1 00:00:02,780 --> 00:00:07,779 [Music] 2 00:00:04,690 --> 00:00:07,779 [Applause] 3 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:18,519 Okay, I get 4 00:00:36,480 --> 00:00:41,600 Welcome to Sputnik orbiting the world 5 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:44,480 with me George Galloway and me Gatri. 6 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:47,520 Hollywood like much of America it seems 7 00:00:44,480 --> 00:00:50,719 is riven by race. Enough black Americans 8 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:53,360 in jail to found a small country. record 9 00:00:50,719 --> 00:00:55,840 numbers of black men and women shot down 10 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:59,520 dead or dying on the floors of prison 11 00:00:55,840 --> 00:01:01,280 cells and all under a black president. 12 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:03,199 It was probably the last thing that 13 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:05,040 Hollywood needed when the great Spike 14 00:01:03,199 --> 00:01:08,240 Lee announced he was boycotting the 15 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:10,400 Oscars in protest at the perceived lack 16 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:12,840 of recognition of black and other 17 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:15,520 minority talent nominated for the 18 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:18,000 awards. For much of the world, Hollywood 19 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:19,840 is America, at least the America of our 20 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:22,159 imagination. 21 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:25,040 Joining us now is one of Britain's 22 00:01:22,159 --> 00:01:28,080 foremost experts on the movies who's 23 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:29,840 writing a social history of Hollywood, 24 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:34,240 Christopher Sylvester. Christopher, 25 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:35,000 welcome on board the Sputnik. Um, first 26 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:41,920 of 27 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:46,560 all, is Hollywood a cartel of pale male 28 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:49,119 and far too old uh uh mogul? And that's 29 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:52,320 the reason why there's this perceived 30 00:01:49,119 --> 00:01:55,439 lack of diversity in the industry. Well, 31 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:58,079 um the moguls do tend to be generally 32 00:01:55,439 --> 00:02:00,960 white. Um and that has always been the 33 00:01:58,079 --> 00:02:03,040 case. Um but the you know there are 34 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:04,960 female uh production executives in 35 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:07,200 Hollywood and sometimes running studios. 36 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:09,280 That that has been the case in in I 37 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:12,560 think since the 80s. Sher Lancing I 38 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:14,800 think was the first. Um, so it's not as 39 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:16,640 um perhaps as monolithic as you might be 40 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:18,800 suggesting there, but it's certainly 41 00:02:16,640 --> 00:02:23,040 true there are no African-American 42 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:26,640 moguls at all. And what's the reason for 43 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:28,239 that money? Yes, essentially um I think 44 00:02:26,640 --> 00:02:29,920 it's more likely that you'll see them 45 00:02:28,239 --> 00:02:33,840 rise up through the world of television 46 00:02:29,920 --> 00:02:36,319 first. Um um but certainly on the um 47 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:39,519 public facing side of the movie business 48 00:02:36,319 --> 00:02:42,319 um acting and to some extent directing 49 00:02:39,519 --> 00:02:44,319 um they're certainly an important and 50 00:02:42,319 --> 00:02:46,480 major presence these days. You can see 51 00:02:44,319 --> 00:02:49,280 the problem though not just the wider 52 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:51,599 political problem uh that I alluded to 53 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:55,360 in the introduction, but something like 54 00:02:51,599 --> 00:02:59,280 40% of all movie goers in America are 55 00:02:55,360 --> 00:03:02,000 black or minority ethnic uh people. And 56 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:04,480 is it the case that they're watching 57 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:06,720 white stars in white movies made by 58 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:08,560 white men? Well, a lot of the films that 59 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:09,920 they will go to will not be the sort of 60 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:12,080 films that would ever be considered for 61 00:03:09,920 --> 00:03:14,959 the Oscars anyway. There'll be comedies. 62 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:16,959 There'll be um thrillers. There'll be 63 00:03:14,959 --> 00:03:20,480 kind of comic book special effects 64 00:03:16,959 --> 00:03:23,840 movies. Um the audience is is is, as you 65 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:25,680 say, it may be 40% um African-American. 66 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:28,640 Um but at the same time it's also 67 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:30,640 heavily dominated by the youth audience 68 00:03:28,640 --> 00:03:32,640 uh which is another factor and of course 69 00:03:30,640 --> 00:03:36,720 the the electorate for the Academy 70 00:03:32,640 --> 00:03:38,720 Awards the Oscars is dominated by uh a 71 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:41,200 much older audience and the reason for 72 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:44,000 that simply is that once you qualify to 73 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:47,200 be a member of the academy you don't uh 74 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:49,360 disqualify or you're not retired um you 75 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:52,000 carry on until you're you're dead. 76 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:54,239 What's is Hollywood a place or is it 77 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:56,640 just a place in our imagination? I mean 78 00:03:54,239 --> 00:04:00,720 I know it exists as a place but is the 79 00:03:56,640 --> 00:04:03,360 film industry uh all in that place? Most 80 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:05,280 of the power of the film industry is is 81 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:08,959 there and that is to say the operational 82 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:12,319 power the money is wherever money is 83 00:04:08,959 --> 00:04:14,560 Wall Street um most of the studios are 84 00:04:12,319 --> 00:04:16,959 owned by major conglomerates. So the big 85 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:18,880 money is is elsewhere. But yes, the 86 00:04:16,959 --> 00:04:20,880 operational power is in Hollywood. But 87 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:23,120 you're right when you when you suggest 88 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:25,680 that um we we think of Hollywood as a 89 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:27,199 place. It is a place. I mean most of the 90 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:29,360 movie business is not located in 91 00:04:27,199 --> 00:04:31,240 Hollywood any longer. It's located in 92 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:34,000 Beverly Hills or other parts of Los 93 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:36,479 Angeles. Um um most of the major 94 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:38,880 studios, those that still have actual 95 00:04:36,479 --> 00:04:41,440 lots aren't in Hollywood and and haven't 96 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:43,759 been for a very long time. Um, but the 97 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:45,680 other thing is that Hollywood has 98 00:04:43,759 --> 00:04:48,560 famously been said to be a state of 99 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:51,280 mind. It's not just um a place. It's 100 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:54,400 it's the it's the sort of uh the freight 101 00:04:51,280 --> 00:04:55,840 of culture of American popular movies. I 102 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:57,919 just want to go back to the Oscars for a 103 00:04:55,840 --> 00:05:00,639 moment. Uh cuz I remember when Hal Berry 104 00:04:57,919 --> 00:05:03,120 uh won her um Oscar, she was the first 105 00:05:00,639 --> 00:05:05,919 black person, black woman, and he was 106 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:08,960 even only half. Uh she was the first 107 00:05:05,919 --> 00:05:11,520 black woman to win um the the major 108 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:14,720 award of best actress. Yeah. And she had 109 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:16,400 to go naked for that. And the Did she 110 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:18,960 what was the movie? The Monsters Ball. 111 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:21,039 Monsters Ball. And Denzel Washington as 112 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:23,120 well, for example, a fantastic actor and 113 00:05:21,039 --> 00:05:25,840 also filmmaker. And there's a pool of 114 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:28,400 course of outstanding black actors and 115 00:05:25,840 --> 00:05:30,400 filmmakers, but there's a small pool. 116 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:32,759 and Densel, you know, for all his 117 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:36,400 credits, he did receive three uh global 118 00:05:32,759 --> 00:05:39,440 awards, but for a film in which he 119 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:40,880 played a corrupt uh black American cop. 120 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:42,960 Well, to be fair, the first film which 121 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:45,840 he which he won an award for was Glory, 122 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:49,320 which was depicting the contribution 123 00:05:45,840 --> 00:05:52,240 that was made by um African-American uh 124 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:54,160 soldiers on the Union side in in the 125 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:55,680 American Civil War. So, he wasn't 126 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:57,840 playing a criminal in that one. Yes, he 127 00:05:55,680 --> 00:06:01,039 played a corrupt cop in in Training Day. 128 00:05:57,840 --> 00:06:04,720 se several years later. And uh it's 129 00:06:01,039 --> 00:06:06,639 certainly true that um black actors u 130 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:09,919 more actors than actresses will be cast 131 00:06:06,639 --> 00:06:12,400 in films involving crime because as the 132 00:06:09,919 --> 00:06:14,639 stereotype. Well, yes, but as George 133 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:16,479 mentioned in the in the introduction u 134 00:06:14,639 --> 00:06:18,639 um there are so many black people 135 00:06:16,479 --> 00:06:21,520 incarcerated under the American justice 136 00:06:18,639 --> 00:06:23,280 system and in American prisons that 137 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:24,720 clearly there are a lot of black 138 00:06:23,280 --> 00:06:27,039 criminals or people who are convicted of 139 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:29,680 crime. So it's not unrealistic. It's not 140 00:06:27,039 --> 00:06:31,280 a complete distortion uh for them to be 141 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:34,880 playing criminals. I mean the question 142 00:06:31,280 --> 00:06:36,120 is are sufficient roles being written uh 143 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:39,360 that you 144 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:41,199 know portray them in other lights and in 145 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:42,039 all the other ways in which he played 146 00:06:41,199 --> 00:06:44,960 Malcolm 147 00:06:42,039 --> 00:06:47,199 X and and of course other people Will 148 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:49,280 Smith played Muhammad Ali. So there are 149 00:06:47,199 --> 00:06:51,759 the great cultural black icons of 150 00:06:49,280 --> 00:06:54,960 America of the 20th century. Uh many of 151 00:06:51,759 --> 00:06:57,280 them have been portrayed in in on film. 152 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:59,560 Um um so why do you think this row has 153 00:06:57,280 --> 00:07:02,400 erupted then? I mean Spike Lee is not an 154 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:05,120 insubstantial figure. Uh he's iconic. 