A Huey P. Newton Story
Encyclopedia
A Huey P. Newton Story is an American documentary directed by Spike Lee
. The movie was created, written and performed, as a solo performance, by Roger Guenveur Smith
at The Joseph Papp Public Theatre. In this performance, Smith creates a representation of the activist Huey P. Newton
’s life and time as a person, a citizen and an activist. During the performance, the background images on the wall play clips from the movement showing activist movements form the era. The simple arrangement of the setting with Smith sitting in a chair in the middle of the stage, make the audience focus on what the performer has to say. Smith captures the attention of the audience throughout the documentary by putting into play his solo performance skills. The documentary was first brought as an idea in 1989 to become a stage play in the year 1996. Finally it was brought to the big screen in 2002 as “A Huey P. Newton Story”.
This documentary tries to show Huey P. Newton as the shy individual he was. He would not consider himself a charismatic person. Although he had many contributions to his community, the actor shows Newton as a conservative individual who was disgusted by having microphones and cameras close to him.
The Film
• Jamerican Film Festival 2001
3 Marcus Garvey Awards
for Audience and Critics' Favorite & Best Actor
• Slam Dunk Festival 2002
Best Actor
• NAACP Image Awards
Nominated for Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series, or Dramatic Special & Outstanding Actor
in the same category
[to be announced February 23, 2002]
The Play
• 2 Obie Awards, l997
Roger Guenveur Smith and Marc Anthony Thompson
• 2 Audelco Awards, 1997
Roger Guenveur Smith and Marc Anthony Thompson
• The Helen Hayes Award
Washington, D.C., 1996
Roger Guenveur Smith
• The Barrymore Award
Philadelphia, 1999
Roger Guenveur Smith
• The Ira Aldridge Award
Chicago, 2000
Marc Anthony Thompson
• 3 NAACP Theater Awards
Los Angeles, 1995
Best Playwright, Best Actor, and Production of the Year
• LA Weekly Theater Award, 1995
Solo Performance of the Year
• 2 Ovation Awards
Los Angeles, 2001
Marc Anthony Thompson and production of the year
. This movie is a production of BLACK STARZ! and Luna Ray Films in collaborative work of PBS
and the African Heritage Network. Smith’s performance is composed of a simple dark stage with a couple of screens on the back. The production incorporated couple of cameras to capture different angles as well as different microphones so that scenes could be taken from various perspectives. The production that brought A Huey P. Newton story presented the movie in San Francisco by KQED. The Funding for the movie was possible thanks to BLACK STARZ!, PBS, The National Black Programming Consortium, The African Heritage Network, and the KQED Campaign for the Future.
Spike Lee
Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee is an American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His production company, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, has produced over 35 films since 1983....
. The movie was created, written and performed, as a solo performance, by Roger Guenveur Smith
Roger Guenveur Smith
Roger Guenveur Smith is an American actor, director, and writer.-Early life:Smith was born in Berkeley, California, the son of Helen Guenveur, a dentist, and Sherman Smith, a judge...
at The Joseph Papp Public Theatre. In this performance, Smith creates a representation of the activist Huey P. Newton
Huey P. Newton
Huey Percy Newton was an American political and urban activist who, along with Bobby Seale, co-founded the Black Panther Party for Self Defense.-Early life:...
’s life and time as a person, a citizen and an activist. During the performance, the background images on the wall play clips from the movement showing activist movements form the era. The simple arrangement of the setting with Smith sitting in a chair in the middle of the stage, make the audience focus on what the performer has to say. Smith captures the attention of the audience throughout the documentary by putting into play his solo performance skills. The documentary was first brought as an idea in 1989 to become a stage play in the year 1996. Finally it was brought to the big screen in 2002 as “A Huey P. Newton Story”.
This documentary tries to show Huey P. Newton as the shy individual he was. He would not consider himself a charismatic person. Although he had many contributions to his community, the actor shows Newton as a conservative individual who was disgusted by having microphones and cameras close to him.
Awards
The story that brought Huey P. Newton to life in a single-person performance, and gave the opportunity to people to experience a little bit about his personality, was nominated and winner of various awards including two Drama Desk nominations: Helen Hayes Awards, Obie Awards, AUDELCO awards and three NAACP Awards. In addition, the movie received two NAACP Image Award nominations for being an Outstanding Television Movie. This award was honored around the world also for Mini-Series and Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie.The Film
• Jamerican Film Festival 2001
3 Marcus Garvey Awards
for Audience and Critics' Favorite & Best Actor
• Slam Dunk Festival 2002
Best Actor
• NAACP Image Awards
Nominated for Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series, or Dramatic Special & Outstanding Actor
in the same category
[to be announced February 23, 2002]
The Play
• 2 Obie Awards, l997
Roger Guenveur Smith and Marc Anthony Thompson
• 2 Audelco Awards, 1997
Roger Guenveur Smith and Marc Anthony Thompson
• The Helen Hayes Award
Washington, D.C., 1996
Roger Guenveur Smith
• The Barrymore Award
Philadelphia, 1999
Roger Guenveur Smith
• The Ira Aldridge Award
Chicago, 2000
Marc Anthony Thompson
• 3 NAACP Theater Awards
Los Angeles, 1995
Best Playwright, Best Actor, and Production of the Year
• LA Weekly Theater Award, 1995
Solo Performance of the Year
• 2 Ovation Awards
Los Angeles, 2001
Marc Anthony Thompson and production of the year
Huey
The documentary is based for the most part by characterizing Huey P. Newton. By adding a sense of connection from the audience to him. Newton was an activist leader Co-founder of the Black Panther Party. He served as a minister of defense during the times of 1960’s. Newton grew up in Oakland when his family moved due to the military opportunities during WWII. As a young adult, he showed an interest for social justice, which led to his activism during the last year of his life. Newton along with other African American activists wrote the “Black Panther Party Platform and Program”, in which the activists of the party demanded full right for African Americans in the United States. Newton was sent to jail after being accused of murdering a police officer. This sentenced him for fifteen years in prison. Later he was released from jail and helped to recuperate that Black Panther movement that had gone in decline due to his absence. Newton studied at University of California Santa Cruz where he obtained a PhD after coming out from jail. However at this time the tension had lessened for the African American community. Finally on August 22, 1989 Newton was shot to death. Finishing then the life of an activist the lead one of the most radical movements in the United States.Production
The production of the film put on a project that later became the winner of various awards for their work. Both Smith and Lee bring to life the story of the activist and presented it on PBSPublic Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
. This movie is a production of BLACK STARZ! and Luna Ray Films in collaborative work of PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
and the African Heritage Network. Smith’s performance is composed of a simple dark stage with a couple of screens on the back. The production incorporated couple of cameras to capture different angles as well as different microphones so that scenes could be taken from various perspectives. The production that brought A Huey P. Newton story presented the movie in San Francisco by KQED. The Funding for the movie was possible thanks to BLACK STARZ!, PBS, The National Black Programming Consortium, The African Heritage Network, and the KQED Campaign for the Future.