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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 12, 2014)
Arts & Entertainment Parker continued from page 8 her time. Four years for this project, four years for the last one. She’s been in the driver’s seat for so long, and been so passionate about it, and she’s never taken no for an answer. And it shows in the work. Not only did she write the perfect script, but she was so intentional about her vision coming across, that it made it easy for me to do my job. KW: But you bring a lot to the table, too. I’ve seen you do reliably great work in picture after picture. NP: Thanks, Kam. You and I will probably be on the phone a lot in the com- ing years, and you’ll always hear me say the same thing: I attribute everything that I’ve attained to my leader- ship. I am nothing without my director. I really believe that. I can prepare a charac- ter, and put myself in a posi- tion to deliver truthful nuance and put on the skin, but it’s the director’s job to usher me into a place that achieves the vision in way that’s understated and believable. KW: What message do you think people will take away from the film? NP: I think the first is that the language of love tran- Stuffed Mushrooms scends all obstacles. I think the second is that in order to love someone else you first have to know yourself, and be comfortable in your own skin. KW: The Melissa Harris- Perry question: How did your first big heartbreak impact who you are as a person? KW: The Viola Davis question: What’s the biggest difference between who you are at home as opposed to the person we see on the red carpet? NP: I do my very best to be the same person. I always say I’m an “actor- vist.” All I do, I do for my people. I make no apologies I try to live my life as an example for young black men navigating the life space Yield: About 50 mushrooms / Prep time: 45 minutes / Cook time: 20 minutes 2 pounds large mushrooms, stems removed and reserved 1 package pork sausage 1 clove garlic, minced 4 ounces cubed and softened cream cheese 3/4 cup dry Italian breadcrumbs, divided 1/2 cup (2 ounces) grated Parmesan cheese, divided 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley 1 tablespoon olive oil Preheat oven to 350°F. Finely chop enough mushroom stems to measure 1 cup; discard any remaining stems. Place mushroom caps, rounded- side down, in lightly greased shallow baking pans. Cook sausage, chopped stems and gar- lic in large skillet over medium-high heat 8-10 minutes or until sausage is thor- oughly cooked, stirring frequently. Drain and return to skillet. Add cream cheese, 1/2 cup bread- crumbs, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese and parsley; mix well. Spoon into mushroom caps. Combine remaining breadcrumbs, remaining Parmesan cheese and oil; sprinkle over mushrooms. Bake 20 minutes or until mushrooms are tender and stuffing is lightly browned. SOURCE: JIMMY DEAN NP: Oh my goodness! That’s a good question. My first great heartbreak was losing my father. I was 11, when I lost my dad. It changed me, because I had to be the father for my fam- ily. My outlook on life changed immediately, and it became all about service. And that’s how I approach my craft, as if I’m a servant of the film. Losing my father was the biggest tran- sition that affected so much of my life. for that, and I try to live my life as an example for young black men navigating the life space. I want to leave a legacy behind that, when you reflect about me, you’ll think, “Okay, there was a sacrifice made on behalf of people who looked like him. KW: What do you think about the unrest in Fergu- son, Missouri? NP: I went to Ferguson. I think the problem is deeper than police brutality. I believe there’s an overall dehumanization and hyper- criminalization of black youth that affects everyone. It wasn’t a cop who killed Treyvon Martin. So, Fergu- son was not an isolated incident, but emblematic of an epidemic that’s been around for over 400 years. The injuries and condition- ing caused by slavery continue to live within us today. We’re constantly told that the value of a black life is less. There’s a certain level of white supremacy and black inferiority that’s entrenched in our society. Once you become desensi- tized to that truth, you fall right into the trap. And until we have an honest con- frontation of those evils, we cannot heal as a country, and a Ferguson is going to continue to happen every other week. That’s why it’s so important that you, as a journalist, and that I, as an artist, pursue justice, and make it a strong thread of who we are as individuals. Read the rest online at www.theskanner.com We honor the many accomplishments of African Americans. It is our primary goal as a labor union to better the lives of all people working in the building trades through advocacy, civil demonstration, and the long-held belief that work- ers deserve a "family wage" - fair pay for an honest day's work. A family wage, and the benefits that go with it, not only strength- ens families, but also allows our communities to become stronger, more cohesive, and more responsive to their citizens' needs. Our family wage agenda reflects our commitment to people working in the building trades, and to workers everywhere. In this small way, we are doing our part to help people achieve the American Dream. This dream that workers can hold dear regard- less of race, color, national origin, gender, creed, or religious beliefs. The Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters Representing more than 5.000 construction workers in Oregon State. Do you want to know more about becoming a Union carpenter? November 12, 2014 The Portland and Seattle Skanner Page 9
