. Doesn't that bother you?
1240
01:08:36,530 --> 01:08:38,400
Yeah, it's been bothering me for 400 years!
1241
01:08:38,490 --> 01:08:40,070
That's why we're shooting this shit, Bill!
1242
01:08:40,150 --> 01:08:42,490
Don't give me that 400 —
Fuck it, I’ll go by myself.
1243
01:08:42,570 --> 01:08:44,410
No, no, no, no. Hold the fuck up.
1244
01:08:44,490 --> 01:08:47,500
Here's what the fuck you do.
You go home. You cool the fuck down.
1245
01:08:47,580 --> 01:08:49,870
Monday morning, you put on a nice white guy suit,
1246
01:08:49,960 --> 01:08:52,000
go down there and bail them out.
1247
01:08:52,080 --> 01:08:54,790
Any emotional liberal shit you do right now
1248
01:08:54,880 --> 01:08:56,500
will only jeopardize our crew.
1249
01:08:56,590 --> 01:08:58,090
Do you hear me?
1250
01:08:59,090 --> 01:09:00,170
Yeah.
1251
01:09:01,840 --> 01:09:02,970
I hear you.
1252
01:09:07,140 --> 01:09:09,810
Hey, he'd sacrifice his friends,
1253
01:09:09,890 --> 01:09:11,850
his family,
1254
01:09:11,940 --> 01:09:13,600
even me.
1255
01:09:13,690 --> 01:09:16,690
Well, a Black man in jail who's not afraid is a fool,
1256
01:09:16,770 --> 01:09:20,820
but I heard Big T was crying like a bitch, crying for his mama.
1257
01:09:22,400 --> 01:09:24,780
I wasn't scared of shit in that jail, man.
1258
01:09:24,870 --> 01:09:27,540
I was scared of being hungry, that's all.
1259
01:09:33,290 --> 01:09:35,790
- Please, folks, this is sound equipment.
- Sound equipment?
1260
01:09:35,880 --> 01:09:38,670
- Please stand back.
- Y'all making a movie?
1261
01:09:38,750 --> 01:09:40,340
I can do Flip Wilson, man.
1262
01:09:42,260 --> 01:09:45,300
Get the fuck out of the way. Move.
1263
01:09:45,390 --> 01:09:47,100
- How many extras we got?
- Seven.
1264
01:09:47,180 --> 01:09:48,390
We need more.
1265
01:09:49,060 --> 01:09:51,560
Melvin, we got a problem.
We only got four mags of film.
1266
01:09:51,640 --> 01:09:53,100
Fuck.
1267
01:09:53,190 --> 01:09:54,900
If everything went perfect, I'd need five.
1268
01:09:54,980 --> 01:09:56,980
I told Clyde six. Where's Clyde?
1269
01:09:57,060 --> 01:09:58,230
Clyde!
1270
01:09:59,110 --> 01:10:01,320
- Two men, two women?
- Fine.
1271
01:10:01,940 --> 01:10:03,070
Damage control.
1272
01:10:03,150 --> 01:10:05,490
Some of them are pissed about spending the weekend in jail.
1273
01:10:05,570 --> 01:10:07,580
Now, if T quits, the others might follow.
1274
01:10:07,660 --> 01:10:10,450
Bill tells me we only got four mags of film for the whole day.
1275
01:10:10,540 --> 01:10:14,080
- Uh, really, that should be plenty.
- I asked you for six.
1276
01:10:14,160 --> 01:10:16,830
Well, I needed the money for the stuntman for the LA river chase.
1277
01:10:16,920 --> 01:10:18,460
You saw what happened when Bill tried.
1278
01:10:18,540 --> 01:10:22,260
Clyde, I can do that stunt myself.
What I can't do is shoot without film.
1279
01:10:22,340 --> 01:10:24,510
- Did you sign off on this?
- No, no.
1280
01:10:25,130 --> 01:10:26,260
Okay, here's what I want.
1281
01:10:26,340 --> 01:10:28,890
You, Bill, go get all those people away from the sound equipment.
1282
01:10:28,970 --> 01:10:30,640
I want to start our first shot in 20 minutes.
1283
01:10:30,720 --> 01:10:32,890
We're gonna start with the cops bringing Sweetback out.
1284
01:10:32,980 --> 01:10:35,480
- Isn't that Clyde's job, man?
- Not anymore. Clyde, you're fired.
1285
01:10:35,560 --> 01:10:36,980
This shit is not my fault.
1286
01:10:37,060 --> 01:10:39,020
There's only so much
I can do with no money.
1287
01:10:39,110 --> 01:10:40,820
But if you're looking for somebody to blame —
1288
01:10:40,900 --> 01:10:43,690
Clyde, it's my fault.
I got you in over your head. I'm sorry.
1289
01:10:43,780 --> 01:10:46,570
When I get a bigger budget or a smaller film, I’ll give you a call.
1290
01:10:47,870 --> 01:10:50,330
This is bullshit, Melvin!
1291
01:10:53,200 --> 01:10:54,580
T, I need to talk to you.
1292
01:11:03,590 --> 01:11:05,050
We got a problem?
1293
01:11:05,130 --> 01:11:08,890
Yeah, brother, we got a problem.
1294
01:11:08,970 --> 01:11:11,220
I work with niggas, I end up in jail.
1295
01:11:12,850 --> 01:11:15,640
Some shit like that go down again,
1296
01:11:15,730 --> 01:11:18,400
I'm gonna break me some little motherfucker neck.
1297
01:11:18,480 --> 01:11:21,400
T, you's a big motherfucker.
1298
01:11:21,480 --> 01:11:25,070
In a fair fight, you'd whup my ass.
I ain't fought fair in a long time.
1299
01:11:25,150 --> 01:11:28,110
And if I was afraid of you, I wouldn't be the kind of nigga to get that shit done
1300
01:11:28,200 --> 01:11:29,990
in the first motherfucking place!
1301
01:11:30,660 --> 01:11:34,500
I got everything I own on the line, and all my family's shit.
1302
01:11:34,580 --> 01:11:37,960
But it's bigger than me, and it's bigger than your two days in jail.
1303
01:11:38,040 --> 01:11:39,710
This is a war.
1304
01:11:39,790 --> 01:11:41,590
It's our war.
1305
01:11:41,670 --> 01:11:43,670
And if you don't know by now that it's your war,
1306
01:11:43,750 --> 01:11:46,420
take your big ass back to your shed and your smoked meat.
1307
01:11:46,510 --> 01:11:47,800
No hard feelings, brother.
1308
01:11:49,050 --> 01:11:51,010
We got three days left to shoot.
1309
01:11:51,760 --> 01:11:53,310
So if you stay,
1310
01:11:53,390 --> 01:11:55,520
and, brother, I hope you do,
1311
01:11:55,600 --> 01:11:57,850
don't ever threaten me again.
1312
01:11:57,940 --> 01:12:01,770
Just step to me and take me the fuck out before I take you.
1313
01:12:03,150 --> 01:12:05,400
'Cause I'm gonna have to take you seriously, T.
1314
01:12:07,900 --> 01:12:09,660
T, this is our shit.
1315
01:12:20,790 --> 01:12:23,380
Hey, yo, that fool with the glasses said he gonna put me in the movie, man.
1316
01:12:23,460 --> 01:12:25,840
Please, you gotta move these people back.
I can't hear a thing.
1317
01:12:25,920 --> 01:12:29,550
Okay, all right, uh, hey, my good brothers and sisters.
1318
01:12:29,630 --> 01:12:32,680
- Let's move it on back, please.
- I ain't your brother, Casper.
1319
01:12:32,760 --> 01:12:35,260
Man, I’ll beat your white ass back across that freeway.
1320
01:12:35,350 --> 01:12:37,100
Don't come here telling us where we can't be.
1321
01:12:37,180 --> 01:12:39,440
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Peace, peace, okay?
