by intern Haley Schiffer
Interview credit: Janet Donovan
“Darkness cannot derive out of darkness, (only light can do that).” Martin Luther King, Jr. as quoted by Lee Daniels in Lee Daniels’ The Butler.
This truly motivational quote embraces the journey of of a White House butler who served seven American presidents over three decades and was based on the true story of Eugene Allen as played by Forest Whitaker.
Photo credit: Production Notes
The film traces the dramatic changes that swept American society from the civil rights movement to Vietnam and how those changes affected this man’s life and family. Forest Whitaker stars as the butler with Robin Williams as Dwight Eisenhower, James Marsden as John F. Kennedy, Liev Schreiber as Lyndon B. Johnson, John Cusack as Richard Nixon, Alan Rickman as Ronald Reagan. Academy Award® nominated Lee Daniels directs and Emmy®-award winning Danny Strong wrote the script.
While the movie was being shown at the AMC in Georgetown, Harry I. Martin, CEO of Intelligent Decisions and co-executive producer of the film was hosting a panel discussion across town.
The Behind the Scenes of Power VIP Reception was held at The Newseum.
Charles Allen, Wil Haygood and Kendis Gibson
Moderated by Kendis Gibson of WJLA, it covered the role of soft power in Washington, Hollywood and the civil rights movement and featured panelists Wil Haygood, Washington Post journalist whose feature story on Eugene Allen inspired the movie; Stephen Rochon, former Director of the Executive Residence White House Chief Usher; Joan Trumpauer Mulholland, Freedom-rider; Charles Allen, the son of Eugene Allen who served as head butler for the White House for 34 years; Johnnie Wilson, Retired United States Army four star general and Dr. Spencer Crew, Guest Curator at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.
The Panelists
It was fiiting timing as it coincided with the Anniversay of the 50th March on Washington taking place on Wednesday the 28rh of August that ends at the Lincoln Memorial where President Barack Obama delivers a speech to the nation from the same spot where Dr. King delivered his “I Have a Dream” Speech 50 years ago on August 28, 1963.
While it’s a far cry from the days of Eugene Allen working on a cotton farm walking past lynched men, the journey hasn’t ended yet.
As much as the panel discussion was about the film, it delved deeply into the frustrations and delays of getting the movie produced…….enter Lee Daniels. Daniels brings a new light to the civil rights movement, while producing The Butler with only a $30 million budget, he managed to get Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey to audition together and their chemistry happened to work which sealed the deal. Plus, he enlisted an amazing cast.
Photo credit: Production Notes
Also up for discussion was how much of the movie was based on Mr. Allen’s real life. That’s an interesting point we brought up with Charles who was killed off in the movie from the Vietnam War. Allen also mentioned it took him 3 times to watch the film before he recognized his mother’s character.
Charles Allen and Wil Haygood
In fact Helene, who was played by the amazing Oprah Winfrey, never had an affair nor an alcohol problem. One of the biggest differences is the other son, Louis, who doesn’t actually exist. Charlie explained that Daniels divided him into two roles and used one to exemplify the civil rights’ movement impact on the family. Regardless of these factual differences, Allen has only high praise for the film.
Hollywood on the Potomac discussed these descrepencies with Wil Haygood and Charles Allen: In their own words.
The Trailer:
