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Film
American Legacy Magazine's Story "The Great Debaters" Turns from Pages to the Big Screen; Article in 1997 Spring Issue Inspires Writer to Develop Screenplay
posted on Dec 23, 2007
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| (L to R) Denzel Washington, Jurnee Smollett, Nate Parker and Denzel Whitaker in "The Great Debaters" |
It was eleven years ago, when writer Robert Eisele's friend Jeffrey
Porro brought to his attention a two-page article, "The Great Debaters" written
by freelance writer Tony Scherman in the 1997 spring issue of American
Legacy Magazine. Eisele
explains, "Jeff Porro is a Washington, DC speech writer, with a PhD in
Political Science who knew my taste for social realism and gritty,
intelligent stories."
Eisele immediately recognized the debate coach, Melvin B. Tolson,
considered one of the best African American poets of the Twentieth
Century. Eisele recalls, "I was aware of Melvin B. Tolson's poetry
since I'm a published poet myself, but I had no idea he had trained on
his debate teams of the 1930s-the students who would become the Civil
Rights leaders of the 1950s and 1960s."
A prolific television writer and producer, Eisele tackled the project
with Porro. Subsequently, Harpo Films, Oprah Winfrey's production
company, jumped on Eisele & Porro's pitch. "After hearing Bob
Eisele's pitch, Harpo Films was compelled to get involved. We jumped at
the chance. It is rare to have that strong, unwavering excitement to
option a story. There was no doubt on our part," notes Producer Kate
Forte. Thus, began the development process of the film "The Great
Debaters," the story of Melvin Tolson and his Wiley College debate team
opens nationwide in movie theatres Christmas Day. It is directed by
Academy Award winner Denzel Washington ("Training Day") who also stars
in the movie along with another Oscar-winning Actor, Forest Whitaker
("The Last King of Scotland").
"The Great Debaters" is produced by Oprah Winfrey and tells the remarkable story of Wiley College's winning debate team of the
early 1930s. Set against the backdrop of the Jim Crow South, "The Great
Debaters" chronicles the journey of the Wiley College debate
team--coached by the brilliant and passionate professor Melvin B.
Tolson, played by Denzel Washington. It was Tolson's recognition that
the power of knowledge is the greatest advantage of all, helping these
students rise against all odds.
"This
is a great American story," says Rodney J. Reynolds, founder and
publisher of American Legacy Magazine. "For years American Legacy has
been educating Americans on our great history. A history filled with
incredible stories about some remarkable people. To see a movie
developed from an American Legacy Magazine article is encouraging and
is just an example of the magnitude of the stories we feature in the
magazine on a regular basis."
"I am so pleased that this story
in American Legacy inspired Mr. Eisele to take it to the next level,"
adds Reynolds. "I believe that after seeing The Great Debaters everyone
will be inspired to learn more about their history."
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