1322
01:12:39,520 --> 01:12:41,690
Let's just, uh, back it up there.
1323
01:12:41,770 --> 01:12:43,900
All right. All right.
1324
01:12:43,980 --> 01:12:46,780
Excellent. That's exactly what
I'm talking about. Thank you.
1325
01:13:03,540 --> 01:13:05,040
Sound is ready, boss.
1326
01:13:09,170 --> 01:13:10,760
Camera set.
1327
01:13:10,840 --> 01:13:12,220
Okay, kids, get in.
1328
01:13:12,300 --> 01:13:13,510
Frame up.
1329
01:13:17,720 --> 01:13:19,600
It's out of focus.
1330
01:13:23,270 --> 01:13:25,270
Looks sharp to me, chief.
1331
01:13:27,360 --> 01:13:29,360
Okay, frame up. T.
1332
01:13:30,490 --> 01:13:31,570
Rolling.
1333
01:13:31,650 --> 01:13:34,070
Slate. Action.
1334
01:13:34,160 --> 01:13:36,990
Wash your car, mister?
No charge if you don't like it.
1335
01:13:37,080 --> 01:13:39,290
Yeah, no charge if you don't like it.
1336
01:13:39,370 --> 01:13:40,750
- Okay, Bob?
- Got it.
1337
01:13:40,830 --> 01:13:43,920
Okay, cut! All right, everybody out.
We're gonna blow this motherfucker up.
1338
01:13:44,000 --> 01:13:46,670
I need everybody back.
Need all those people back over there.
1339
01:13:55,550 --> 01:13:58,640
Fire engines!
They're coming! Fire engines!
1340
01:13:58,720 --> 01:14:00,390
Somebody must have called the fire department.
1341
01:14:00,470 --> 01:14:02,230
- We gotta get the hell out of here.
- No, hold on.
1342
01:14:02,310 --> 01:14:03,810
That's why we got the permits on Friday,
1343
01:14:03,890 --> 01:14:05,560
so they couldn't notify the fire department.
1344
01:14:05,650 --> 01:14:07,610
You can't buy this kind of production value.
1345
01:14:07,690 --> 01:14:10,780
Tommy, get over here. Listen.
Fire department's gonna show up soon.
1346
01:14:10,860 --> 01:14:12,900
Don't show them the permit till the last possible second.
1347
01:14:12,990 --> 01:14:15,450
I’ll get the production value.
Sweetback's going to make his escape.
1348
01:14:15,530 --> 01:14:18,700
Roll the cameras. Go!
1349
01:14:23,750 --> 01:14:26,420
Somehow we got that shot.
1350
01:14:26,500 --> 01:14:29,250
With the Cosby money, a deal from the labs,
1351
01:14:29,340 --> 01:14:32,010
and my borrowing from anyone I could,
1352
01:14:32,090 --> 01:14:35,840
our little ragtag crew managed to make it through the end of the shoot.
1353
01:14:35,930 --> 01:14:38,890
Trial by fire will singe your ass,
1354
01:14:38,970 --> 01:14:41,010
but it also bonds.
1355
01:14:41,100 --> 01:14:43,640
We'd become more than comrades in arms.
1356
01:14:43,730 --> 01:14:45,100
We were family.
1357
01:14:51,570 --> 01:14:52,690
Smoked turkey?
1358
01:14:52,780 --> 01:14:55,240
Last you're gonna see in a while.
1359
01:14:55,320 --> 01:14:57,240
Tommy's taking me on his next film.
1360
01:14:58,950 --> 01:15:00,700
Teach him how to mix sound.
1361
01:15:00,780 --> 01:15:03,620
Somebody's gotta learn this shit before I retire.
1362
01:15:03,700 --> 01:15:06,710
That's fucking great.
1363
01:15:06,790 --> 01:15:08,420
That's beautiful. Beautiful.
1364
01:15:08,500 --> 01:15:10,090
- Come here.
- Oh!
1365
01:15:11,380 --> 01:15:13,130
- Hey, Melvin.
- Huh?
1366
01:15:13,210 --> 01:15:14,510
Allow me to introduce you.
1367
01:15:14,590 --> 01:15:17,890
This is Jimmy, the best editor no money can buy.
1368
01:15:17,970 --> 01:15:20,890
Jimmy, you up for spending long hours in a dark room with me?
1369
01:15:20,970 --> 01:15:23,470
Because I'm a motherfucker to work with.
1370
01:15:23,560 --> 01:15:25,230
Fun is the enemy, sir.
1371
01:15:25,310 --> 01:15:26,640
I see you've been briefed.
1372
01:15:27,480 --> 01:15:30,520
All right. Welcome aboard.
1373
01:15:31,520 --> 01:15:33,570
I’ll tell you one thing right now.
1374
01:15:33,650 --> 01:15:36,070
Independent filmmaking would not exist
1375
01:15:36,150 --> 01:15:39,620
had Melvin not put a "Van" in the middle of his name.
1376
01:15:39,700 --> 01:15:43,910
You know, when you're clowning and making the man laugh,
1377
01:15:43,990 --> 01:15:46,290
you can do anything.
1378
01:15:46,370 --> 01:15:49,170
But when you get serious, you see,
1379
01:15:49,250 --> 01:15:50,880
that's when you become dangerous.
1380
01:15:50,960 --> 01:15:52,500
Yeah, it kind of went, like:
1381
01:15:52,590 --> 01:15:55,300
♪ You bled my mama ♪
1382
01:15:55,380 --> 01:15:58,300
♪ You bled my papa ♪
1383
01:15:58,380 --> 01:16:02,970
♪ Well, you won't bleed me ♪
1384
01:16:05,430 --> 01:16:07,140
Good news was,
1385
01:16:07,230 --> 01:16:10,150
Earth, Wind and Fire came through with some of the music.
1386
01:16:10,230 --> 01:16:14,110
We played it against the movie, and it worked like a motherfucker.
1387
01:16:34,960 --> 01:16:35,960
Now!
1388
01:16:36,050 --> 01:16:38,340
♪ You bled my mama ♪
1389
01:16:39,380 --> 01:16:41,760
♪ You bled my papa ♪
1390
01:16:43,010 --> 01:16:44,760
♪ Won't bleed me ♪
1391
01:16:46,470 --> 01:16:47,980
♪ Won't bleed me ♪
1392
01:16:48,060 --> 01:16:49,810
Yeah! That's it!
1393
01:16:49,890 --> 01:16:51,270
- That's it!
- We got it, baby!
1394
01:16:51,350 --> 01:16:53,230
- That is it!
- We know what you want.
1395
01:16:53,310 --> 01:16:55,400
You niggas go on home, make some more of this music.
1396
01:16:55,480 --> 01:16:57,230
I need it. I need all of it right now.
1397
01:16:57,320 --> 01:16:59,150
Time is money. Go, go, go, go, go.
1398
01:16:59,240 --> 01:17:00,320
Jimmy, when you're ready.
1399
01:17:00,400 --> 01:17:03,200
Speaking of which, we need some bread, man.
1400
01:17:03,280 --> 01:17:04,410
Got it.
1401
01:17:04,490 --> 01:17:07,660
- Gotta be a check, though.
- No problem.
1402
01:17:07,740 --> 01:17:09,200
Okay.
1403
01:17:11,710 --> 01:17:13,170
All right.
1404
01:17:13,250 --> 01:17:15,170
- Bring it back to me now.
- Right on.
1405
01:17:15,250 --> 01:17:16,800
- All right, little brother.
- All right, man.
1406
01:17:18,090 --> 01:17:21,720
That check was $500. You ain't got that.
1407
01:17:22,800 --> 01:17:25,300
Get me some coffee.
Go on. Get me some coffee.
