SCENE : ENTERTAINMENT A MAN FOR THE TIMES CONSCIOUS, TALENTED, HUMBLE AND, YES, SO FINE— HAS OUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION

is on-screen presence is many levels to Kaz’s experience that I as electric as his personal thought were beneficial.” profile is low-key. It seems Parker is proud of the film, of his Hhe designed it that way. In fact, Nate work. That’s evident. But along with Parker’s bio states, “Activist. promoting the movie, he carries a Filmmaker. We are the leaders we’ve heavy burden: “I want to change the been waiting for.... Let’s get to work.” ideology behind what people think Clearly, he has a larger plan. they know about Black men. As an On November 14, Parker takes the actor, I feel it’s my job to stand in that lead in , a gap between what has been per- story of hard-fought-for petuated that’s not positive or love set against the odds accurate, and o!er a dose and the blinding spot- of what is really real.” light of stardom. He During the aftermath plays Kaz, a politi- of Michael Brown’s cally driven cop who killing this past sum- crosses paths with Noni, Parker mer, Parker traveled a talented but troubled and Gugu to Ferguson, Missouri, Mbatha-Raw pop star on a meteoric to o!er his support. “It’s rise (portrayed seamlessly about being e!ective in by Gugu Mbatha-Raw). “I wanted to the community. I’d rather be give life to this character because he on the ground, trying to find represents all the things I would like to solutions, than be on a red see in my nephew,” says the 35-year- carpet any day. I want to do old married father of five, including for my people through my his four daughters and a nephew, work. I never want my art to COURTESY IMAGES; BOER/GETTY DE MAARTEN RIGHT: TOP FROM CLOCKWISE now 17, whom he took in four years supersede my activism.”

ago and later adopted. “There are so —Regina R. Robertson OF SUBJECT; SUZANNE TENNER/2013 BLACKBIRD PRODUCTIONS, LLC.

BEHIND !"#O$% &'" ()*'&S Director Gina Prince-Bythewood’s new film pulls back the curtain on fame

ESSENCE: What inspired the film? everybody, which was pretty soul- Gina Prince-Bythewood: Before Alicia crushing, but I used that as fuel to Keys and I worked together on The continue fighting past the noes. I knew Secret Life of Bees, I saw her in con- I only needed one yes. est known for creating Black cert. When she sang “Diary,” this film love stories in vivid color (think started playing in my head. That was ESSENCE: What do you want movie- and Love the first spark. goers to walk away with? B& Basketball), writer and director Gina G.P.: It was important to me to have Prince-Bythewood returns to the big ESSENCE: That was many years ago, two Black leads, but I want the audi- screen with Beyond the Lights. She but you stuck with it. ence to lose themselves in this story proves she’s still a force behind the lens. G.P.: The script was turned down by because love is universal. —R.R.R.

TABLET EXTRAS Watch the 66 ESSENCE.COM NOVEMBER 2014 trailer for Beyond the Lights.