A&E
Oscar-Nominated Director Weighs-In on His Heartwarming Documentary
B
orn on September 7, 1979, Thomas
McKay Martin, Jr. was raised in
Seattle and graduated from Western
Washington University with a degree in
American Cultural Studies. In 2002, T.J.
made an auspicious directorial debut with A
Day in the Hype of America, which won the
Best Documentary award at the Rhode
Island International Film Festival.
He next shot a short entitled Loves
Martha before making On the Rocks, a
docudrama about drug and alcohol addic-
tion. T.J. collaborated with Dan Lindsay on
his latest movie, Undefeated, an inspira-
tional documentary chronicling the selfless
efforts made by Memphis’ Manassas High
School football coach Bill Courtney on
behalf of underprivileged members of his
team.
The film has been nominated for an Acad-
emy Award in the Best Documentary cate-
gory. And here, T.J. talks about the
possibility of becoming the first African-
American director to win an Oscar.
Kam Williams: Hi, T.J., thanks for the
time, and congratulations on the Oscar
nomination.
T.J. Martin: Thank you very much for
the kind words. It’s been an amazing expe-
rience.
KW: What interested you in making
Undefeated?
TJM: I was really drawn to two things.
First, my directing partner, Dan Lindsay
and I are interested in making documen-
taries where the action unfolds in front of
C ELEBRITY
I NTERVIEW
by Kam
Williams
T.J. Martin and his co-director Dan Lindsay
the camera versus a talking head piece. We
saw this as an opportunity to make a com-
ing-of-age film that was much more experi-
ential and less anecdotal. Second, I feel that
often times the stories that come out of
neighborhoods like North Memphis are sen-
sationalized pieces exploiting the pitfalls of
the community. I saw this film as an oppor-
tunity to show both the good and the bad,
and to really celebrate the community and
all of the possibilities that lay before it.
KW: How did you come to hear about
Coach Bill Courtney?
TJM: Our producer, Rich Middlemas,
graduated from the University of Ten-
nessee. He follows their recruiting every
year. In 2009, he came upon a
recruit named O.C. Brown. He had never
heard of him and decided to do a little
research. He Googled his name and the first
thing that appeared was an article from the
Commercial Appeal, a local Memphis
paper, about his living part-time with his
grandmother in North Memphis and part-
time with his offensive line coach in East
Memphis. He had never worked in the doc-
umentary world, so he sent the article to
Dan and me. We thought that it was an
interesting enough story to see if there was
potential for a feature-length documentary.
While trying to track down O.C. Brown we
met Coach Bill, and from there everything
changed!
KW: Why do you think he was so suc-
cessful in turning Manassas High School’s
football program around?
TJM: I think he was successful for a few
reasons. First of all, he understands that the
sport of football cannot be the foundation
for building and grooming young men. As
he states in the film, “Football doesn’t build
character, it reveals it.” Secondly, he stayed
committed to his student/athletes. One of
the biggest issues we found in that commu-
nity was a lack of consistency in the kids’
lives. Bill not only said that he would turn
the program around but he also showed up
everyday and proved to them and the com-
munity that he was committed to the cause.
Lastly, I was always impressed at how Bill
treated the students with respect and spoke
to them like young adults and not like they
were little kids. He didn’t assume they
would respect him simply because he’s an
adult. He put in the time and effort and
earned that trust and respect from the stu-
dents as well as the community.
KW: Do you think he’s had an effect on
his players as a role model that will last long
past their playing days?
TJM: Absolutely! Good coaches often
become surrogate parental figures and can
be very influential, especially during the
adolescent years. One thing that stood out to
us and that is not seen in the film much is
how often Bill would hug his players and
tell them that he loved them. This would
happen every day to just about every single
player on the team. There’s no doubt that
when Bill takes the time to share that level
Page 6 The Seattle Skanner
February 8, 2012
of intimacy and respect with his players, it
has a positive, long-lasting effect.
KW: What message do you hope people
will take away from the movie?
TJM: We set out to make an intimate,
coming-of-age film that is, more than any-
thing, a human interest piece. With that
said, we never shy away from
the race and class dynamics that are very
prevalent in the film. I would hope that after
being emotionally drawn into the human
aspect of the story, the film can inspire a
greater dialogue about the serious divide
between the haves and have-nots in this
country, as well as looking at the ties
between race and class and how they affect
each other.
KW: How do you feel about the possibil-
ity of becoming the first black director to
win an Academy Award?
TJM: First and foremost I’m extremely
honored for such recognition. At the same
time, I would have a hard time claiming
such an achievement since I’m half black.
My experience navigating the world is night
and day different than that of someone
whose parents are both Black. I personally,
identify much more with being mixed race.
It would be hard for me to accept such an
achievement without also acknowledging
my Native American, Scandinavian, Chi-
nese and Jewish roots as well! I definitely
think it warrants a greater conversation. I
wonder if there’s some kind of designation
for being the first mixed race director to win
for best documentary? Probably not.
KW: Is there any question no one ever
asks you, that you wish someone would?
TJM: Do you identify as being Black?
KW: The Tasha Smith question: Are you
ever afraid?
TJM: Yes, all of the time. Every time I
reach a new stage in my career or in my life,
I’m completely terrified!
KW: The Columbus Short question: Are
you happy?
TJM: Good question. I’m not sure I can
quantify happiness.
KW: The Teri Emerson question: When
was the last time you had a good laugh?
TJM: When I saw that I was nominated
for an Academy Award.
KW: What is your guiltiest pleasure?
TJM: Not sure I can put it in print.
KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson ques-
See UNDEFEATED on page 7