1408
01:17:47,700 --> 01:17:50,870
♪ They bled your mama ♪
1409
01:17:53,040 --> 01:17:54,960
The bad news was,
1410
01:17:55,040 --> 01:17:58,130
with the rental of the editing room and all the money I owed,
1411
01:17:58,210 --> 01:17:59,920
interest was piling up.
1412
01:18:00,760 --> 01:18:02,920
Time was of the essence.
1413
01:18:03,010 --> 01:18:06,390
I couldn't make a dime on the movie until I sold it,
1414
01:18:06,470 --> 01:18:09,720
and I couldn't sell it until I finished it.
1415
01:18:11,140 --> 01:18:12,730
My ass was dragging.
1416
01:18:12,810 --> 01:18:14,060
Where's Sweetback?
1417
01:18:14,140 --> 01:18:15,690
Where's Sweetback?
1418
01:18:15,770 --> 01:18:17,270
Sweetback!
1419
01:18:29,580 --> 01:18:30,580
Yeah.
1420
01:18:30,660 --> 01:18:32,790
Mr. Van Peebles?
It's about the money.
1421
01:18:33,660 --> 01:18:36,250
I told you, I got nothing to pay you with till I sell this thing.
1422
01:18:36,330 --> 01:18:38,420
Really? You expect us to wait it out?
1423
01:18:38,500 --> 01:18:40,170
Yeah. No, no.
1424
01:18:40,250 --> 01:18:42,710
Uh, I don't know. Two weeks?
1425
01:18:42,800 --> 01:18:45,880
Unacceptable. They want it now. Get it?
1426
01:18:45,970 --> 01:18:48,430
- Is that a threat?
- Take it any way you want to.
1427
01:18:48,510 --> 01:18:50,640
Is that a threat, motherfucker?
1428
01:18:50,720 --> 01:18:52,390
Is that a fucking threat?
1429
01:19:00,520 --> 01:19:03,440
- Where's Sweetback? Where is he?
- I don't know where's Sweetback.
1430
01:19:06,910 --> 01:19:08,780
- Where's Sweetback?
- Come on, boy!
1431
01:19:09,570 --> 01:19:11,700
Where's Sweetback?
1432
01:19:11,790 --> 01:19:13,080
I don't know where —
1433
01:19:13,160 --> 01:19:14,870
- Where's he at?
- Where's Sweetback?
1434
01:19:14,960 --> 01:19:16,210
Where is he?
1435
01:19:17,040 --> 01:19:20,130
- Sweetback!
- Come on, boy, talk!
1436
01:19:26,260 --> 01:19:28,090
Are you okay? You all right?
1437
01:19:34,310 --> 01:19:36,640
I'm okay. Yeah, get — Yeah.
1438
01:19:36,730 --> 01:19:39,400
- Get me some coffee.
- You gotta see a doctor.
1439
01:19:40,860 --> 01:19:42,320
Go get me some coffee.
1440
01:19:43,190 --> 01:19:44,650
About your eyes.
1441
01:19:44,730 --> 01:19:47,570
You gotta see a doctor. Please, Dad.
1442
01:19:51,070 --> 01:19:52,410
I'm okay.
1443
01:19:54,330 --> 01:19:57,210
Get a man some coffee.
Go ahead. I'm fine. Go ahead.
1444
01:19:57,290 --> 01:19:59,460
- And that was it.
- Go ahead. I'm fine.
1445
01:19:59,540 --> 01:20:02,500
The first time my kid ever called me Dad.
1446
01:20:04,420 --> 01:20:09,340
You worry about your kids until they put you in the grave.
1447
01:20:09,430 --> 01:20:12,260
I thought he looked like he needed a good meal and a good rest.
1448
01:20:12,350 --> 01:20:13,760
- Circles under his eyes.
- Yeah.
1449
01:20:13,850 --> 01:20:16,810
Melvin had lost a lot of weight.
1450
01:20:16,890 --> 01:20:19,310
He was in trouble, you see.
1451
01:20:19,390 --> 01:20:21,860
'Cause I could see it in his eyes.
1452
01:20:25,980 --> 01:20:29,400
Things had gotten so bad,
I had to sell the bike.
1453
01:20:29,490 --> 01:20:31,320
From now on, we'd be hoofing it.
1454
01:20:32,120 --> 01:20:35,740
I also had to collect all my debts by any motherfucking means necessary.
1455
01:20:40,330 --> 01:20:43,250
Doctor said if I didn't rest soon,
I could lose sight in my left eye.
1456
01:20:44,380 --> 01:20:48,470
Rest wasn't an option, so I got an eye patch.
1457
01:20:50,880 --> 01:20:53,930
- I need the edit list from yesterday.
- Hey, can we talk?
1458
01:20:54,010 --> 01:20:57,140
We just did. I said I need the edit list from yesterday.
1459
01:21:01,520 --> 01:21:02,520
I'm quitting.
1460
01:21:04,730 --> 01:21:06,150
What the fuck you say?
1461
01:21:06,230 --> 01:21:09,110
I have to quit. Man, I'm really sorry, but I got this other thing.
1462
01:21:10,030 --> 01:21:12,780
Coming in here, telling me what the fuck you gonna do?
1463
01:21:14,370 --> 01:21:15,370
What —
1464
01:21:15,450 --> 01:21:17,700
You gonna leave this fucking film when I tell you you can!
1465
01:21:18,450 --> 01:21:21,540
- Melvin! What the fuck, man?
- We had a deal! We had a deal!
1466
01:21:21,620 --> 01:21:25,420
You're the only other motherfucker in here besides me that knows all these elements!
1467
01:21:25,500 --> 01:21:27,460
If I don't sell this shit and make some bread soon,
1468
01:21:27,550 --> 01:21:28,840
I'm gonna lose every fucking thing!
1469
01:21:28,920 --> 01:21:31,760
- You got it?
- Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
1470
01:21:32,800 --> 01:21:34,930
♪ You bled my mama ♪
1471
01:21:35,890 --> 01:21:37,680
♪ You bled my papa ♪
1472
01:21:37,760 --> 01:21:39,770
Things had gotten out of hand.
1473
01:21:40,850 --> 01:21:43,310
But somehow I managed to get the movie done.
1474
01:21:44,730 --> 01:21:46,610
All 97 minutes of it.
1475
01:21:47,570 --> 01:21:49,820
I was desperate to sell.
1476
01:21:50,900 --> 01:21:53,820
Plan was to have distributors come to a cast-and-crew screening...
1477
01:21:55,320 --> 01:21:58,080
... so the buyers would see it with an enthusiastic audience.
1478
01:21:58,830 --> 01:22:02,160
You know, T, the Temptations called.
They want the suit back.
1479
01:22:02,250 --> 01:22:04,370
I'd have to put on my best game face.
1480
01:22:06,080 --> 01:22:07,630
Never let the buyers see you bleed.
1481
01:22:07,710 --> 01:22:08,710
Action.
1482
01:22:08,800 --> 01:22:12,420
No, we have not seen Sweetback.
1483
01:22:13,170 --> 01:22:14,880
And cut.
1484
01:22:14,970 --> 01:22:17,220
Apple don't fall far from the tree, does it, Pop?
1485
01:22:17,300 --> 01:22:18,600
Ah, you're so right.
1486
01:22:19,810 --> 01:22:23,440
Comes a point where you got to let the kids go...
1487
01:22:24,520 --> 01:22:26,650
and just be supportive of them.
1488
01:22:26,730 --> 01:22:31,360
This was a movie by the brothers, for the brothers,
1489
01:22:31,440 --> 01:22:33,240
about the brothers.
1490
01:22:33,320 --> 01:22:34,820
And you know what?
1491
01:22:35,820 --> 01:22:37,160
We're all brothers.
1492
01:22:37,240 --> 01:22:39,530
They didn't even invite me to the cast-and-crew screening.
1493
01:22:39,620 --> 01:22:42,000
Do you believe that shit?
It's not like I would have gone.