155 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:08,080 He's brilliant. Uh many people admire 156 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:10,240 his work. What what was it that made him 157 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:12,560 say I'm not going to the Oscars this 158 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:15,039 year? Despite Lee, I like some of his 159 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:16,759 films. Um he's clearly a talented 160 00:07:15,039 --> 00:07:21,199 director, but he's always been an 161 00:07:16,759 --> 00:07:23,039 activist. He has an agenda. Um, I think 162 00:07:21,199 --> 00:07:25,199 my personal opinion and I've looked at 163 00:07:23,039 --> 00:07:27,360 the Oscar uh nominations this year and 164 00:07:25,199 --> 00:07:29,440 I've looked at the uh all the films that 165 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:32,160 that could have been nominated and and 166 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:34,160 the categories where um black actors 167 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:36,560 could have been nominated and the only 168 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:38,560 one where I see there is a really strong 169 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:41,360 case for somebody to have been nominated 170 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:44,720 who wasn't is Idris Ela interestingly an 171 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:47,919 English um black actor for Beasts of No 172 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:50,639 Nation. Um, as far as the other cate 173 00:07:47,919 --> 00:07:52,560 categories are concerned, I cannot say 174 00:07:50,639 --> 00:07:55,199 uh in all honesty that the people who've 175 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:57,599 been chosen are in any way inferior or 176 00:07:55,199 --> 00:08:00,479 simply on the same level as as other 177 00:07:57,599 --> 00:08:02,240 candidates um for in from those films. 178 00:08:00,479 --> 00:08:04,800 For example, Samuel L. Jackson, who's 179 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:06,000 been nominated before. Um, some people 180 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:08,479 complained that he should have been 181 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:10,319 nominated for The Hate Late, which uh, 182 00:08:08,479 --> 00:08:12,240 interestingly, 183 00:08:10,319 --> 00:08:14,400 Tarantino's new film, which is which has 184 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:18,000 generally not found favor with the with 185 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:19,680 the Oscars' um, uh, electorate. But, you 186 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:20,960 know, it's a perfectly good performance, 187 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:22,639 but there's nothing outstanding about 188 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:26,000 it. Whereas when he was nominated for 189 00:08:22,639 --> 00:08:27,599 Pulp Fiction um you know some time ago 190 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:29,199 um that really was an outstanding 191 00:08:27,599 --> 00:08:31,599 performance and you could see it 192 00:08:29,199 --> 00:08:34,000 deserved to be a nominated performance. 193 00:08:31,599 --> 00:08:36,159 It's of course right to recognize uh 194 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:38,560 talent from wherever it comes you know 195 00:08:36,159 --> 00:08:41,680 but if you look at it rationally and you 196 00:08:38,560 --> 00:08:43,360 look at the actual films uh that are up 197 00:08:41,680 --> 00:08:47,360 I mean there quite a lot of people 198 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:49,040 complained uh black actors and um 199 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:50,720 directors may have complained that 200 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:52,959 Straight Out of Compton didn't get any 201 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:55,120 kind of major awards. the the oddly 202 00:08:52,959 --> 00:08:57,360 enough the only uh nomination they've 203 00:08:55,120 --> 00:09:00,720 received is for best original screenplay 204 00:08:57,360 --> 00:09:02,720 and the screenplay was written by white 205 00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:05,120 a white person but that you know that's 206 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:07,040 the luck of the draw. Um again I don't 207 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:09,040 think that film is necessarily strong 208 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:12,320 enough to have been in the in the best 209 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:14,480 film category. It uh you and I both know 210 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:18,320 well you better than me uh that 211 00:09:14,480 --> 00:09:21,440 Hollywood was once uh proliferating with 212 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:23,600 uh with activists. Uh you introduced me 213 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:25,360 to one of your friends, Norma Barsman, 214 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:26,959 wrote a wonderful book, The Red and the 215 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:30,399 Blacklist List. There were so many 216 00:09:26,959 --> 00:09:32,640 activists that the moguls uh led by the 217 00:09:30,399 --> 00:09:35,680 right-wing government of the time 218 00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:39,399 launched a witch hunt uh against them. 219 00:09:35,680 --> 00:09:42,640 Uh is Hollywood more politically 220 00:09:39,399 --> 00:09:44,040 quiescent now than it was? Oh, I don't 221 00:09:42,640 --> 00:09:46,640 think so at all. 222 00:09:44,040 --> 00:09:48,640 Um the period when it was quiescent was 223 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:50,480 the 50s when obviously the black 224 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:52,640 blacklist still prevailed and there was 225 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:53,640 a sort of a tail end of that into the 226 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:56,240 60s. 227 00:09:53,640 --> 00:09:58,080 So it was controversial