Ep 681: Tim Robbins • Melissa Haizlip

Tim Robbins makes his first appearance with a dramatic performance called "We Live On", adapted from Studs Terkel's 1970 oral history of the Great Depression, "Hard Times". Also, Filmwax celebrates the first African-American variety show (1968-1973) with nice of the show's host, filmmaker Melissa Haizlip. Her doc is currently on HBO Max.

[10 mins. 58 secs.] Documentary filmmaker Melissa Haizlip is the guest. Melissa discusses her recent documentary, “Mr. Soul!” Before Oprah, before Arsenio, there was “Mr. Soul!”. Melissa’s uncle, Ellis Haizlip, ensures the Revolution will be televised with “SOUL!”, America’s first “Black Tonight Show.” From 1968 – 1973, SOUL! provided expanded images of African Americans, shifting the gaze from inner-city poverty and violence to the vibrancy of the Black Arts Movement. Watch “Mr. Soul” now on HBO Max. Available episodes of the series are available on either Amazon Prime and Shout! Factory.

[50 mins. 45 secs.] Tim Robbins (“Bob Roberts”, “Cradle Will Rock”) and his theater company “The Actors’ Gang” have collaborated on a new theatrical production called “We Live On”. They’ve taken advantage of the pandemic’s limitation by adapting Studs Terkel’s 1970 oral history, “Hard Times” (interviews with survivors of America’s Great Depression), and adapted it for a theater piece in 3 parts performed over Zoom. You can watch live performances of it or recorded after the fact. Visit The Actors’ Gang website for details and tickets (pay as you can afford). A longer 40-minute version of this conversation is available for Filmwax Patreon members. Consider subscribing for as little as $3/month.

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