1494
01:22:42,080 --> 01:22:44,830
I mean, who the fuck am I? Blame-A-Nigga?
1495
01:22:44,910 --> 01:22:47,420
Like everything bad that happened is Clyde's fault.
1496
01:22:48,290 --> 01:22:50,590
That motherfucker. And that Bill Harris.
1497
01:22:50,670 --> 01:22:53,550
That white boy, with all that peace and love bullshit,
1498
01:22:53,630 --> 01:22:56,430
now, that was one honky that was out to get me from the very beginning.
1499
01:22:56,510 --> 01:22:58,090
I knew it. I could feel it.
1500
01:22:58,180 --> 01:23:01,260
I was supposed to have the lead in this motherfucking movie,
1501
01:23:01,350 --> 01:23:04,180
but I had two f-f-fucking lines.
1502
01:23:04,270 --> 01:23:06,310
- Well, it was very uncomfortable.
- Yeah.
1503
01:23:06,390 --> 01:23:08,610
- To be honest, I didn't feel safe.
- It was embarrassing.
1504
01:23:08,690 --> 01:23:11,400
Distributors were tripping over themselves to get out of the theater.
1505
01:23:11,480 --> 01:23:13,030
What can I say? Listen, we like Mel.
1506
01:23:13,110 --> 01:23:14,860
Oh, well, we both do.
That's not the point.
1507
01:23:14,940 --> 01:23:16,740
It's just that the movie wasn't entertaining.
1508
01:23:16,820 --> 01:23:18,740
- No.
- And who wants to see something like that?
1509
01:23:18,820 --> 01:23:21,620
First thing is, when you make a movie, you have to know who your audience is.
1510
01:23:21,700 --> 01:23:25,040
And that's a lesson Mel completely forgot.
Went completely out of his head. Very sad.
1511
01:23:25,120 --> 01:23:27,920
There's the guy from Stax Records.
He says the album's ready.
1512
01:23:28,000 --> 01:23:29,710
Just wants to know when the movie's coming out.
1513
01:23:29,790 --> 01:23:32,670
Well, tell him to give me some vinyl and I’ll let him know when we know. Okay?
1514
01:23:32,750 --> 01:23:35,470
- Hey, brother.
- Man, it's beautiful, beautiful.
1515
01:23:35,550 --> 01:23:37,180
Hello.
1516
01:23:37,260 --> 01:23:39,180
Congratulations.
1517
01:23:39,260 --> 01:23:40,930
- Thank you, baby.
- You're welcome.
1518
01:23:41,010 --> 01:23:43,680
Bill. Hey.
Hey, Moonbeam, what's happening?
1519
01:23:43,770 --> 01:23:45,850
Let me borrow him for one second.
Come here. Come here.
1520
01:23:45,930 --> 01:23:47,730
So what do the fucking distributors think?
1521
01:23:47,810 --> 01:23:49,810
I don't know, man.
They split halfway through.
1522
01:23:49,900 --> 01:23:51,610
One guy left his card.
1523
01:23:52,360 --> 01:23:55,530
I don't even know them. Cinemation?
What about the guy from Spotlight?
1524
01:23:55,610 --> 01:23:57,610
Yeah, he says, once you get it rated,
1525
01:23:57,700 --> 01:24:00,410
if it gets nothing harder than an R, then he'll screen it.
1526
01:24:00,490 --> 01:24:03,370
Mel, we're gonna have to run, so I just want to congratulate you.
1527
01:24:03,450 --> 01:24:05,660
I can tell you, a lot of hard work up there. Good.
1528
01:24:05,750 --> 01:24:08,290
Roz, when are you gonna leave this bullshit artist?
1529
01:24:08,370 --> 01:24:09,870
- Oh!
- Come on, come on.
1530
01:24:09,960 --> 01:24:11,960
Come on, what did you really think?
1531
01:24:12,960 --> 01:24:14,340
Honestly?
1532
01:24:15,300 --> 01:24:18,630
Mel, uh, it's — it's a dangerous film.
What can I tell you?
1533
01:24:18,720 --> 01:24:21,140
But it's not dangerous when John Wayne has the gun.
1534
01:24:22,550 --> 01:24:24,810
See, most of America looks like John Wayne,
1535
01:24:24,890 --> 01:24:28,560
so I'm just a little nervous people aren't gonna be able to identify with it.
1536
01:24:28,640 --> 01:24:31,100
I don't know.
I always identified with the Indians.
1537
01:24:31,190 --> 01:24:34,400
You know what? I don't know anything, so leave me out of it, all right?
1538
01:24:34,480 --> 01:24:36,650
- When's it rated?
- When and if I submit it.
1539
01:24:36,740 --> 01:24:38,950
Okay, Melvin, no, no, no, no, no.
1540
01:24:39,030 --> 01:24:40,860
The whole porn thing, that worked with the unions.
1541
01:24:40,950 --> 01:24:43,830
But the ratings board, they're just gonna want to cut out a few tits,
1542
01:24:43,910 --> 01:24:45,910
they're gonna want to get rid of a few swear words.
1543
01:24:45,990 --> 01:24:48,660
- Just get your R and go.
- You know what? It's an all-white jury.
1544
01:24:48,750 --> 01:24:51,670
Listen to me. This board has been doing this since the year zero.
1545
01:24:51,750 --> 01:24:55,170
Somebody has to tell parents what kids can see, what they can't see.
1546
01:24:55,250 --> 01:24:57,630
I don't know nothin'
'bout birthin' babies!
1547
01:24:57,710 --> 01:25:00,590
It wasn’t just the Blacks who were being portrayed negatively.
1548
01:25:00,680 --> 01:25:02,300
It was all of us.
1549
01:25:02,680 --> 01:25:05,680
I'm telling you, all the Mexicans who kept saying,
1550
01:25:05,760 --> 01:25:08,020
"Badges! I got no stinking badges!"
1551
01:25:08,100 --> 01:25:10,690
- The Chinese...
- You speak to me?
1552
01:25:12,060 --> 01:25:14,520
... the Indians, you name it.
1553
01:25:14,610 --> 01:25:17,980
The truth is, if you weren't white, you were the joke.
1554
01:25:18,070 --> 01:25:20,530
Only thing is, we weren't laughing.
1555
01:25:20,610 --> 01:25:22,360
And any white actor could play us.
1556
01:25:22,450 --> 01:25:25,490
Yellow face, red face,
Black face or brown face.
1557
01:25:25,580 --> 01:25:29,000
Get yourself a feather or a turban.
Who said that was okay?
1558
01:25:29,080 --> 01:25:32,000
Making us mammies and butlers, kissing Shirley Temple's little ass.
1559
01:25:32,080 --> 01:25:34,170
Didn't I tell you to bring this water?
1560
01:25:34,250 --> 01:25:35,790
That's right. It was you.
1561
01:25:35,880 --> 01:25:40,220
And it fucked up white kids too, 'cause they'd think that's who we were.
1562
01:25:41,550 --> 01:25:43,470
No all-white jury has the right
1563
01:25:43,550 --> 01:25:46,260
to tell the Black community what it may or may not see.
1564
01:25:46,350 --> 01:25:49,100
Now, if the rest of you want to submit to that program, that's your business.
1565
01:25:49,180 --> 01:25:51,100
Honestly, aren't you doing this for the press?
1566
01:25:51,180 --> 01:25:53,020
Whose press? Whose press?
1567
01:25:53,100 --> 01:25:55,770
I'm not doing it for the white media's consumption, or yours either.
1568
01:25:55,860 --> 01:25:58,780
I'm telling the truth, brother.
You take it however you want to take it.
1569
01:25:58,860 --> 01:26:01,950
Melvin, you just bought yourself an X.
1570
01:26:03,110 --> 01:26:06,740
I was hemorrhaging cash, every day bleeding more.
1571
01:26:07,530 --> 01:26:12,120
Calls for money were constant.