if you got 228 00:09:56,240 --> 00:10:01,760 involved with radical causes people like 229 00:09:58,080 --> 00:10:04,399 Marlon Brando um did so um in particular 230 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:07,040 he he supported um black civil rights 231 00:10:04,399 --> 00:10:10,000 causes uh and also Native American 232 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:11,600 American. Exactly. So um but a lot of 233 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:13,760 stars didn't want to get involved and 234 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:16,160 quite you know understandably because 235 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:18,560 not only the electorate of the Oscars 236 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:21,040 but the um electorate the wider 237 00:10:18,560 --> 00:10:22,880 electorate in in the 60s was still very 238 00:10:21,040 --> 00:10:25,120 you know in certain parts of the country 239 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:26,399 very prejudiced and therefore uh it 240 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:28,240 would have been sort of commercial 241 00:10:26,399 --> 00:10:30,079 suicide just as it would have been 242 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:32,480 commercial suicide for Rock Hudson to 243 00:10:30,079 --> 00:10:34,720 come out as gay in the 1960s when he was 244 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:36,480 making those movies with Doris Day. you 245 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:38,640 know, he wouldn't have done it. Um, and 246 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:43,200 nor would should we expect him to have 247 00:10:38,640 --> 00:10:45,760 done so. But the uh field now, I mean, 248 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:49,040 Hollywood actors, I I saw that uh 249 00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:52,640 Penelopey Cruz and her husband almost 250 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:55,839 exiled from Hollywood over their stand 251 00:10:52,640 --> 00:11:00,640 on Gaza in defense of the Palestinians. 252 00:10:55,839 --> 00:11:03,760 Of course, there's a very high number of 253 00:11:00,640 --> 00:11:07,360 pro-Israel people running uh Hollywood, 254 00:11:03,760 --> 00:11:10,800 whether Jews or not. Uh but you don't 255 00:11:07,360 --> 00:11:12,399 see many Penelopey Cruisers and 256 00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:14,000 No, you don't. I mean, and I think they 257 00:11:12,399 --> 00:11:15,680 would simply say, well, it, you know, 258 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:17,920 our business essentially is making 259 00:11:15,680 --> 00:11:20,399 movies. Um um we may have private 260 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:22,160 political views, we may choose to air 261 00:11:20,399 --> 00:11:25,120 them in public, and we may not. I mean, 262 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:27,920 I don't think you should um berate any 263 00:11:25,120 --> 00:11:29,839 um movie actors, particularly actors or 264 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:33,279 or directors, for not be being more 265 00:11:29,839 --> 00:11:34,959 active um or or taking more um public 266 00:11:33,279 --> 00:11:36,839 stances on political issues, it's 267 00:11:34,959 --> 00:11:40,959 obviously a matter of choice. So, all 268 00:11:36,839 --> 00:11:42,720 well in the Oscars, I I would say this 269 00:11:40,959 --> 00:11:45,519 is a good year. I mean, I would say that 270 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:47,200 particularly in the um acting category. 271 00:11:45,519 --> 00:11:49,839 I mean, I think I I just saw The 272 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:52,320 Revenant the other night with um No, 273 00:11:49,839 --> 00:11:55,360 Leonardo DiCaprio and I cannot see and 274 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:57,279 Tom Hardy, both of whom I think uh or 275 00:11:55,360 --> 00:11:59,680 not quite shoeins for the the awards, 276 00:11:57,279 --> 00:12:02,800 but certainly I would be surprised if 277 00:11:59,680 --> 00:12:04,320 they don't receive those awards. Yeah. 278 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:07,360 Well, there that's that's an 279 00:12:04,320 --> 00:12:09,200 endorsement. Everyone get out to see it. 280 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:11,519 Christopher Sylvester, thanks for 281 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:13,760 joining us on the Sputnik. Coming up 282 00:12:11,519 --> 00:12:16,160 next, one of Britain's rising black 283 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:18,560 actresses, a former East Ender star. 284 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:18,560 Don't miss 285 00:12:20,920 --> 00:12:25,680 it. Welcome back to Sputnik. Now, 286 00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:27,839 Hollywood is one thing, but what's the 287 00:12:25,680 --> 00:12:31,120 situation here in Britain for black 288 00:12:27,839 --> 00:12:33,839 talent in theater, television, and film? 289 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:36,000 Bumi Mojeku starred in EastEnders, 290 00:12:33,839 --> 00:12:38,079 amongst other things. And a clue to the 291 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:41,120 answer to my question could lie in the 292 00:12:38,079 --> 00:12:43,760 fact that this month she set up BAM film 293 00:12:41,120 --> 00:12:46,399 productions to amongst other things 294 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:48,959 employ a diverse workforce in these 295 00:12:46,399 --> 00:12:51,760 fields. But before we speak to her, 296 00:12:48,959 --> 00:12:54,000 Gatri went out onto London streets to 297 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:55,760 see what the public thinks. Ah, it's a 298 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:58,160 tough one. In some instances, yes, in 299 00:12:55,760 --> 00:13:00,240 some instances, no. Because obviously 300 00:12:58,160 --> 00:13:01,519 stereotypes exist for a reason because 301 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:04,680 there's certain people who act in a 302 00:13:01,519 --> 00:13:06,639 certain way. So I think there's maybe an 303 00:13:04,680 --> 00:13:08,959 underrepresentation of the complete 304 00:13:06,639 --> 00:13:11,360 spectrum of black people. Yeah. There's 305 00:13:08,959 --> 00:13:12,880 a lot of white people. Yeah. Basically. 