Page IQA - THE CHARLOTTE POST - Thursday, May 25, 1989
Danny Glover Gets A Handle On Success
By MX. LaREY
Special To The Post
When asked what he considers
his greatest achievement to date,
actor Danny Glover quite unex
pectedly said, "For me, having a
13-year-old daughter who re
sponds to me Is my greatest
achievement. I'm her biggest fan
and she Is my fan club."
Glover was In Charlotte Sun
day to deliver the commence
ment address to 123 Johnson C.
Smith University graduates. He
has starred In "Lethal Weapon,"
'The Color .Purple," Places In
The Heart," "Witness," and nu
merous other popular films. Yet
he remains down-to-earth and
professional, seemingly undaz-
zlesd by all the celebrity atten
tion ' he receives. He arrived at
criarlotte Douglas Airport Sun
day morning at 2 a.m. and by 9
a.HI. Glover was up and out to
talk about himself and his latest
film endeavors.
Originally from a town near
Columbia, SC, Glover had heard
about the recent tornadoes that
have ravaged Lincoln and sur
rounding counties. The news re
minded him of a scene from the
filming of "Places In The Heart,"
In which he co-starred with ac
tress Sally Fields.
"For the tornado scene they
used ordinary wind machines to
blow debris across the set," tells
Glover. "There was another ma
chine above us to swirl debris
around. The effect was Incredi
ble.
"A scene like that lasts about
five to ten minutes on screen.
But the reality of It Is that It take
two to four days to film a se
quence like that," said Glover.
"The rejjetltlveness doesn't both
er me as long as the work Is
alive...I mean the freshness of
It."
Sometime after "Places In The
Heart," Glover co-starred In
"Lethal Weapon" with Mel Gib
son, a movie that proved to be a
critical and commercial success.
But as Glover tells It, Holly
wood’s black actors still do not
reap the benefits of app>eartng In
such films.
"I'd do more work If there were
really good roles out there,"
points out Glover. "After 'Lethal
V. ei,pon' I waded through a lot of
Junk scripts and I Just was not
Interested.
Glover hopes to see more movies that characterize the entire
black experience.
"People think that you're mak
ing pictures and making money
when the reality Is there a few
really good roles available for
blac^.
"I've have been blessed to play
some g(k>d roles but that's not al
ways the case. The majority of
these roles lacked the thematic
contrast that characterizes the
black experience."
Glover went on to explain an
adverse circumstance he has en
countered saying, "There are
times when a studio backs a pic
ture and they have to decide who
they're going to get behind —
one actor or another.
"Say for Instance, 'Places In
The Heart' was a Sally Fields
film and 'Lethal Weapon' did
more for Mel Gibson than for
me, career-wise. So despite the
success of 'Lethal Weapon', I've
been unable to find anything
comparable."
"I've done some television that
was pretty Important
("Lonesome Dove, "Mandela").
But ultimately I'd like to find a
project that reflects my basic
Ideas and one that can become a
vehicle for those Ideas. The time
Is right to make some historic
Inroads Into the film Industry."
The problem Is, says Glover.
"The art of filmmaking does not
really seek change. They're only
Interested In maldng money."
Celebrity Lists Grows For
Metrolina AIDS Project
CHARLOTTE - Actresses
Louise Fletcher ("One Flew Over
The Cuckoo's Nest") and Alalna
Reed ("227") have added their
names to the growing list of na
tional celebrities appearing on
behalf of Metrolina AIDS Project
Saturday, June 3, at Spirit
Square! The actresses will ap
pear in "Springtime: A Celebra
tion of Life," a two-hour gala fea
turing music, dance, and
dramatic readings.
Other names added to the list
of performers since the event
was announced on May 4 in
clude Betsy Palmer, Armella
McQueen ("Frank's Place"), Doris
Roberts ("Remington Steele"),
and Jane Leeves ('To Live and
Die In LA.").
Celebrities originally con
firmed to apjjear Include Grego
ry Harrison ("Trapper John,
M.D."), Roz I^rein ("Amen"), Faith
Ford ("Murphy Brown"), and Re
becca Street ("The Young and
the Restless"). Honorary Chairs
are Linda Bloodworth Thoma
son and Harry Thomason, writ
ers and producers of CBS's
"Designing Women."
