Q&A: Black Dynamite

Last night's screening of Black Dynamite had the audience laughing uproariously all the way through. Who would've thought that Blaxploitation pics were back in? Black Dynamite, however, isn't exactly a Blaxploitation film—a better description would be that it's a parody of the genre, while fully enjoying the characteristics it purports to make fun of. So kind of a postmodern Blaxploitation film. We bet you never thought you'd hear that one, eh?

Before the screening of the film, which concerns former CIA agent and general badass Black Dynamite (Michael Jai White, who also co-wrote the screenplay) trying to avenge his brother's death by taking down heroin dealers, director Scott Sanders provided a brief intro, which primarily consisted of his original narration for the trailer. "Open the door, he's got a package for you," Sanders intoned in a booming basso profundo. "Special delivery. Sign on the dotted line, and he'll hand you yo' ass." The voice, the narration, the '70s-esque green suit Sanders was wearing—it all provided the perfect intro to the film itself.

The Q&A afterwards started with White discussing the films that influenced his script (Three the Hard Way, Willie Dynamite), as well as who he modeled the character of Black Dynamite on. "It was mainly Jim Brown," White said. "Did you ever notice how, when he had to do a scene where he had to be tender, it just doesn't work? It was ninety percent Jim Brown and ten percent Jim Kelly." White also remarked that he was pleased how relaxing the shoot was, with the environment so casual that a craft-services employee felt he could make a suggestion to White about the film. "That was so cool," White said. "After we fired him, we really gave it some thought." The audience burst into laughter. White cracked a smile. "Just kidding."
 

Black Dynamite screens throughout the Festival.

Read more Festival Q&As.