306 00:13:11,360 --> 00:13:14,880 Yeah. Like every main character is 307 00:13:12,880 --> 00:13:17,519 essentially white. So on on the TV in 308 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:19,600 general, you you you don't really see 309 00:13:17,519 --> 00:13:21,360 it's not really represented unless you 310 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:23,360 go to a specific channel, then you will 311 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:25,120 see them. And even the one that you see, 312 00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:28,320 you always see the same ones. I tend to 313 00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:29,839 just look at what's being acted and and 314 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:31,200 how it's being acted and think, well, 315 00:13:29,839 --> 00:13:33,200 that was pretty good or that was a bit 316 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:36,160 naff or whatever it may be. Also, when 317 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:38,200 black people are represented on TV, they 318 00:13:36,160 --> 00:13:40,639 kind of 319 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:42,800 whitish. Times times haven't changed. 320 00:13:40,639 --> 00:13:45,600 Things haven't moved on. Thanks for 321 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:49,519 joining us on the Sputnik. Does this big 322 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:51,440 row going on over the Oscars? Spike Lee 323 00:13:49,519 --> 00:13:54,800 says he's not going. Neither is his 324 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:57,839 wife. Dustin Hoffman says he's right. 325 00:13:54,800 --> 00:14:00,480 Other people say he's wrong. What's your 326 00:13:57,839 --> 00:14:04,720 take as a prominent black actress and 327 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:07,199 now in the film production business? Um, 328 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:09,040 I honestly feel like I think he's right. 329 00:14:07,199 --> 00:14:11,199 So, I think it's time to make a stand. 330 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:13,600 This has been two years in the running. 331 00:14:11,199 --> 00:14:15,440 So, last year, all right, it probably 332 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:18,160 just happened and we think, okay, that's 333 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:20,560 it. Second year, it happens again. And 334 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:22,880 it seems very deliberate. It seems that 335 00:14:20,560 --> 00:14:24,959 there is a they're telling us that we 336 00:14:22,880 --> 00:14:27,279 are not going to recognize you for a 337 00:14:24,959 --> 00:14:29,040 second year. So now it's time for us to 338 00:14:27,279 --> 00:14:31,760 take a stand and say we're not going to 339 00:14:29,040 --> 00:14:34,639 stand by this again. Like I just feel 340 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:37,279 like it's very um unfair because as a 341 00:14:34,639 --> 00:14:39,519 community what it says to us is that we 342 00:14:37,279 --> 00:14:41,040 are being ignored. Like you can work as 343 00:14:39,519 --> 00:14:42,720 hard as you want to work but we're not 344 00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:44,639 going to credit you. We're not going to 345 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:46,560 give you the accolades that we're going 346 00:14:44,639 --> 00:14:48,720 to offer everybody else. And the 347 00:14:46,560 --> 00:14:50,560 question that I ask is why you wouldn't 348 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:53,040 want somebody to get nominated for an 349 00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:55,680 Oscar that didn't deserve or a film to 350 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:57,199 be uh given an accolade if it wasn't 351 00:14:55,680 --> 00:15:00,000 worthy of it. I know that you wouldn't 352 00:14:57,199 --> 00:15:01,680 want that. And uh our first guest 353 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:04,639 Christopher Sylvester was a great 354 00:15:01,680 --> 00:15:08,639 authority on movies and who's certainly 355 00:15:04,639 --> 00:15:14,399 no racist at all. uh his view was that 356 00:15:08,639 --> 00:15:16,959 uh the the only arguable contender that 357 00:15:14,399 --> 00:15:20,560 didn't make it was Idris Elba. Uh that 358 00:15:16,959 --> 00:15:23,279 Samuel Jackson's uh performance was good 359 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:27,199 but not great uh as opposed to when he 360 00:15:23,279 --> 00:15:31,519 was great and did get uh nominated uh in 361 00:15:27,199 --> 00:15:34,880 Pulp Fiction. Um, is it the case that 362 00:15:31,519 --> 00:15:37,360 black talent didn't didn't just make 363 00:15:34,880 --> 00:15:39,680 enough good movies in the last year? I 364 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:43,120 disagree with that cuz the figures show 365 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:45,600 that that's incorrect. And I just feel 366 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:47,600 like it's just an excuse. People look 367 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:49,680 for some kind of excuse to justify 368 00:15:47,600 --> 00:15:53,279 what's happened when it's as clear as 369 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:55,120 day. That it is just a very deliberate 370 00:15:53,279 --> 00:15:56,800 attempt at saying that we are not 371 00:15:55,120 --> 00:15:58,800 acknowledging you simply because of the 372 00:15:56,800 --> 00:16:01,279 color of your skin. And what it should 373 00:15:58,800 --> 00:16:03,120 be about is the talent. The talent 374 00:16:01,279 --> 00:16:04,959 proves that they are excellent and that 375 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:06,959 they should be in the running to be 376 00:16:04,959 --> 00:16:09,199 nominated to be recognized for their 377 00:16:06,959 --> 00:16:10,959 work. However, that's just not the case. 378 00:16:09,199 --> 00:16:12,800 And if anyone in my opinion says 379 00:16:10,959 --> 00:16:15,600 anything other than that, it's just an 380 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:17,440 excuse because you don't want to accept 381 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:20,519 and realize that the society that we're 382 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:23,600 living in is doing this to us. It's a 383 00:16:20,519 --> 00:16:25,120 false reflection of society. That's the 384 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:27,519 that's the whole that's what my what 385 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:29,920 troubles me. You walk around London, 386 00:16:27,519 --> 00:16:32,560 it's, you know, a kaleidoscope of colors 387 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:34,079 and and backgrounds and and religions, 388 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:36,399 but it's not being reflected on screen. 