Torrence Banks, News Editor

Naomie Harris, Tyrese Gibson, Nafessa Williams, and director Deon Taylor from the new movie “Black and Blue” visited campus for an HBCU roundtable discussion on October 24. The cast engaged with reporters and answered questions about the movie. 

The film follow Harris’ character after she witnesses the death of a drug dealer and catches it on her body cam. Because of corrupt cops and rampant violence, she becomes a target to all. Finding help in Gibson’s character, she is determined to turn in the incriminating footage.

Harris discussed racial injustice and police brutality in the United Kingdom. She said that police brutality exists in England as it does in the United States. But, people in the United States don’t seem to know about it in their country like U.K. citizens know about police brutality in the United States. 

“We’re so aware in England about what’s happening in the United States,” Harris said. “You get all of the news footage and … we’re aware of if. But, you guys don’t seem to be aware at all of what’s happening in the U.K. We have the same kind of levels of police brutality and corruption”

Harris said that there wasn’t a major transition when she had to play Alicia West in the movie. However, she had to do more research to understand the African-American experience in the United States.

“What is different is the scale and the extent because you’re a huge country compared to like a tiny little island,” Harris said. “And so what I had to do was do an incredible amount of research in order to understand the African-American experience because it is different.”

Gibson believes that the interviews that the cast has been doing will have a longer impact than money ever will. These interviews will inspire and motivate more people to live their lives.

“These videos, what we talk about, what we share, what we give people insight on, that’s the reason that people hold on,” Gibson said. “I just want to make sure that I emphasize that thought. Wisdom is beyond value.”  

Prior to reading the script, Harris was taking some time off from acting and she was not sure if she wanted to continue in the profession. Eight months into her year off, her team sent her the script. Once she started reading the script, she could not stop. 

“I was gripped the whole way through and I couldn’t put it down,” Harris said. “I went through a whole rollercoaster of emotions while reading it. I thought that was going to make an amazing movie. Also, this was exactly the type of woman that I’ve said I wanted to play.” 

Gibson expressed the importance for aspiring actors and directors to pay their dues. He believes that if he had had the opportunity to be around more television and movies before being put on camera, that his career would be much further along. Being around movies more allows people to build relationships with those in the industry.

“So in the ATL, there’s too many TV shows and movies being made,” Gibson said. “If you’re just going to stand by, waiting to put yourself on camera, waiting to get picked, good luck.”

Back in 2015, Gibson paid for then Morehouse student Lorenzo Murphy’s tuition Lorenzo Murphy’s tuition. This was Gibson’s first time ever doing anything like this. He saw Murphy’s potential and thought that the investment was worth it. 

“I knew that he was a star,” Gibson said. “I knew that he was so special. The beautiful thing is that he had already signed up for Morehouse. 

He was already in motion. He was just waiting for his financial aid to kick in.”

While Williams did not have many stunts in this movie, she does have more stunts in the CW television show “Black Lightning,” where she plays as Thunder. Williams talked about the importance of maintaining the self care needed in order to perform stunts on a weekly basis.

“I think the most important aspect is self care and the balance between, but it’s a lot of hard work and it’s great to the body,” Williams said. “So to me, stunts still gives me that childlike energy in that you’re just learning a dance. That’s all stunts is really.”

As for the extra characters who stay in the streets, Taylor believes that they play an important part in the movie’s authenticity. One bad scene could cause a different reaction from the audience.

“The most important part of the movie is what’s happening behind what you’re looking at,” Taylor said. “When you get to film, everything is important. And if somebody tells you differently, then they’re probably not making a good movie.”