Page 8 The Skanner June 22, 2016
News
‘Free State of Jones’ Star Mahershala Ali Talks to Kam Williams
By Kam Williams
For The Skanner News
co-starring Matthew McConaughey,
Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Keri Russell.
B
Kam Williams: Hi Mahershala,
thanks for the interview.
Mahershala Ali: Thank you, Kam.
orn in Oakland and raised in
neighboring Hayward, Calif., Ma-
hershala Ali received his bach-
elor of arts degree in mass com-
munications at St. Mary’s College. He
made his professional debut perform-
ing with the California Shakespeare
Festival in Orinda, California. Soon
thereater, he earned his Master’s de-
gree in Acting from New York Univer-
sity’s prestigious graduate program.
Mahershala is fast becoming one of
the freshest and most in-demand faces
in Hollywood with his extraordinari-
ly diverse skill set and wide-ranging
background in ilm, television, and
theater. Last fall, he wrapped Brad Pitt
and Adele Romanski’s independent-
ly-produced feature ilm, “Moonlight,”
“
KW: What interested you in “Free
State of Jones”?
MA: The story, irst of. I had never
heard of Newton Knight. So, the narra-
tive as a whole was really attractive to
me because it was a refreshing depar-
ture from the homogeneous depictions
of the Civil War where the North want-
ed to abolish slavery while the South
wanted to keep it intact. Here, you had
an example of a Southerner who spoke
out against slavery during the war and
who later became an activist for Civil
Rights and this new idea of equality for
all people regardless of one’s skin color,
His were big shoes to ill, but they were ones
that I was very excited to step into.
and reprised his role in “The Hunger
Games: Mockingjay - Part 2,” alongside
Jennifer Lawrence, Donald Sutherland
and Julianne Moore.
On television, Mahershala was re-
cently cast in Netlix’s “Luke Cage”
in the role of Cornell “Cottonmouth”
Stokes. He can also be seen on the
award-winning Netlix original series
House of Cards, where he’s reprising
his fan-favorite role as lobbyist and
former press secretary Remy Danton.
Here, Mahershala talks about acting in
“Free State of Jones,” a Civil War saga
race or creed.
KW: What interested you in playing
Moses?
MA: I had never seen a character in
this time period who had such agency
and mobility for someone living in the
South. He had run away with a group
of former slaves and was really living
life on his own terms in the swamps.
And he was determined to be pro-ac-
tive in his people’s emancipation. Also,
seeing his evolution over the course of
the narrative really inspired me. He’s
Mahershala Ali (right) during the ilming of ‘Free State of Jones,’ a Civil War saga co-starring Matthew
McConaughey (left), Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Keri Russell.
a disenfranchised, runaway slave with
no education who learns to read and
write and really becomes a leader and
an active participant in the democratic
process who mobilizes others. His were
big shoes to ill, but they were ones that
I was very excited to step into.
KW: How was it working with such
an accomplished cast that included
Matthew McConaughey, Gugu Mbatha-
Raw, Keri Russell and Brendan Glee-
son?
MA: It was very inspiring and also
humbling. It was a diicult shoot, being
in the swamps in both the heat and the
cold for four months, but everybody
arrived ready to go, all-in and totally
committed. It all started with Matthew
and Gary [director Gary Ross] who had
a wonderful energy and approach to
the work every day that trickled down
to the rest of the cast and crew. Every-
one was aware of and inspired by the
importance of the story we were tell-
ing, and that was another added layer
that contributed to the focus that ev-
eryone had.
KW: And how was it being directed
by a four-time Oscar-nominee in Gary
Ross?
MA: Pretty phenomenal, starting
with the audition process. He was very
curious about my ideas in terms of
See INTERVIEW on page 11
URBAN LEAGUE OF PORTLAND
ANNUAL MEETING
You are invited to attend the Urban League
of Portland’s Annual Meeting to celebrate
another successful year!
DATE:
June 29, 2016
TIME:
6:00 PM
PLACE: MODA Center
Rose Room
1 Center Court Street
Portland, OR 97227
Join us to learn more about the work of the Urban League
including our Housing, Healthy Families, Community
Health, Jobs, Advocacy and Civic Engagement, and Youth
Programs.
During the annual meeting we will share our annual re-
port and inancial position. Members will also elect our
Board of Directors.
WHOLESALE PRICES • OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Specials for June 20-26, 2016
When were out, WE'RE OUT!
Corn Whole Kernal 6/10 Del Monte ......................................... $ 18.99
Ketchup PC 500/18gm Heinz .................................................... $ 8.99
Marinara Sauce 6/10 Best West ............................................... $ 12.99
Pizza Sauce 6/10 Angela Mia ..................................................... $ 12.99
Salsa Pouches Mild 6/.75gal Del Monte .................................. $ 6.99
Spagheti Sauce 6/10 Angela Mia ............................................ $ 12.99
Tomatoes Crushed 6/10 Angela Mia ....................................... $ 14.99
Tomatoes Diced 6/10 Angela Mia ............................................. $ 14.99
Tomato Juice 12/46oz Cambells ............................................... $ 15.99
Tomatoes Whole Peeled 6/10 Angela Mia.............................. $ 14.99
Tomato Paste 6/10 Angela Mia ................................................. $ 24.99
Tomato Sauce 6/10 Hunts/Best West ..................................... $ 12.99
Apricot Halves 6/10 Del Monte ................................................. $ 30.99
Fruit Cocktail 6/10 Del Monte .................................................... $ 30.99
Fruit Cocktail Tropical Celebrity ............................................... $ 39.99
Mandarin Oranges 6/10 Tularee .............................................. $ 30.99
Pears Diced 6/10 S.W. ....................................................$
20.99
!
W
O
W
Peaches Sliced 6/10 S.W. ...............................................$ 20.99
Pineapple Tibits 6/10 Tularee .................................................... $ 30.99
Chocolate Syrup 6/10 Sonic ...................................................... $ 14.99
Olives Sliced 6/10 Tularee ........................................................... $ 30.99
Sugar Granulated 25# ......................... $ 10.99
BONUS! Sugar Granulated 8/5# ....................... $ 16.99
231 SE Alder, Portland, OR 97214 • 503-238-1360
Hours: Monday - Saturday 8am - 4pm