The life of a movie stuntman is dangerous, and the stars they double usually take the credit for the many spectacular spills and crashes. Movie stuntman Roy T. Anderson plies his trade in relative obscurity has no problem with that. At the end of the day, Anderson says when they yell cut and everybody clapsand nobody got hurt Im happy because Ive done my job.
When: Friday, March 16, 2012, 6:00 p.m.
Where: Georgia State Universitys General Classroom
Urban Life Building, Room 220
Contact: Dr. Harcourt Fuller – hfuller@gsu.edu
For more than twenty-five years Roy, based in Union, New Jersey, has gone about his job in a quiet workman-like fashion, performing stunts for such Hollywood stars as Will Smith, Denzel Washington and Jamie Foxx. In his illustrious career as a stuntman and stunt coordinator hes appeared in blockbuster movies like Shaft, Spiderman 2, Bourne Ultimatum, and top rated TV shows; Law & Order, The Sopranos, and Boardwalk Empire. Hes an award winning stuntman, and a world record holder having leaped 28-feet between two tall Toronto buildings in 1990.
While continuing his stunt work, the former Ontario (Canada) high school long jump champion has recently flipped the script to direct his first feature-length documentary film, Akwantu: the Journey. This ground breaking film tells the story of Roys ancestors, the legendary Maroons of Jamaica and their gallant fight for freedom. For this film Anderson is writer/director/producer and narrator obscurity no more.
Akwantu: the Journey explores an important part of Jamaican culture that has long fascinated observers. In fact, UNESCO recognized the international significance of Maroon heritage in 2003 by naming the Musical Heritage of the Moore Town Maroons one of the Masterpieces of Intangible History. The film explores an area of Jamaican culture that has often been misunderstood or hasnt been told. Through the film audiences will learn about a people who are often referred to as the Spartacus of their time except these enslaved Africans were victorious in their fight for freedom.
Shot in Jamaica, Ghana, Canada and the United States over the course of three years, the film will feature interviews with world renowned scholars, African nationals, Maroon officials and present day Jamaican citizens (both Maroon and non-Maroon), while simultaneously capturing Roys personal journey of self discovery from Maroon society to the North American continent.
With this 95-minute feature documentary, writer/director Roy T. Anderson invites you to join him on a journey into the lives of a people whose enduring spirit of self determination is as much alive today as it was more than three hundred years ago.
The Jamaican Ministry of Youth and Culture has designated Akwantu: the Journey as a JAMAICA 50 ENDORSED EVENT – the film will help to celebrate the Caribbean islands 50th Anniversary of Independence in 2012. Planned ATJ/Jamaica 50 events include an invitation-only screening and photo exhibition on June 17th at the Institute of Jamaica in Kingston; also a showing of the film on June 22nd in the Maroon community of Charles Town, Portland during the 4th Annual Maroon Conference.
On Friday, March 16th there will be a special sneak preview of Akwantu: the Journey at Georgia State University in the Urban Life Building, Room 220. The film starts at 6 PM. Anderson will be present for a talk back session with the audience at the conclusion of the movie. For more information on this event please contact Dr. Harcourt T. Fuller, Assistant Professor at GSU at hfuller@gsu.edu
