The skanner., January 28, 2015, Page 7, Image 7

Arts & Entertainment
Celebrity
Interview: Kevin
Costner
K
evin Michael Costner was born in Lynwood, Cali-
fornia on January 18, 1955. He began his career in
independent films, gradually earning small parts in
more established movies. His first major motion picture
role was in the coming of age comedy, Fandango.
Throughout his career, Kevin has varied his choices with
comedy, action
and drama role.
He has appeared
C ELEBRITY
in such popular
I NTERVIEW
box-office hits
as No Way Out,
Bull Durham,
by Kam
Field
of
Williams
Dreams,
The
Bodyguard and
Wyatt Earp. And
his exceptional
filmmaking abilities were showcased in Dances with
Wolves, which he produced, directed and starred in, and
which won seven Academy Awards including Best Picture
and Best Director.
In addition to appearing in memorable roles in JFK, The
Untouchables and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Kevin
re-teamed with his Bull Durham director Ron Shelton for
the hit feature Tin Cup. He also starred in Thirteen Days,
successfully collaborating again with his No Way Out
director Roger Donaldson. His other film credits include
For Love of the Game, The War, 3,000 Miles to Graceland,
Dragonfly and The Postman, his second directing effort.
Kevin last directed the box office hit and critically
acclaimed film Open Range, where he co-starred alongside
Robert Duvall and Annette Bening. More recently he was
Book Review: Dark Girls, by Bill Duke
by Kam Williams Special To
The Skanner News
L
ast year, the documentary
Dark Girls was nominated for
an NAACP Image Award.
Now, the film’s director, Bill Duke,
has published an equally-valuable
companion piece celebrating the
beauty of ebony-hued black women.
The classy coffee table book is
comprised of over 80 full-page por-
traits of sepia-skinned sisters of
every age and from every walk of
life. Besides breathtaking photo-
graphs by Barron Claiborne, the
opus includes the heartfelt reflec-
tions of each of the subjects about
her coloring.
Retha Powers recalls being teased
in grammar school by a mean class-
mate, before she expresses her
concern about the welfare of her 6
year-old daughter, Isa. Sensitively
answering her curious child’s ques-
tions about hair texture and styling,
the supportive mom asserts that
“90% of beauty is between the ears.
It’s an inside job.”
Another contributor is Camille
Winbush, best known for playing
niece Vanessa on The Bernie Mac
Show. She admits that her feelings
were hurt at the age of 12 while par-
ticipating in a fashion show, when
she was asked “What’s wrong with
seen in Superman: Man of Steel; the spy thriller Three Days
to Kill; and the football inspired Draft Day.
When not working on films, Kevin sings lead vocals and
plays lead guitar in his band, Modern West, and can be seen
playing venues across the
country. The band’s song
“The Angels Came Down”
from their album Turn It
On, was recently adopted by
you?” backstage by a white girl
pointing out her pigmentation. For-
tunately, the gorgeous child actress
had already been taught that “dark
was normal and beautiful.”
Among the other luminaries
weighing-in, here, are the comedi-
enne Sommore, TV Judge Mablean
Ephraim, Hip-Hop star Missy
Elliott, actress Loretta Devine,
Olympic gold medalist Dawn Harp-
er-Nelson, and actress Sheryl Lee
Ralph,
to
name
a
few.
Artist/communications strategist
Floydetta McAfee probably sums it
all up best when she says, “I know
and understand my history as an
African-American. I come from the
bloodline of many proud and self-
assured people who are dark like me.
I embrace that bloodline and our
skin tone. In this dark skin I was
born, grew up, traveled the world,
and live proudly.”
An uplifting collection capturing
both the intelligence and elegance of
darker-skinned sisters.
the Gold Star Moms and Gold Star Wives organizations,
which support the mothers, wives and families of fallen sol-
diers.
See COSTNER on page 11
January 28, 2015 The Portland and Seattle Skanner Page 7