Infiltrating Hollywood: The Rise and Fall of the Spook Who Sat by the Door is screening on the Documentary Channel (DISH Network Channel 197; Direct TV Channel 267) tomorrow Friday 8th 8:00-9:15pm and 11:00-12:15pm. It will also screen on Wednesday 13th 10-11:15 a.m. and 2-3:15 p.m. Please tune in!!!!!!
Words from the film's Facebook page, so an opportunity to see it, if you haven't, and if you have the Documentary Channel.
University of California-Davis film professor, Christine Acham's documentary on the making of the Ivan Dixon-directed political firebrand of a film, The Spook Who Sat by the Door, adapted from Sam Greenlee's novel, is titled Infiltrating Hollywood: The Rise and Fall of the Spook Who sat by the Door – a film we've been following since mid-2010.
Sweet Sweetback is often the cinematic reference point for radical, subversive black cinema during one of the more contentious periods in American history. But I think the oft-forgotten The Spook Who Sat By The Door (which was selected for inclusion in the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress in December) was potentially even more lethal in its crafting and message, and really had the ability to inspire a revolution at a time when black people in this country were maybe most susceptible, as well as capable.
And I'm not sure if many actually know the story of how the film got made – notably, that its budget was financed mostly with funds raised from black investors – an idea that really should be implemented more often.
After touring the film festival circuit through 2011 and 2012, the film is now being broadcast on the Docmentary Channel, which is primarily available through satellite television services DISH Network (Channel 197) and DIRECTV (Channel 267). It already aired once, and will air again today. It looks like there's only one screening left. I would've posted this earlier, but I only just find about it today.
The filmmaker does add:
If you want to purchase the film e-mail [email protected]
So, if you don't have either of the channels mentioned above, you can also purchase the film directly from the filmmaker. So, email her!
Here's a trailer:
