The Oscar-Nominated Writers of Judas and the Black Messiah Make History
The Mother Jones Podcast
Mother Jones
4.5 • 1.1K Ratings
🗓️ 24 April 2021
⏱️ 17 minutes
🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS
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Summary
Judas and the Black Messiah, a ground-breaking film about the life of Black Panther leader Fred Hampton, has been hailed as one of the best films of the year. The film is up for five Oscars, including Best Picture. It’s a historic haul for a movie made by an all-Black team of producers.
It’s also a notable and somewhat unexpected achievement for Keith and Kenny Lucas, who, along with director Shaka King and co-writer Will Berson, wrote the semi-biopic’s screenplay. The Hollywood honor for the 35-year-old identical twins known as the Lucas Brothers arrives after they built careers in comedy, including standup; appearances in 22 Jump Street and Arrested Development; and starring roles in the series Friends of the People and Lucas Bros. Moving Co.
On today’s bonus episode, Mother Jones reporter Ali Breland caught up with the brothers to chat about comedy, philosophy, and what it was like to make a movie about a revolutionary socialist who was committed to Black freedom.
An edited transcript of the interview can be found on motherjones.com
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| 0:00.0 | Hi, it's Jamila King, and this Sunday is the Oscars! |
| 0:10.0 | Let's go to the movies! |
| 0:13.0 | I'm here to bring you a special interview with two of the writers behind one of the biggest films of the year. |
| 0:20.0 | Judas and the Black Messiah |
| 0:22.0 | You're the mother of labor, you can't mother of liberation |
| 0:25.0 | You're the mother of revolution, but you can't mother of revolution |
| 0:28.0 | Judas and the Black Messiah is a semi-biopic film about the life of Fred Hampton, a leader of the Black Panther Party and revolutionary socialists who was committed to fighting for Black people's freedom |
| 0:44.0 | It's up for five Oscars at the awards ceremony Sunday |
| 0:47.0 | It's a historic haul for a movie made by an all-black team of producers |
| 0:54.0 | I saw this film and it was incredible, it is serious, it is beautifully shot, it is also just really well written and produced and directed |
| 1:03.0 | Which is why I'm so excited to bring you this interview with Kenny and Keith Lucas |
| 1:10.0 | They're the co-readers on the screenplay for Judas and the Black Messiah, along with director Shocker King and co-writer Will Berson |
| 1:18.0 | Kenny and Keith Lucas are known as the Lucas Brothers, comedians, actors and writers |
| 1:24.0 | You might know them from 22 Jump Street or Arrested Development |
| 1:28.0 | By the way, they're also identical twins |
| 1:31.0 | Mother Jones reporter Olly Brieland caught up with Kenny and Keith Lucas to talk about making this film and the Black Panther Party leader's legacy |
| 1:39.0 | Here's Olly Brieland in conversation with Kenny and Keith Lucas |
| 1:44.0 | Welcome to the show guys |
| 1:47.0 | Hey |
| 1:48.0 | What's up brother man, how are you? |
| 1:50.0 | Thanks again guys for taking the time to do this |
| 1:53.0 | How did you guys come specifically to want to do a sort of biopic on Fred Hampton? |
... |
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