Even death threats now.
1572
01:26:12,210 --> 01:26:14,870
I devised a signal for the inner circle.
1573
01:26:14,960 --> 01:26:17,840
- Ring twice, hang up, then call back.
- Hey, kid. It's Howie.
1574
01:26:17,920 --> 01:26:20,300
We had, uh... We had a couple of calls about the picture.
1575
01:26:20,380 --> 01:26:22,340
Nothing much, but I thought
I'd tell you about it anyway.
1576
01:26:22,420 --> 01:26:23,420
Um...
1577
01:26:24,300 --> 01:26:27,010
One of them, they'll distribute Sweetback worldwide,
1578
01:26:27,100 --> 01:26:31,350
but they want their fee up front, and they want 70% into perpetuity, so...
1579
01:26:31,430 --> 01:26:32,730
We're losing bread.
1580
01:26:32,810 --> 01:26:36,020
I know, I know, it's ridiculous.
Don't even think about it. It's a no.
1581
01:26:36,100 --> 01:26:40,940
Listen, it only gets worse. The other one, it's a very— it's a lowball buyout.
1582
01:26:41,030 --> 01:26:43,030
I'm not even gonna insult you with it.
1583
01:26:43,900 --> 01:26:45,700
You ever hear of Cinemation?
1584
01:26:45,780 --> 01:26:47,070
Cinemation? Yeah.
1585
01:26:47,160 --> 01:26:49,950
Yeah, they're a very low-level distributor doing mostly schlock.
1586
01:26:50,030 --> 01:26:52,080
If they're even still in business.
1587
01:26:54,580 --> 01:26:55,790
Kid, you all right?
1588
01:26:56,620 --> 01:26:58,040
Yeah, I'm fine.
1589
01:27:04,130 --> 01:27:05,260
- Dad.
- Huh?
1590
01:27:05,340 --> 01:27:06,340
The patch.
1591
01:27:06,430 --> 01:27:07,840
Oh, yeah.
1592
01:27:13,810 --> 01:27:16,270
- How do I look?
- HNIC.
1593
01:27:16,350 --> 01:27:17,980
Head Nigga In Charge?
1594
01:27:18,610 --> 01:27:19,610
Huh.
1595
01:27:22,190 --> 01:27:24,530
So, I gotta be honest here.
1596
01:27:24,610 --> 01:27:29,570
What we got is an X-rated Black film with no stars.
1597
01:27:29,660 --> 01:27:32,910
No Sidney Poitier, no Diahann Carroll.
1598
01:27:32,990 --> 01:27:37,370
In this film, a Black hustler beats up two white cops,
1599
01:27:37,460 --> 01:27:39,830
screws a white chick, and gets away with it.
1600
01:27:39,920 --> 01:27:42,380
Black folks are gonna fucking love it,
Jerry. They're gonna love it.
1601
01:27:42,460 --> 01:27:44,960
Black folks don't own theaters in America.
1602
01:27:45,050 --> 01:27:47,510
Old white guys do.
1603
01:27:47,590 --> 01:27:50,010
On Watermelon Man, we had a nice opening.
1604
01:27:50,090 --> 01:27:53,810
Sweetback has gotta open big.
You with me? Bam!
1605
01:27:53,890 --> 01:27:57,310
- How many theaters can you get me?
- Two, if we're lucky.
1606
01:27:57,390 --> 01:27:58,810
Just two in LA?
1607
01:27:58,900 --> 01:28:00,900
Two in the US of A, my friend.
1608
01:28:00,980 --> 01:28:03,150
The second's in Atlanta.
1609
01:28:03,230 --> 01:28:04,820
The first, in Detroit.
1610
01:28:04,900 --> 01:28:07,780
The Grand Circus.
It's run by the Goldberg twins.
1611
01:28:09,240 --> 01:28:11,120
Believe me, I begged.
1612
01:28:11,200 --> 01:28:14,660
I want to get us in as many theaters as possible.
1613
01:28:14,740 --> 01:28:17,120
My money is where your money is.
1614
01:28:18,370 --> 01:28:21,790
And even if they run it, they're gonna play it safe.
1615
01:28:21,880 --> 01:28:24,670
They're gonna sandwich it between two other flicks.
1616
01:28:24,750 --> 01:28:26,800
Only two theaters in all of America?
1617
01:28:26,880 --> 01:28:29,260
And it won't even run alone, not even first run?
1618
01:28:29,340 --> 01:28:32,140
They don't run X-rated films, Melvin.
1619
01:28:32,220 --> 01:28:34,810
You know you can't even print the title?
1620
01:28:34,890 --> 01:28:38,640
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song?
1621
01:28:38,730 --> 01:28:43,190
You can't put it in the newspapers.
You can't even put it up on the marquee.
1622
01:28:48,280 --> 01:28:49,700
Let's get the fuck out of here.
1623
01:28:54,660 --> 01:28:58,370
No peeking.
1624
01:28:58,450 --> 01:28:59,960
All right, open up.
1625
01:29:02,380 --> 01:29:04,710
What you got there?
1626
01:29:05,550 --> 01:29:07,010
For finishing your movie.
1627
01:29:07,090 --> 01:29:10,470
Congratulations, honey!
1628
01:29:14,970 --> 01:29:16,470
What's wrong?
1629
01:29:18,060 --> 01:29:21,020
I still gotta pick out a still photo for the poster.
1630
01:29:22,980 --> 01:29:25,020
I can't even see straight.
1631
01:29:27,650 --> 01:29:28,990
Okay.
1632
01:29:31,070 --> 01:29:34,990
Okay, honey, listen, go to bed, rest your eye,
1633
01:29:35,070 --> 01:29:37,450
and I’ll help you with that, I’ll take care of it.
1634
01:29:41,000 --> 01:29:43,120
Congratu-fucking-lations.
1635
01:29:47,500 --> 01:29:48,960
Fuck.
1636
01:29:53,470 --> 01:29:54,470
Fuck!
1637
01:30:27,090 --> 01:30:29,960
All right, I’ll do this fucking deal.
1638
01:30:30,050 --> 01:30:32,510
I just want to meet these guys that run this theater.
1639
01:30:32,590 --> 01:30:35,430
Absolutely not. You'll fuck it up for us.
1640
01:30:35,510 --> 01:30:38,300
Come on, man. They're premiering my movie.
1641
01:30:39,060 --> 01:30:42,890
All right, go charm the shit out of them.
1642
01:30:46,230 --> 01:30:48,230
But do us a favor, okay?
1643
01:30:49,230 --> 01:30:51,780
Why don't you take a shave, put on a suit?
1644
01:30:51,860 --> 01:30:55,200
These guys are very sharp dressers.
You understand?
1645
01:30:55,280 --> 01:30:56,780
All right, here's where you're going.
1646
01:30:56,860 --> 01:30:59,580
To say that this is self indulgent to make this movie...
1647
01:31:00,580 --> 01:31:02,160
that's too good.
1648
01:31:02,250 --> 01:31:05,040
The thing is, if you want to make political statements,
1649
01:31:05,120 --> 01:31:07,500
you can't be concerned about box office as well.
1650
01:31:07,580 --> 01:31:11,630
We were so busy talking shit about bringing a message to the people,
1651
01:31:11,710 --> 01:31:14,380
we never stopped to bother whether the people gave a shit
1652
01:31:14,470 --> 01:31:16,630
about the message we were bringing to them.
1653
01:31:16,720 --> 01:31:19,390
{\an8}We were just wondering if they would come.
1654
01:31:26,060 --> 01:31:29,690
Fernando! Fernando!
1655
01:31:29,770 --> 01:31:32,480
- Hello.
- Look at what you're doing, will you?
1656
01:31:32,570 --> 01:31:36,240
- Excuse me.
- The show don't start till 2:00.
1657
01:31:36,320 --> 01:31:40,490
Fernando, I told you, just copy off the damn poster!
