Melvin flips Hollywood the middle-finger setting out to make his own independent movie, at a time when it was considered borderline impossible. What followed was one of the wildest stories in film history as Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song survives on-set madness and impossible odds to become one of the most successful films of the decade.

Email us: [email protected]

Instagram: @behindtheslatepod

TikTok: @behindtheslatepod

YouTube: @behindtheslatepodcast

Join our weekly film club: https://www.instagram.com/arroyofilmclub

Producer: Greg Kleinschmidt

Sources:

'Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song' by Melvin Van Peebles (1971)

'2008 Interview with Red Bull Music Academy': https://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/lectures/melvin-van-peebles-dont-write-a-check-your-ass-cant-cash

'Unstoppable: Melvin Van Peebles, Gordon Parks, and Ossie Davis in Conversation': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHuW5bxVamg

'Interview with Olumide Productions': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRn9nr5qXOg

Marlon Brando Eulogy for Bobby Hutton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g05Sb9CcnE

Interview with Reelin In the Years: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B48FJ03-tkU

Visionary Project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeRJLgAbW-4&list=PLCwE4GdJdVRLS1R8f9-G8hihJQKmePpCW&t=116s

'How To Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (And Enjoy It)' (2005) Dir. Joe Angio

'SUBVERTING HOLLYWOOD FROM THE INSIDE OUT' by Racquel Gates: https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/fq.2014.68.1.9

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit behindtheslatepod.substack.com