EP015 - Do Your Thing with Kevin Willmott

We're off to Kansas! Or… Ben is. He's flying back to to Lawrence, Kansas, to interview one of his professors from his days at the University of Kansas — Academy Award-winning filmmaker and KU professor Kevin Willmott. Known for co-writing BLACKKKLANSMAN with Spike Lee, Wilmott shares personal stories of his journey from a young creative in Kansas to an Oscar award-winning filmmaker. This one is jam-packed with a wide-ranging discussion covering the power of cinema, activism, the impact of Black history, and the challenges of making films outside Hollywood — and the role of the teacher. Ben is filled-up with admiration and respect for Kevin Willmott and before the end of this one, you will be too!   00:00 Introduction and Overview 01:01 Meeting Kevin Willmott 03:08 Kevin's Early Life and Influences 05:23 The Journey to Filmmaking 12:28 Activism and Filmmaking 20:27 CSA: Confederate States of America 29:46 Collaboration with Spike Lee 34:05 The Importance of Having a Follow-Up Project 35:11 Pitching 'Gotta Give It Up' to Hollywood 36:35 Collaborations and Career Milestones 40:22 The Impact of Black History on Filmmaking 44:08 Teaching and Building a Film Community 46:45 Challenges and Rewards of Independent Filmmaking 53:57 Facing Racism and Its Influence on Storytelling 59:43 Reflections on Activism and Filmmaking 01:05:39 Upcoming Projects and Final Thoughts