All of these artists have donat
ed their talents. Proceeds will
benefit the work of Metrolina
AIDS Project.
Local organizations and Indi
viduals supporting the fundrais
er Include Michael Marciano, ex
ecutive director of the Arts and
Science Council, and Keith Mar
tin of Theatre Charlotte who
will direct the event at Spirit
Square.
In conjunction with the bene
fit, an art exhibition at Hodges
Taylor Gallery, June 1-3, will
feature works by regional artists
with all proceeds going to Met
rolina AIDS Project.
During the event. Dr. Jared
Schwartz, chief of pathology at
Presbyterian Hospital, will be
honored for his efforts In raising
Charlotte’s awareness of AIDS
and Its response to the disease.
Tickets for the gala are $100
and $250 per person, and in
clude a champagne reception at
the Dunhill Hotel following the
performance. For ticket infor
mation, call 342-3874.
A
COLLEGE
FOR
ALL
REASONS
"My reason is regular
college didn't work for
me. AtCPCCIfound
caring teachers. A
two-year degree can
take you far; I'm the
Observer's Creative
Services Employee of
the Year."
-Cheryll Dennehy
SUMMER
REGISTRATION
ENDS JUNE 6
CALL 342-6687
CENTRAL PIEDMONT
COMMUNITY COLLEGE
iPHNO
A GAl^
CELEBRITY
EVENING
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Spirit S(|Miirc
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fur lickcl infonnutitm
Featuring
ROZ RYAN
of AMEN
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of Dream Girls
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of 227
Yet, he optimistically adds,
"But art Is and can be political
and that's why we Included an
antl-apartheld message In
'Lethal Weapon' — it makes It
more lethal."
Glover graduated with a degree
In economics from San Francis
co State College and promptly
went out and got a Job as an as
sistant to then San Francisco
Mayor Moscone. Glover was 26
when It dawned on him that his
current occupation was not
enough. He decided to go Into
acting.
"To be a good actor means
making the most of your ability
to fantasize," says the 42-year-
old actor.
Glover admits that he Identi
fies with some of his roles and Is
pleased that his new movie
"Lethal Weapon II," of course a
sequel to "Lethal Weapon," Is due
out soon.
"I'm not worried about the se
quel doing well," says Glover.
"It's actualfy better than the first
movlf. The producers have done
a superb Job researching the ma
terial and developing and adapt
ing the script.
"If It were not for their extraor
dinary efforts and Imaginative
risk-taking the whole effort
would collaspe. These guys make
the hard, fast decisions and the
results will be on the screen for
all to see. The new movie Is mas
terpiece blockbuster," Glover
says with assurance.
"God Is Our Very Best Friend" Read You
King James Bibie, Pray and Thank God Every Day,
on dry cleaning only silk not Included
Monday-Saturday
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Minimum $5. After Rebate
[COUPON MUST ACCOMPANY ORDER
Full Price After 30 Days
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Jesus said, "Behold, I
stand at the door, and
knock: if any man hear
my voice, and open the
door, I will come in to him,
and will sup with him, and
he with me."
Revelation 3:20
Jesus said, “Come unto
me, all ye that labour and
are heavy laden, and I
will give you rest. For my
yoke is easy, and my bur*
den is light."
St. Matthew 11:28,30
PRAY FOR AMERICA!
8i©
Hampton University, the Qty of Hampton
and George Wein are proud to present
imqitoii
1989/
June 23,24,25.1989
Hampton Coliseum • Hampton, Virtllnla
Larry Carlton; Ray Charles; The O’Jays; Dianne
Reeves; David Sanborn; Diane Schuur and the
Count Basie Orchestra; Spyro Gyra; Take 6;
The Ultimate Set (Hank Crawford, Lou Donald
son, Jimmy McGriff, David ‘Fathead’ Newman,
Arthur Prysock); Sarah Vaughan, Grover
Washington, Jr., BeBe and CeCe Winans!
Prices *22‘" and *I9*® per person,
per show. All seats reserved.
Tickets on sale at the Hampton Coliseum Box Office and
all Ticketron locations. For information call (804) 838-4203
All shows are subject to change without prior notice.