389 00:16:34,079 --> 00:16:38,480 Absolutely not. And it's it's bizarre. I 390 00:16:36,399 --> 00:16:40,079 just don't understand it. I I I can't 391 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:42,360 understand it because when it is 392 00:16:40,079 --> 00:16:44,880 reflected on screen, it's usually the 393 00:16:42,360 --> 00:16:47,360 stereotypes. So like for myself, I'd get 394 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:49,440 a character who's probably angry, she 395 00:16:47,360 --> 00:16:51,759 can't get a man, or I'm probably really 396 00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:54,560 funny. Or I'm always secondary. I'm 397 00:16:51,759 --> 00:16:56,480 never really quite the lead. I can only 398 00:16:54,560 --> 00:16:58,720 support. And even if I'm supporting, I'm 399 00:16:56,480 --> 00:17:01,040 probably supporting the support. So, and 400 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:03,279 you were the first black actress in East 401 00:17:01,040 --> 00:17:06,120 Enders as well. Well, no, I was the 402 00:17:03,279 --> 00:17:08,640 first um African character um and 403 00:17:06,120 --> 00:17:11,199 family. So, I mean, in that because of 404 00:17:08,640 --> 00:17:13,919 course there's no real African families 405 00:17:11,199 --> 00:17:15,600 in the East End. I know. So, I mean, I 406 00:17:13,919 --> 00:17:17,919 do commend them for taking that step 407 00:17:15,600 --> 00:17:20,079 because at the time, you know, it was a 408 00:17:17,919 --> 00:17:22,319 very big movement and it was just 409 00:17:20,079 --> 00:17:24,559 amazing to have to be able to do such a 410 00:17:22,319 --> 00:17:27,199 thing. However, it it does speak volumes 411 00:17:24,559 --> 00:17:29,280 to like the rest of the industry that 412 00:17:27,199 --> 00:17:31,600 where, you know, every time that we have 413 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:34,400 to do something is always related to gun 414 00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:36,799 and knife crime or anything else when 415 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:39,039 we're so much more than that. And I 416 00:17:36,799 --> 00:17:41,600 believe it's time for us to take back 417 00:17:39,039 --> 00:17:44,160 our own narrative, take back our own 418 00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:47,440 control. I believe that we have skills 419 00:17:44,160 --> 00:17:50,960 and we are able to create a business or 420 00:17:47,440 --> 00:17:53,200 any kind of place where we can put our 421 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:55,760 own work out and we can also credit 422 00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:58,080 ourselves for it. I feel like as well as 423 00:17:55,760 --> 00:18:00,240 we need to be diverse on screen behind 424 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:02,080 the scenes as well. I mean if you have 425 00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:03,600 is that what BAM film productions is 426 00:18:02,080 --> 00:18:06,000 going to try to do? Absolutely. You're 427 00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:08,480 going to be the Tamla Mottown of uh of 428 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:11,039 the film business because that's what 429 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:13,919 happened. Yeah. All these black acts in 430 00:18:11,039 --> 00:18:15,679 the 1960s would never have got a look in 431 00:18:13,919 --> 00:18:18,400 on the existing record label. So the 432 00:18:15,679 --> 00:18:21,200 greatness of Barry Gordy was Yes. he 433 00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:23,679 created his own label which became so 434 00:18:21,200 --> 00:18:26,160 legendary that everybody else used to 435 00:18:23,679 --> 00:18:28,080 wish they were on Tamla Mortan. Exactly. 436 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:30,400 Let's hope that happens to you. But the 437 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:33,440 the the charge you're making is quite 438 00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:37,799 serious. Not it's not your charges. Not 439 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:40,360 just that the electorate of the uh 440 00:18:37,799 --> 00:18:43,679 academy uh 441 00:18:40,360 --> 00:18:46,400 are subconsciously prejudiced but that 442 00:18:43,679 --> 00:18:48,320 they consciously made a decision to act 443 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:50,480 in a racist manner. That's quite a 444 00:18:48,320 --> 00:18:54,160 serious charge for me. I do believe so 445 00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:56,240 it is. But I feel like at the same time 446 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:58,080 that's all they know. These are the 447 00:18:56,240 --> 00:19:00,080 people who are employed there. That's 448 00:18:58,080 --> 00:19:02,480 all their experiences are. That's their 449 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:04,960 world. So they can only relate to I mean 450 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:07,120 art reflects the times. So that's their 451 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:08,559 time that's what they see. So they see 452 00:19:07,120 --> 00:19:10,320 anything else other than that they don't 453 00:19:08,559 --> 00:19:12,240 relate they can't understand that. So 454 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:15,919 that's why I feel it's very important to 455 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:18,559 also diversify the workforce. So in if 456 00:19:15,919 --> 00:19:20,720 in those corporations and in those in in 457 00:19:18,559 --> 00:19:22,000 that industry if we see people of 458 00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:23,919 different colors and races and 459 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:25,440 experiences then they are able to say oh 460 00:19:23,919 --> 00:19:27,520 well that related to me this was an 461 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:30,000 amazing film. They probably can't have 462 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:33,160 that understanding. So where you see 463 