1658
01:31:40,580 --> 01:31:42,870
It's "Zombie" with a Z, not an S.
1659
01:31:42,950 --> 01:31:45,330
I'm Melvin Van Peebles.
You're premiering my movie.
1660
01:31:45,410 --> 01:31:49,130
- The box office ain't open yet.
- Uh, you must be Mr. Goldberg, correct?
1661
01:31:49,880 --> 01:31:51,630
- Yeah.
- I'm Melvin Van Peebles.
1662
01:31:51,710 --> 01:31:54,630
I'm the producer-director of Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song.
1663
01:31:54,710 --> 01:31:57,630
This is my son, Mario.
Can we take a look at your theater?
1664
01:31:58,550 --> 01:32:00,260
- Hold on a second.
- Okay.
1665
01:32:02,970 --> 01:32:05,560
All right, Ethel, tell Manny I want to see him.
1666
01:32:05,640 --> 01:32:08,310
And get rid of this crazy fucking shvartzer, okay?
1667
01:32:08,390 --> 01:32:09,770
- Yeah.
- See you.
1668
01:32:11,060 --> 01:32:12,320
That's him!
1669
01:32:12,400 --> 01:32:14,280
Some wild movie.
1670
01:32:14,360 --> 01:32:16,400
Were you really shtupping those girls?
1671
01:32:16,490 --> 01:32:21,660
What movie? What fucking movie?
Hey, hey, you eat it, you pay for it.
1672
01:32:21,740 --> 01:32:23,410
Right there. Triple feature.
1673
01:32:23,490 --> 01:32:26,870
Desert Killers, 40-Foot Woman,
Sweetback's Baadasssss Song.
1674
01:32:26,950 --> 01:32:30,500
Now, listen. Don't shortchange yourself by playing it as a triple feature, man.
1675
01:32:30,580 --> 01:32:34,960
Kid, when white people lived in this neighborhood, we got first-run flicks.
1676
01:32:35,050 --> 01:32:39,430
Now we got a half-empty barn screening second-run triple features
1677
01:32:39,510 --> 01:32:41,590
because your people want a lot of movie for their buck.
1678
01:32:41,680 --> 01:32:44,060
Of course they do, but you're not giving them a lot of movie.
1679
01:32:44,140 --> 01:32:47,430
You're giving them second-rate B stuff that's got nothing to do with their lives.
1680
01:32:47,520 --> 01:32:50,810
Melvin, I saw the movie, and I don't think —
1681
01:32:50,900 --> 01:32:54,070
Manny, no offense, but you guys aren't the audience.
1682
01:32:55,520 --> 01:32:57,320
Hey, son. Excuse me for a minute.
1683
01:32:57,400 --> 01:32:58,570
What did you get?
1684
01:32:58,650 --> 01:33:02,410
3,200 seats total.
But the balcony's been closed for years.
1685
01:33:02,490 --> 01:33:06,240
2,062 seats working, a dollar a ticket, three shows a day.
1686
01:33:06,330 --> 01:33:09,540
Look, kid, even if we ran your movie alone,
1687
01:33:09,620 --> 01:33:11,330
it's rated X.
1688
01:33:11,420 --> 01:33:15,090
Reputable newspapers won't run X-rated ads.
1689
01:33:15,170 --> 01:33:16,920
How's anyone going to know it's playing?
1690
01:33:17,000 --> 01:33:19,840
Early to bed. Early to rise.
1691
01:33:19,920 --> 01:33:23,800
Work like a dog, and advertise.
1692
01:33:23,890 --> 01:33:27,720
Sweetback soundtrack and T-shirt.
1693
01:33:27,810 --> 01:33:29,430
- Bam.
- A record?
1694
01:33:29,520 --> 01:33:31,310
We don't sell records.
1695
01:33:31,390 --> 01:33:33,230
That is the Sweetback soundtrack.
1696
01:33:33,310 --> 01:33:35,820
I'm gonna be all over the local radio station
1697
01:33:35,900 --> 01:33:38,610
playing this soundtrack, wear that fucking T-shirt,
1698
01:33:38,690 --> 01:33:40,440
and talk about the world premiere
1699
01:33:40,530 --> 01:33:43,280
of Sweet Sweetback's
Baadasssss Song right here,
1700
01:33:43,360 --> 01:33:46,160
at Goldberg's spectacular
Grand Circus Theater.
1701
01:33:46,240 --> 01:33:48,790
It's still gotta be a triple feature.
1702
01:33:49,700 --> 01:33:50,830
I’ll make you a bet.
1703
01:33:50,910 --> 01:33:53,170
I’ll bet you a brand-new suit
1704
01:33:53,250 --> 01:33:55,790
that if you run Sweetback alone, the way it should be,
1705
01:33:55,880 --> 01:33:59,210
you'll make more money in one day than you did all last week.
1706
01:33:59,920 --> 01:34:02,130
Chutzpah, this fucking kid.
1707
01:34:02,220 --> 01:34:05,470
A suit? Three pieces, our tailor?
1708
01:34:05,550 --> 01:34:08,010
- Your tailor.
- There's two of us.
1709
01:34:08,100 --> 01:34:12,560
And one of me. If I lose, I lose double.
1710
01:34:12,640 --> 01:34:15,310
♪ They bled your mama ♪
1711
01:34:15,400 --> 01:34:16,980
Won't bleed me.
1712
01:34:17,060 --> 01:34:20,070
♪ They bled your papa ♪
1713
01:34:20,150 --> 01:34:21,780
Your mama and your sister too!
1714
01:34:26,950 --> 01:34:31,620
Hey, hey, Detroit, it's your main man,
J.J. Davis, right here at KLST,
1715
01:34:31,700 --> 01:34:35,120
and we're here in the studio with Mr. Melvin Van Peebles,
1716
01:34:35,210 --> 01:34:36,960
the soul brother of cinema.
1717
01:34:37,040 --> 01:34:39,670
We're taking calls for Mr. Van Peebles.
1718
01:34:39,750 --> 01:34:41,090
KLST. Rap on.
1719
01:34:41,170 --> 01:34:44,550
Mr. Van Peebles, are you gonna be in the theater in person tonight?
1720
01:34:44,630 --> 01:34:46,590
That depends, girl. Are you on the pill?
1721
01:34:46,680 --> 01:34:49,010
Ooh!
1722
01:34:49,100 --> 01:34:50,720
KLST. Rap on, brother.
1723
01:34:50,810 --> 01:34:54,020
Hey, I seen your comedy
Watermelon Man with Godfrey Cambridge.
1724
01:34:54,100 --> 01:34:56,060
Does Sweetback have any stars in it?
1725
01:34:56,150 --> 01:34:59,610
Yeah — you, me, the Black community.
We the stars, brother.
1726
01:34:59,690 --> 01:35:02,990
Oh, shit, I look out my window and see that for free.
1727
01:35:03,070 --> 01:35:04,740
Not on the big screen, brother.
1728
01:35:05,740 --> 01:35:09,950
Sweetback opens tomorrow at the Grand Circus. Where else?
1729
01:35:10,030 --> 01:35:13,540
Right here in Detroit,
Grand Circus Theater, world premiere.
1730
01:35:16,920 --> 01:35:18,080
What y'all showing?
1731
01:35:18,960 --> 01:35:21,420
First-run movie, brand-new.
1732
01:35:21,500 --> 01:35:23,920
- Sweetback's.
- What else shows with it?
1733
01:35:24,010 --> 01:35:27,220
- Nothing.
- Nothing? For a dollar?
1734
01:35:27,930 --> 01:35:31,850
Man, let's go over to the Greek Theater.
These people tripping.
1735
01:35:48,240 --> 01:35:50,320
You keep forgetting to eat.
1736
01:35:51,990 --> 01:35:54,040
- You hungry?
- Yeah.
