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September 6, 2017 The Skanner Page 7 Arts & Entertainment Mamoudou Athie: The “Patti Cake$” Interview By Kam Williams For The Skanner News thanks for the interview. Mamoudou Athie: Thank you, Kam. M KW: What interested you in Patti Cake$? MA: In a nutshell, the script, the di- rector and the character, particularly meeting Geremy [writer/director Ger- emy Jasper]. I had a sense he was going to make something special. I initially had reservations about my character, Basterd, but I just couldn’t get it out of my mind. And the script is one of a kind, yet also familiar in a personal way. Had me laughing aloud as well. amoudou Athie is set to play opposite Brie Larson in her di- rectorial debut, Unicorn Store. He also can be seen in the recur- ring role of Grandmaster Flash in “The Get Down,” a Netfl ix series created by Baz Luhrmann. Mamoudou recently starred oppo- site Stockard Channing in “Me & Mean Margaret,” a pilot for an NBC sitcom. On the big screen, he appeared along- side Emma Watson and Tom Hanks in The Circle, a suspense thriller based on Dave Eggers’ novel of the same name. Mamoudou received critical acclaim for his stage debut at New York’s Lin- coln Center Theater opposite Diane Lane and Tony Shalhoub in The Mys- tery of Love and Sex. Here, the graduate of the Yale School of Drama discusses his new fi lm, Patti Cake$, an overcom- ing-the-odds saga revolving around a Rubenesque, white rapper’s (Danielle Macdonald) quest for superstardom. Kam Williams: Hi Mamoudou, KW: How would you describe the fi lm in 25 words or less? MA: It’s a glorious underdog story with wit, charm, and verve about the illest rapper in Dirty Jerz [aka New Jer- sey], KIlla P [played by Danielle Mac- donald] with no holds barred stunts, high octane high speed car chases, and superheroes galore. And we have 300 million Instagram and Twitter follow- ers. KW: How did you approach playing Basterd? Did you base him on anybody? MA: Not on any one particular per- son. I took something of a dim sum approach to him. He’s a mix of some people I grew up around, Geremy’s thoughts and infl uences, for sure, and Mickey Theis, a classmate of mine from YSD [Yale School of Drama]. He’s one of the most beautifully sensitive actors I’ve ever worked with. KW: What message do you think peo- ple will take away from the fi lm? MA: Go mother-[bleep]-ing hard! KW: Were you surprised by the per- formance of your co-star, Danielle Ma- donald? MA: Nah, I knew she’d totally slay it aft er I heard her fi rst track. But when I heard that fi rst track, yes -- I was sur- prised. That was amazing! KW: The music maven Heather Cov- ington question: What was the last song you listened to? MA: May’ve been “Stunt Queen” by Bloc Party or Arcade Fire’s “Infi nite Content.” Mamoudou Athie KW: Ling-Ju Yen asks: What is your earliest childhood memory? MA: I don’t know. It’s kind of a med- ley, but what sticks out the most is go- ing to the park and zoo with my family and my holographic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle TV. It was half an inch See INTERVIEW on page 11 F R E E M OV I E S C R E E N I N G wake of vanport Digital narratives and storytelling from fl ood survivors and residents FRIDAY, SEPT. 29, 2017 • 1 PM KENNEDY SCHOOL THEATER 5736 N.E. 33rd Ave., Portland, OR Free to the public. Limited seating. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. Together, this touching collection of truly heartfelt remembrances paint a poignant portrait of a short-lived, idyllic oasis —Movie Critic Kam Williams REGISTER ONLINE AT https://wake-of-vanport.eventbrite.com PHOTO: Survivors gather on high ground to watch the destruction of Vanport. May 30, 1948. Photo by Allen deLay (1915-2005) ©Thomas Robinson ESSAY CONTEST 2 WINNERS CHOSEN What are the Lessons You’ve Learned from Vanport? Submit an essay telling us, in your own words, what you have learned about the lost city of Vanport and the fl ood that destroyed it T WO $1,00 WIN 0 NERS Essays must be no more than 700 words and will be judged by The Skanner editorial staff . Two winners will be chosen. $1,000 will be given to the writer of each winning essay at “The Wake of Vanport” event on September 29, 2017 at The Kennedy School Theater beginning at 1:00 p.m. Participants must be present at the event to win. Submit essays by email to frontdesk@theskanner.com. Include your full name, email and phone number with your entry. Deadline to submit entries is September 20, 2017. One entry per person. Contest is open to all ages. SPONSORED BY: The Skanner Foundation • North Portland Multimedia Training Center (NPMTC) Mt. Hood Cable Regulatory Commission • Portland Community Media The Regional Arts and Culture Council • The Oregon Historical Society The National Endowment for the Arts: Art Works • The Hollywood Theatre