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:35,440 people who are in the positions and are 464 00:19:33,160 --> 00:19:37,520 diversified then we can see a change 465 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:41,039 happen. My mission is to to change the 466 00:19:37,520 --> 00:19:44,320 narrative British of British cinema. I 467 00:19:41,039 --> 00:19:47,039 really was motivated. I mean after a 468 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:49,760 while I just got very bored and very 469 00:19:47,039 --> 00:19:51,600 uninspired by the state of the industry 470 00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:53,440 where I just felt like why am I always 471 00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:55,600 doing this kind of character? Why would 472 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:57,200 I ever be considered for this? And then 473 00:19:55,600 --> 00:19:59,520 having conversations with my friends and 474 00:19:57,200 --> 00:20:01,120 family, I sound a bit crazy like, "Oh my 475 00:19:59,520 --> 00:20:03,520 god." They're like, "Oh, calm down." 476 00:20:01,120 --> 00:20:06,160 It's not a calm down situation. It's my 477 00:20:03,520 --> 00:20:08,799 reality that if I go up for something. 478 00:20:06,160 --> 00:20:10,559 Yeah. I I can't get Don't calm down. 479 00:20:08,799 --> 00:20:13,039 Don't When someone tells you to calm 480 00:20:10,559 --> 00:20:14,720 down, tell them no. Oh, absolutely. We 481 00:20:13,039 --> 00:20:18,480 need to be angry and not We need to 482 00:20:14,720 --> 00:20:20,240 Yeah. But we watched a film about the 483 00:20:18,480 --> 00:20:23,039 making of the film Psycho the other 484 00:20:20,240 --> 00:20:26,160 night. Okay. Classic 1950s Alfred 485 00:20:23,039 --> 00:20:29,120 Hitchcock. Uh, I think I'm right in 486 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:31,280 saying there wasn't a single black face 487 00:20:29,120 --> 00:20:33,520 in the movie because it was a movie 488 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:36,799 about a movie in the 1950s when the only 489 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:39,200 black faces were maids. Mhm. They were 490 00:20:36,799 --> 00:20:41,799 uh black women looking after white 491 00:20:39,200 --> 00:20:46,000 people's children. 492 00:20:41,799 --> 00:20:48,720 Uh, now the only black faces are 493 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:51,280 criminals, gun or knife crime. Or if 494 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:54,320 they are policemen like Denzel was in 495 00:20:51,280 --> 00:20:57,360 that movie in in Training Day, you're a 496 00:20:54,320 --> 00:20:59,360 corrupt black black uh policeman. Mhm. 497 00:20:57,360 --> 00:21:02,559 That means the writers, the producers, 498 00:20:59,360 --> 00:21:06,159 the directors are all culpable uh in 499 00:21:02,559 --> 00:21:07,919 this because all of us know successful 500 00:21:06,159 --> 00:21:10,799 black people. In fact, you know what 501 00:21:07,919 --> 00:21:14,080 needs to be done? You need to buy, black 502 00:21:10,799 --> 00:21:15,760 people need to buy uh part of Hollywood. 503 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:17,280 I agree. That's that's the only way 504 00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:19,760 that's going to change. Absolutely 505 00:21:17,280 --> 00:21:22,880 agree. As long as rich white men own all 506 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:24,559 the movie houses in Hollywood, well, 507 00:21:22,880 --> 00:21:26,880 everything's going to reflect their 508 00:21:24,559 --> 00:21:28,960 perspective. Absolutely. Cuz I how I was 509 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:31,440 brought up is that my my especially my 510 00:21:28,960 --> 00:21:34,720 mom, she was very forward in that I need 511 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:36,000 to have my education. Whereas I was cuz 512 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:38,480 I started my career while I was in 513 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:40,080 college. So I I didn't feel the need to 514 00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:42,480 go to university, but she was like, "You 515 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:44,640 need to go." So I was like, "Uh, this is 516 00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:46,159 where my dad comes into it." My my whole 517 00:21:44,640 --> 00:21:47,600 family are very entrepreneurial. So 518 00:21:46,159 --> 00:21:49,200 we've all come from nothing and they've 519 00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:51,039 all made it into something. So I've 520 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:53,200 always known business. I've always known 521 00:21:51,039 --> 00:21:55,520 I'd be in business. So I thought if I'm 522 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:57,120 going to go to uni, I'd rather do 523 00:21:55,520 --> 00:21:59,600 something that would benefit me in the 524 00:21:57,120 --> 00:22:01,280 future as opposed to a backup plan. I 525 00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:03,440 don't believe in that. So I thought to 526 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:05,360 myself, I would like to open something 527 00:22:03,440 --> 00:22:07,760 in within my fields and maybe a drama 528 00:22:05,360 --> 00:22:10,080 school. I have now found it to be a film 529 00:22:07,760 --> 00:22:12,400 production company and I feel that we 530 00:22:10,080 --> 00:22:15,280 are all afforded the same opportunities 531 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:17,120 within this world and that is education. 532 00:22:15,280 --> 00:22:20,000 If you use it to benefit yourself, you 533 00:22:17,120 --> 00:22:22,000 can benefit your community. So I believe 534 00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:24,799 that like you just said we do need to 535 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:26,960 own our own then we don't have to ask 536 00:22:24,799 --> 00:22:28,640 anyone for any permission and as a 537 00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:31,280 community my own community what we need 538 00:22:28,640 --> 00:22:33,120 to do is bind together to support it. 539 00:22:31,280 --> 00:22:35,919 Since I have launched this, I have 540 00:22:33,120 --> 00:22:38,000 received such support and such love 541 00:22:35,919 --> 00:22:40,559 which almost threw me a bit cuz I was 542 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:41,919 like, wo, I was not expecting this. I 543 00:22:40,559 --> 00:22:43,840 was so worried that no one was going to 544 00:22:41,919 --> 00:22:45,760 turn up or to anything I was going to 545 00:22:43,840 --> 00:22:48,000 put on because people can be quite 546 00:22:45,760 --> 00:22:50,080 reserved at times. But it came at the 547 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:52,559 right time. And what I want to tell 548 00:22:50,080 --> 00:22:54,880 people is to keep this momentum going. 