1737
01:35:55,750 --> 01:35:56,870
Go get some food.
1738
01:35:57,540 --> 01:35:59,380
Here. Here you go.
1739
01:36:00,580 --> 01:36:03,130
- You don't want anything?
- I'm fine. Go ahead.
1740
01:36:29,160 --> 01:36:30,740
♪ Oh ♪
1741
01:36:35,490 --> 01:36:38,660
You got a sweet, sweet back.
1742
01:36:52,600 --> 01:36:55,510
Sir, I think we discovered the weapon and one of the assailants.
1743
01:36:55,600 --> 01:36:57,100
- Uh-huh?
- Mr. Sweetback.
1744
01:36:57,180 --> 01:36:59,350
- Yeah?
- We have a new development in the case.
1745
01:36:59,440 --> 01:37:00,520
Wash your car, mister?
1746
01:37:00,600 --> 01:37:02,650
I'm not buying it.
Now get away from here!
1747
01:37:02,730 --> 01:37:06,190
- No charge if you don't like it.
- Yeah, no charge if you don't like it.
1748
01:37:06,280 --> 01:37:10,110
Too bad the witness has injured himself in a fall.
1749
01:37:10,200 --> 01:37:12,410
Okay. Right, sir.
1750
01:37:12,490 --> 01:37:14,950
Commissioner says to beat the information out of the nigger
1751
01:37:15,030 --> 01:37:16,700
before we get into the station.
1752
01:37:38,390 --> 01:37:41,730
Well?
1753
01:37:41,810 --> 01:37:44,980
Oh, Lord. Let's go.
1754
01:37:45,060 --> 01:37:46,900
Got no time for this.
1755
01:37:46,980 --> 01:37:49,190
Mm-mm-mm.
1756
01:37:59,250 --> 01:38:02,750
I mean, it's gotta be something funny, 'cause they want something funny.
1757
01:38:02,830 --> 01:38:06,090
You sure you know what you get into with this whole independent stuff?
1758
01:38:09,630 --> 01:38:12,050
Average hustler turns revolutionary.
1759
01:38:12,130 --> 01:38:13,800
Another comedy?
1760
01:38:13,880 --> 01:38:15,720
Serious as cancer.
1761
01:38:16,930 --> 01:38:21,180
Who's gonna want to see that?
1762
01:38:38,330 --> 01:38:39,410
Well?
1763
01:38:41,040 --> 01:38:42,250
They'll show.
1764
01:38:42,960 --> 01:38:44,370
They better.
1765
01:38:46,170 --> 01:38:49,460
It's 15 minutes till the 7:00 show.
1766
01:38:49,550 --> 01:38:52,880
If your soul brothers don't show by then,
1767
01:38:52,970 --> 01:38:57,720
we have to cut our losses and switch to the other movies while we still can.
1768
01:39:15,780 --> 01:39:18,450
Eagle ain't nothing but a bird.
1769
01:39:19,120 --> 01:39:21,160
White man ain't nothing but a turd.
1770
01:39:22,080 --> 01:39:23,870
Niggas ain't shit.
1771
01:39:25,500 --> 01:39:26,830
Fuck you.
1772
01:39:27,500 --> 01:39:29,210
No, you fucked us.
1773
01:39:43,020 --> 01:39:44,600
Change the marquee.
1774
01:39:44,680 --> 01:39:47,730
Switch to Zombies and 40-Foot Woman.
¡Rápido!
1775
01:40:17,470 --> 01:40:20,510
All right, all right.
1776
01:40:23,180 --> 01:40:26,350
Hello. Five for Sweetback.
1777
01:40:27,230 --> 01:40:29,560
Oh, I'm sorry.
We're not playing that one anymore.
1778
01:40:29,650 --> 01:40:33,270
I can give you tickets to 40-Foot Woman and Killer Zombie.
1779
01:40:33,360 --> 01:40:36,900
- What?
- Well, the marquee says "Sweetback."
1780
01:40:36,990 --> 01:40:39,240
- We got a problem?
- I sure hope not,
1781
01:40:39,320 --> 01:40:42,030
because we drove a long-ass way to see Sweetback.
1782
01:40:46,450 --> 01:40:48,210
Customer's always right, Ethel.
1783
01:40:53,090 --> 01:40:54,590
- Hi, sweetie.
- Hi.
1784
01:40:54,670 --> 01:40:57,050
- Where's Daddy?
- I don't know.
1785
01:40:57,130 --> 01:40:59,970
- Hey! Good to see you, little man.
- Hey, Big T.
1786
01:41:20,860 --> 01:41:24,320
Oh, Manny. We've got a problem.
1787
01:41:24,410 --> 01:41:27,950
There was this guy, he was in here before, acting suspicious.
1788
01:41:28,040 --> 01:41:31,750
Gang members. More of them keep gathering.
1789
01:41:31,830 --> 01:41:34,130
They're up to something. I know it.
1790
01:41:37,170 --> 01:41:39,800
Black Panthers. What do they want?
1791
01:41:39,880 --> 01:41:41,130
Get Melvin.
1792
01:41:41,220 --> 01:41:42,550
He left.
1793
01:41:43,550 --> 01:41:46,560
We don't give refunds. That's our policy.
1794
01:41:49,060 --> 01:41:50,730
Give him his refund, Ethel.
1795
01:41:52,770 --> 01:41:55,730
No, lady, I wanna buy some tickets.
1796
01:41:58,190 --> 01:42:00,860
Yes, sir. How many?
1797
01:42:00,940 --> 01:42:02,360
Twenty-two.
1798
01:42:03,030 --> 01:42:04,990
- Twenty-three.
- Make it 23.
1799
01:42:14,330 --> 01:42:15,540
Ooh, yeah, baby!
1800
01:42:18,250 --> 01:42:21,590
You could feed a small
African village with them things, boy!
1801
01:42:21,670 --> 01:42:23,050
Whoo!
1802
01:42:25,260 --> 01:42:28,010
Oww!
1803
01:42:29,260 --> 01:42:32,810
Manny, you're never gonna believe this.
1804
01:42:32,890 --> 01:42:34,140
Outside.
1805
01:42:38,020 --> 01:42:41,940
- Oh, my God. Will you look at that?
- Oh, no, you can't get in!
1806
01:42:42,030 --> 01:42:44,320
Everything is sold out, they said!
1807
01:42:46,070 --> 01:42:48,240
Morty. Come here.
1808
01:42:49,870 --> 01:42:51,540
You ain't from around here.
1809
01:42:54,830 --> 01:42:56,670
- LA.
- Ah.
1810
01:42:58,790 --> 01:43:00,460
Long way to come for a drink.
1811
01:43:04,130 --> 01:43:05,340
Yeah.
1812
01:43:06,470 --> 01:43:08,050
What the fuck are they showing?
1813
01:43:16,900 --> 01:43:18,900
We're getting more, sir.
It'll be just one minute.
1814
01:43:18,980 --> 01:43:20,190
We're sold out.
1815
01:43:20,270 --> 01:43:23,150
Like hell we are. We'll open the balcony.
1816
01:43:23,240 --> 01:43:26,410
We're out of popcorn, and there's no hot dogs left.
1817
01:43:26,490 --> 01:43:29,070
I’ll take over the stand.
You go down to the Greek Theater.
1818
01:43:29,160 --> 01:43:32,080
Buy whatever they got.
Fernando can help you carry it.
1819
01:43:32,160 --> 01:43:33,660
Don't slop up my Caddy.
1820
01:43:33,750 --> 01:43:36,120
Hot dogs too?
Don't they have to be kosher?
1821
01:43:36,210 --> 01:43:40,420
We're not eating them, schmuck.
We're just selling them. Now go!
1822
01:43:43,460 --> 01:43:46,970
Don't let them crackers get ya! Come on!
1823
01:43:47,050 --> 01:43:49,760
Told you, man.
