THE APOLLO documentary

Roger Ross Williams & Lisa Cortes Presents: THE APOLLO – 90 Years of History in Harlem

By Le Anne Lindsay, Editor

Tinsel & Tine’s coverage of the 8th Annual BlackStar Film Festival (Aug 1-4, 2019) included the Philly Premiere of THE APOLLO  directed by Roger Ross Williams The Apollo chronicles the unique history and contemporary legacy of New York City’s landmark Apollo Theater. While uncovering the rich history of the internationally renowned theater that has influenced American music and culture for 85 years, it also examines the current state of race in America.

This was the latest project for creative producer Lisa Cortes who is best known for Precious (2009), The Woodsman (2004) and Monster’s Ball (2001) she sat down with Louis Massiah Scribe Director for a post screening chat.

Part of the video is live video and part of it is voice recorded.

Williams assembles bountiful archival footage and talking heads as he tracks the growth of Harlem from “a wayward station for former slaves” to “the only game in town for African American entertainers” across many generations.

It was there that Billie Holiday sang “Strange Fruit” at the age of 19, and James Brown proclaimed “Say It Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud,” cementing a legacy that would climax with his funeral on the Apollo stage decades later; where Dave Chapelle faced his first tough crowd, and Barack Obama charmed the room with a few notes of Al Green… READ MORE

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