549 00:22:52,559 --> 00:22:57,360 Don't stop. Don't get distracted by any 550 00:22:54,880 --> 00:22:59,360 Kardashian story. Don't get don't get 551 00:22:57,360 --> 00:23:01,440 distracted by anything. This needs to 552 00:22:59,360 --> 00:23:03,120 happen now. and as a community and all 553 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:05,520 those who are affected and believe in 554 00:23:03,120 --> 00:23:07,280 the change need to get together and push 555 00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:09,520 this forward because we've seen it. 556 00:23:07,280 --> 00:23:12,000 There are many people who are doing many 557 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:14,320 tremendous things like John Boyga who is 558 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:16,720 starring in Star Wars. But when we look 559 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:19,280 at him, we think, "Wow, that's wow, he 560 00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:21,760 did it." Why should we say, "Wow, he's a 561 00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:23,200 talent. He should be able to do that 562 00:23:21,760 --> 00:23:24,880 because at at the end of the day, it's 563 00:23:23,200 --> 00:23:27,039 his talent that has pushed him there." 564 00:23:24,880 --> 00:23:30,159 And that's what I want to push people to 565 00:23:27,039 --> 00:23:31,760 remember that it's talent first. We 566 00:23:30,159 --> 00:23:32,960 think about the talent. You don't care 567 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:34,960 about where they're from or what they 568 00:23:32,960 --> 00:23:36,720 look like, where what color of their 569 00:23:34,960 --> 00:23:39,600 skin is. That does not matter at the end 570 00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:42,559 of the day, but unfortunately it does. 571 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:45,520 So we need to do is go back, learn your 572 00:23:42,559 --> 00:23:47,360 business, learn your trade, learn your 573 00:23:45,520 --> 00:23:49,360 if you have a talent, learn the business 574 00:23:47,360 --> 00:23:51,520 behind it. So when you get in front of 575 00:23:49,360 --> 00:23:53,440 these corporations and these industry um 576 00:23:51,520 --> 00:23:54,960 people, you know exactly what you're 577 00:23:53,440 --> 00:23:56,080 talking about. I'm going come up in 578 00:23:54,960 --> 00:23:57,679 there and I'm going to say, "Listen, 579 00:23:56,080 --> 00:23:59,120 this is what I deserve. This is what I 580 00:23:57,679 --> 00:24:02,080 need." And they can't tell me any 581 00:23:59,120 --> 00:24:04,240 different because I know how I know. I 582 00:24:02,080 --> 00:24:06,400 learned. So, I've taken the time to sit 583 00:24:04,240 --> 00:24:08,640 down, learn the business, learn my 584 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:11,760 industry, and I feel that's the only way 585 00:24:08,640 --> 00:24:13,840 we can move forward. By by boycotting 586 00:24:11,760 --> 00:24:15,440 things I did at the Oscars shows that we 587 00:24:13,840 --> 00:24:17,840 are making a stand that we're not taking 588 00:24:15,440 --> 00:24:20,400 anymore. The next step is to start 589 00:24:17,840 --> 00:24:23,520 owning. To own, you need to educate 590 00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:27,000 yourself. Amen. Thank you very much for 591 00:24:23,520 --> 00:24:28,240 joining us on the Sputnik. 592 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:30,080 [Music] 593 00:24:28,240 --> 00:24:32,159 And now it's your turn to tell us what 594 00:24:30,080 --> 00:24:34,799 you think through the portals of social 595 00:24:32,159 --> 00:24:36,600 media. What's rattling? So Hollywood, is 596 00:24:34,799 --> 00:24:40,000 it a black and white 597 00:24:36,600 --> 00:24:42,559 matter? Ricardo Picasso says, "Well, 598 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:44,480 2013, 12 years a slave seemed an 599 00:24:42,559 --> 00:24:47,600 important moment in moving forward, but 600 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:50,080 no black nominees since." And Elizabeth 601 00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:52,400 says Oscars should only be dependent on 602 00:24:50,080 --> 00:24:54,480 who put in best acting performance, not 603 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:56,640 about the race quota. Yeah, but who 604 00:24:54,480 --> 00:25:00,520 decides that? who I mean who judges 605 00:24:56,640 --> 00:25:02,559 whether there are any uh black actors, 606 00:25:00,520 --> 00:25:03,600 directors that should be up for 607 00:25:02,559 --> 00:25:06,240 basically argues that there are not 608 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:09,000 enough black talent. How insulting is 609 00:25:06,240 --> 00:25:13,600 that? That's the standard 610 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:15,120 reply. It may have some validity, but 611 00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:16,640 most people No, it's just that the pool 612 00:25:15,120 --> 00:25:18,640 is not most of the people who think it 613 00:25:16,640 --> 00:25:21,120 has some validity just happen to be 614 00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:23,360 white. Well, I can I can respond to that 615 00:25:21,120 --> 00:25:25,440 with Denton's tweet who sent us a photo 616 00:25:23,360 --> 00:25:27,039 of Chris Rock saying, "Yeah, I love 617 00:25:25,440 --> 00:25:28,640 being famous. It's almost like being 618 00:25:27,039 --> 00:25:30,960 white, you know." And that's all that 619 00:25:28,640 --> 00:25:32,880 we've got time for this week. Which alas 620 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:34,159 means that's the end of the show. But 621 00:25:32,880 --> 00:25:35,240 you can stay in touch with us through 622 00:25:34,159 --> 00:25:37,760 Twitter at 623 00:25:35,240 --> 00:25:39,440 RT_Sputnik or on Facebook Sputnik on 624 00:25:37,760 --> 00:25:42,000 Russia Today. It's goodbye from me, 625 00:25:39,440 --> 00:25:44,400 Gayatri. And from me, George Galloway, 626 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:44,400 it's been 627 00:25:44,840 --> 00:25:48,840 marvelous. Heat. Heat.