Consider it a mini-trend in this column thus far for the new year. We kicked off ’09 covering a project outside the spotmaking world that is near and dear to director/editor Larry Bridges of Red Car–a series of video conversations with leading authors as part of the National Endowment of the Arts’ Big Read initiative (SHOOT, 1/30).
This time around we explore a project that director Danny Levinson of Moxie Pictures describes as being “close to my heart”–Uneven Fairways, a documentary that he wrote and directed, and which recently debuted on The Golf Channel with repeat airings scheduled. Pete McDaniel (who is author of the book Uneven Lies) was a co-writer of the documentary which tells the story of African-American golfers who were not allowed to compete in PGA tournaments so they went off on their own and formed the United Golfers Association with competitions on mostly tattered municipal courses. Sponsorships were non-existent, there was little or no prize money yet these players, mostly men but some women as well, golfed for the love of the game.
In many respects there are parallels to baseball’s now legendary Negro Leagues, particularly in terms of many of the players having the talent to compete at the highest professional level but not permitted to do so because of their skin color.
Levinson interviews many of the forgotten African-American pioneers of the game, as well as today’s greatest star, Tiger Woods, who credits his very career to the players who proceeded him by decades, including Charlie Sifford, James Black, Pete Brown, Charles Owens and untold others.
Woods observed that if not for them, his father would likely have not had access to the game, meaning that Tiger in turn would never have gravitated towards golf.
Uneven Fairways not only interviews these unsung sports heroes but captures stories of others who helped to break the color barrier on the links, including California Attorney General Stanley Mosk who played with Sifford at the Hillcrest Country Club. Mosk saw Sifford’s talent and said that if the golfer played that well at an upcoming PGA tourney at the Wilshire Country Club in Los Angeles, he’d have a chance to win.
Sifford informed Mosk that the PGA has a Caucasian-only rule which prohibited him from competing. Mosk contacted the PGA and said if they continued to enforce that rule, they would have to move the tournament out of the state. At first the PGA planned to do just that but the public attention brought the NAACP and others into the fray. Sifford got to compete in the California tournament and holds the distinction of being the first African-American to receive a Tour Card. He became known as the “Jackie Robinson of golf.”
Moxie Pictures produced Uneven Fairways, which was executive produced by The Golf Channel.
From a business standpoint, said Levinson, the project also represents a bit of a breakthrough as commercial production houses look to diversify. Moxie and The Golf Channel are sharing revenue, partnering on distribution and can feel gratified about shining the spotlight on an important, otherwise overlooked part of civil rights history.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Reach Divorce Settlement After 8 Years
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have reached a divorce settlement, ending one of the longest and most contentious divorces in Hollywood history but not every legal issue between the two.
Jolie and Pitt signed off on a default declaration filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday, saying they have entered into a written agreement on their marital and property rights. The settlement was first reported by People magazine.
"More than eight years ago, Angelina filed for divorce from Mr. Pitt," Jolie's attorney, James Simon, said in a statement. "She and the children left all of the properties they had shared with Mr. Pitt, and since that time she has focused on finding peace and healing for their family. This is just one part of a long ongoing process that started eight years ago. Frankly, Angelina is exhausted, but she is relieved this one part is over."
The filing says they give up the right to any future spousal financial support, but gives no other details. A judge will need to sign off on the agreement. An email late Monday night to Pitt's attorney seeking comment was not immediately answered.
Jolie, 49, and Pitt, 61, were among Hollywood's most prominent pairings for 12 years, two of them as a married couple. The Oscar winners have six children together.
Jolie filed for divorce in 2016, after a private jet flight from Europe during which she said Pitt physically abused her and their children. The FBI and child services officials investigated Pitt's actions on the flight. Two months later, the FBI released a statement saying it would not investigate further, and the U.S. attorney did not bring charges.
A heavily redacted FBI report obtained by The Associated Press in 2022 said that an agent provided a probable cause... Read More