August 31, 2016 The Skanner Page 7
Emayatzy Corinealdi: The “Roots” Interview
By Kam Williams
For The Skanner News
B
orn at Fort Knox,
Kentucky on Jan.
14, 1980, Emayatzy
Corinealdi was an
army brat whose fam-
ily moved around a lot
during her childhood
as dictated by her dad’s
military career. Ater
stints around the coun-
try and overseas, she put
down roots in New Jer-
sey, which enabled her
to study at the Actor’s
Training Studio as well
as William Esper Studio.
She parlayed a recur-
ring role on the TV soap
opera “The Young and
the Restless” into a criti-
cally-acclaimed starring
one in Ava DuVernay’s
“Middle of Nowhere
“(2012). She’s since ap-
peared in the screen
adaptation of Zane’s
erotic thriller “Addict-
ed” (2014), and as Miles
Davies’ wife Frances in
“Miles Ahead” (2016).
Here, Emayatzy talks
about her latest out as
Belle, Kunta Kinte’s (Mal-
achi Kirby) wife, in the
remake of Roots.
ing the story of the his-
tory of this country to a
new generation was an
important conversation
that I believe is neces-
sary, given the current
climate of race relations
in the United Slates.
KW:
“
his sizable subsequent
achievements.
Written and directed
by Jonathan Jakubo-
wicz (Secuestro Ex-
press), “Hands of Stone”
is a reverential biopic
which humanizes Ro-
berto while putting
a positive spin on his
indelible stain. This
version of his story
blames Duran’s failing
on his parasitic manag-
er, Carlos Eleta (Ruben
Blades), as well as on
pressure from the big
ight’s promoter, Don
King (Reg E. Cathey).
KW: How did you pre-
pare to play Belle Reyn-
olds? Did you watch the
original miniseries?
EC: What was hap-
pening everyday in this
country: police brutality,
injustice, people feeling
angry and ignored, all of
these issues were things
that helped to prepare
me. That coupled with
the knowledge that I
have since gained about
enslavement and its his-
tory.
KW: Did you have any
emotional moments on
the set during the shoot-
ing?
EC: Every day was an
emotional moment on
set. The inal scene, hav-
ing her daughter Kizzy
taken away, might’ve
been one of the toughest
by far.
What
message
‘In Search of the American Dream’ is the story of six sibling’s
attempt to elude the authorities in a race across Texas after their
undocumented parents are arrested and taken away.
young people especial-
ly will begin to have a
better understanding of
slavery and its efects,
which are still evident to-
What was happening everyday in this coun-
try: police brutality, injustice, people feeling
angry and ignored, all of these issues were
things that helped to prepare me
Kam Williams: Hi
Emayatzy, thanks for the
time.
Emayatzy Corinealdi:
Thanks, Kam.
KW: What interested
you in Roots?
EC: The idea of bring-
do you hope people will
take away from the mini-
series?
EC: Know your histo-
ry. It can teach you who
you are, where you have
come from, and how to
be a better person as a
result. Also, I hope that
day, To understand those
parallels and, from there,
begin ta be a part of the
wave of hope to change
things for the better
KW: You recently por-
trayed Frances Taylor,
Miles Davis’ irst wife, in
the biopic Miles Ahead.
Did you feel any extra
pressure to get the role
right, given that you
were playing a real per-
son?
EC: Deinitely! I indeed
wanted Ms. Frances to be
pleased while at the same
time honoring my direc-
tor’s vision, along with
rny own creativity. It is
a balancing act which, I
am glad to say, did pay of
with her approval!
KW: Did you consult
Frances in preparation
for the role?
See ROOTS on page 11
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“
pecting cinema verite
on the order of “Rocky”
or “Raging Bull,” for
which Robert De Niro
won an Academy Award
in 1981, is destined to be
disappointed.
Speaking of De Niro,
he plays the legendary
Ray Arcel who came
out of retirement over
death threats from the
Maia to train a teen-
aged Duran. Before
you can say “Burgess
Meredith,” he whips
the promising prote-
ge into ighting shape,
and it’s just a matter
Anyone expecting cine-
ma verite on the order of
‘Rocky’ or ‘Raging Bull,’
for which Robert De Niro
won an Academy Award in
1981, is destined to be dis-
appointed
Here, we’re treated to
the backstage specter
of a burnt-out Roberto
bemoaning his being
exploited.
“I worked all my life.
I didn’t have any fun,
when I was a kid.” Truth
be told, not only did he
begin boxing young,
but he married at an
early age, too, 17. And
his wife Felicidad (Ana
de Armas) was only 14
when they tied the knot.
FYI, the couple went on
to have 8 children and
are still together 47
years later.
If the movie has a law,
it’s in the ight scenes
which leave a lot to be
desired. Anyone ex-
of time before his di-
amond in the rough’s
rags-to-riches
dream
becomes
a
reality.
A touching, revisionist
tale of redemption pre-
senting the sensitive
side of a pulverizing
pugilist.
Very Good HHH
Rated R for sexuality,
nudity and pervasive
profanity
In English and Spanish
with subtitles
Running time: 105 min.
Distributor: The Wein-
stein Co.
To watch the trailer
for Hands of Stone, visit
TheSkanner.com.