I told you it'd be bad, man.
1824
01:43:49,850 --> 01:43:50,970
Shut up, man. Shut up.
1825
01:43:51,050 --> 01:43:53,810
♪ They bled your mama ♪
1826
01:43:53,890 --> 01:43:56,560
Won't bleed me!
1827
01:43:56,640 --> 01:43:59,100
He's got to get to the border.
We gotta stop him.
1828
01:43:59,190 --> 01:44:01,150
- You see him?
- No.
1829
01:44:01,980 --> 01:44:03,280
Come on, Sweetback!
1830
01:44:03,360 --> 01:44:05,320
Run, motherfucker, run!
1831
01:44:21,210 --> 01:44:23,300
Down in front!
1832
01:44:34,220 --> 01:44:36,600
He's getting away.
He's getting away.
1833
01:44:36,680 --> 01:44:38,810
We've gotta get him before he gets to the border.
1834
01:44:38,890 --> 01:44:41,650
The man knows everything, Sweetback!
1835
01:44:41,730 --> 01:44:44,980
Then he oughta know
I'm tired of him fucking with me!
1836
01:45:05,130 --> 01:45:08,670
Well, Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
1837
01:45:08,760 --> 01:45:12,510
became the top grossing independent hit of 1971.
1838
01:45:12,590 --> 01:45:15,140
Folks started calling me "Mel baby"again.
1839
01:45:16,260 --> 01:45:18,560
Cinemation got out of bankruptcy.
1840
01:45:18,640 --> 01:45:20,940
Bill Cosby got paid back.
1841
01:45:21,020 --> 01:45:23,110
Earth, Wind and Fire blew up.
1842
01:45:23,190 --> 01:45:25,320
And oh, yeah, those Goldberg twins,
1843
01:45:25,400 --> 01:45:27,440
they made me that suit.
1844
01:45:33,160 --> 01:45:39,000
{\an8}I had a little bit of the money,
and I went to Mrs. Cosby,
1845
01:45:39,080 --> 01:45:43,170
{\an8}and, uh, she said sure, and that —
1846
01:45:43,250 --> 01:45:45,540
{\an8}it was done as far as I was concerned.
1847
01:45:45,630 --> 01:45:49,880
{\an8}The first time I found out about Sweetback
was one day when I went to visit Melvin,
1848
01:45:49,970 --> 01:45:52,970
{\an8}and he came to the door
with a big gun in his hands.
1849
01:45:53,050 --> 01:45:55,890
{\an8}"Okay, that's enough. I heard enough.
Lock 'em up.
1850
01:45:55,970 --> 01:46:00,350
{\an8}Suspected grand larceny
and impersonating LAPD police officers."
1851
01:46:00,430 --> 01:46:03,020
{\an8}So we spent the weekend in jail.
1852
01:46:03,100 --> 01:46:05,610
{\an8}So I brought the dildo back to Melvin,
1853
01:46:05,690 --> 01:46:08,030
{\an8}and Melvin said, "It's brown."
1854
01:46:08,110 --> 01:46:10,860
{\an8}I said "So? What's the big deal?"
1855
01:46:10,940 --> 01:46:14,530
{\an8}He said, "Go back and get me a black one."
1856
01:46:14,610 --> 01:46:19,080
{\an8}And he was almost like a conductor.
Melvin would show us clips of the film
1857
01:46:19,160 --> 01:46:22,160
{\an8}and say, "Okay, this is gonna go here.
This is gonna go there."
1858
01:46:22,250 --> 01:46:23,750
Melvin was the time code.
1859
01:46:23,830 --> 01:46:25,710
My brother Maurice knew Melvin.
1860
01:46:25,790 --> 01:46:27,170
He was very tight with Melvin,
1861
01:46:27,250 --> 01:46:30,460
so Melvin had this idea about doing this crazy film.
1862
01:46:30,550 --> 01:46:34,800
{\an8}The thing I remember most of all
is that he gave me a check for $500.
1863
01:46:34,890 --> 01:46:38,180
That check was $500. You ain't got that.
1864
01:46:38,260 --> 01:46:42,640
That check bounced all over Hollywood, all over the world, you dig?
1865
01:46:42,730 --> 01:46:45,850
{\an8}I do remember singing
with Earth, Wind and Fire...
1866
01:46:45,940 --> 01:46:46,940
Wash your car, mister?
1867
01:46:47,020 --> 01:46:48,730
...for the soundtrack.
1868
01:46:48,820 --> 01:46:50,650
And my voice is so bad.
1869
01:46:50,730 --> 01:46:53,740
- No charge if you don't like it.
- Yeah. No charge if you don't like it.
1870
01:46:53,820 --> 01:46:55,700
{\an8}It was because of Melvin's commitment
1871
01:46:55,780 --> 01:46:58,990
{\an8}and Melvin's focus
and his passion about this.
1872
01:46:59,080 --> 01:47:00,330
Nothing was gonna prevent him.
1873
01:47:00,410 --> 01:47:02,870
If he had to die making this film, he would make this film.
1874
01:47:02,950 --> 01:47:08,130
{\an8}The Panthers identified with the part
that I played as Mu-Mu.
1875
01:47:08,210 --> 01:47:10,050
We had every one of our chapters
1876
01:47:10,130 --> 01:47:12,960
mobilize community support to go see that movie
1877
01:47:13,050 --> 01:47:18,100
{\an8}because we were so inspired by
this first revolutionary piece of cinema.
1878
01:47:18,180 --> 01:47:19,220
{\an8}Very important film.
1879
01:47:19,300 --> 01:47:22,640
There was a great deal of solidarity.
That's what brought us together.
1880
01:47:22,720 --> 01:47:25,230
{\an8}Hollywood ain't seen nothing
like Melvin ever before.
1881
01:47:25,310 --> 01:47:29,110
He was a combination of arrogance, insecurity
1882
01:47:29,190 --> 01:47:30,650
and boastfulness.
1883
01:47:30,730 --> 01:47:32,730
We've come full circle.
1884
01:47:32,820 --> 01:47:35,320
And some of the things that were happening
1885
01:47:35,400 --> 01:47:36,700
at that particular time,
1886
01:47:36,780 --> 01:47:39,700
the message that was delivered in that particular film,
1887
01:47:39,780 --> 01:47:42,330
we're still experiencing some of that today.
1888
01:47:42,410 --> 01:47:48,830
We supported that film to the extent that we put the film in our newspapers.
1889
01:47:48,920 --> 01:47:52,420
People keep saying, "Follow your dream."
1890
01:47:52,500 --> 01:47:57,550
And I'd say, "Okay," but I think there's more to it than that.
1891
01:47:57,630 --> 01:48:03,220
I think follow your dream — the first thing you do is you wake up.
1892
01:48:03,310 --> 01:48:08,310
Shaft, I think, was being written for a white actor,
1893
01:48:08,400 --> 01:48:12,190
and after Sweetback, they changed it over to a Black person.
1894
01:48:12,270 --> 01:48:16,860
It was before Shaft.
It was before, uh, New Jack City.
1895
01:48:16,950 --> 01:48:20,200
It was really the prelude of all the films that we see now.
1896
01:48:20,280 --> 01:48:24,540
I think that Melvin Van Peebles is a wonderful example,
1897
01:48:24,620 --> 01:48:26,500
and not the only example,
1898
01:48:26,580 --> 01:48:29,670
but a wonderful example of a person
1899
01:48:29,750 --> 01:48:32,290
who had a thought...
1900
01:48:33,500 --> 01:48:37,300
dreamt, woke up, did it...
1901
01:48:38,430 --> 01:48:39,970
and it's still good.
1902
01:48:40,050 --> 01:48:42,100
♪ Bled your mama ♪
1903
01:48:42,180 --> 01:48:43,930
♪ Bled your papa ♪
1904
01:48:44,010 --> 01:48:45,970
But you won't bleed me.